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CBG SATELLITES
The ADD Blog by Alan David Doane
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Syncopated Volume 2 Syncopated Volume 2 is one of the biggest surprises of the year so far. In fact, I was so looking forward to the new Chris Ware book from Pantheon, I had not even planned to purchase any other books last week. But from the instant I saw Brendan Burford’s gorgeous cover, I knew I had to give this a shot. Syncopated Volume 2 is essentially a literary journal of cartooning. The oversized, 64 page magazine format features several new cartoonists, all of whom would appeal to fans of Seth or Michel Rabagliati. Though the ten contributions run the gamut from experimental cartooning to prose articles about long forgotten blues singers (Lonnie Johnson), the unifying theme, as pointed out in publisher/creator Brendan Burford’s introduction, is “reportage,” from a “first person, journalistic perspective.” Highlights, of which there are many, include all three of Burford’s contributions, especially his story “E. Rossi & Company,” about a knick-knack store in Little Italy whose owners were slowly forced out by the astronomical prices of Manhattan real estate. Burford portrays the owners as old country Italians, relics from a city and a life that are no longer relevant. It’s a bittersweet tale, as well as an understated social commentary on the slow eradication of culture in our ever-expanding capitalist society. In “Comics That Time Forgot,” Burford collects several rare political cartoons from the Women’s Suffrage movement of the 1910s. It’s a rare insight into America’s less than admirable past, as women are often portrayed as emasculating barbarians or malicious devils in these cartoons. Glenn Mott contributes “The Tom Folio Society,” a fascinating article chronicling the origin and history of a used bookstore in St. Louis’s famous Delmar Loop, which despite its slightly academic tone, was enjoyable particularly for me, as I was familiar not only with the neighborhood, but the actual store (my great grandfather used to live less than 2 blocks from there). Rina Piccolo’s story, “The Orange Girls,” is a fascinating first person exploration about a mysterious couple of eccentric women who wandered the streets of Toronto for years, arm in arm, wearing bright orange pants, coats and hats. It’s the kind of weird, urban legend whose truth grows odder with each ‘sighting.’ Piccolo’s cartooning is gorgeous, reminiscent of the late Dr. Seuss, and effectively recreates an authentic look and feel of the city. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any website information in the book, but if you’re interested, you should email Mr. Burford about how to purchase this book. Overall, this is an outstanding anthology, edited with a clear vision toward, dare I say it, pushing comics forward, and is well worth the effort to track down. Grade: 4.5 out of 5 
The Winter Men #1-2
What I like about this title is that it's smart. Rather than the resort to decompressed, wide angle storytelling that's so popular these days, it delivers a lot of story and characterization in each issue. The story itself is complex, focusing on ex-Soviet superhero, Kris Kalenov who is forced to investigate a kidnapping. What makes Kris Kalenov such an interesting character, however, is not the cold-bloodedness with which he pursues his case, it's his interactions with the other characters. Kalenov is more interested in healing his fractured marriage than taking the case and is initially defiant over even accepting the responsibility. Kalenov's conflicted relationship with former teammate Nikki also makes for an interesting dynamic and writer Brett Lewis is careful to develop these subplots slowly, piquing reader interest without giving too much away up front. There is also an obvious effort to create an authentic ethnicity throughout the book, evident in the broken English dialogue and the clearly researched settings. Rather than resort to tired clichés of foreign characters, the creators have done their homework. The artwork from John Paul Leon is outstanding, scratchy at times, but always when the story calls for it, and though it's angular and jagged, the characters, expressions and settings are clear and distinguished. The coloring by veteran Dave Stewart is typically outstanding. For a mainstream book, this is one of the best I've read this year (though admittedly I don't read many), and the fact that it's an 8 issue limited series promises that the creators have already planned out the ending, which is encouraging considering how many mainstream books rely on strong beginnings to boost sales only to completely fall apart after a few issues. Of course, there's always the possibility that this could fall into the same traps, but after reading a quarter of the story, I'm definitely hooked.
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
Salamander Dream Larson is a relative newcomer whose work and name has been getting a lot of attention recently, and for good reason - her artwork is gorgeous. Strongly reminiscent of Robert Ullman's more recent work (Lunch Hour Comix, Grand Gestures), Larson uses thick black lines sparingly, yet she captures a real organic sense of movement and expression in her characters. Her style, which is enhanced by a duo-tone frog green shading, is not only visually appealing, it gives the desired feel of a fable to the interactions between Hailey and her masked friend, sharing fantasies together in the quiet of the forest. The story itself is less of a quest or a journey, than it is a rite of passage, as Hailey grows up and forgets about her mysterious friend. It's a simple, sweet little tale, and one that might have seemed more at home as a children's picture book (it certainly would have reached a more age-appropriate audience) but one that nevertheless is satisfying and enjoyable, and introduces Larson as a young cartoonist with bright prospects. Grade: 4 out of 5 -- Marc Sobel
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By Various Artists
By Brett Lewis and John Paul Leon
By Hope Larson