Friday, July 29, 2016

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
July 28, 2016

Some tributes to Richard Thompson in the press (updated when possible)

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

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

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

Comics Journal: Obituary by Andrew Farago

ComicsDC: Claire Rhode on Remembering Mr. Richard 

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.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

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.

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 on June 3rd.

Click here for all the details.

Monday, April 4, 2016

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

Sunday, February 21, 2016

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

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Richard Thompson is my superhero


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

Friday, February 5, 2016

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

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Compleating Cul de Sac reviewed

Compleating Cul de Sac, the book of Richard Thompson's miscellany related to the comic strip that raises money for Team Cul de Sac, has been reviewed at Jason Marcy Looks at Print on Demand Comics, Part 1.

You can buy the book here.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Q3 donations for Compleating Cul de Sac book

Compleating Cul de Sac, with 100 of Richard's strips and interviews, is available on Lulu.

Q3 donations for the Compleating Cul de Sac book were $176.48 and went to Team Fox this morning.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.


Friday, October 9, 2015

"Compleating Cul de Sac" appears in first library collection

Compleating Cul de Sac now available
Michigan State U's Comic Art Collection became the first library to catalog Compleating Cul de Sac as part of their collection.

Unfortunately, WorldCat shows them to be the only library with a copy in a collection.

Librarians of the world (and everyone else too) - click here to remedy that situation and buy a copy to benefit Parkinson's disease research.


Thursday, October 8, 2015

Happy 58th birthday to Richard Thompson

Thanks for so many years of pleasure.

Marking the day with a piece of his art done for Bonotom Studio.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Sept 13: Parkinson's Walk for Team Cul de Sac

Team Cul de Sac

Team Cul de Sac

Please Help Us Walk Off Parkinson's

http://engage.parkinsonfoundation.org/site/TR?team_id=2180&fr_id=1050&pg=team

We are participating in Walk Off Parkinson's on Sunday September 13, 2015 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. to benefit the Parkinson's Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA).

That day, we will gather with thousands of others impacted by Parkinson's to show that those facing this disease that they do not do so alone. We will raise funds to support those impacted by Parkinson's including people diagnosed with the disease, care partners and their family members.

Please join us or make a donation.

You can make a donation in honor of a member of our team by selecting their name from the roster on the right.

Together, we will Walk Off Parkinson's.

Thank you.

 About Team Cul de Sac

Team Cul de Sac is a fundraising effort in honor of Richard Thompson, the cartoonist behind the Cul de Sac comic strip. Richard was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. With Richard's support, Chris Sparks asked cartoonists across the country to contribute comics compiled into a fundraising book published by Andrews McMeel (Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw The Line At Parkinson's). The original artwork was auctioned to raise additional money. Team Cul de Sac continues to progress and expand our fundraising efforts.

 

- See more at: http://engage.parkinsonfoundation.org/site/TR?team_id=2180&fr_id=1050&pg=team#sthash.HTSVCSG2.dpuf

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Compleating Cul de Sac is 30% off

Compleating Cul de Sac
Compleating Cul de Sac is 30% off  - Get 30% off all print books when you use code SAVE30 at checkout. Ends August 30.

Order it at https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=%22compleating+cul+de+sac%22

All money raised goes to Team Cul de Sac for Parkinson's research.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Compleating Cul de Sac raises $220 for Team Cul de Sac

After deducting the initial production expenses for 3 proof drafts, and the cost of an ad in Magic Bullet #11, the publication of Compleating Cul de Sac has raised $220 for the 2nd quarter of 2015 for Parkinson's research.

Here's more information on the book:

The Complete Cul de Sac isn't.

Complete, that is. Compiling it while ill, Richard accidentally left out some strips. Others were purposely left out, either because he had redrawn them for syndication, or they were too tied to the Washington, D.C. origins of the strip to make sense for a worldwide audience, or he "just felt some were not funny." Over 100 are not in The Complete CDS.

But if you're a cartoon completist, or just want a little bit more CDS, we understand and we're here for you. We've collected the lost water-colored Washington Post Magazine strips, the early inchoate musings about what the strip should be, the promotional material, the sketches for fans, and finally some fugitive Team Cul de Sac charity art by Art Spiegelman, KAL, Patrick McDonnell, Eric Shansby, Nate Beeler and others.

With Richard's blessing, or at least active acquiescence, any money the book makes will go to Team Cul de Sac to fight Parkinson's disease.

And if more art surfaces, we'll do a second edition.

Compleating Cul de Sac
by Richard Thompson, Michael Rhode and Chris Sparks
Asheville, NC: Team Cul de Sac & Arlington, VA: ComicsDC, 2015.


Available in paperback: http://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-rhode/compleating-cul-de-sac/paperback/product-22163926.html

hardcover: http://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-rhode/compleating-cul-de-sac-hardcover/hardcover/product-22163989.html

ebook pdf: http://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-rhode/compleating-cul-de-sac-ebook/ebook/product-22185584.html

Review pdfs available to media upon request

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Complete Cul de Sac wins Eisner award

Richard Thompson's comic strip collection, The Complete Cul de Sac, won an Eisner Award last night at the San Diego Comic - Con for best humorous publication.