Bechdel’s ARE YOU MY MOTHER gets 100K first printing
As we've mentioned here several times, there have been no more important graphic novels published in this century than PERSEPOLIS by Marjane Satrapi and FUN HOME by Alison Bechdel. Both found large audiences well beyond the traditional ones for comics, and both have become oft-imitated -- but never duplicated -- by book publishers trying to cash in on the "graphic novel" trend. (The number of graphic autobiographies exploring ethnic roots alone is staggering.)
Continue ReadingClowes and Beaton make Time’s Top 10 Fiction list
Time is rolling out its top 10 lists and two graphic books made the 'Top 10 Fiction Books list: THE DEATH RAY by Daniel Clowes and HARK! A VAGRANT by Kate Beaton, both published by Drawn & Quarterly. (To see the individual listings you'll need to go through the annoying, hit making slideshow format.) Confirming the nerd-friendly tenor of the list, A DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R. R. Martin topped the list, although more traditional literary tomes were at other spots. Comics-mole Lev Grossman penned the entries for the books. It was only a few years ago that Alison Bechdel's FUN HOME topped theTime list, and announced that graphic novels were just books with ideas and themes, too.
Continue ReadingComing Attractions: Fall 2011: Fantagraphics
Mark Twain and Flannery O'Connor! Estonia and the Andes! Armed Gardens and Treasure Island! Joe Kubert, Tony Millionaire, Jack Davis! Old Comedians and Young Romance! And Gahan Wilson's Nuts!
Continue ReadingIntroducing: TRIP CITY
It's kinda comics for the people involved. TRIP CITY is a new art salon/web site that features many Brooklyn-based creative peeps including cartoonists. PR below.
Continue ReadingFight! Darryl Ayo vs Sean T. Collins over the immortal soul of Daniel Clowes
Quote: There’s not much to grab onto with Clowes’ new work. Just upper middle class white male alienation. His tone is smug but he offers very precious few treats for the cartoon enthusiast who wanders into his worlds yet doesn’t share his worldview.
Continue ReadingComing: Tons of great D&Q-related comics events in New York City this fall
While we're sitting overlooking the greenery of the last week of summer there's already a tinge of fall in the air up here in Maine, and it will soon be time to stowaway the flip flops and dust off the leather jacket. And not to boast, but if you live in New York City, call is going to be freaking awesome. Here's an event list for their cartoonists courtesy of Drawn and Quarterly
Continue Reading2011 Ignatz Awards nominees announced
The nominees for the 2011 Ignatz awards have just been announced. The nominees represent the best of indie comics and were selected by a five person panel consisting of Rina Ayuyang, Mike Dawson, Kris Dresen, Theo Ellsworth, and John Porcellino. Winners will be selected by attendees of the Small Press Expo and presented at the gala Ignatz Awards ceremony held on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 9:00 PM with host Dustin Harbin. Multiple nominees include Edie Fake, Michael DeForge, Sammy Harkham and Carol Tyler.
Continue ReadingGabrielle Bell finishes monthlong comics event
Every day in July the great Gabrielle Bell a href="http://gabriellebell.com/2011/08/01/31/"> posted a comic. . Out own July was a bit too chaotic for regular reading but it's all up now -- but only until August 15th. We caught up with our own reading, and it's a fascinating trip into a world of nosy supers, computer cables, post office frustration, lost keys, self doubt and survival. Check it out while you can ...and congrats Gabrielle.
Continue ReadingSDCC Literary Comics: Interview with a Vampire & Uglies Adaptations, Ms. Tree Returns
At San Diego Comic-Con it was announced that Anne Rice's classic vampire novel, Interview With a Vampire, is being adapted into graphic novel format by webcomic creator Ashley Marie Witter for Yen Press, due out in 2012.
Continue ReadingRemembering Harvey Pekar one year later
It's been a year since comics writing legend Harvey Pekar passed away at the age of 70, but thanks to the amount of work he had in the pipeline, not only has his legacy lived on, but it's still growing. And friends are remembering.
Continue ReadingICAF goes to CCS
We hadn't seen this formally announced anywhere but we might have missed it: ICAF, the annual meet-up for international comics scholars, will be hosted at CCS this year. The conference will be held September 29-October 1, and spotlight the American Bande Dessineé Society.
Continue ReadingConvention Report: Swedish SPX 2011
In spite of the dramatic international intrigue Sparkplug Comic Books and its affiliates faced at the Canadian border on the way to TCAF last weekend, we managed to simultaneously invade a whole other continent at Stockholm Sweden’s 11th Annual SPX Festival. Sparkplug was honored to be invited to the festival for the 3rd year in a row along with many other hella distinguished international guests.
Continue ReadingTCAF — the video
It's pretty obvious that next week's Toronto Comic Arts Festival is going to be he most awesome show of the year. And just to back that up. here's an awesome preview video featuring Chester Brown, Michael Comeau, Steve Charles Manale, Vicki Nerino, Michael Cho, Michael DeForge, Seth, Fiona Smyth + Britt Wilson.
Continue ReadingMoCCA thoughts: The indie evolution
The MoCCA Festival at the Lexington Armory a few days ago was a fun weekend -- the numerous photo shows filled with smiling faces of dedicated artists and publishers show that. Look at Peggy Burns' engaging set or Dan Nadel's. Fun is fine, of course, but that's not entirely why people go to indie shows like MoCCA, SPX, and TCAF. I'd argue that the social aspect of hanging out with fellow cartoonists is a major motivation for attending, but that's not why D&Q or PictureBox or Fantagraphics attends. These are important shows for promoting authors and selling books.
Continue ReadingWATCH: Strandicon and the story of THE COMICS JOURNAL
For those of you who couldn't get over to last week's Strandicon and Comics Journal panel with Gary Groth, Dan Nadel, Tim Hodler, and Kim Deitch, the Strand has YouTubed the whole thing!: And BONUS Strandicon interviews with Ben Katchor, Nadja Spiegelman, Trade Loeffler, Dash Shaw, Brecht Evens, Joe Ollmann, R. Sikoryak, Jillian Tamaki, and Pascal Girard.
Continue ReadingOur Sponsors
CLASSIFIEDS
RECENT COMMENTS