MOME Vol. 11 and Amor Y Cohetes -- Here we have two collections packed with fantastic comics, both excellent examples of why Fantagraphics remains the best comics publisher in North America.

* MOME Vol. 11 is the Summer, 2008 offering of the company's anthology of new and established cartoonists. This time out we get excellent offerings from Tom Kaczynski (a truly riveting tale about corporate immersion, one of his best stories yet, and he's always interesting), Dash Shaw (an outstanding story about art and jealousy and fakery and self-deception), and an amazing text piece (illustrated, yes, but mostly text) by Paul Hornschemeier. Hornschemeier also contributes another chapter of his ongling "Life with Mr. Dangerous" serial (actually the most intriguing outing yet), but the text piece, "The Guest Speaker," is a real stretch, a prose exploration of a single character that feels like Hornschemeier's creative voice, exploring new boundaries of his storytelling.

Gary Groth interviews lettertype cartoonist Ray Fenwick (coinciding with the release of Fenwick's new Fantagraphics release Hall of Best Knowledge, and the result is a fascinating look at his process and creativity.

Oh, I almost forgot, Al Columbia is in here with four pages of mood and colour that are worth the price of admission all by themselves. All this, and a lot more; MOME is your best artcomix value every time out, and this really is an exceptional example of its breadth and worth.

* Amor Y Cohetes is the final (for now) volume of the most recent Love and Rockets reprint series, closing out the entirety of the series first fifty issues in seven compact, amazing volumes. This one is an odds 'n ends catch-all, but it's far from optional if you love the cartooning and storytelling of Los Bros Hernandez. "BEM," Gilbert Hernandez's wild first longform saga, is in here, as is his take on brother Jaime's characters. Lots of short pieces, some political pieces by brother Mario (who seems EC-inspired, to my eyes), and perhaps my favourite thing of all, a plethora of Gilbert panels that remind me strongly of Steve Ditko's work (many of them in the aforementioned "BEM").

If I felt like dicking around with my scanner, and possibly damaging the book, I'd post some examples. But grab a copy and turn to page 39, panel 4; page 10, panel 2; page 14, panel 3; page 24, panel 5; page 178, panel 3. The Hernandez Bros have a number of influences that are especially evident in their early work (which "BEM" surely is), but for some reason seeing Gilbert's Ditkoesque stylings really made me love this book even more. And there's so much stuff in Amor Y Cohetes that you can pretty much open to any page and just start reading another wild, stream-of-consciousness tale. Oh, and would Tesla Strong have existed without Rocket Rhodes as an inspiration?

Get Amor Y Cohetes and take it to the beach, keep it in the car, read it on the train -- it's a great companion for the summer ahead, and like all L&R volumes, absolutely indispensable to any reader who loves great comics.

Labels: reviews

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 6:52 PM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Damn, He Has A Point -- Here's Tom Spurgeon making a damned convincing case for Wimpy from Popeye being the greatest cartoon character of all time.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 11:17 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Fantagraphics Goes Diamond-Exclusive for Direct Market -- Tom Spurgeon has a great news article up on this move, rumoured the past few days.

I won't pretend to understand the ins and outs of Fantagraphics' decision, except to say that I hope Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics' expert publicist, is right when he says it will benefit the company and readers (like me) who buy their wares through the direct market.

Respected retailer Chris Butcher has serious concerns, and lays them out well in his comments in Spurgeon's story. My experience has been that Diamond has not been particularly conscientious about serving non-Marvel/DC publishers and the readers who order their titles, so I definitely will reserve judgment and again, hope that Fantagraphics really does know what it is doing.

I don't know much of anything about Tony Shelton, apparently an independent distributor who handled Fantagraphics publications and is seemingly being shut out by this deal. I hope he is able to ride out this change without a disastrous effect on the way he makes his living. Like I say, I don't know much about him, but if he's been distributing Fantagraphics publications to comic book stores these past few years, he has to be one of the good guys, and I wish him well in the wake of this rather amazing announcement.

Update: Chris Butcher has posted his full response to Tom Spurgeon's questions on his own blog.

