April 26, 2010
Website
Awkward
A little bit of research can go a long way. I wasn’t sure exactly what this was all about, whether or not it was autobiographical, how old the author was when she did this, anything really important. Turns out that this is the first of four volumes about her high school experiences, with everything laid out in pretty graphic detail. This is her ninth grade year, dealing mostly with going to concerts and boys. Which might sound kind of cheesy or something that not everybody could relate to, but she just tells everything with such a vibrancy and intimacy that it’s hard not to like it. I couldn’t care less about Juliette Lewis (Ariel’s hero in ninth grade), but I wondered if maybe I hadn’t given her enough credit after reading about how great she was for so many pages. It’s obvious that this was written by someone in high school, and that’s its charm. It’s innocent, even with things going on that might not seem that innocent to jaded, adult eyes. Looks like it’s currently out of print, but keep checking the Slave Labor link up there and I’m sure they’ll fix that sooner of later. Until then, I’m thrilled to know that she went ahead and did all four years, even if the fourth isn’t done yet. If they’re all as good as this one (or better, considering that she did this when she was 15), this should be a hell of a story.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
The Sky
To avoid any confusion, when Joey says that this book is about the sky and it’s starring the sun and a cloud, she’s not kidding. This is all about the sun and a cloud having a conversation, talking about movies, going to get a drink with god, those sorts of things. If you’re looking for some detailed, intricate art, well, you’re not going to find it here. What you are going to find is a funny short tale about how being god isn’t that great after all. Or maybe it’s a polemic on the state of the drive-in movie? Or maybe it really is just about a cloud and the sun. You know, if you went to the website and looked around you could probably find out for yourself. $2!
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Absolute Power
There was some brief confusion on my part before I realized that these are 5 minute comics, not a 5 minute comic. This is a completely hilarious collection of one page strips about all kinds of people with various super powers, some incredibly useful, some useless, and some that are going to destroy the planet one day. One look at that sample should convince you pretty quickly if this sort of humor is for you (you know, the funny kind of humor). I was going to write a list of some of the characters just to give you more of a taste from the inside, but as this is a visual medium and all, why ruin the surprise? My biggest problem here was just picking the one page to sample, a good half dozen or more made me laugh out loud. As for the art, well, these pages were done in 5 minutes or less, but frankly I’ve seen plenty worse in books that didn’t have the 5 minute excuse going for them. Great book to pick up if you like laughing, and a wonderful thing for me to see on a Monday…
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
The Time Machine
This is a choose-your-own-adventure story from Joe Sayers. You know, Joey Sayers, the creator of the wonderful comics listed below as well as several others? Also, a choose-your-own-adventure story (maybe she had to call it a “maze comic” for make believe legal reasons?). For those of you still left reading this who haven’t already gone over to his website to buy this comic, I’ll give you a few more details to whet your appetite. A young man finds a time machine in his yard and decides to see if it works. Upon activating the machine he’s confronted with an increasing series of choices. Go to the past or the future? Mention the antenna or ask about cheeseburgers? Read the warning about the hot dogs or check into the antidote? Eat the hot dogs to begin with or reset time? If none of this sounds appealing to you, there is no hope for you. Granted, you may be a wonderful human being in every other regard, but somebody who can’t get behind something like this is lacking a certain quality that every decent person needs. If you’re one of those fortunate people with both a sense of humor and a strong hint of nostalgia, you won’t be disappointed. $3
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
In Case of Emergency Only
You know why I love Souther’s books? It’s because there’s usually a little bit of everything in there. You have poetry, gag strips, short stories and sketches, all bound together with obvious love. In this case I mean that almost literally, as it’s obvious that it took some serious time and dedication to put this book together. In here are some robots, bugs, aliens and an exploding statue. I know it sounds like a cop-out, but I really don’t like reviewing his books, as I’d much rather just sit back and let whichever issue I’ve just read wash over me. Is that laziness in a reviewer? Probably. But do I really still have to convince anybody that they need to check this guy out whenever and wherever they can? If you’re looking for a start-to-finish story, well, Souther probably isn’t your man. If you don’t mind wandering a bit and appreciating whatever you get without placing preconceived notions on a book, then you couldn’t do any better than this guy.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Field Trip
