The blog of Richard Thompson, caricaturist, creator of "Cul de Sac," and winner of the 2011 Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

One final goodbye to Richard Thompson at Small Press Expo

White Flint Auditorium September 17, 2016 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm


Richard Thompson (1957-2016)—one his generation's greatest cartoonists and caricaturists—was beloved by readers and fellow artists alike. Pat Oliphant called him "Michelangelo with a sense of humor," and Bill Watterson, who had not said anything publicly in almost 20 years, sent out a note crediting Thompson with "giving me a reason to read the comics again." A short documentary celebrating Thompson's art and generous spirit will be followed by a conversation among Thompson's long-time intimates—his close friend and fellow cartoonist Nick Galifianakis, Shena Wolf, who is the Uclick acquisitions editor and was Richard's editor on Cul De Sac, as well as friend and art historian David Apatoff—concluding with an opportunity for questions and reflections from the audience. Moderated by publisher (Lost Art Books) and editor of the forthcoming Richard Thompson Library series, Joseph Procopio.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Gail Rubin remembers Richard Thompson

Cartoonist Richard Thompson Made Us Laugh

A Good Goodbye blog August 26th, 2016
http://agoodgoodbye.com/notable-obituaries/cartoonist-richard-thompson-made-us-laugh/

Before you read that -

The service for Richard Thompson will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, this Saturday, August 27th at 1pm.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC from 1pm until 2:30 pm, after which there will be a private reception for friends and family.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

RICHARD THOMPSON MEMORIAL SERVICE

RICHARD THOMPSON MEMORIAL SERVICE
A service for Richard will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, this Saturday, August 27th at 1pm.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC from 1pm until 2:30 pm, after which there will be a private reception for friends and family.

Again, the family asks that in lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, either directly or through Team Cul De Sac (https://www.michaeljfox.org/get-involved/teamfox.php).

Sunday, August 21, 2016

A Richard Thompson tribute in Betty

Betty by Gary Delainey and Gerry Rasmussen

August 20, 2016
http://www.gocomics.com/betty/2016/08/20

(thanks to Carol Tilley for pointing it out)

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Nick Galifianakis on Richard Thompson's death

Somehow we missed the announcement by Richard's best friend to his colleagues at the National Cartoonists Society:

Richard Thompson 1957-2016

– Nick Galifianakis


Pat Oliphant's thoughts on Richard Thompson in 2004

Andrews McMeel has put Pat Oliphant's introductory comic strip from the 2004 collection of Richard's Poor Almanac online. Oliphant compared Richard to Michelangelo which probably made him squirm, but grin.

His next book was blurbed by Bill Watterson, which shocked him, since he knew Pat, but not Bill.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Comic scholar John Lent on Richard Thompson's last books

"Scratchy sketchbook drawings, doodlings, exquisite caricatures and humorous paintings": Reviewing Richard Thompson's last books

by John A. Lent, publisher and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Comic Art.
International Journal of Comic Art blog August 10, 2016

http://ijoca.blogspot.com/2016/08/scratchy-sketchbook-drawings-doodlings.html

This review will appear in print in the Spring/Summer 2016 IJOCA issue later this summer.

Richard saw all three of the books reviewed here, and approved them. - MR

Monday, August 8, 2016

Oct 8: Richard Thompson, Cartoonist and Illustrator -- A Tribute

Richard Thompson, Cartoonist and Illustrator -- A Tribute

Richard Thompson, creator of the comic strip Cul de Sac, passed away from complications of  Parkinson's disease this summer. Learn more about this Reuben Award-winning artist through a screening of the 2014 documentary The Art of Richard Thompson and a presentation on Thompson's background and accomplishments by one of the late cartoonist's friends.

Saturday, October 8, 2016
1:00 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant Regional Library
1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
843.849.6161
http://www.ccpl.org

Donna Lewis' Reply All tribute to Richard Thompson

Saturday, August 6, 2016

The Post's Letter page on Richard Thompson

'Cul de Sac' creator Richard Thompson, a charming man who made charming art [in print as A charming creator of charming art].

