1,000 Posts! or, A Love of Comics Celebrated

Good Grief!

Panel Patter has reached 1,000 posts, mostly by me with some help from Erica and Sarah as this year moved on.  It's hard to believe I've been reviewing things for so long--or so many comics!  I've done everything from the Avengers to Yotsuba&! and featured comics from major publishers, overseas, and some of my friends in the mini-comics scene, from Carolyn Belefski to Rob Ullman.

In that time, I've even progressed to having the pleasuring of working with several publishers and independent creators to see what's out there in the wider comics world.  I have participated in ideas that crossed between blogs, and even hosted one.  I've tried recurring features, some of which stuck around and others kinda fell flat.    But that's the fun in running a comics blog for the joy of it--no one is there to get mad at you if you "fail" at something.

I'm a talker by nature.  I'll talk your damned ear off.  Always have, always will.  Panel Patter is where I come to talk about the comics I love, the comics I think you should like, and now and again, the comics you need to stay away from.  I'm very blessed to be living in an era where we can freely express our ideas about comics to anyone who cares to add you to their RSS reader.  Anyone can do it, and anyone who wants to should.

I'm not in Panel Patter for the fame and fortune.  I know I'll never reach thousands of people a day, but that's okay.  I'm not here to try to snag a deal writing comics (and trust me, drawing them is NEVER gonna happen.  I make Chris Sims look like Jack Kirby.).  Getting paid might just give me a heart attack, if anyone ever offered.  I write this blog because I love comics, and I want to share that love with anyone who wants to listen.  I'm so happy when Sarah and Erica are up for sharing some of their love of comics here as well.  I get a thrill when a creator e-mails me to say they've enjoyed a review or I see that a publisher picked up a review I did and is using it to promote a comic.  It means that what I'm doing matters to someone who also loves comics.

I consider myself a comics evangelist.  I want everyone to know how good comics are, whether they feature people in ridiculous spandex, read right to left, are photocopied at Staples, or feature the heartbreaking (or heartwarming) stories that are close to the hearts of the artist.  No one genre of comics is better than another.  There are great comics being made in all formats right now, on paper, on the web, in the hands of corporate conglomerates and at the smallest of publishers.  They're on your screens, tablets and cell phones.  They might be in your local paper.  But they exist, and they need people like you and me to tell the world around us that there's so much to be found, if only they take the time to look.

I have no idea how many more Panel Patter posts are going to happen.  Maybe it's another 1,000.  Maybe it's 5,000.  Who knows?  (Please don't say the Shadow.)  All I know is that I am incredibly blessed to be able to talk about a medium of entertainment I've loved since I could read.  I may not be able to do whatever a spider can, despite the best efforts of my childhood self to get bitten by spiders.  But if my younger self knew I'd be doing this, I have a feeling he'd have climbed the walls in joy.

Thanks to all of you who've shared the ride so far.  Now stop reading this and go read more comics!  And tell the world about them!  Together, we can make the comics world a better, even more varied place!

All my best,

Rob McMonigal

Irredeemable Volume 7

Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Peter Krause and Diego Barreto
Boom! Studios

The Plutonian is trapped in an intergalactic insane asylum!  Kaiden is trapped with the tranformed and tortured zombie version of her old lover!
Qubit is trapped with Modeus, searching for the Plutonian!
It's Operation:  Breakout for our players as certain plot threads weave together while new strands are formed and we get further confirmation that Tony is by no means the only character who is...Irredeemable.

First of all, I just want to say I love the idea of an intergalactic insane asylum.  It's brilliant, allowing the writer and artist to tee off with crazy character designs, quirks, and traits.  Waid and his pair of artists take full advantage, giving us everything from a Hulk-like creature with multiple personality disorder that has a physical manifestation to a "suicidal cutter with a telekinetic problem."  That's a direct quote.  It's exactly the sort of thing we've come to expect now in Irredeemable, where Waid takes the envelope, pushes it for a bit, then says "screw it" and throws the envelop out the window.  It's great storytelling, using the fact that this world is entirely under Waid's control to do whatever he likes.  It brings Irredeemable a level of unpredictability that most superhero comics can't match.  After all, even when a character is radically altered (Ben Reilly, Az-Bats, Artemis as Wonder Woman, the dual Supermen, etc.), it never lasts if they're familiar or popular enough because the suits involved want them back to marketable normal.

For Mark Waid's Irredeemable universe, there is no normal.  Just a playing field that shifts and alters beneath the reader's feet, making for a comic ride that is unique to creator-owned properties. (I should note here that I do not know if Waid owns these characters or if Boom! does, but right now, the series is being treated as though it were as creator-owned as Invincible or Hellboy.)  I love that I never know what's going to happen, because this is a world where anything is possible.

Because of that freedom, Waid can do things like explain Tony's Superman-like powers in a way that would never fly for Clark Kent or have a homicidal robot persona express his love for the main character.  He can even play with time itself, leaving a possible clue to how everything can be fixed.

Or maybe not!  That's the fun of it all!

As with prior issues in the series, Waid goes to places you might not expect and shows that all of the characters in this drama are flawed, even the previously pretty clean Kaiden, who prefers the dangerous brother and ends up being part of the madness of Survivor, who is shown really off his rocker in his only scene in these four issues.  Qubit is willing to kill indiscriminately to stop Tony, and his Faustian bargains appear ready to backfire on him.  Meanwhile Tony has formed a new team of sorts, consisting of figures that are as ruthless and bloodthirsty as he is.  He's just about hit his nadir...but I have a feeling Waid will find a way to sink him even lower, because that's what he's done in the prior six volumes.  Why stop now?

The storytelling here is definitely old-school, with Waid giving new readers a brief re-introduction to the plot of Irredeemable, doing it via in-story narration rather than one of those annoying one-page plot summaries of which we've seen so many.  I've gotten so used to the prose introductions that I couldn't figure out what Waid was doing at first!  From there, he takes several long-standing threads and places them in a story arc that finishes some ideas and starts new ones.  Some characters get only a few pages--just enough to tease future ideas.  It's pitch-perfect comic storytelling from a master.  Irredeemable is not only good--it's a clinic on how to tell a comic.

Waid is aided and abetted by Krause and Barreto, both of whom do a good job of illustrating the story Waid wants to tell.  I still prefer Krause's work to Barreto, as his details are sharper and his characters better able to give clues to the story without dialog.  However, I'm getting used to Barreto's lines and I think he is much stronger here than in the previous issues.  I appreciate that the artist shift was done gradually and with two creators whose work complement each other, rather than conflict.

I think you can make an argument that Irredeemable is the best superhero comic book being published right now.  It's intelligent, well-plotted, and keeps the reader on the edge of its seat.  I cannot wait to keep reading more!  If you haven't been reading this book, I strongly urge you to do so.  This is a classic in the making, I think, and the sooner you read it, the better.

"21" The Story of Roberto Clemente

Written by Wilfred Santiago
Illustrated by Wilfred Santiago
Fantagraphics

He's a legend in Pittsburgh and Puerto Rico.  He's arguably the greatest Latin American baseball player to ever touch the field of play.  He's hailed as a humanitarian and died in the service of his fellow man.  He is Roberto Clemente, and this is his story, as written by Wilfred Santiago.

Santiago's Clemente comes from extremely humble beginnings and is haunted by the idea of death, right up until the end.  He's always nervous about flights, as though something tells him they will be his undoing.  He's watched oppression his entire life, but carries on regardless.  This Clemente knows what others say about him, from the mild resentment of fellow players to the outright racism of those who don't like him or who root for other teams.  This Clemente lives life as best he can, trusting in God and family and his abilities.

