Since its inception into the vast Tumblr-sphere, Comics Workbook has profoundly reshaped and reinvigorated the communal mold of social blogging for cartoonists and readers alike. While the phenomenon of Tumblr has already served to blossom the indie comics community, Comics Workbook has proven to be an exceptional outlet for different comics creators to display the many stages of creative process, converse and reflect through interviews or essays, as well as using comics as a means of (often hilarious) critique. Now, the next frontier for the web magazine is its print offshoot, Comics Workbook Magazine.
The conceptualization and careful curation of Comics Workbook Magazine, along with its affiliated Tumblr and Composition course/competition, is the brainchild of Frank Santoro, who has capaciously ushered the kind of sensibility for comics which fosters and appreciates the varied progression of comic creators. Motivated by the need for a platform to publish additional material unsuited for the instantaneous network of social media blogging, particularly longer, more in-depth comics writing, Santoro, along with Andrew White and Zach Mason, compiled work from a diverse number of contributors for the debut issue.
“We’re proud to announce the first issue of Comics Workbook Magazine, debuting at CAB.
This magazine features an interview with Sam Alden by T.S. Moreau, essays on Nancy by Dorothy Berry, and an interview with Comics Workbook Composition Competition 2013 winner Dave Ortega. We also have new comics by Oliver East, Sarah Horrocks, and Zach Mason. The cover was drawn by Sam Alden.
Comics Workbook Magazine is put together by Andrew White (Editor / Wrangler), Zach Mason (Editorial Asst + Design), and Frank Santoro(Editorial Supervision).”
The content for the first issue, an even split of new comics and articles ranging from interviews to essays, is evidently an outgrowth of the Comics Workbook Tumblr, effectively creating a physical product that maintains the same essence of the short-form pieces that have made its Tumblr so effective. Following its release, the magazine aims to continue publishing following issues on a roughly bimonthly basis, with issue #2 aimed for release in January 2014.
Pick up your very own copy at Comic Arts Brooklyn, and as always, peep the Comics Workbook Tumblr.