Lewis Sorley, Potomac

Washington Post

Friday, August 5, 2016

Dana Maier remembers Richard Thompson


RIP Richard Thompson

Dana Jeri Maier

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Andrew Farago's Comics Journal obituary for Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson, 1957-2016

August 27: Memorial for Richard Thompson

A memorial for Richard Thompson, open to the public, will be held on August 27, 2016, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC at 1 pm. It will be in the Press Club's ballroom. Information on the Press Club is at http://www.press.org/

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

One More Page Books remembers Richard Thompson

The kind, generous and very talented cartoonist and artist Richard Thompson (Cul de Sac, Richard's Poor Almanac) passed away last week due to the effects of Parkinson's disease. Richard was one of the first authors to appear at OMP - so early that the store was not quite open - and since then he has been a generous, gracious and wonderful friend to us. We can't put into words how much we'll miss his humor and friendship and many of you have shared the loss you feel. Our thoughts are with Amy, the girls, his family & his many, many, many friends.

If you'd like to help others with Parkinson's in honor of Richard, you can donate to Team Cul de Sac, part of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

One More Page Books 
2200 N. Westmoreland Street, #101
Arlington, VA 22213
703-300-9746    Visit our website
Mon-Sat: 10 am - 8 pm; Sun: noon to 5 pm

(excerpted from their August 2, 2016 newsletter)

Charles Hatfield tribute to Richard Thompson

A third tribute by Charles Hatfield has been added to the Comics Journal page at http://www.tcj.com/tributes-to-richard-thompson/ , adding to those by Warren Bernard and Craig Fischer.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Tributes to Richard Thompson

Tributes to Richard Thompson

Friday, July 29, 2016

Comic Riffs on Richard Thompson masterpieces

The early Thompson - Science fiction fandom art

Someone asked me privately about this, so I'm putting it out for everyone. We compiled a lot of art that wasn't used in The Art of Richard Thompson book. Here's some raw scans of a selection of it.

Richard's earliest published works were in the convention program for the local sci-fi con Disclave, and the fanzine Science Fiction Eye. You can see his Ronald Searle influence clearly in this art, but also many of Richard's own themes such as characters sitting on the moon, goofy restaurants... and chatty rats. The early caricatures from the Eye show how he would soon begin his career.

A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny


The Barcroft Books ad, I believe






















Cartoonists Stacy Curtis and Dave Kellett remember Richard Thompson

Both Stacy and Dave knew Richard - Stacy worked on Cul de Sac with him, and Dave interviewed him at length for a documentary.

Rest in Peace, Richard Thompson

http://stacycurtis.blogspot.com/2016/07/rest-in-peace-richard-thompson.html?m=1


Dave Kellett's Sheldon comic

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/160728.html

Thursday, July 28, 2016

A short personal remembrance of Richard Thompson

A short personal remembrance of Richard Thompson
by Mike Rhode
ComicsDC blog July 28, 2016

Some tributes to Richard Thompson in the press (updated as required)

WUSA: Local acclaimed illustrator dies at 58

ComicsDC's Mike Rhode:A short personal remembrance of Richard Thompson

Brian Fies: Richard Thompson

ICv2: R.I.P. RICHARD THOMPSON

Donna Lewis: So many words. So few words.

