I’m ashamed of my scanner, because what you’re missing from that cover image is that those black lines are actually part of a foil embossed cover, so they’re actually silver. I was a little too old to care when those covers started coming out in the 90’s (still barely following superhero comics, mostly annoyed when I saw a cover like that because they were always expensive), but I’m oddly always overjoyed to see them for the covers of indie comics. This is yet another really great collection of stories from Jonathan and a cast of some of the best artists working today; if you’re curious about them, click on their tag, because chances are I’ve reviewed their solo work too. Jonathan mentions in his afterward that he thinks this is his most “cohesive” comic based on the themes, and I’d agree with that. His dad features prominently, which makes a lot of sense considering the themes of the last issue. Stories include reminiscing about his dad’s life and watching him seamlessly fit into a group of strangers just because he used to live in that neighborhood (art by Noah Van Sciver), his reaction to the death of David Lynch and his connection to his work (art by Bhanu Pratap, and I was nodding along to this whole story, because it really hit me too), his spotting a very famous movie star at an awards show where the movie star was very conspicuously missing (art by Danny Hellman), his job back in the day as a fetcher which meant he was loosely working for the film industry (art by Karl Christian Krumpholz), and his mom’s connection to movie musicals (art by Becky Hawkins). And several more stories, but come on, this is #15, you know the deal by now. If you’re buying his comics, you’re buying a pile of quality stories, and aren’t surprises fun? Also I may be writing this on my lunch break, which will be a good reminder not to do this again, because I can already be incoherent when I’m not rushed, who knows how this is going to turn out? Check it out, it would also be a fantastic place to give his work a try for the first time if you’re curious. And check out that cover!
What’s this? Am I attempting to sneak in another Karl Christian Krumpholz book under a different name? No, you silly things, he just did the cover and a story for Jonathan’s comic. This time around the theme is (more or less) Hollywood, his time in it, and Harvey Pekar (and his time interacting with Harvey). Mostly, anyway, as he always has room for random stories. Topics in this one deal with him discovering Alan Moore as a young comics kid and how it shaped him (it also mentions that Alan drew a strip for Harvey Pekar in 1990, which I now have to locate) (art by Tony Wolf), his time working for the Sundance Channel and how it eventually ended up with him sitting directly behind Harvey Pekar for the premiere of Harvey’s movie (art by Joe Zabel), a solid choice for a midnight movie experience (art by Bernie Mireault), his time going to school with Eli Roth and his joy at watching him shoot Hitler in Inglorious Bastards (art by Gary Dumm), an entirely too detailed depiction of his having to get his Lasik eye surgery adjusted (art by Maria and Peter Hoey), his love of a good Ennio Morricone soundtrack (art by Rick Parker), a well-earned love letter to Tallulah Bankhead (art by Michael T. Gilbert), Nolan Ryan’s disgusting trick to toughen up his fingers to pitch a baseball (art by T. J. Kirsch), and of course the story with Karl Christian Krumpholz with the odd bit of synchronicity of them talking about The Friends of Eddie Coyle when I just watched that movie a few weeks ago. Coincidence? I mean, obviously. Still, it’s an obscure enough movie that I’m tickled by it being mentioned. Obviously there are few more stories I’m leaving as a total surprise for the reader (I mean, I didn’t even mention Whit Taylor’s piece), but even compared to his already solid body of work, this issue is a shining example of what Jonathan can do with a solid cast of artists and when everybody is firing on all cylinders. What does that mean exactly? Probably a car thing. Anyway, heck yeah you should check this one out. $10
Posted by Kevin 