Here’s another mini that’s well worth the tiny price ($.50!). It has about 45 sketches of creatures at the aquarium and other assorted animals at the zoo. His sketches vary between quick and loose (sometimes you’re barely able to tell the animal he’s drawing until you take a minute to dig it out) and intricate, but never to the point where it loses the feel of being a sketchbook he brought to the zoo. No story here to speak of, obviously. Still, if you like his work and have an interest in seeing his interpretation of a myriad of animals (and a few people with their comments thrown in), then check this out. Order it with a bunch of other books from him, as this by itself wouldn’t really show you what he’s capable of. Contact info is all over the place on his page, I’m sure you can find it.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Come One Come All
Buy this book right now! Seriously, if you wait to read the whole review you might miss out, as there were only 60 copies of this done. Souther gave me a copy of this at SPX this year on the condition that I really read it, so this review is going to be a bit longer than usual. If you come to the site just to find out about new things and try to avoid my longer rambles, well, you were warned. The first thing that struck me here were the myriad styles on the pages, which were mostly illustrations, with a comic story (sketchbook style) or two thrown in. Intricate, simple, watercolors, line art, screenprinting… As I said, it’s a collection of mostly one page illustrations, so any attempt at getting a “start to finish” type of story out of this is worthless, and a bit misguided. In here are cats, poetry, a magic lamp, an angel stealing a jellyfish, ice cream, laughter, a monkey balloon, confusion, dude, underwear, an alien, inventions, a shoe, stabbing, a fire-breathing dog robot, a tall man, and a poignant tribute to Snoopy. Those are the surface things. For a whole bunch of those surface things, there’s a lot more going on there than the first picture. I’d recommend flipping back and forth from the contents page to the corresponding picture so you can see the title for each thing, as it adds layers to everything in here. If this is anything near what an average sketchbook of his looks like, he should put these out as often as possible. There’s a truly incredible mind at work here, and if there’s any justice in the world he’ll be rich in ten years from drawings that he put on cocktail napkins. I’d guess this is $5, if you could even put a price on something this gorgeous, but just send him a bundle of cash. I’m sure you’ll get back more than you gave. Did I even mention the pages yet? All kinds of different shapes and sizes, and I can’t even imagine the effort that had to go into making each copy of this. Buy it already! Here’s the website.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Peanut Butter & Jelly #2 (with Saelee Oh)
There’s another one of these things out there and I don’t have it? Granted, I might not even know about this one if Souther wasn’t kind enough to send it to me, but it still hurts to think that there’s unread stuff out there from this guy. I’m not sure who did what here, but Saelee either kept up with this guy or inspired him to greater heights, so either way she’s a force to be reckoned with. I should admit right now that I’m hopelessly biased to these observational, see-the-beauty-already-in-the-world kind of comics, but I’m starting to think that nobody does it better. In this issue we hear back from Qwerty, who is apparently a recurring character (and I just got the the joke for his name as I was typing that. Try it for yourself if you don’t believe me), who drives over all kinds of things while drunk. Funnier than it sounds, trust me. There’s also a story that, wonderfully, goes nowhere, and all kinds of random stuff. You get no more from me, because why should I take the joy of reading this away from you? If you’re starting to think that this guy might be able to throw paint at a wall and still have me call it incredible, I’m starting to think that you might be right…
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
The Monster That Ate Stars
If I needed more proof that this guy is a genius, here it is. This is the story of a little boy who turns into a monster and terrorizes people. I laughed out loud most of the way through this, and that never happens. It’s too short to say much about though. It’s funny and it looks like it was drawn in a frenzy, but in a good way. I’m not sure how much this was (probably $1 or 2) because I got it at the USS Catastrophe store, but it’s worth it. While you’re over there you might want to buy everything else they have too, or at least everything they have in stock.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Jus’ Whistlin’
