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.

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

by Mike Rhode

Published June 4, 2011

https://archive.org/details/HeroesCon110604RichardThompsonACelebration

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.

A little bit more on the Cul de Sac play premiere

More on the new Cul de Sac play by Amy Thompson and "Encore Stage - http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2016/05/more-on-new-cul-de-sac-play-by-amy.html

Mell Lazarus 1927-2016

Today we lost Mell Lazarus, not only a LEGEND in cartooning but a contributor to Team Cul de Sac.

Mell was such an icon in cartooning that I was always nervous to look at him. It was like looking into the Sun. He was just a star and everyone orbited around him. A true sweetheart.
Mell called me back in 2011 and said that he had lunch with Cathy Guisewite and she had told him about TCDS. He wanted to contribute and I was thrilled.

 Thank you and much love Mell,

Chris, Richard, Mike and the whole TCDS gang.

Please read more about him at the links below.
http://www.reuben.org/2016/05/mell-lazarus-1927-2016/
http://www.tomrichmond.com/2016/05/24/mell-lazarus-1927-2016/

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.

Mike Rhode

May 24, 2016
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/blog/20780902/cul-de-sac-interview

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 on June 3rd.

Click here for all the details.

Heroescon Drink and Draw art needed

Hi everyone. This past weekend we had a great drink and draw at SC COMICCON! We raised almost $1500 bucks for Team Cul de Sac! Thanks to Rob Young and everyone at the show! We had a blast!

Now to look forward to June. This will be our 6th annual Drink and Draw at Heroescon. It happens of on the evening June 17th. I will have the exact time and place for you soon!

Here is what we need to make the big bucks. Art from you!

Yes, we will be at the show at a booth.
Yes, we will have artist who can sit with me and can draw on the spot!
Yes, you can drop off the art at the show if you are attending the show.
Yes, we accept original comic book or strip art.
Yes, we take signed or limited edition books.
Yes, we love to have amazing original art made for the event.
Yes, we will take cash donations at the event.
Yes, we will have signed Richard Thompson books.
Yes, we have a few items left  signed by Bill Watterson.
Yes, you can buy us drinks at the event. :)
Yes you can send us more than one item.
Yes, our email is teamculdesac@gmail.com and I will send you information to where to send the art. I need the art by the 10th of June.
Yes, we will kick Parkisnson's, with your help.
No, you can't donate too much awesome art.

Much love,

Chris

Compleating Cul de Sac book's latest contributions to Team Cul de Sac

Thanks to everyone who bought Compleating Cul de Sac and thus supported Team CdS in fundraising against Parkinson's disease. For the last quarter of 2015, you raised $144.41 which was deposited into Team Fox's account today.

The book is now out of print because we're adding to it and will have an actual publisher. Look for the 2nd edition of the book in Summer 2016 from Lost Art Books. Any profits from the book will continue to go to Team Cul de Sac.

Mike Rhode

Richard Thompson is my superhero

No reason for this post besides to say I love this drawing from Richard.

Compleating Cul de Sac first edition goes out of print

Compleating Cul de Sac's first edition is now out of print, and it's good news!

We're pleased to announce that we (aka The Thompsons) are just about to sign the contract with Picture This Press for them to publish the grandly-themed Richard Thompson Library. Compleating Cul de Sac version 2.0 is being expanded by editor Rhode and designer Bono Mitchell with more interviews, more Thompson art and more Team Cul de Sac art, even as we type. Any profits from this book will continue to be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to fund Parkinson's research, as we had arranged to do with the first edition.

The draft of The Incompleat Art of Why Things Are with an introduction by Joel Achenbach is in the hands of the publisher who's working with his designer on the book. Scott Stewart is continuing to work on a new collection of caricatures.

In the meantime, all of Richard's Cul de Sac books, and The Art of Richard Thompson are still available from his traditional publisher, Andrews McMeel.

We hope you'll enjoy the new books as they come out over the next several years .

Mike Rhode