Legal | The Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar talks about his work and its importance in a country where people are growing more and more dissatisfied with the government, but dissent is still suppressed. Zunar, who already faces trial on nine counts of sedition, was arrested again on November 27 and held for one day on charges of violating the Sedition Act by insulting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Also on Saturday, about 30 members of the pro-government Penang Umno Youth attacked an exhibit of Zunar's work that was on display as part of the George Town Literary Festival in George Town, the capital of the state of Penang. The attackers kicked and threatened Zunar and damaged some of his artwork, and Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim threatened violence if Zunar did not take down the exhibit before its scheduled closure on December 2. Although the police asked to hold Zunar for four days, the court refused and granted his release on bail after one day. Amnesty International and other human rights groups, as well as the organizers of the literary festival, have protested Zunar's arrest and detention. Meanwhile, the police questioned Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, the executive councilor of the state where the exhibit was held, as to why he allowed the exhibit to happen at all. [New York Times]
Manga | Well, that didn't take long: Donald Trump has made his first appearance as president-elect in a Japanese manga series. He pops up in this week's chapter of "Baki the Grappler," which has also featured very slightly altered versions of President Barack Obama and former president George W. Bush. Trump doesn't make an auspicious entrance: After learning some shocking secret information from President Barack Ozuma, the Trump character starts boasting—and then wets his pants at the sight of the strongman Yujiro, who is the lead character in "Baki." Artist Keisuke Itagaki has already expressed his displeasure at Trump's election, not because of politics but because of the "enigmatic structure" of the president-elect's hair. [Anime News Network]
Legal | Little America Hotels and Resorts and Loft Collectibles, Comics & Games of Cheynne, Wyoming, have gone to court over allegations of unpaid bills and unfulfilled contracts stemming from last May's Cheyenne Comic Con. Little America filed a breach of contract suit in Laramie County District Court, claiming that Loft Collectibles still owes almost $115,000 to Little America, which was the venue for the show. Loft Collectibles has filed an answer and counterclaim, stating that Little America's claims are inaccurate and that the hotel has not yet provided an itemized list of what it is owed; in addition, Loft claims that Little America failed to deliver on several agreed-upon items, including vegetarian food for a guest (who then left) and complimentary parking, which reduced the income from the show. [Wyoming Tribune Eagle]
Political Cartoons | Egyptian cartoonist Doaa el-Adl, Tunisian cartoonist Nadia Khiari, and Moroccan cartoonist Riham Elhour discuss what they do and why they do it. [BBC News]
Graphic Novels | I teamed up with my fellow Good Comics for Kids bloggers to compile a list of the ten best children's and YA graphic novels of 2016. [School Library Journal]
Graphic Novels | Washington Post writer Michael Cavna has also posted his picks for the best graphic novels of the year. [Comic Riffs]
Conventions | Rob Salkowitz looks at the recent troubles at Wizard World (this is a good primer if you have missed it) and speculates about what that could mean for the pop-culture convention industry as a whole. [ICv2]
Conventions | Native American creators discuss how their work is dismantling old stereotypes—and how the market for it has grown in recent years—at the Indigenous Comic Con, held November 18-20 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. [Vice]