Updated Again: Eric Reynolds responds, quite convincingly, to Butcher's concerns.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 11:16 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
The Digital Comics Paradigm Shift -- Here's a long, thought-provoking piece by Dirk Deppey on digital versus paper comics at Journalista.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 9:39 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
John Byrne in the Spotlight -- I've posted an introduction to Byrne and a look at some of his best art over at iTaggit.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 9:25 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
8 Comics You Should Be Reading Right Now -- That's my latest article, up now at iTaggit.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 9:57 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Kunstler on The Colbert Report -- I'm not one for embedded video files, but what the hell:



Enjoy!

Labels: end of the world watch

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 9:40 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Tom Spurgeon on Comics Pricing -- As someone who frequently quotes Tom's "The only comics that cost too much are shitty comics," truism, I feel compelled to link to Spurgeon's think-piece on whether comics are becoming too expensive.

My feeling is, look at the cover prices of Acme Novelty Library, Love and Rockets and Eightball now versus when they debuted as floppy, serial comics. I'm just as happy paying $9.99 or $16.99 or whatever they charge for them as I was when they were two or three bucks. Because they're great comics, not because it's more pages or a better format.

The only Marvel comic not currently overpriced is Criminal, which I would still buy as-is at $9.99 and be perfectly content. The average Marvel Universe title, though, would be a screw-job at fifty cents. Look at it this way: Thanks to BitTorrent technology, I can read any Marvel or DC title for free the day after it comes out. And 99 times out of 100, I don't bother even then, for free.

How about you?

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 2:53 PM [LINK TO THIS] | 1 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
ADD's Guide to the Best Comics Publishers -- Freshly posted at iTaggit.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 10:11 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Sunday Stuff -- Mother's Day is here again, my annual reminder that I didn't really plan my wedding anniversary (in less than two weeks) with any kind of budget or common sense in mind.

My mom's been gone for well over a decade now, but I still think of her often; there are people I've worked with who I know I have completely forgotten ever existed, but I must think about my mother every couple of days. I always wish I could ask for her advice on whatever the decision of the moment is, and I wish she could have spent time with my kids. She only lived long enough to see my daughter when she was a baby, and that doesn't seem fair, but of course, fairness is a fairy tale.

I'm taking my wife and kids out for Mother's Day brunch at a wonderful place up in Lake George, which we stumbled into last Mother's Day when my initial plans fell through at the last minute. This time we have reservations and everything. What could go wrong?

We saw Iron Man yesterday. It is as awesome and well-done as everyone keeps telling you. If you haven't seen it, please do. And remember to check out my list of recommended Iron Man graphic novels at iTaggit.

Chris Butcher, one of the internet's most indispensable comics resources, has given quite a gift today to anyone who runs a comics-related website or is thinking about it. Read his thoughts on what he would do if he started up a new comic book website. There's an implied and well-deserved criticism of existing, popular sites and good, strong hints for those willing to see the big picture. I would love it if Chris actually did what he's talking about, but I'd settle for all the rest of us taking the hint and getting our collective shit together.

Certainly I've gotten a sense of what he's talking about since I started blogging about comics for iTaggit. They're paying to have me on their site as an "expert blogger," and while that money isn't going to cover my rent or pay for college for my kids, it will make my monthly budgeting easier and maybe help make my summer a little more fun. Actually getting paid for what you're doing by definition makes you take it more seriously, and most of the popular "comics news sites" don't pay much, or anything to their contributors. Which is why I would have a very hard time thinking of more than three or four columnists/writers for those sites that I pay any attention to at all. The people I rely on for the very best comics writing online do it by themselves on their own sites (or with one or two people occasionally chipping in, probably for reasons other than money), and it's unfortunate that they aren't better rewarded for their work. Because as Butcher points out, if they were, there would be a hell of a lot more of it for us all to enjoy and learn from.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 7:20 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Recommended Online Comics Resources -- If you're a regular reader here, this may all be old hat to you, but I've posted a guide to the best online comics resources at iTaggit.

Labels: meta, recommendations

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 1:46 PM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Blitzer and Obama -- Here's what I want Wolf Blitzer to ask Barack Obama tomorrow on CNN:

I would like to know how the Obama Administration plans to deal with the permanent energy crisis we are entering — will he find ways to encourage smaller, more realistic economies of scale at the local level? What will he do when gasoline is not only too expensive for most Americans, but very possibly not even available, at any price? If he wins in November and serves two terms, that is almost certainly something he and his Presidency will face.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 4:44 PM [LINK TO THIS] | 1 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Lyrics I've Had in My Head a Lot Lately -- By the Talking Heads, from the album True Stories:

We live in the city of dreams
We drive on the highway of fire
Should we awake
And find it gone
Remember this, our favorite town.