I’ve been wondering lately if I’m not being too easy on these minis. Seems like I’ve liked everything I’ve seen for the past week or so. Is that because I’m a spineless “reviewer”, or is it because the comics I’ve been getting lately have been pretty damned good? I’m leaning towards the latter, but I know I go into these books expecting to like them and the creator has to lose me from there. So, in the interests of mixing things up a little bit, I’ve decided to start this off with a negative comment, so here goes: this isn’t the best thing I’ve ever read. It is, however, an amazing find and it’s obvious from reading this little tome that this guy is immensely talented and going places in a big way. This was the only thing of his over at Kevin Huizenga’s page though, so it’s all I have to go on for right now. Reminds me of John Porcellino, James Kochalka and a little bit of Anders Nilsen (probably just because of the bird), and those are three of my favorites, so he’s off to a good start. It helps too that he takes these influences and goes off in his own unique way. The story here is that the author wakes up early for school and decides to go draw before class. Oh, he also tells us a dream he had and shows us the life of some birds. If that sounds dull, it’s because I’m not telling it right. There’s a genuine love for the world that you can feel in every panel and a childish whimsy about everything. Absolutely beautiful, cover to cover. Looks like I’m going to have to wait a while for that negative review. You can also check some samples of his stuff on that page linked above, but you should probably just send him a few dollars and ask him for his latest at: 106 N. Chester Ave. Pasadena, CA 91106.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website at Fantagraphics
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website at Fantagraphics
Safe Area Gorazde
Would you believe me if I told you that this blew Palestine away? Probably not, but it’s true. His ability to communicate the indescribably horrible with the mundane in the same panels is unmatched. A lame review, granted, but there’s nothing I can add to this book. It will haunt your mind for a while after you read, but everybody should read it once to see what the world outside of our cushy American life is like.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website at Fantagraphics
Palestine
So you’ve read all the reports in Time and all over the place about how Joe’s the most important comic journalist (and possibly the first of his kind) in the world. You’ve seen all the glowing reviews for this book and how it’s essential reading for everyone. And you still haven’t bought it yet? Is it because there are two kind of pricey volumes and you’re either a cheapskate or broke all the time? Hey, I know the feeling. Well, I’m pleased to be the first to tell you that there is going to be an edition with both volumes in one. In paperback. Tired of wondering what all the hype is about yet?
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Flytrap #1
This is the last of the “lost” comics from the last con I went to six months ago, and by “lost”, I mean “stuffed under a pile of comics in my apartment”. So what you have here is an already accomplished artist working with a published author which, frankly, is a bit rare for the small press comics world. This is the story of probably the worst day in the life of a young woman named Maddy. She’s juggling a boyfriend (who she’s also promoting) a job (doing said promoting) and regular life things, so natually everything is bound to come crashing down around here. The interesting thing here though isn’t so much the crashing but the reaction to everything going wrong. Oh, and there’s a circus act involved somehow, which is sure to get more interesting in future issues. Speaking of which, I know mini comics come out at a snail’s pace anyway (mostly), but here’s hoping there two can juggle their regular careers with this series, because it has potential from this first glimpse to be something special. $2
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Me and Edith Head
Another random comic sent to me and it’s a good one. A smart little tale about making choices and dealing with things not necessarily turning out the way that you had planned. Apparently Steve Lieber is famous in the comic world, as his bio says that he’s drawn for every major publisher and draws one of the monthly Batman books. That’s not to say that his work has to be good because of it, but this book looks great. Sara has a novel out about teen sexuality as well, so I can’t imagine why these two didn’t try to get this published by one of the major companies. Maybe they did and they didn’t want it, or maybe they just wanted to go the small press route, but it’s just good that the work is out there. It’s just a couple of bucks and well worth checking out. The story (I should probably mention something about that, huh?) involves a young woman whose parents have just split up and her attempts to get a certain part in A Midsummer Nights Dream. She’s offered something else, and you can read the rest for yourself. Check out the website, why don’t you?
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Shouldn’t You Be Working?