It's a very uplifting story, as Clemente rises in the baseball world to reach glory twice in the World Series and in making his 3,000th hit.  Santiago spends most of the book outside the baseball field, however, which might disappoint some readers.  I liked getting inside the home life of Clemente, but I admit, as a Pirate fan from a tender age, seeing less of the baseball side of Clemente's life did diminish my enjoyment of the book just a bit.  I also think that Santiago is a bit unfair to the city, showing more of its problems than its triumphs and leaving Bob Prince out to dry by not explaining his verbalisms more and making the "Bob Clemente" thing more offensive than loving by leaving it out there on an island (no pun intended).

While I did enjoy this as both a fan of comics and baseball, I do wonder about its outreach.  I'm not sure how many of Fantagraphics's usual readers are interested in sports, even if the figure was one of the early players to break the color barrier (and to do so in a way that far eclipsed Jackie Robinson in terms of talent and ability).  On the other hand, the extremely stylized art style that uses exaggeration at every opportunity is likely to turn off anyone who likes sports but thinks that Hagar the Horrible is the height of comic storytelling.   I think it's great that Fantagraphics gave this book a chance to exist for an American audience, but I'm just not sure there's a wide range of people looking for a sports biography via Scott Morse craft.

That being said, I was extremely impressed by Santiago's artistic abilities.  He manages to shift the comic page in ways you'd never think of for a biography, using all sorts of layouts, from jagged panels to Family Circus ovals to standard grid formats.  His characters wiggle their way through when in motion, show their feelings on faces that are slightly oversized and full of expression, and sometimes contort themselves into shapes that aren't quite natural.  It's an artistic tour de force and shows that bio comics do not have to be the stolid, one step at a time narrative that we often see.  The question is:  Can the comics market support this sort of experimentation with a topic that's generally given to a conservative take?

I really hope so, because "21" is an excellent book that profiles the only man who entered the Hall of Fame without waiting the traditional five years and inspired an award named after him.  Clemente is every bit the important figure in baseball history that Robinson was, and more people need to know his story.  "21" is an excellent place to start, either for you or the baseball fan in your life.

Sunday Readings 11-27-11

Good Morning!  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  Here are some Sunday Readings for your almost back to work reading pleasure...

First off, my friend Darryl has a few things to say in his continuing look at why comics are stuck in a rut.  I still think that his argument has a major flaw, as it looks to newspaper/magazine comics as an entry point, which I think is just plain wrong.  That time was great, but its time has past.  The web and a larger, diffused audience reading what makes them happy is the future.  Still, it's an interesting approach that I think is pretty unique.

Diesel Sweeties has the right idea...donuts!

Caleb of Every Day is Like Wednesday shares the Thanksgiving craft activities of the Marvel Universe.

A lot of my Twitter pals were either huge fans or made appearances during the DC Fifty-Too and Marvel What-If editions of this blog.  I'm excited to see that it's joining Covered and Repaneled as a new, permanent blog!

Speaking of Repaneled, here's a great re-imagining of a scene as drawn by Jack Kirby by Jeff Potter and Wheeler Hall.

I just don't get the appeal of these heroic MMOs.  Neither, apparently, does Wonderella.

Newsarama has a nice interview with Nate Cosby about the Jim Henson Storyteller comic, coming soon.  I really hope this one hits digital.

J.M. DeMatteis is one of my favorite writers.  Here's one person's appreciation of his long and prolific career and Dematteis' own take.

I think these scientists belong in Deep 13.

This is why *I* never get to run a restaurant.

Here's an awesome Usagi Yojimo by Ron Salas.

Ben Towle's not only a cool guy and a great conversationalist, he also points out great articles.  Here's a Comics Journal piece on Steve Ditko's indie work.  I should hopefully have some comments of my own soon, having finished one of his self-published collections.  The short version is when his politics aren't overbearing, indie Ditko can be some of his best work.

Another one of my friends, Katie Omberg, draws Batman!  (kinda)

Tradd Moore kills this Fin Fang Foom.

Graeme McMillan tries to establish the credentials of Dynamite as a comics publisher.  For some reason, I just can't get into them, even after this plea.  I think some of the problem is it seems like they're always working with someone else's ideas, even if the creators involved are cool.  I'm just not all that interested in new Lone Ranger comics as I am in, say , Pale Horse from Boom! where a new character fights to stop John Wilkes Booth and the types of injustice the Ranger never seemed to find.

Finally, here's a reminder to always make sure your imaginary friends are cooler than you are.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Hera The Goddess and Her Glory

Written by George O'Connor
Illustrated by George O'Connor
First Second

George O'Connor's story of the Olympians continues in this third book, which features the controversial figure Hera, wife of Zeus and frequent foil for many a Greek Myth.  Read as her story unfolds in ways you might not expect, particularly her link to the demigod Heracles.  It's an experiment in reputation repair as O'Connor brings us another member of the Pantheon here in...Hera!

When I heard that the third book in this excellent series from O'Connor would be Hera, I was really curious.  Here is a figure that's been nothing but a figure of evil, in just about every portrayal I can think of, from the surviving original plays to the Kevin Sorbo television show to her recent appearances in Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente's excellent Hercules comics.  She is always the one trying to thwart the noble male hero, making her just about everyone's stereotypical figure of the nagging wife or man-hater, depending on the situation.  Hera is generally the embodiment of the you-know-what, mostly because she won't let Zeus sleep around.  The nerve!

I simply had no idea how O'Connor was going to make that work in a book aimed at a younger audience.

Here's the thing with myths, though:  There are plenty of them around, and not all myths tell the same stories the same way.  Like accounts of a local legend at the corner bar, the tale changes depending on who's doing the telling.  O'Connor took the time to look around for myths that give Hera a makeover, many of which do so just by changing a few of the details.  The result is a strong, if vengeful, female figure who finds a way to make Zeus' many, many transgressions against her turn into ways to show her own power.

It's a subtle change, but one that allows O'Connor to tell the story of Heracles without making Hera look like a terrible person (and casting all women in a bad light in the process).  Like his second book, covering the myths of Athena, Hera ends up as a strong figure that any girl reading this book can look up to.  It also prevents young men from buying into the "nagging wife" stereotype by seeing Hera's side of the story (and also taking some of the rougher edges off her narrative.)

In some ways, this book is a retcon of Hera, especially given the superhero feel O'Connor gives this series.  This is not the story of Hera we all grew up on, and for some, the change might just be a bit too much.  I think at times he tries a bit too hard to place Hera in a good light, and it does make the narrative a bit more strained here than in the past books.  O'Connor is more careful this time, and I think it makes for a less interesting book than Zeus and Athena.

That does not mean it's a bad book.  I like that he's moving away from the negative portrayal of Hera (even if I think he went a bit too far).  The link to Heracles is clever, and allows him to tell heroic, over-sized adventures in the same manner of the first two books.  The little links between all of the stories we've seen so far (and the ones to come) give the Olympians series a feel of a cohesive universe, rather than as sterile historical texts.  They live and breathe and interact in ways that other myth-based books for teens lack.  I love the way that O'Connor creates this universe, making readers of all ages eagerly await the next installment.  Like Stan and Jack and Steve did many, many years ago, O'Connor weaves us into a place that lives across books--complete with an index guide and notes to help us see all the links!

One of the best parts of the Olympians series for me is the point of the books.  Not only are they meant to stand alone as cool comics, I like that the book is structured in such a way that anyone who finishes the book and wants more can move from visual texts to print ones, which is important from the perspective of an educator.  A savvy librarian or parent can then move the young reader on accordingly, either with suggestions from O'Connor or their own books.  (My only fear here is story whiplash because most other books are not going to be nearly so kind to Hera.)

