National Comic Day is today, September 25th.
Celebrate! Read a book! Share an author or a title or some fun!
Check it out for yourself.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Aardvark-Vanheim
Website: Unable to locate;Here is the link to the Aardvark portal on ComicBookDb.
Style Classification: Single Creator
Notable Works: Cerebus
Story:
Dave Sim is the Canadian grandfather of independent comics. In 1977 he started publishing his Conan-send up Cerebus independently through his own imprint, Aardvark-Vanheim. Over the course of 25+ years and 300 issues, the adventures of the surly aardvark Cerebus gave the world a few things: hope and inspiration for independent publishers as well as a forum for Dave Sim to discuss his specific brand of Canadian philosophy.
That point of view has gotten the man in some hot water through the years, most notably his views on women and his anti-feminist stances taken within the pages of his comics. I don't know enough about these specific controversies, but I'm not one to defend misogyny.
Notwithstanding that, at this point the guy's position in the historical hierarchy of independent comics is basically Rushmore-d.
Style Classification: Single Creator
Notable Works: Cerebus
Story:
Dave Sim is the Canadian grandfather of independent comics. In 1977 he started publishing his Conan-send up Cerebus independently through his own imprint, Aardvark-Vanheim. Over the course of 25+ years and 300 issues, the adventures of the surly aardvark Cerebus gave the world a few things: hope and inspiration for independent publishers as well as a forum for Dave Sim to discuss his specific brand of Canadian philosophy.
That point of view has gotten the man in some hot water through the years, most notably his views on women and his anti-feminist stances taken within the pages of his comics. I don't know enough about these specific controversies, but I'm not one to defend misogyny.
Notwithstanding that, at this point the guy's position in the historical hierarchy of independent comics is basically Rushmore-d.
Cartoon Books
Website: Boneville.com
Style Classification: Single Creator
Notable Works: Bone; RASL
Story:
Jeff Smith founded Cartoon Books as a means of independently publishing his "Bone" comic book series. It is a nod to Carl Barks' "Uncle Scrooge" and answers the question: Wouldn't it be cool if Uncle Scrooge had a twenty year long adventure?
As lushly illustrated as the title Bone-cousins are simple, the complete Bone series is a masterpiece, but anything as influenced by Walt Kelly and Tolkien and Tolstoy as this story is bound to be at least interesting.
I'm lucky enough to be in possession of the door-stopper complete collection, seen below. The sadness creeps in as the story is wrapping up, because you just want it to continue.
This is a story and creator I've suggested to people who harbor specific negative views of the comic industry and its super-hero mainstream.
Style Classification: Single Creator
Notable Works: Bone; RASL
Story:
Jeff Smith founded Cartoon Books as a means of independently publishing his "Bone" comic book series. It is a nod to Carl Barks' "Uncle Scrooge" and answers the question: Wouldn't it be cool if Uncle Scrooge had a twenty year long adventure?
As lushly illustrated as the title Bone-cousins are simple, the complete Bone series is a masterpiece, but anything as influenced by Walt Kelly and Tolkien and Tolstoy as this story is bound to be at least interesting.
I'm lucky enough to be in possession of the door-stopper complete collection, seen below. The sadness creeps in as the story is wrapping up, because you just want it to continue.
This is a story and creator I've suggested to people who harbor specific negative views of the comic industry and its super-hero mainstream.
Abstract Studio
Website: abstractstudiocomics
Style Classification: Single Creator
Notable Works: Strangers in Paradise; Rachel Rising
Story:
The focus this month/day is on three stalwarts from the old school, the veterans of independent publishing.
Abstract Studio is the name Terry Moore's Houston-based independent publisher. They publish Moore's award-winning "Strangers in Paradise", "Echo", and the eventual television show "Rachel Rising."
Terry Moore is an industry veteran who, in the mid '90s, followed in the footsteps of both Dave Sim and Jeff Smith in becoming a hero to the independent publishing world.
Style Classification: Single Creator
Notable Works: Strangers in Paradise; Rachel Rising
Story:
The focus this month/day is on three stalwarts from the old school, the veterans of independent publishing.
