Even us comic/video game nerds and nerdettes are not free from Photoshop's nipping and tucking. Apparently, "words" were no longer enough -- pictures are now worth 1,000 venomous lies.

Cosplay before-and-after [photographymaniacs.com]

"★★★★★"

I promise I didn't write the review above. I do, however, agree with it.

Dear Terry,

We have never met in person, but, if I can base anything on the books you publish, you are a decent fellow, and, in the wee hours of my 9-month anniversary with my lovely girlfriend, I'd like to make a public appeal to you to allow me to design NBM's upcoming SMURFS books. If I'm too late with this appeal, then ... bummer, but I just heard about your project yesterday (at which time, I made a pseudo-public appeal to you on the COMICS COMICS blog. If it helps, I would happily work for a pittance -- this is the comics industry after all.

I hope this doesn't seem like a crude way to propose this idea to you, and I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes (especially the designers at NBM). This is simply the most public forum I have available to me, and I think some people might support me on this. If I'm wrong, I will back away respectfully and look forward to the book nonetheless.

I just kinda love the Smurfs.

That feels strange to say, but I really do have a soft spot for the little blue halflings. I grew up on them. Here's proof:

"According to the USA Network's "Cartoon Express," Smurfs are four apples tall. This is FALSE assuming Gargamel is of the average human height (+/- 4"). Maybe four CRABapples tall. But not four red delicious-es."

That is NOT from the Smurfs Wikipedia page. That is from a a dusty corner of my brain. I would treat this project with respect, like Seth did with Peanuts, or Jacob Covey would with a TMNT book (attn: Nickelodeon -- get on that one).

All best,

Adam 

P.S. If being pitiful will help: I broke a rib two weeks ago and I'm still two-to-four weeks from being healed. Ouch!

P.P.S. Also, the prospect of this is making my nine-month anniversary with my girlfriend even better.

Photo at the top taken by me. Larger version HERE. 

Above is the cover to the ARC version of A DRUNKEN DREAM. See it larger here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgrano/4557576366/ 

I implore everyone, regardless of your feelings about manga (attn: JACOB), to look through A DRUNKEN DREAM when it's released. Moto Hagio's line is confident and graceful. The material is gorgeous and I'm trying to do it justice (but even if I botch the design, it's going to be a great book).

And we should all applaud Matt Thorn and Dirk Deppey for first exposing us (or me anyway, if I missed the bus earlier) to Moto Hagio's work way back in TCJ #269.

-a 

EMOTI-COMICS (in the comments)!!

Above is my first entry. It's a relationship comic in the vein of Blankets.

Even though I'm gluten-free and can't eat these, they warm my heart.

[A no-prize to anyone who can name where the title of this post comes from. No fair googling!]

From "Talkin' About it":

"These *****s is ducks, and you can call me Scrooge 'cause I'm swimmin' in bucks. B****!"

If you haven't already (or even if you have), please check out PROFANITY HILL (again). It a great new Seattle-centric zine distro/community spearheaded by Fantagraphics' own Jason T. Miles (censored above). Support the new underground!