Hera The Goddess and Her Glory is another great entry in the Olympians series.  Drawn beautifully by O'Connor and filled with more details than you'd expect, it is a great book for any young reader.  I cannot wait for the next entry in the series, Hades, to arrive!

First Second Books was kind enough to provide me with a copy of Hera.  I apologize for the delay in getting this review together for them.  If you are interested in having us review something for you here on Panel Patter, please contact me at trebro@gmail.com.

Panel Patter Goes to Super Art Fight 12 in Baltimore, Maryland

Last Saturday, Erica and I had the distinct pleasure to take advantage of our proximity to the Charles Village part of Baltimore, Maryland to take in our first (but definitely not last!) viewing of a Super Art Fight.

Captain Caveman is the 1%!

I'd heard of Super Art Fight before, but hadn't really thought much about going to one of these events.  I feared it might be too insular, one of those things you do as a cartoonist for other cartoonists.  I was soon to discover that nothing could be further from the truth.

We almost didn't go at all, but when I heard that Adam Warrock was going to be the headline act, it sold me on the deal.  If nothing else, it would be a good night of nerdcore rap.  Warrock had been in Baltimore recently, but it was a weeknight, and those are a bit tricky on our work schedules.  I'd been listening to his stuff for awhile now, so I was excited to get to see him in person.

For those who have never been to a Super Art Fight before, the idea is deceptively simple yet leads to all kinds of complex visual puns and other hilarity.  A large canvas is draped across the stage, starting off with almost nothing on it, save some notations that it is from Super Art Fight.  Then a certain number of creators are brought to the stage.  These creators have twenty five minutes to duel on the canvas, trying to be the more popular cartoonist.

Adam Warrock closes the Super Art Fight

Now, if that was all there was to it, Super Art Fight would be fun. Watching two or more people quick draw for twenty five minutes with no room to go back and edit, limited space, and the pressure of a cheering (or jeering) audience is quite the challenge.

But the folks behind this event have built multiple ways to complicate matters for the wielders of the oversized Sharpies that are used to mark up the white paper.

First, each artist starts with their own topic. So far, so good.  However, every five minutes, they must pull a lever and have a topic selected for them by the "wheel of death."  These are not normal topics, either.  You can have everything from "Occupy Sesame Street" to "Cute Animals on Fire" to "Calamari Damacy" to "Batman Arkham Horror."   As if this were not bad enough, the contestants are encouraged to deface each others' art in the most hilarious ways possible, based on the new topics.  As the time runs down and the canvas fills up, only those with the quickest wits can keep finding ways to add to the picture.  It's easy to break when the pressure is on and your subject is "Tron Swanson."

Aww, Sad Pug is Sad

The whole thing is aided and abetted by two commentators, who doing running patter on what the artists are working on, even interacting with them, depending on who was on stage and what was going on.  They arguably have the hardest role in the proceedings, because they have to keep the audience cheering and riff on the art, all without knowing exactly what is going to happen next.  Their jokes and banter weren't all winners, but when you have to make commentary for over two hours, that's expected.  I was impressed by just how funny they could be, especially since for the most part neither went in for lowest-common-denominator jokes, unless it was for the express purpose of getting a rise out of someone.  They knew they had a smart audience, and made jokes accordingly.

A canvas, just about finished.

There were four matches on the night we attended.  The opening bout had three contenders, including a crowd favorite, a former champion (and the ultimate winner), and one of Baltimore's own Charm City Roller Derby girls, who had great artistic skills but was unable to best her opponents.  Next up was a tag-team event with one side featuring a ninja and a businessman and the other a Dr. Who from another dimension with a crossdressing Amy as a companion.  The third bout had two very large gentlemen going at it, and while neither of them spoke, their antics were the highlight of the night for me.  (I also think they turned in the best work.)  The final bout was for the championship, with a dapper gentlemen going again a mock superhero who left little to the imagination.  They also worked well, showing why they were up against each other for the title belt.

After the first two matches, Rare Candy came on to perform some video game music, and while I am not an expert in the field, I thought they did a great job with everything from Castlevania to Yoshi.  They had a high energy that fit in well with the overall event.

It was very late by the time Adam came on, and I admit that I was not as hyped up as I might have been had he played at, say, 11PM instead of 12:30 at night.  That was no problem for him, however, as Warrock practically lept unto the stage and gave his all to a crowd that was really into his music--if a bit tired.  He debuted a few tracks he'd not performed live before, and showed that he's moving into areas of nerdcore that don't directly involve comic books, which I think is a good move for him.  Sadly, I can't rock on to Dr. Who as much as I might have before, as I am no longer a heretic, having converted to the show in a big way a few weeks ago.

We had to leave before Adam's show was over, just out of sheer exhaustion. However, do not miss an opportunity to catch his act if you can--he's a great entertainer, and a cool person to talk to before the show.

Super Art Fight was a great time.  We got to be out with people who are like us--lovers of things that are both cool and geeky at the same time.  I was able to show off my one-liner chops (winning a Twitter contest in the process!) and display my penchant for hearty laughter.  There were plenty of jokes, a ton of great art, and an environment that felt welcoming for old friends and new visitors alike.

Super Art Fight travels around the East Coast.  If you hear about a show coming to town near you, don't hesitate...go learn just how fun competitive quick drawing can be!

Panel Patter's 2011 Manga Gift Guide

Hello and welcome!  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!  As I write this, my turkey is busy tempting my taste buds with smells from the downstairs kitchen!

As we transition from full bellies to shopping madness, it's time once again for the Panel Patter Manga Gift Guide, now in its third year.  Started a few years ago on Twitter and now curated by Daniella Orihuela-Gruber of All About Manga, it's now just as much a part of my holiday tradition as torturing Panel Patter writer (and my long-suffering wife) Erica with the Chipmunk Song.

Here's the master link of all the 2011 Manga Gift Guides.
Here's the link for the Panel Patter Guide 2009 and Panel Patter Guide 2010.

As in past years here on the blog, I've tried to target gifts towards fans of particular things, to help people with which volume of right to left reading might be best for their friend or loved one.  After all, a person who likes Time and Again (all three of you) might not care for the Victorian romance of Emma.  I've also been careful not to duplicate anything from past years.  This can make putting the list together tricky, but I think the exercise is worthwhile.

So, without further ado, here's my 2011 Manga Gift Guide.  Happy Shopping!

 For the Stephen King Fan


If you know someone who is into character-driven horror stories where the evil is positively sadistic, the plot is complex, and only a small gathering of Everymen can save the day, then you really need to get them started on 20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa.  The thing is, though, while this series is excellent, it's also really, really long, to the point that I'm not even close to the most recent volume yet.  Its author definitely is a comics cousin to Stephen King in that regard, making it perfect for fans of the master of modern horror.  This is also good as a transitional book for those not used to manga, because while it does read right to left, the artwork shows at least some influence from western comic book artists, most notably John Romita, Jr., in my opinion.  You can get 20th Century Boys from Viz, though unfortunately not in a digital format at this time.

 For the Crazy Pirate Fan


If you're a fan of the Pittsburgh baseball team, I recommend alcohol.  Lots and lots of alcohol.  But if you prefer your Pirates to be roaming the seven seas instead of center field, and you enjoy your adventures to be romping, comedic events that spread across hundreds of pages, then One Piece is the book for you.  This Shonen Jump title is lengthy, which might be a problem for some people, and it's not finished, yet, either.  100 volumes is a definite possibility, given that this book sells faster than jelly at a peanut butter sandwich convention.  I know a lot of people that are absolutely in love with this series, however, given its plucky protagonist and cast of misfit who somehow manage to make it through, all while the main character never gives up on his dreams.  I'm not a huge fan, but I've enjoyed it and seen the merits of the series.  My biggest problem is just how much of the series exists.  If you think the person on your swashbuckling list won't be intimidated by the weight of back issues, it's a fun book that's almost certain to be a winner.  You can get One Piece from Viz, in both paper and digital editions. The digitals are cheaper, and don't take up any space!

