Ley Lines Draws into 2018 with Whit Taylor, L Nichols and More


As they have in past years, Kevin Czap and L Nichols have teamed up to bring another year of Ley Lines to life, this time highlighted by Panel Patter alum Whit Taylor and once again featuring 4 books examining things that might not get covered elsewhere among the mini-comic world.

From the press release:

Grindstone Comics and Czap Books are proud to announce that subscriptions are now available (for a limited time) for the 2018 lineup of our acclaimed comics series Ley Lines. The title of the series refers to “the supposed alignments of numerous places of geographical and historical interest…," drawing connections between comics and other disciplines of art-making. Published on a quarterly basis, Ley Lines is a platform for cartoonists to directly engage with influences beyond the realm of comics.

Praised for being “gorgeous… flawlessly curated” (- Nick Francis Potter), Ley Lines titles have been included among the Notable Comics in Best American Comics 2016 and 2017. Our slate for 2018 will continue to push comics’ boundaries and include new work from the following artists:
  • Jia Sung on Madame White Snake and Belkis Ayón – February 2018
  • Oliver East on “Langweile” (Boredom) – May 2018
  • L Nichols on Beethoven – August 2018
  • Whit Taylor on Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa – November 2018
I'd be excited about L Nichols' book regardless, as Flocks is such a wonderful comic that hews close to my personal feelings, but Beethoven to boot? The person modern music owes so much to? The dude who started to compose a symphony to Napoleon, then changed his mind as he saw the truth behind the lies? A guy who could conduct music he'd never hear? The guy is phenomenal and I can't wait to see how L explores one of the most complex figures in classical music.

And then there's Whit's contribution. What will she have to say about the Mona Lisa? Will it be about the woman who sat for the painting? How it fits into Da Vinci's overall omnivore-style of creation? About how his shadow looms over creators today? Or a total feminist critique? I don't know! But I can't wait to find out!



I'm honestly not familiar with Jia Sung or Oliver East, but Ley Lines has been a great way for me to discover new creators. Sung, a museum creator, looks to be working in pencil and watercolor, based on previews such as this one:




Unfortunately, this is the only comic I have preview pages for, but they look amazing, and I can't wait to read this one, which appears to be focused on a painter who looked into secret societies!

That's exactly the type of things that Ley Lines explores, and that's why it's a subscription series I support as often as I can, and encourage you to do so, too.

For the month of March, Ley Lines is offering a subscription for $20, shipping within the US included. After that, it goes up to $28. You can pick that up right here.