 Washington Post's Michael Cavna's online obituary

Heroes Con: THANK YOU RICHARD THOMPSON

John Martz: A Cartoonist Remembers His Hero, Cul de Sac’s Richard Thompson

Stacy Curtis: Rest in Peace, Richard Thompson

Dave Kellett's Sheldon comic

Scoop: In Memoriam: Richard Thompson

A Certain Line: When the laughter stops

Washington Post's Michael Cavna: These are the Richard Thompson masterpieces we’ll most remember him by

RIP: Richard Thompson, creator of “Cul de Sac” by David Malki

Encore Stage: Remembering Richard Thompson, Creator of Cul de Sac

Cartoonist Richard Thompson Dies of Parkinson's Disease by Peter Dunlap-Shohl

RIP, Richard Thompson: How the artist extends to us the hand of profound wit and humanity By Michael Cavna

Comics Journal: Tributes to Richard Thompson - Craig Fischer and Warren Bernard and Charles Hatfield

Mike Lynch: Richard Thompson 1957-2016

John Gallagher's tribute cartoon for Richard Thompson

Life Without Richard Thompson by Anton Scamvougeras

Comics Journal: Dancing on the Manhole Cover: The Genius of Richard Thompson by Phil Nel

John Gallagher's tribute cartoon for Richard Thompson

Life Without Richard Thompson by Anton Scamvougeras


Comics Journal: Obituary by Andrew Farago

RIP Richard Thompson by Dana Jeri Maier

Donna Lewis' Reply All tribute



Wednesday, July 27, 2016

WUSA's piece on Richard Thompson

Local acclaimed illustrator dies at 58

Ellison Barber, WUSA July 27, 2016
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/local-acclaimed-illustrator-dies-at-58/282921078

Richard Thompson to be memorialized on WUSA news tonight

Ellison Barber of WUSA news compiled a memorial profile about Richard Thompson's life and art which should air at 11 pm EDT if all goes well.

Comic Riffs obituary for Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson, acclaimed 'Cul de Sac' creator and Post contributor, dies at 58


Washington Post 
Comic Riffs July 27 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/07/27/richard-thompson-acclaimed-cul-de-sac-creator-and-post-contributor-dies-at-58/

Cartoonist Richard Thompson has passed away

I've been informed by Richard's best friend Nick Galifianakis that Richard passed away today due to the effects of Parkinson's Disease. We're poorer for his loss, but richer for his life and art.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Richard Thompson panel at 2011 Heroes Con

Heroes Con is going on this weekend in Charlotte, NC. Richard's mother was an orphan in the town, and the con is held right across the street from the former orphanage space.

We went down twice together, at the invitation of con owner Shelton Drum and his right-hand man, Dustin Harbin. Richard had a great time. Last night I stumbled across a recording that I had forgotten about, so I put it online.  I haven't listened to it since recording it, but here's Richard talking about Cul de Sac, and Parkinson's Disease.

Heroes Con 2011: Richard Thompson A Celebration


Published June 4, 2011


10:30 AM
Richard Thompson: A Celebration
Room 209 


Is Cul-De Sac the best comic strip being published today?
Perhaps, but one thing is for certain, it is the best drawn and the
funniest. Okay, that's two things. Please join Mike Rhode and
some fellow strip creators as we sit down and examine the art of Mr.
Thompson. In addition to discussing craft and daily deadlines, we will
see if Richard can provide any insight as to whether poor Petey will
make it through the entire soccer season without having a psychotic
breakdown. Ahhh, total Bliss (haven).

With Craig Fischer and Team Cul de Sac's Chris Sparks.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Comic Riffs on the new Cul de Sac play

Cul de Sac play returns to Encore Stage this weekend

Cul de Sac

Encore Stage & Studio 

Thomas Jefferson Theatre


 Thru Sun, June 12
$10-$15 buy tickets
Call 703-548-1154 to order

 official website

Four-year-old Alice Otterloop and her older brother, Petey, learn about friendship and the importance of being yourself in this world premier play adaptation of Richard Thompson’s nationally syndicated Cul De Sac comic strip. When Alice decides to help Petey become more exciting she risks sending Petey further into his shell. With the help other their parents, teachers, and new and old friends the Otterloop children just might be able to learn something from each other. We recommend this production for ages 4 and older.
Dates:
And here's my pictures from the lobby display:
















The Complete Cul de Sac is available in France

Here's a picture of Richard's copy. The formatting has changed considerably from the American edition, but the book is very well done.