 For the Adolescent Narrative Fan


I've read a lot of back cover copy in my day, but I think an argument can be made that the late Tokyopop's decision to plaster "She's a hot robot in high school...what's the worst that can happen?" might be the worst copy of all time.  While that might be appropriate for a sequel to Chobits, it's about as far from the inner workings of the excellent Karakuri Odette as possible.  Written by Julietta Suzuki, I am forever grateful that those of us who read in English were able to get all six volumes before Stu Levy took his toys and went home, then keeps showing up asking for a cup of sugar (when all I'd give him is rat poison, which is effectively unfair to rats).

Odette is an extremely brilliant android, who decides she wants to experience life as a real human girl.  This six volume series is the story of her growth as a person, learning who and what she is and where she fits in the world.  She faces the same hopes and dreams of the real people around her, mixed with the problems of being a (nearly) unique being.  It's all handled with skill, care, and excellent artwork by Suzuki.  At times funny, at times heartbreakingly tragic, there's even a bit of danger to spice things up, as not everyone's intentions for Odette are honorable.  This might be my favorite book on the guide this year.  It's only sin is being out of print.  It's definitely worth getting if you can find it.

 For Fans of Stories of Hope


If you know someone for whom the glass is always half-full (or want to change the outlook of a perpetual pessimist), Twin Spica is the way to go.  The story of a girl who's entirely too small to be an astronaut for a revived Japanese space program, she's linked in mysterious ways to the disaster that befell Japan years ago.  Watch as she refuses to let anything stop her.

It's almost impossible to go wrong with someone from Vertical, as their limited resources lead to careful selections in what they license.  I've yet to meet a book from that publisher that wasn't of high quality, even if I personally wasn't big on the story.  Twin Spica is of medium length and won't be too large of an investment for your giftee.  At the time of this writing, it is only available in a paper version.

 For the Short Story Fan


One of the biggest issues with manga is that often the series are insanely long, which might not deter long-time comics readers (although I've oddly hear people who own damn near every issue of Batman say that) but can stop a newbie dead in their tracks.  "What do you mean I have to read 30 plus books to know the story?"  Leave it to Fantagraphics to solve this problem, with their (re)entry into the translated manga field with A Drunken Dream and Other Stories by shojo legend Moto Hagio.  Collecting a series of well-curated works that show off both the range of the creator and the genre itself, this is one of the books I'd recommend to any non-manga fan to introduce them into the genre.  These are classic tales that long-time readers will enjoy as well.  There's always a place for Bleach but it's books like Hagio's that show what Japanese comics are capable of producing.  This one, like all Fanagraphics offerings, is only available in paper form.

 For Fans of the Familiar


I'm not trying to slag on Rumiko Takahashi here, especially since I hosted the Manga Movable Feast on the iconic manga-ka, but it's not like any new ground is being broken in her latest series, Rin-Ne.  If you know a long-time manga fan who maybe fell out of the genre over time, this book, which features the adventures of a slightly clueless and fight-prone boy paired with a disbelieving girl as they go after supernatural foes and chase silly visual jokes should have them thinking fondly of the days when manga was published in America in the left to right format.  It's a very comfortable book and reads rather like some of the DCnU comics:  You know the ways these stories are going to play out, but it's an enjoyable ride watching characters you know (or their echoes) arrive at the final destination.  Contrary to the beliefs of some, that's not necessarily a bad thing.  You can read some of Rin-Ne online, but if you want complete volumes, then you need to get in book form from Viz, Takahashi's long-time American publisher.

 For Fans of Action Stories with a Kick


If I were giving out awards, I think Jormundgand by Keitaro Takahashi might win for "manga Rob was most surprised to enjoy", beating out Raiders by a very narrow margin.  It's the story of Koko, an arms dealer with serious personality quirks and a cast of characters who are as flawed as they are interesting, ranging from a boy who hates guns but has the accuracy of an NRA lifetime member to a lesbian commando with serious survivor's guilt to a field leader who might just be too practical for Koko's own good.  Filled with intrigue, complex plots, and at time pitch-perfect black comedy, this was one of my most surprising finds of the year.  While the level of violence is extreme, it's tempered by the humor and Takahashi's flat exposure of the back door deals that go on across the world every day, no matter how much we try to pretend they don't.  It's a fun romp that is just savvy enough without getting preachy.  Anyone who likes action movies and stories is going to dig this one, as it blends 1980s Stallone flicks with the reality of the internet age and imperfect protagonists.  It's yet another Viz title on the list.

 For the Soft Sci-Fi Fan


It's probably a little silly to place not just one but TWO out of print Tokyopop books on the Gift Guide this year, but it's possible you might be able to find a few stray volumes of Aqua/Aria out there, and part of the appeal of this manga is that you don't have to read it in order.  It's easy enough to pick up what's going on by the main character's narration and be exposed to a world that would have made Ray Bradbury's heart sing, if he deigned to read comics.  (From what I understand, despite allowing multiple comics adaptations of his work, the talented but often wrong-minded pillar of modern sci-fi does not approve of comics as a storytelling device.)  In Aria/Aqua, Mars has been terraformed, but things went a bit too far and now it resembles Venice, Italy, with a long tradition of female gondoliers.  These volumes follow the seasons of the year, as a transplant to Mars learns about the world around her, which is populated with sentient cats who run companies.  It's a gentle ride of discovery and joy, and anyone who likes soft science fiction should find it perfect for them--if they can find it!

 For the Fan of Heartwarming Ghost Stories


I read a lot of stories that feature all kinds of horror in them.  Some are violent and bloody, some are creepy, and others look at the more tragic aspects of being a trapped spirit.  That's the case in Natsume's Book of Friends, which features a book who's inherited a very special tome--it's got the names of trapped spirits within!  The spirits aren't very happy about it, however, and plague his life, making it miserable.  There's only one thing to do--give the names back.  Every volume, Natsume encounters more sad figures who need his help to gain their rest, no matter how bad they've become over time.  Natsume's kindness contrasts with his partner, a violent spirit trapped in the body of a good-luck cat who is just waiting for the chance to steal the book and gain its power.  Natsume's Book of Friends  is available in both paper and virtual forms from Viz, the primary provider of my manga reading habits these days.

 For the Fan of Difficult and Complex Subjects


For publishing such a small portion of the manga available today in English, Fantagraphics makes a big splash here in my gift guide.  The second entry is Wandering Son, which is an ongoing series that's just starting out here in America.  The thing that makes this book compelling to those who want more than traditional conflict or romantic plots is that it involves young people who are learning about their sexuality--namely that one or more of the protagonists may in fact by transgendered.  It could be played for laughs or or shame or any number of wrong-headed directions, but Shimura Takako is as respecful as I've ever seen about this sensitive subject.  I read this book and thought it was excellent, but I was unable to put together a review for it because I had no idea how to give it justice.  Wandering Son shows what the medium of comics can do for topics that are often left unspoken.  In this case, a picture of a boy staring at a dress can actually speak a thousand words.  You can get this in book form only, from Fantagraphics.

That's my gift guide for this year!  I hope it helps you pick a book or two for the manga lover in your life!

Zig Zag Mish Mash

So weird that Minis are also Digital sometimes

Written by J. Chris Campbell
Illustrated by J. Chris Campbell
Self-Published

Are you a fan of J. Chris Campbell's comics but are tired of trying to find the various anthologies he's contributed to?  Look no further than this collection of shorts from the distinctive illustrator, complete with an introduction that asks...why are you reading the introduction?  There's a little bit of everything here in a big old...Zig Zag Mish Mash!

