Here's your first glimpse at the feature interviews with Norwegian graphic novelist Jason and Lio cartoonist Mark Tartulli, the special portfolio of cartoonists' holiday cards, the comics section of Barney Google strips, and more that can be found in the upcoming Comics Journal #294. Click this link if the embedded slideshow doesn't appear above, and/or to open it in a new window.
Today we're presenting a preview look at the haunting debut graphic novel The Lagoon by Lilli Carré. Click this link if the embedded slideshow doesn't appear above, and/or to open it in a new window.
Here's an advance look at John Kerschbaum's brutally funny graphic novel debut Petey & Pussy, starring a pair of kvetching, balding, foul-mouthed anthropomorphic misanthropes. Click this link if the embedded slideshow doesn't appear above, and/or to open it in a new window.
Johnny Ryan sez on his blog: "Superfan Patrick O'Odonnell and friends have produced another cinematic masterpiece based on one of my comics. If you ever wondered what would happen if Stanley Kubrick fell out of the top floor of the World Trade Center and landed brain first into a pile of my comics, you'd probably get something like this." Behold.
Here's an advance look at Ted Stearn's existential funny-animal farce Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville, the continuing adventures of the titular stuffed bear and featherless rooster. Click this link if the embedded slideshow doesn't appear above, or to open it in a new window.
Description for this video produced by Yale University Press (link if you don't see it embedded above):
"Ivan Brunetti on An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories, Volume 2 from Yale University Press – Video director John Kuramoto brings together dozens of images from leading indie comics artists featured in the book, along with commentary by its editor, award-winning cartoonist Ivan Brunetti. For more info, visit yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300126716"
From the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning author comes this sharp suite of short tales, ranging from the funny to the terrifying to the surreal to the touching, all told entirely in pantomime. Like Chris Ware, Jason's clean, deadpan style (featuring animal-headed characters with mask-like faces) hides a wealth of emotion and human complexity, leavened with a wicked wit. Jason's work has also drawn comparisons to Art Spiegelman for the similar ways both artists utilize anthropomorphic stylizations to reach deeper, more general truths, and to create elegantly minimalist panels whose emotional depth-charge comes as an even greater shock. His dark wit and supremely bold use of "jump-cuts" from one scene to the next are endlessly surprising and exhilarating. This new 2008 reprint features a brand new cover design.
Available now on our website and coming possibly next week to comic shops, The Comics Journal #293 features interviews with S. Clay Wilson and Alex Robinson plus a whole bargeload more. Get yourself a visual sneak peek right here (click this link if the embedded slideshow doesn't appear above, or if you just want a bigger version) and check out some teaser excerpts on TCJ.com.
I'm probably jinxing this just by typing it, but I'm hoping to bring you a new preview slideshow every day this week. Can I do it? Stay tuned.
Would you gladly pay us Tuesday for an action-packed advance look at Popeye Vol. 3: "Let's You and Him Fight!" today? Well here you go... on the house (cheese extra). Click here if the slideshow doesn't appear above.
The Strand bookstore presents video footage of Kim Deitch's presentation there two weeks ago. (Note that there was a minor tech problem with the sound at the beginning, but the audio kicks in after a couple of minutes, when the on-screen clock hits 19:04.)
