Re: Comix pix
Despite the near-total, completely misinformed prejudice against comics and their ilk (forcing the industry to spawn such awkward euphemisms as “graphic novel” and “sequential art”), those in the know are aware of the fact that many comics are on the cutting-edge of creative innovations; more than film (which regularly pillages the genre for scripts), certainly more than books in this post-Oprah-Book-Club world (no chip on THIS shoulder!). The reason being that you can write, draw, publish, and distribute a comic book all by your lonesome for very little money (in comparison). Plus, it’s a great way to meet very cute art chicks and guys.
Here are my favorites from the Alternative Press Expo 2003; some new, some not new, some really old, all fantastic:
“Long Tail Kitty” and “Tales From the Ward”: by Lark Pien. “LTK” is an adorable kitty that has adorable adventures. “TFTW” is one of those “dark night of the soul” things.
“Blue Monday” by Chyna Clugston-Major: Named after the New Order hit; if you like Japanese comics, 80’s New Wave, and Mod culture, this is the book for you.
“It’s a Good Life, if You Don’t Weaken” by Seth: A semi-autobiographical graphic novel wherein the protagonist searches for meaning in his life and the work of Kalo, an obscure “New Yorker” cartoonist from the 50’s.
“Bumperboy” by Debbie Huey: The adventures of a boy and his dog, and what happens when he loses his marbles (literally, not metaphorically, down an interdimensional portal). Also, very cute.
“Too Much Coffee Man” by Shannon Wheeler: The seminal alternative “slacker” strip that evolved into the seminal alternative weekly. Great comic, great magazine.
“Scattered” by Jason Dube: This one is a little hard to get a hold of; it’s a sort of a Goth Manga (Japanese comic) series about a group of somewhat immortal teenagers and their battle against evil.
“My Monkey’s Name is Jennifer”, by Ken Knudtsen: Yeah, you think your pet loves that adorable Santa costume. Ken Knudtsen begs to differ. In his black-comic mystery, little Kaitlin is kidnapped, and her pet, Jennifer (a male chimp driven to psychosis by her dotage) may be her only hope… or her most dangerous threat.
“Monkey Vs. Robot” by James Kochalka: A mostly wordless battle between nature and technology; charming art style in a deceptively simple fable.
“Snake Pit” by Ben Snakepit: The allegedly totally true chronicle of a year in the life of a music geek slacker comic artist who plays in a band and works in a record store in Austin, Texas. It reminds me of college.
Most of these can be purchased online, from the artists themselves, their publishing houses, or online distributors. Or, you can actually go down to your local comic shop and see if they have it (lucky Bostonians have The Million Year Picnic, while Berkeleyans have the venerable Comic Relief and Comix and Comix; everyone else can check Fractured Atlas). Support independent comic artists! Most of them are really cool people, and you’ll be glad you did.
9:48:05 AM 
|