I'm not sure exactly where I first saw Campbell's work, but I'm sure it was in an anthology somewhere.  His work is extremely easy to spot, due to its similarity to the 1950s art deco illustration style.  Campbell also has a twisted sense of humor and eye for parody, which bears out in many of the works contained here.

In this collection, we get two stories of Orson and Greg, who are apparently evil and trying to take over the world--in as inept a manner as possible.  Their misadventures are witty and use science fiction scientist tropes to good effect.  Superheroics get the treatment in two adventures of Apple Dumpler, a Batman-like protagonist who apes Adam West and foils evil--sometimes without even trying.  There's also a short Michael Jackson tribute, some robot fighting action, and a terrible, terrible set of puns in the final story.

These are exactly the type of stories I enjoy reading in an anthology:  short, well-paced and plotted, with distinct beginnings and endings.  They're clever and stand on their own, even apart from their brethren from the other creators.  It's the kind of work that makes me want to seek out that particular creator, which I think is an important part of any anthology.

Part of what makes these stories work is Campbell's art style.  Fitted together like storyboards from an animated sequence, they almost would work in a flip-book format, if repeated just a bit more than we see here.  A lot of the movement happens between the panels, with action implied rather than seen.  It's an efficient storytelling trick, but it might not appeal to some readers.  I thought it worked perfectly here, given the brief nature of the tales in question.

Normally, I'd mention that you have to go to a show to find this mini.  But we're in the 21st Century, and so is J. Scott Campbell.  You can get a copy of Zig Zag Mish Mash at Comixology for only 99 cents!  If you're looking to try something new, quirky, and fun, give this comic a try.  You just might find a new favorite, and if you don't, you're only out 99 cents!  Try doing that a comics show...

Dust off the Panels: All Flee!

Written by Gavin Burrows
Illustrated by Simon Gane
Top Shelf

Monsters have to go to school, too, taught by the masters of the destruction genre.  But has this new generation gone too far?  Follow the adventures of a disgruntled old city-smasher as he works in a world that's no longer his.  Can anything sooth the savage beast?  Also, beware the musical stylings and rampage of The Dorks!  Plus: Actual not-real ads!  It's all here in...All Flee!

This is a fun little book that knows when to end a joke before it becomes tiresome.  None of the stories last more than they should, and each one is filled with plenty of sight gags, verbal conflict, and just enough plot to stay interesting for the reader.  There are little touches everywhere, from mini-Godzillas with nose rings and oversized guns to the casual destruction of cities as the monsters move through their daily lives.  There are shout outs to movies and other cultural references.  In the Dorks story, we get a vision of the world where unhipness takes over, rather than the punk invasion of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

These set pieces are deftly drawn by Simon Gane, whose work reminds me favorably of Jim Mahfood.  There's an emphasis on the joke, rather than on technical drawing skills, and everything is angular in a way that's just about physically impossible.  Characters flow all over the page in almost anarchy, but they manage to get the point across in a way that works better than those with superior drawing skills.  Not a single inch of panel space is wasted, with action in every nook and cranny, making for some cool visual gags if you take the time to look.

All Flee! is a comedy with a bit of social satire, using big old monsters and social rejects to tweak the nose of the world we live in today.  If you like reading satire, you'll enjoy this mini a lot.  If you're a fan of Japanese horror monsters, so much the better.  All Flee! is a hidden gem in the Top Shelf catalog, and I'd love to see it as part of the digital line.  It definitely deserves a new set of eyes.  Keep your eyes peeled for it, and enjoy!

Nola

Story by Chris Gorak
Written by Pierluigi Cothran
Illustrated by Damian Couceiro
Boom! Studios

Nola was a happy, pretty young woman in the prime of her life, living large with the son of a rich man in the New Orleans area.  She had everything she thought she wanted, until a night of drunken debauchery turns her into a liability.  With Hurricane Katrina creating a convenient pretext, Nola is left to die for the sins of a privileged man.  Now she's back, however, and looking to pay back those who wronged her--and maybe learn some truths to other deep, personal secrets as well.  But revenge is a bitter dish indeed, and the truth can be even more sour, as we learn by following the story of...Nola.

If Dark Rain was the independent film that wins an award at Sundance, Nola is the action blockbuster revenge flick directed by Quinton Tarantino.  They both have a similar backdrop, but the approach could not be more different.  That doesn't make Nola a bad book--I enjoyed it quite a bit--but while it tries to show the hypocrisy and injustice that pervaded New Orleans at the time of the disaster, the plot is just too filled with explosions and shootings and typical action movie dialog to accomplish its task of a social message.

Part of the problem is that while Nola, like the protagonists of Dark Rain, are small-time people who made mistakes, Nola's seems far less forgivable.  It's wrong that she is forced into a car with a drunk driver and left for dead multiple times, but she was living the high life before this all happened and saw no harm in Chevis' use of his power--until she is the victim of it.  Once she's taken out of the circle of control, Nola is a victim like many of the lower and middle class residents of New Orleans, and she rises up as "the mummy woman" to avenge the wrongdoings, but even as the web of lies gets thicker, I had a hard time feeling like I wanted to be on her side.  In a story like this, where the protagonist is killing off more people than a Robert Kirkman comic, I think it's important to be able to like the shooter.  I just wasn't able to bring myself to do so.

That doesn't mean I did not like Nola the story.  I just didn't feel much for Nola the character.  I think that Gorak's plot holds up really well.  There's an epic fall and rebirth for Nola, and the ending is bittersweet, as she finds that no matter what she does or who she kills, her life will never be the same again (a good metaphor for New Orleans, a city that's probably doomed to another Katrina some day).  The mystery surrounding her burial alive merges seamlessly into a deeper issue with close ties to Nola.  Cothran uses a wise older man as a foil for Nola's passion for revenge, and a lot of the dialog flows naturally, if a bit familiar at times.  Each character does have a unique voice, which definitely helps the book along.

Couciero's artwork here is stronger than on the Barack Obama comic, with emotions more clearly expressed and panel stagings given more drama and impact.  I like his eyes, which are very expressive.  Nola is probably presented too attractively after her accident, but that's not unusual for comics or movies.  I do think he could have done a better job painting a picture of post-Katrina New Orleans, especially since it's clear he's not afraid of photo-referencing a book.  I was not a big fan of the muddled colors, which seems to be shorthand for noir these days.  It's not, guys, please cut it out.

If you're looking for a deep story, Nola isn't going to work for you.  But if you want a fast-paced action story that does a great job with the revenge plot, you'll enjoy Nola a lot.  Just don't plan on giving it an Oscar or an Eisner anytime soon.

Show Report: Philly Zine Fest 2011 Was Awesome!

On Sunday, November 13, Rob and I went to the Philly Zine Fest, only a short trip from our home in Baltimore. I was excited to go (even if I had trouble getting out of bed that morning), especially after the carnival of disappointment that was the Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo. I was hopeful that at least Philly would be a good time. I couldn't go through 2011 without attending at least one satisfactory zine fest! And PZF delivered.

Entering the Philly Zine Fest.

I was there with my distro, Black Light Diner, and my zine Breakfast at Twilight. Due to some cancellations (several of the distros and projects I mentioned in my preview post didn't make it, for whatever reason), there were free tables, so instead of setting up my collapsible table like I usually do I used one of PZF's tables near the entrance. All of the available tables filled up, although the space near the entrance was a bit more roomy than usual.

