Free Comic Book Day 2012: Reviews!
I read (almost) every Free Comic Book Day title, and let you know what's the best!
BIG QUESTIONS wins Lynd Ward Prize
Anders Nilsen's acclaimed BIG QUESTIONS has won the second Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize. The award recognizes the best graphic novel, fiction or non-fiction, by a living American and is sponsored by Penn State University Libraries and administered by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.
New edition of Ed the Happy Clown previewed
The D&Q blog has a tempting preview of a new edition of ED THE HAPPY CLOWN, Chester Brown's early surrealist masterpiece about a man who has Ronald Reagan's head grafted onto the end of his penis.
Coming Attractions: Fall 2012: Macmillan!!
Oh, man... so much good stuff coming from Macmillan! And they're not even known for publishing graphic novels! Scan this list, and tell us what makes you squeel with joy!
Craft corner: How to make a Moomin House
A Finnish girls finds a Moomin figure at the flea market and builds it a cute little house, or "Muumitalot."
To do: Tom Gauld on tour
With his gorgeous GOLIATH out from D&Q, Tom Gauld is embarking on a two-continent tour. UK dates are above; here's his US schedule.
Coming Attractions: February 2012: Part Three
Here it is, the stunning conclusion of new titles shipping in February!
Since this is Oscars weekend, I've included some award winners below! Hugo! Edgar! Carnegie! Stoker! Even Shamus! (No, not that one!)
Lots of adaptations! One is a comic based on a movie based on a prose novel!
Coming Attractions: February 2012: Part Two: D+Q, Small Press, Christianity
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Here's the second part of February's preview. There's some unusual titles here (including a publisher of religious graphic novels), some which don't seem to exist beyond a listing on Books In Print.
As usual, my...
A new issue of BERLIN is on the way
Jason Lutes has been working on BERLIN, his tale of Weimar Germany, for something like...14 years. And although it's been about a year between issues, a new issue has been delivered to the DQ offices and publisher Chris Oliveros marvels at their craft:
Jason is the consummate professional. Did you know that there is not a single use of "white out" on any of these 24 pages? Pen to paper for close to a couple of hundred panels, all done with flawless efficiency.
D&Q finally goes digital with Kobo Vox and Chester Brown
Publisher of the Year candidate Drawn & Quarterly has finally broken the seal on literary comics going digital with a two book deal with Kobo Vox which will see Chester Brown's LOUIS RIEL and PAYING FOR IT released. According to associate publisher Peggy Burns, the deal is non-exclusive, and next year will see more titles and platforms for D&Q.
Literary comics publishers Fantagraphics and D&Q are along the last holdouts among publishers going digital -- partially due to their authors' ambivalence (or dislike) of the platform -- so even this tiny toe-dipping into the digital world represents a big step forward. In this case, Chester Brown actually encouraged the move -- and it doesn't hurt that Kobo is, like D&Q, a Canadian company.
New semi-autobiographical Gilbert Hernandez book due from D&Q
A new Gilbert Hernandez GN is not astonishing news in and of itself -- the guy is one of the most prolific geniuses out there. However, that it will be overtly semi-autobiographical and that it will be published by D&Q makes it even more newsworthy, as revealed this morning at The Comics Reporter.
MARBLE SEASON "follows a group of children and teenagers growing up in suburban southern California of the early 1960s, and tells the untold stories from the youth of an American comics legend. Pop culture references—TV shows, comic books, and music—saturate this evocative story, giving MARBLE SEASON the distinctive narrative depth and attention to detail fans have come to expect from the acclaimed cartoonist's work."
The book will be released this fall with a tour to follow.
Nice art: Lynda Barry's younger years
Slate has a preview of the autobio material in the upcoming Lynda Barry collection Everything Vol. 1. More in link.