I still feel like I’m cheating when I write reviews for this guy, as it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. Have you read Angry Youth Comics? Do you like Angry Youth Comics? If the answer is yes, then you need to go out and buy this right now. If the answer is no, why are you reading this review? Listen, the only thing that’s different with this is that this is a collection of Johnny’s “doodling” from free time spent working at a urological clinic for two years. There’s no structure and no story to speak of (although you can see the germs for more than a few ideas that he’s used in his comic), just sketchbook stuff that’s funny as hell. What can I say about it? Well, he likes boobs, and he draws a lot of shit (literally) and either you like it or you don’t. If you like it, it’s only $5.95 for 80 pages, so why not buy it? Couldn’t you use a really good laugh right about now? Contact info is around, I’m sure you can find it…
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Angry Youth Comix #5
OK, before I get started on this one, there was a debate recently on the Comic’s Journal message board about how Johnny Ryan’s comics were terrible, that he crossed all kinds of lines and that was terrible. It wasn’t quite as moral as all that, as people said that they didn’t mind lines being crossed, the comics just weren’t that funny. Well… no. Listen, Fantagraphics mostly puts out books that are for the discriminating comics reader, or the more intelligent reader. These types of people aren’t going to think something that is kind of offensive is funny, or “American Pie” offensive, like sticking your dick in a pie. These people need things that break all kinds of boundaries, or maybe things that are just funny, and I think Johnny delivers pretty consistently. I’m going off on this tangent because everybody knows how I feel about the guy, so obviously I liked this issue too. It’s a bit different from the usual, as there’s a long story in the middle about a guy who’s trying to get velvet pants in 1976. He uses the styles of more than a few of the underground guys, I’m not going to embarrass myself trying to name them all. Other than that, a monkey shaved and disguised as Loady McGee fucks a hole in a vat of boiling hot liquid dildo, saving the day, and I can’t imagine what else you would need to know to check this out.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Angry Youth Comix #4
I am Johnny Ryan’s personal hype machine! Honestly, it’s just reminding you that he’s putting out quality work on a consistent basis, and to point out the fact that there are TWO collections of his Angry Youth mini comics coming out in 2003, so get on the ball! Included in here is a story about a Halloween party, one about “Comic Book Skool” (and I know I have gone on before about people doing stuff that too self-referential to the genre, but I have to take it all back after reading this), Hipler and one called “Fuck and Shit”. How can you not love this guy? If you don’t have any issues of this yet, well, why not start here? Then go back and get the other ones. Maybe I’m too biased to be writing a review for this so I’ll stop now. And check out his website!
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Angry Youth Comix #3
Didn’t I already establish the fact that I’m not going to analyze humor comics? So why, you might ask, am I bothering to post anything at all then? Mostly to remind you that there’s a new Angry Youth Comix out, and that is a special thing indeed. I didn’t laugh quite as much at this one as I did at the other two, but I didn’t laugh that much at the first couple until I read them a couple of times or related parts of the books to friends and remembered how funny it really was. If that makes any sense at all, there you go. Oh, fine, here’s his website again. The only comic people who might have a better website are Ivan Brunetti and Tom Hart, but they’re better for different reasons.
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Posted by Kevin
April 26, 2010
Website
Angry Youth Comix #2
OK, a show of hands. Who doesn’t know about Johnny Ryan yet? I figured as much. I only learned about him when he put out his first Fantagraphics book, so I’m still kind of discovering how funny he is. Before I forget, he has one of the best websites out there. All kinds of samples and enough to convince anybody who’s not quite sure about this guy that he’s one of the funniest people out there. Honestly, there’s no way in hell that I’m going to try and review this book. Here’s a list of people who make me laugh every time I read their books: Evan Dorkin, Sam Henderson, Ivan Brunetti, Archer Prewitt and Jef Czekaj. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few people, but the point is that the list of people who are genuinely funny out there is not very long, and it’s always great to add somebody to that list. Johnny Ryan made it there with #1 and cemented his place on it with this one. In this issue, Loady McGee goes on a blind date and there are several one panel strips. That’s it, that’s all you get from me. I’ll sit here and analyze some other comics until the cows come home, trying to figure out what the author was getting at. Not with humor comics. Analyzing these can sterilize them pretty quickly, and I’m not about to do that to something like this. I’ll say again that there are all kinds of samples on his website and that I think this is the funniest new person I’ve seen since the first time I saw Sam Henderson, and if you know me at all you know that that’s saying a hell of a lot. Go to the Fantagraphics website and order these two comics. If you don’t think they’re funny, let me know why and I’ll buy $5 of stuff for you from their website. Although why you’d want me to buy stuff for you from Fantagraphics after it’s obvious that we have drastically different tastes is beyond me…
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Posted by Kevin