Strangely, there weren't any large distros in attendance other than Philly's own Wooden Shoe Books. While this was good, because it meant more diversity of creators, it also meant that some zines I intended on purchasing or trading for weren't around (but then, most distros still do have mailorder!). As far as mid-sized distros go, in addition to myself there was also Taylor from Parcell Press and Amy from twelveohtwo (no site, table only). I picked up several new issues of longtime favorites from the latter.

Most of the day was spent at my table, and unlike last year's Richmond Zine Fest (in which almost nobody came to my table for the first three hours, then bam!), it was hopping all day long. While I did get a few people who stood there and read a whole zine without paying (seriously, don't do this), in general everyone I met was super nice and some had even heard of my zine and were excited to meet me, which was really strange.

I wish zine fests (and Occupy events, and restaurants, and, well, everything... conversation is a much better soundtrack to our lives) wouldn't play music, but the New Wave tunes weren't overly distracting or loud. I didn't attend any of the panels because I wanted to stick by my table, but they seemed interesting enough, one of them being a movie I could hear bits and pieces of from my place on the ground.

Big crowd!

So, if you live on the East Coast or are passing through Philadelphia, definitely take the lead of the hordes of people in the above picture and come to the Philly Zine Fest! It's by far the most highly-attended zine/comix event I go to (excluding SPX), and takes place in a great space and there's a really nice mix of zines and comics without a lot of non-zine craft items (something I know larger zine fests have had problems with).

The things we got, whether with cash or with trades:
Deafula #2 and Give Me Hope or Give Me Death by thecityonfire
Into the Grid by Heather
Everyday Pants #1; So, This Is What It's Come To...; and From Everyone Who Loves Where They Are, to Everyone who Doesn't Feel at Home by Ramsey Beyer (and others, for the second title)
You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania #5 by Sari
Word on the Street: DC Sidewalks 2008-2011 by W.O.T.S.
Chalaza and It Works Because It's Dirty by jacklegsoapbox (very mini-comics)
Truckface #14 by Luran Barry
Ghost Pine #12 by Jeff Miller
OCD Throws Bows by Dirk Keaton
Shooting Wall by Jonathan Seidman and others
Matt Committed Suicide by Various
Young Woman by Shira Mario
Chasm #1 and #1 by Slugma Publishing
Hello Operator by Aaron Delarosa
Dumb Jersey White Boy #4 by Mark McMurray
There Is No Magnificent Creature/Your Secretary #4 (split zine) by Tricia Nowacki/Jami Sailor
Nonetheless/Nevertheless #1 by Aaron Weber
Karma Shmarma #1 by Mark Griffin
Burn Collector #15 by Al Burian

It's a pretty exhaustive list, and Rob and I are looking forward to reading through it.

Lastly, this one is for you, the comment section: I would really like to visit some different zine/comix fests next year. So far, the only ones I've attended (as a tabler) are PZF, the Richmond Zine Fest, and PIX. What are your favorites? East Coast preferably, and with tabling fees that aren't outrageous to me as a small distro/creator (so SPX, awesome as it is, is out). Thanks much!

Digging into Digital: Top Shelf Goes to the Top of the Digital Indie List

While it's not news that Top Shelf, one of the larger names in the indie comics world, has gone digital, it was notable today that beyond their initial smattering of titles, the publisher has opted to get into the digital comics world in a big way, announcing today the launch of a much larger selection of titles over a much larger range of digital platforms.  Instead of merely being on iVerse and Comixology, the long-time backer of comics from everyone from Jeffrey Brown to Alan Moore is now on Graphicly, the Barnes and Noble nook color, iBooks, and Google Books, providing a wide range of choices for their readers.

The launch comes with the creation of two new apps for the iPad, devoted to Top Shelf's adults and kids comics, respectively.  Both new apps were developed by Comixology, who did the work on the redesigned Image website earlier this year.  The apps look and feel quite similar to the other comic or publisher-specific apps on the iPad.

Top Shelf states in their release that they are the first indie or alternative comics publisher to "offer such a substantial catalog of digital graphic novels" but I think they've forgotten NBM, who is also on Comixology.  Top Shelf has 15 titles listed on Comixology to NBM's 14.  I would classify NBM as an indie comics publisher based on what I've read from them.  Still, this is light years ahead of, say, Oni, Fantagraphics, or Drawn and Quarterly, who either have very few or no digital offerings.  In addition, Slave Labor Graphics has 28 offerings in their Comixology selection, although not all of them are full graphic novels.  


Regardless of how you slice it, I'm happy to see that not only is Top Shelf moving forward into the digital comics future (I would love to see them offer download codes at shows, maybe with a space for an autograph or quick sketch!) and doing it in a way that is multi-platform and offers different cloud options for those who have a preference.  Obviously, we are not at the point of a PDF download (such as what Slave Labor offers on their website), but I like that Top Shelf did not lock themselves in to Apple or Windows or Android or Kindle or nook; you as the consumer are given the choice!


Perhaps the coolest thing Top Shelf did was add a "Buy Digital" link that opens to the different formats.  One click from the website, and boom, you're ready to buy online.  That was a great idea.  Anything to make the purchasing process easier for the consumer is a good thing.

As part of this announcement, Top Shelf has the following titles on sale for "the rest of the week."  If you are interested, I suggest you buy sooner rather than later:

Special launch week SALE PRICES - Top Shelf keystone books! Get all 5 for $9.95!
$1.99 for League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910 by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
$1.99 for Owly (Book 1) by Andy Runton
$0.99 for Johnny Boo (Book 1) by James Kochalka
$1.99 for Clumsy by Jeffrey Brown
$2.99 for The Surrogates by Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele
These prices apply in every digital store - try whichever you like!

I wish Top Shelf all the luck with this initiative, which definitely makes my life better, because I prefer digital for most comics these days.  If I did not own a majority of their current digital titles, I would be participating more heavily in the sale.  I can definitely recommend Clumsy, Johnny Boo, and the Surrogates, and Sarah is a big fan of Owly.  I also hope that this makes the other major indie publishers stand up and take notice--it's time to get on board with digital.  Top Shelf gets that, and I hope customers show their support. 

The Hidden

Written by Richard Sala
Illustrated by Richard Sala
Fantagraphics

The world has gone to Hell.  Whole cities are destroyed, populations are devastated, and survivors are few and far between.  A man who might know the answers wanders in this desert wasteland, joined by a few people who escaped the madness.  Or have they?
As the picture begins to fill in, piece by piece, these people may wish they'd have died, or at least never fallen into the company of the secretive man.  That's the problem when everything is part of...The Hidden.

It is extremely difficult to discuss this book for the purposes of review without spoiling one of the best parts of the narrative.  Suffice it to say that Sala starts off with one horror/suspense plot (the post-apocalyptic world), finds another to place in the middle (not a huge spoiler to mention it's vampires), and adds a third by the last part of the book.  It's the third one that comes out of the blue, hits the reader smack in the face in a way that only a select few horror books can do, and adds a twist to the tale that easily makes this one of my favorite horror comics and one of my contenders for my Best of 2011 list.

Horror is a genre that is often formulaic, but comfortably so.  Find a premise, create interesting characters to live in that premise, and then try your best to make their lives miserable.  That's the essence of any of Stephen King's good books, it's the way The Drifting Classroom works, and Walking Dead might as well put a patent on the process.  We all know the kinds of things that happen in a horror story, and even in The Hidden, the things that happen are not so much shocking because they occur, but because of *why* they occur.  Sala makes his story more original than most not by breaking new ground in the horror genre (if that's even possible these days) but by taking the pieces of the horror puzzle, throwing them in the air, and catching three disparate elements of terror and placing them back to back to back, with some usual breathing points, narratives, and twists thrown in to round out the story.