Abstract Studio is the name Terry Moore's Houston-based independent publisher. They publish Moore's award-winning "Strangers in Paradise", "Echo", and the eventual television show "Rachel Rising."
Terry Moore is an industry veteran who, in the mid '90s, followed in the footsteps of both Dave Sim and Jeff Smith in becoming a hero to the independent publishing world.
Monday, August 8, 2016
Hex Comix
Website: hexcomix.com
Style Classification: Single Title Publisher
Notable Works: Hex 11
Story:
I met the young ladies that run Hex Comix at Wondercon 2016. This is a very small company stationed in Los Angeles. All three employees are smart and talented young women: Kelly Sue Milano on writing duties, Lisa Weber on art duty, and Lynly Forrest running the office and doing most everything else.
At large scale gatherings, like Wondercon, I like to do support companies I like, like Valiant, while eventually patrolling the smaller booths on the outer edges. This is how I do my part to really help the fringe artists and educate myself on tiny companies.
Like Hex Comix.
As it was, the ladies talked me into purchasing their collection of issues 1-6 of their lone title Hex 11. It takes place in a future where magic has been discovered and acts like the new science. The main character is a young witch, and she's learning about her powers.
Honestly, that premise would never cause me to buy that book. But I enjoyed my time talking with the ladies and wanted to be supportive, and seeing as how some of my students are comic-crazed young ladies, I thought the connection could prove fruitful later.
But, dang, if that comic was not quite gripping. It was a page turner that drew me in. I even checked to see when the series would resume. (It has.)
If you have any young ladies in your life who may be into interesting girl-centered comics, and want to support a tiny fringe comic publisher, and would like some good content, check this company and their title out.
Style Classification: Single Title Publisher
Notable Works: Hex 11
Story:
I met the young ladies that run Hex Comix at Wondercon 2016. This is a very small company stationed in Los Angeles. All three employees are smart and talented young women: Kelly Sue Milano on writing duties, Lisa Weber on art duty, and Lynly Forrest running the office and doing most everything else.
At large scale gatherings, like Wondercon, I like to do support companies I like, like Valiant, while eventually patrolling the smaller booths on the outer edges. This is how I do my part to really help the fringe artists and educate myself on tiny companies.
Like Hex Comix.
As it was, the ladies talked me into purchasing their collection of issues 1-6 of their lone title Hex 11. It takes place in a future where magic has been discovered and acts like the new science. The main character is a young witch, and she's learning about her powers.
Honestly, that premise would never cause me to buy that book. But I enjoyed my time talking with the ladies and wanted to be supportive, and seeing as how some of my students are comic-crazed young ladies, I thought the connection could prove fruitful later.
But, dang, if that comic was not quite gripping. It was a page turner that drew me in. I even checked to see when the series would resume. (It has.)
If you have any young ladies in your life who may be into interesting girl-centered comics, and want to support a tiny fringe comic publisher, and would like some good content, check this company and their title out.
"Harvey Awards" Could be Renamed "Valiant Awards"
I mean no disrespect to Harvey Kurtzman. I'm just excited for our phoenix-like resurrected independent superhero comic publisher.
The Harvey Awards are one of the two prestigious cartoonist and comic industry annual award shows. The Eisners are the other. The Harvey Awards are voted on by industry insiders: artists, writers, colorists, and editors.
This year my favorite company has garnered the most nominations in history at 50. Fifty.
Valiant Entertainment has been honored with, on many occasions, multiple nominations in the same category. Artist Mico Suayan, writers Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt are just a few of the creators who nabbed nominations.
Titles like Divinity, Ninjak (two of the books I read regularly), and Bloodshot Reborn were among the titles nominated.
Matt Kindt's Ninjak has had one of the most complex narrative structures for an espionage/superhero comic around. Each issue hovers in around 40 pages as readers get at least two, but occasionally three, separate narratives timelines telling the story of Colin King, his familial background, his training, his connection to those he hunts for the British government, and ultimately his future. It's a good time.