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Amy Thompson interviewed about her Cul de Sac play premiere

From Page to Stage: How Cul de Sac Was Adapted Into a Play

Playwright Amy Thompson and Encore Theater's Sara Duke talks about adapting the hit Washington Post comic strip.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Cul de Sac the play - coming soon

Based on Richard Thompson's comic strip, and written by Amy Thompson, the play premieres in Arlington, VA next month.

Friday, April 15, 2016

The World Premiere of “Cul de Sac” the play (press release)


Artwork by Richard Thompson


Encore Stage & Studio Proudly Presents the World Premiere of "Cul de Sac"

Arlington, VA – Encore Stage & Studio is delighted to present Cul de Sac, the world premiere play adaption based on the nationally syndicated Cul de Sac comic strip by Richard Thompson. Thompson and his comic strip won the 2010 Reuben Award, the highest honor given by the National Cartoonists Society. The play follows four-year-old Alice Otterloop and her older brother, Petey, as they learn about friendship and the importance of being yourself. When Alice decides to help Petey become more exciting she risks sending Petey further into his shell. With the help of their parents, teachers, and new and old friends the Otterloop children just might be able to learn something from each other.  This production runs June 3 through 12 at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Rd. Arlington, VA 22204).


"
He never wanted to be anything other than a cartoonist," says playwright Amy Thompson in describing her husband Richard Thompson. Richard, a long-time Arlington resident, had created thousands of illustrations and cartoons for dozens of magazines and newspapers before Cul de Sac debuted in The Washington Post Magazine in 2007.  Thompson drew on incidents from his own childhood ("there's a lot of him in Petey, the withdrawn artist" says Amy), and the lives of his family, including two daughters, Emma and Charlotte. Everything from Charlotte's unbounded exuberance, to Emma's discovery that a manhole cover made a great stage, to the reluctant introduction of a guinea pig in their home was fodder for Thompson's re-imagined suburban Washington.


Thompson's Cul de Sac drew the attention of comic fans worldwide including some very famous fans. Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson was so impressed that he wrote the introduction to the first Cul de Sac collection.

 
"[The comic strip] is one of those rare visions that shows how surprising the ordinary world really is.  Richard Thompson's wonderfully peculiar Otterloop family is closely observed with deep sympathy and rings absolutely true," stated Watterson, "I'm a huge fan."


Children's book author Mo Willems (Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Elephant & Piggie series) wrote the introduction to the second collection. "If Cul de Sac isn't French for 'wonderfully loopily sincerely life-affirmingly stupendously hilarious' then there is something wrong with the French language," stated Willems.

Pixar director Pete Docter invited Thompson to collaborate on character development for his most recent film, Inside Out. 
"Cul de Sac is the funniest strip to appear in decades," writes Oscar-winner Docter, whose other films include Monsters, Inc. and Up. "It's full of great characters, well-observed truths that most of us have forgotten about, and is so beautifully and funnily drawn that it is an absolute joy to look at even if you can't read.  (Of course, if you can't read, then you'd better stop right now.)"


 In 2009 Thompson was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and began treatment. Thompson's friend Chris Sparks solicited other artists to contribute to a book collection, Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson's, to raise money for Parkinson's research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Encore Stage & Studio will hold a special fundraiser in the theatre lobby in to contribute to this effort.

On September 23, 2012, Cul de Sac ended its run of original strips, and Thompson retired. He kept up his Cul de Sac blog for some years afterward, but otherwise, published no new work.  An offer was made to buy the rights to Cul de Sac and continue the strip with a new writer and artist, but Thompson declined. It seemed the world had seen the last of Alice, Petey, Madeline, and Peter Otterloop, as well as their friends Dill, Beni, Andre, Loris, Miss Bliss, and all the others.