We have the classic man who knows more than he should, whom we almost feel sorry for--until it's clear that empathy is misplaced.  We have the young couple who fight the odds, only to see the odds are just too high.  We have strangers thrown together, surviving only on a bit of luck.  We have the sanctuary that's not.  All of these things would work just fine in Sala's hands, because of his narrative gifts and illustration style, but to see them work towards an inevitable conclusion that both simultaneously surprises the reader and reinforces the tropes any horror fan looks for in a book of this nature.

Not only is the book carefully structured, it looks stunning.  Sala's watercolors over his pen/pencil lines give the book an imperfection that makes sure the reader understands that this is a dystopia with little hope for survival.  Sometimes the colors are too vivid while at other points they are washed out.  Characters and backgrounds look rough, almost like a really talented kid worked with crayons just outside the lines of his coloring books to show his or her abilities.  Sometimes everything is muted with a single color, to give menace, while other times the reds and blues pop out towards the reader, being about as three dimensional as a traditional comic can get.  I'm very impressed with the craft that went into this book, where even the occasional large narrative bubble can serve as a way to focus the reader on the art.

The Hidden is a story that must be experienced to fully appreciate, but I hope that I've piqued your interest if you might have passed on this one.  (I almost did.)  There is an excellent story of slow-building despair to be found in its pages, with gorgeous depictions and coloring and a horror story that shocks, surprises, and entertains.  Don't let this one get hidden on your shelves!  It may not be Halloween, but I still give this book my highest recommendation!

Sunday Readings, 11-13-2011

Good Morning!  While two-thirds of the Panel Patter team travels to Philadelphia, enjoy some Sunday Readings...

Gay Kid author Katie Omberg tries out something new for her, as she works on the 30 characters in 30 days challenge.  Check it out!

Newsarama has an interview with Panel Patter favorite Matthew Petz about War of the Woods.

It's a timepiece!  It's a social repression!  It's Super-Fop!

Melissa Dalluhn discusses raising corn in a graphic style.

It's hard when you're a Monster with a Liberal Arts degree.

Back to Newsarama, which also notes that Comixology seems to be solidifying itself as the preferred digital distribution method.  This is good and bad, for reasons too long to go into here but certainly could fuel a blog post or three.

This is an older interview with Raina Telgemeier, but I wanted to link to it just in case you missed it.

Finally, have a little wordplay with Wondermark!

Enjoy your Sunday!  Maybe see you at the Philly Zinefest!

Single Minded: Some Recent Boom! Releases

Welcome to another edition of Single Minded, where serial comics are the focus of the day.  Today's theme is a set of recently released Boom! Studios comics.  There's a little bit of everything, from Presidental politics to Peanuts!

Yes We Can...Credit a Writer?

 Barack Obama
Written by ??
Illustrated by Damian Couceiro

A little while back, Boom! Studios gave readers a chance to vote for which bio-comics they wanted to see printed by the company.  This is the first of the series, which also features non-candidate (maybe) Sarah Palin.

The comic itself is functional.  It does a good job of condensing Obama's life into the page requirements of a standard comic book, and even goes so far as to mention the death of Osama Bin Laden.  Things are presented as neutrally as possible, and I like that Michelle Obama is even given a little bit of space, as is the story of the Obamas' dog.  Courceiro's art feels drawn just a bit too closely to photo-references, but that's so common anymore I barely noticed.

This is a comic you could (and perhaps might) use in school, geared more towards a YA audience rather than a Direct Market adult, which seemed like a bit of an odd decision.  The comic even had footnotes on every page, explaining things a child is less likely to know than adult (unless I am overestimating the political IQ of a comic book reader?).

However, the thing that makes this book most notable, however, is the lack of an author.  Who wrote this thing?  Did the Geek in Chief get autobiographical, then shy?  Because that would be awesome!  Regardless, this is something that I would recommend more for historical significance than quality.  It's solid but doesn't do anything you can read elsewhere, just with pictures instead of illustrations.

Ocean City Looks Like This.  Honest!

Snarked! #1
Written and Illustrated by Roger Langridge

On the other hand, I can't recommend Snarked! highly enough.  I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this series, because while I really enjoy Roger Langridge's work I just don't have much of a connection to Lewis Carroll.  I only read Alice in Wonderland once, and my favorite adaptation of it contained about six hundred or so musicians instead of actual actors.  This was going to be a test of writer trumping source material.

Oh boy, did it ever!

Langridge's sense of humor, which ranges from slapstick pratfalls to sly elements of sarcasm, is all over the page.  From the opening sequence, where the Walrus and the Carpenter are conning a man out of his sausage (with a library card!) to a lyrical poem that might have fit right in to his Muppet Show work to the seamless integration of my favorite Alice character (the Cheshire Cat) into the story, Langridge is at the top of his game here.  Not only are the characters well-designed and varied (with humans and animals seeming to mix without a second glance), they fit perfectly with their characterization.  The heroes are well-meaning and determined and the villains look almost comically evil, but retain just enough menace to work within the story.

I will always miss the Muppet Show, but I'm happy to have a new Langridge book to enjoy every month.  I highly recommend this comic.  If you only get one Boom! book from this batch, make it this one.

AAAUUUGGGHHHH!

 Peanuts 0
Written and Illustrated by Charles Schultz, Ron Zorman, Vicki Scott, and Paige Braddock

First it was the return of Jason Todd.  Then Bucky.  Now it's new, authorized Peanuts comics.  I'd be lying if I wasn't a bit nervous about the idea, because Charlie Brown and company are tied to their original creator in a way that I don't think any other comic strip is, save maybe Krazy and Ignatz.  However, if anyone was going to do it, I'm glad it's in Boom!'s hands.  They know how to treat a beloved property with dignity and respect.

That shows here, as Writers Zorman and Scott return to classic themes that echo older Schultz cartoons, expanded to a fuller story. The opener reprises Snoopy's famous animal imitations, with Charlie Brown deciding it might just be easier to live life as a fantasy.  That's textbook Schultz, as are the visual gags from Scott and Braddock, who put Woodstock through several bad Snoopy plans.

This is a series that's going to hue closely to the source material (as well as being sprinkled with reprints), for better or worse.  If you are a fan of Snoopy and Company, I think this is worth a look.  If you never liked the characters, this isn't likely to change your mind.

This is not a leftover from Civil War

Seven Warriors 1
Written by Michael Le Galli
Translated by Edward Gauvin
Illustrated by Francis Manapul

Moving into more adult territory, this story follows a besieged city where a Queen makes a dark choice that her son may never forgive her for.  As destruction looms, he's sent to safety in the company of six female warriors, all of whom are drawn to be drop dead gorgeous by the excellent art by Manapul.  But just what is going on, as the route to escape is filled with death traps!  It sure doesn't seem like there'll be seven warriors for long!

This is probably the most Vertigo-like book I've read from Boom!, and I try to read as much of their stuff as I can get my hands on.  We have stronger sexual content than I'm used to seeing in one of their comics, but it makes sense within the context of the story and Manapul illustrates it beautifully.  I'm really interested to see what is going on, as it's clear the Queen is not being truthful with either her son or the reader.  We also get a nice cliffhanger ending here.  I'd actually forgotten how much fun those can be.

My only complaint on this one is that I think Christelle Moulart muddied the colors more than was necessary.  Otherwise, this is a top-notch book for fans of pulp stories with intelligence, such as Dark Horse's Conan or perhaps Northlanders, even if I wasn't that book's biggest fan.

Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes 1
Written by Corina Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
Illustrated by Gabriel Hardman

The Planet of the Apes may look like it's under control, but conspiracy and scandal are rife, and just about ready to blow the planet apart.  When an old General defends an unpopular stance with relation to the savage humans, his past may come back to haunt him.  With death around every corner and friends hard to come by, will anyone survive the Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes?