I have some more homer-like thoughts about Valiant's Generation Zero vs Marvel's The Champions, and the way Faith Hebert connected with fans in ways that slightly more fringe-worthy works like Image's Bitch Planet have yet to.
Homerism to come later...
Congratulations to Valiant Entertainment's 50 Harvey Award nominations, the voting of which ends today. Winners will be announced on September 3rd.
The Harvey Awards are one of the two prestigious cartoonist and comic industry annual award shows. The Eisners are the other. The Harvey Awards are voted on by industry insiders: artists, writers, colorists, and editors.
This year my favorite company has garnered the most nominations in history at 50. Fifty.
Valiant Entertainment has been honored with, on many occasions, multiple nominations in the same category. Artist Mico Suayan, writers Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt are just a few of the creators who nabbed nominations.
Titles like Divinity, Ninjak (two of the books I read regularly), and Bloodshot Reborn were among the titles nominated.
Matt Kindt's Ninjak has had one of the most complex narrative structures for an espionage/superhero comic around. Each issue hovers in around 40 pages as readers get at least two, but occasionally three, separate narratives timelines telling the story of Colin King, his familial background, his training, his connection to those he hunts for the British government, and ultimately his future. It's a good time.
I have some more homer-like thoughts about Valiant's Generation Zero vs Marvel's The Champions, and the way Faith Hebert connected with fans in ways that slightly more fringe-worthy works like Image's Bitch Planet have yet to.
Homerism to come later...
Congratulations to Valiant Entertainment's 50 Harvey Award nominations, the voting of which ends today. Winners will be announced on September 3rd.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Blue Juice Comics
Website: Blue Juice Comics
Style Classification: Company Outgrowth
Notable Works: The Accelerators; Anne Bonnie; Aether & Empire
Story:
This is the first use of this specific classification, something I'm calling "Company Outgrowth." I think that there is a better name for the kind of content this company produces, but for now it'll stand.
The motivation behind the classification: Founded in 2012, Blue Juice Comics is an outgrowth of the film production company Blue Juice Films. The three titles they produce aren't so much created by a company looking to produce already realized content created by outsiders, nor are the three titles sprung from a single person's imagination and all coexist in a tidy cohesive universe.
Blue Juice Comics is the result of people who love comics trying their hand at it.
Blue Juice Films doesn't make major block busters, rather they make and work on (in collaboration with other studios) documentaries, music videos, and animated productions. "Living the dream" they call it down here in the Southland.
Anne Bonnie stars the titular young girl pirate and swashbuckles. Aether & Empire is their newest title and is described as "Victorian sci-fi steampunk space adventure."
The Accerlerators is their founding title and follows reluctant time-travelers who find themselves stuck in a future where time machines are normal but dangerous.
Only three titles, and each one seems completed with excellent execution.
Special Status: SOLID COMPANY
Style Classification: Company Outgrowth
Notable Works: The Accelerators; Anne Bonnie; Aether & Empire
Story:
This is the first use of this specific classification, something I'm calling "Company Outgrowth." I think that there is a better name for the kind of content this company produces, but for now it'll stand.
The motivation behind the classification: Founded in 2012, Blue Juice Comics is an outgrowth of the film production company Blue Juice Films. The three titles they produce aren't so much created by a company looking to produce already realized content created by outsiders, nor are the three titles sprung from a single person's imagination and all coexist in a tidy cohesive universe.
Blue Juice Comics is the result of people who love comics trying their hand at it.
Blue Juice Films doesn't make major block busters, rather they make and work on (in collaboration with other studios) documentaries, music videos, and animated productions. "Living the dream" they call it down here in the Southland.
Anne Bonnie stars the titular young girl pirate and swashbuckles. Aether & Empire is their newest title and is described as "Victorian sci-fi steampunk space adventure."
The Accerlerators is their founding title and follows reluctant time-travelers who find themselves stuck in a future where time machines are normal but dangerous.
Only three titles, and each one seems completed with excellent execution.
Special Status: SOLID COMPANY
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