Encore Stage & Studio, with efforts to build its performances highlighting local and original work, approached Amy Thompson about writing a play. Amy Thompson has worked for Encore as a drama teacher and director for some years, and has written several shorter works for summer camps and classes. Amy's Encore show credits include direction for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2013 and Much Ado about Nothing in 2015.   She was eager to write a full-length play, and suggested that Cul de Sac would make a perfect choice for children's theatre. Over the years, Richard had turned down all requests by other writers to adapt the strip for the stage, while asking Amy why she didn't do it herself. Encore accepted, debuting Cul de Sac's for its early summer show of the 2015/2016 season.

We are excited to announce Chuck Leonard as director for this production.  Production staff also includes Matthew Heap (Composer), Thomas Boudreaux (Technical Director), Amy Thompson, Kristen Jepperson and Marji Jepperson (Set Designer/Builder and Props), Debra Leonard (Costume Designer/Builder and Make-up Designer), Gary Hauptman (Lighting Designer), Caitlin Orzechowski (Assistant Lighting Designer), and Drew Moberley (Sound Engineer). 

Performance Dates and Showtimes:
Fridays, June 3 and 10, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays, June 4 and 11, 2016 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Sundays, June 5 and 12, 2016 at 3 p.m.

Every effort has been made to preserve the look, feel, and heart of the original strip. Fans of the strip will recognize the Otterloop house, Mr. Otterloop's tiny red car, Dill's kiddie car, and Alice's manhole cover. Young audiences who have never seen the strip will recognize the world of some typical (but dramatic) preschoolers and third graders. And everyone, no matter his or her age, will get to experience what it's like to be a child. We recommend this production for ages 4 and older.


Tickets are $15 for Adults; $10 for Children, Students, Military and Seniors. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at www.encorestage.org or by calling our box office at (703) 548-1154.

About Encore Stage & Studio

"Theatre by Kids, for Kids!" Founded in 1967, our mission is to build a lifelong appreciation for live theater by involving young people in all aspects of theater arts --onstage, backstage, in the classroom, and in the audience. Encore strives to educate and entertain by offering productions each season that are by and for young people, and through enriching classes and workshops with qualified, enthusiastic teaching artists. We believe that participating in live theatre builds problem-solving skills, teamwork, creativity, literacy, and self-confidence. We are cultivating the next generation of active and engaged art lovers.


Encore Stage & Studio's 2016 season is sponsored by Fairlington Dental and  
 is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Arlington Cultural Affairs Division of Arlington Economic Development and the Arlington Commission for the Arts.

For more information visit www.encorestage.org | (703) 548-1154 | PO Box 969 Arlington, VA 22216

Richard Thompson & Bill Watterson in French?

Bill Watterson's conversation with Richard from The Art of Richard Thompson has been translated by Stephane Beaujean, a French Cul De Sac fan, and is apparently now available. Bonjour!



The rest of the magazine looks good too.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

June 3-12: Cul de Sac play premieres in Arlington

Cul de Sac

Play by Amy Thompson
Adapted from the Comic Strip, Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson

http://www.encorestageva.org/2015/05/19/cul-de-sac/

Four-year-old Alice Otterloop and her older brother, Petey, learn about friendship and the importance of being yourself in this world premier play adaptation of Richard Thompson's nationally syndicated Cul De Sac comic strip. When Alice decides to help Petey become more exciting she risks sending Petey further into his shell. With the help other their parents, teachers, and new and old friends the Otterloop children just might be able to learn something from each other. We recommend this production for ages 4 and older.


Performance Dates and Times:
Friday, June 3, 2016 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 11am and 3pm
Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 3pm
Friday, June 10, 2016 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 11am and 3pm
Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 3pm

All performances are held at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22204)

Tickets: $15 Adults; $10 Children, Students, Military and Seniors with valid ID. Includes all box office fees. Click here to purchase your tickets online, or call our box office (703)548-1154.


This production is sponsored by Michael Rogers, DDS.