My mother was the bigger Planet of the Apes fan than me, but I know and enjoy the original movies.  I read this one mostly because of Hardman's involvement, as people I respect think he's really good.

They're right.

Despite not being steeped in the lore of the series, I was able to pick up on what was going on easily, and immediately got hooked into the narrative.  I want to know why this General isn't like the rest of the apes.  I want to know why some are trying to keep the humans down.  I'm intrigued by the mystery, which can't be as obvious as it looks--or can it?  There's a ton going on here in just a single issue's worth of pages, which is a refreshing change from story decompression.  (Maybe everything should be a limited series to goose plot?)  I liked this enough to want to go back and read the rest of Boom!'s Apes titles.

Even if you're not big on movie tie-ins, I'd say give this one a chance.  I think you'll go ape over it.

That's it for this edition of Single Minded!  Thanks to Boom! for providing review copies.  If you're interested in having a comic reviewed here, feel free to send me an e-mail (trebro@gmail.com) and I'll be happy to have a look!

Stickybeak

No Cover, but here's some sample art!

Written by Ben Juers
Illustrated by Ben Juers
Self-Published

A bowerbird is a creature who collect random objects in an attempt to get a mate.  What happens when two bowerbirds want the same girl?  Comedy gold!

In this project that was Juers' senior thesis for the Center for Cartoon Studies, the artist explores the potential for slapstick humor when you have small creatures that think a bottle cap is the highest form of art.  In a classic use of the love triangle, Juers creates a comic that draws heavily from old Warner Brothers (and similar) cartoons for inspiration.

There's not much of a plot here.  Two birds steal things from a comedic-looking middle-aged man and promptly try to lure a femme fatale into their amorous arms.  The fun is in watching Juers set these two against each other in everything from one of the best depictions of rock-paper-scissors I've ever seen to a dance sequence that might have made even Chuck Jones stop and take notice.

I'm really impressed here by how well Juers can make these figures feel perfectly natural despite being birds.  After a few pages, you forget that these are creatures and start thinking of them as getting their human traits naturally.  I want to see these two birds keep going at it until we reach a climax that both flows logically from the story and fits perfectly within the slapstick, vaudevillian nature of the narrative.

Juers does this all without words or animation, which is all the more impressive.  This could be a storyboard for a short cartoon, but it never feels like we're reading a set of stills.  There's fluidity in the motion of the characters that a still lacks.  None of the artwork here is elaborate, but neither does it fall into the same style that we're used to from Center for Cartoon Studies alumni.  Juers has learned the craft of storytelling well, but he's allowed it to become something of his own, putting him above some of the other CCS work I've read over the years.

Sadly, I don't think you can buy a copy of Stickybeak, but I reviewed this one in order to help bring attention to Ben Juers.  I think he has quite a future in comics if he's so inclined.  I look forward to seeing more work from him in the future.  In the meantime, make sure you check out his blog.

The Doug Wright Awards 2011

Written by Dustin Harbin
Illustrated by Dustin Harbin
Self-Published

Dustin Harbin travels north of the border to observe the differences between American comics awards and their Canadian counterparts in this graphic essay which was originally presented on the Comics Journal website.

Presented in his own self-depreciating style, Harbin writes and draws his awe at the way in which Canadians go about honoring their best and brightest in the comics field.  He notes the links between the comics scene and the rest of the arts, which contrasts notably with the way comics are treated and presented in America.  Harbin has harsh words for how Americans devalue awards by having so many, compared to the four given out at the Doug Wright Awards.  He also talks about the tone of the ceremony and ultimately how this fresh outlook on comics quality inspires his own work.

This mini-comic brings up a lot of complex ideas in only a few pages, and Harbin obviously doesn't have enough time to expand on them at length.  He smartly concentrates on giving the details he feels are important for a reader who may never make it to Canada, let alone a special function while also providing several visual gags, mostly at his own expense.  (I am particularly sympathetic to the one where he falls asleep noticeably while being seated next to several indie comics luminaries.)  Harbin clearly intends this to be where the conversation starts, not where it ends.

That being said, I do think the comic has two logical flaws where I disagree with Harbin.  These are not problems with the craft or storytelling--far from it.  Harbin once again uses his finely detailed artwork and strong sense of voice that I've liked so much in his other works.  I just have a personal problem with worshiping at the shrine of Canada.  It's really easy to fall into this trap as an American who often feels out of touch with the pulse of the country you live in.  I've done it, my wife does it on a regular basis, and I know plenty of others who look northward for inspiration.  I think Harbin is idealizing things just a bit too much here, partly due to his own pro-Canada feelings and partly because of the space allotted to the work.  People tend to put their best foot forward when on the spotlight, and I don't think that's acknowledged sufficiently here.

My other disagreement is in the nature of giving out awards itself.  While I agree that some awards are mere popularity contests, I don't see anything wrong with that.  Harbin doesn't call any awards out, but it's clear he's unhappy with those in America.  I disagree.  Why can't we all get together in Bethesda once a year and cheer on our favorites?  Does that make it any less important to win an Ignatz?  It's not scientific at all, but it's a fun time and a recognition that yeah, people think you're doing good work.  Is the Eisner biased based on who the judges are each year?  Sure.  But that's going to happen no matter what.  When you have a contest, there's always going to be a bit of bias.  Awards by their nature are insular.  I don't really see anything wrong with that.

Regardless of your final opinion, Harbin once again has produced a thoughtful, well-drawn essay for your reading pleasure.  If you are all interested in the nature of comics culture, this is a great place to springboard discussion.  It's not a book for everyone, but those with ties to the comics community definitely should read Harbin's work.  Agree or disagree, you'll definitely be driven to think.  And that's the most important thing in a comic like this one--making the reader thing.  As usual, Harbin succeeds brilliantly.  (Even if he is wrong!) :)

You can get a copy of The Doug Wright Awards here.

Show Preview: 2011 Philly Zinefest, 11/13/11

It's early November, which means we're still in the roughly three-month span of time that normally houses the Philly Zine Fest! The PZF always kind of feels a little ad hoc, and yet, it's one of the most heavily attended zine fests that I attend, with every nook and cranny of the awesome space (the Rotunda, address to follow) filled with zines and mini-comics of every type, and there's always a really great vibe. After the crushing disappointment that was the Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo, I'm looking forward to going out on this year's zine fest circuit with a bang.

This year's line-up features many of the distros and creators that come to PZF every year, although you can expect almost everyone to have lots of new titles and issues. Among the larger distros in attendance will be Things You Say (run by Erin of Driving Blind zine), Canadian table-only distro twelveohtwo, and Parcell Press, where I always drop a Hamilton or two. (Full disclosure, hint hint: I will also be there with my distro Black Light Diner.)

As for individual zinesters, there are a bunch: Deafula, a zine about a deaf woman's interactions with the hearing world; the folks behind I Love Bad Movies (for when you want your MST3K in printed form); Taryn Hipp who writes Sub Rosa and formerly wrote Girl Swirl (one of the first zines I ever read), and Syndicate Product, an anthology zine I've never read but their latest issue is all about comics, so you better believe Rob or I will be picking it up. I'm less familiar with the comics creators who will be there, but I recognize a few: Jim8Ball who does so many mini-comics, Ramsey of List (which I could also file under zines but I need another comics listing!), and for some local flavor, the Philly Comix Jam. I see a lot of new titles this year, which is awesome.

The Philly Zine Fest is held at the Rotunda located at 4014 Walnut Street in West Philadelphia, which is a small but surprisingly not very claustrophobic space. Running from noon to six on Sunday, November 13, the PZF will make a nice closer to this year's zine/comics fest season.