Probably my favourite song on my favourite Talking Heads album, it seems to apply both personally and globally...

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 7:58 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Amazing Things About Me -- Here's just a few of the things I have learned about myself by reading a comments thread at Comics Should Be Good:

1) I want to move in with James Kochalka.

2) I "assume a binary continuum" of "good" comics vs. "evil" comics.

3) I am "not a person but rather a highly advanced computer program that is able to effortlessly generate article after article of blowhardism."

4) I've "chosen a side, and [am] writing propaganda for the home team."

5) I "fulfill all the popular negative stereotypes of the 'professional critic.'"

Rebuttals:

1. I would not move in with James Kochalka until baby Oliver is out of diapers. I've changed enough diapers for one lifetime, thanks very much.

2. It's not so much good versus evil comics, as good versus evil comics "fans."

3. Since I actually am a highly advanced computer program that is able to effortlessly generate article after article of blowhardism, I can't really argue with #3.

4. I'm not sure, but I think this one means I am gay. Which would explain why I want to move in with James Kochalka, actually. God damn it, these people may be on to something.

5. Not so, I lost my ascot years ago and can't afford a new one.

Apropos of Nothing

If, after learning all these new and amazing facts, you would like to expose yourself to more of my blowhardism, please do check out my newest articles at iTaggit.

Labels: meta

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 7:28 AM [LINK TO THIS] | 5 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
Comics Blogging at iTaggit -- I've posted my first article about comics at iTaggit. Take a look, and please consider joining the site if you like what you see. I plan to post two or three articles a week there, and I hope you'll check it out.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 7:40 PM [LINK TO THIS] | 0 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE

 
The Albany Comicon -- My wife and I brought our kids to today's Albany Comicon at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road.

Calling it a "comicon" is a bit of a stretch -- it really was just a dealers' room and a modest artists alley populated by local and regional creators like John Hebert, Todd Dezago and Matt Smith. There were no panels and really nothing at all to do except browse the dealers' wares and meet the creators, unless you count hanging out with friends, which luckily we got to do.

Former FantaCo stalwart Rocco Nigro and I had a great chat, and I asked him to keep an eye out for his former FantaCo compatriot Roger Green, who had said he might attend. Soon enough, Roger appeared as well, and we were able to spend some time chatting about FantaCo, and my and Roger's sadly never-realized plans for a regular column about the FantaCo era for -- remember this? -- "The New Comic Book Galaxy." That unrealized idea is probably my biggest regret about CBG; I really, really wanted to host -- and more importantly, read -- Roger's memories of that time. Luckily he still talks about those days from time to time, and a little bird tells me he plans at least one big post on the subject this summer.

The most fascinating, and frankly moving, part of my talk with Rocco and Roger today was hearing Roger recount his experiences the week cartoonist and FantaCo employee Raoul Vezina died. I remember that time, and Raoul, quite well, I miss him and his work more than I can ever really explain, and as I mentioned to Roger and Rocco, I remain amazed to this day that no one has really created a proper tribute to Raoul and his work on the internet.

Anyway, talking to Rocco and Roger was definitely the highlight of my day at the Albany Comicon -- it was a decent first effort, I guess, but the complete lack of any artcomix/alternatives/undergrounds/mini-comics/manga really left me pretty ambivalent about the event. Not that I was surprised, but it would have been nice if there had been some diversity beyond the relentless superheroes and Star Wars skew, which was in evidence virtually at every dealer's table. Getting together with friends and fellow bloggers is great, but it would have been really nice to come home with an armload of comics to read, and I came home with nothing (other than a freebie copy of The Daredevil Chronicles to replace my dog-eared copy).

But anytime Rocco and Roger want to get together and talk comics, FantaCo, or anything else, man, my schedule is wide open. Get in touch, guys.

Update: Roger's account of the convention is up now. Unlike Roger, I didn't win anything in the hourly raffles, although my ticket was off by only one digit late in the day...I'm glad he took home some swag, though.

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 4:57 PM [LINK TO THIS] | 1 COMMENTS | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE