Glamourpuss

You may not remember, but when this blog originally launched, I began an enormous Cerebus re-read project. I ended up finishing the re-read (oh god, even the text-only portions of Latter Days, which was enough to make me want to jam a menorah through my brain), but not the chronicling. Probably for the better. There’s only so much to be said about a creator who can so willfully dismantle everything appealing about his creation just to spite his dwindling fanbase for rejecting his cloud-cuckoo-land formulation of anti-feminism. It’s a pretty singular act of creative self-immolation, and Sim’s continued defense of his “philosophy” tends to sway between denying that his arguments lead to the conclusions they plainly do (basically trying to have the cake he’s already eaten), and insisting that a feminist/leftist/homosexualist cabal is the reason his ideas aren’t more widely accepted.

So naturally, the announcement of his new comic project has caught me somewhat by surprise.

Now, after you’ve digested that link (assuming you can stomach the awful Flash site, complete with horrible typography and retina-charring pink-on-white halftone EVERYWHERE), you probably had the same impending trainwreck feeling deep in your gut that I had. Famous misogynist launches new comic book series with female lead, exploring the nuances of the world of fashion? I can’t imagine what motivated him to even start this project, let alone bring it to market.

Naturally, the thing that fascinates about Sim is that he’s a damned fine cartoonist, probably one of the best and certainly one of the more driven. His grasp of caricature, lettering, world-building, and pacing is second-to-none, and even when his writing declined into a melange of projection, ministering, and revenge fantasy,  his artistic standards remained high. But he did have his longtime collaborator, Gerhard, turning out those incredible backgrounds up until the end of Cerebus, so who knows how his first solo flight in several decades will turn out. Will we get the silhouette-heavy backgrounds of High Society?

In the end though, I have to admit I’m somewhat torn on this one. It seems unfair to dismiss a new book based solely on the unfortunate ideas of its author. This could turn out to be perfectly enjoyable. I’m inclined to doubt that outcome, but I can’t quite shake the feeling that I should at least give the book a chance. Maybe I’ll see what the general comic blogging public has to say about before I venture in.

(Link via Metafilter).

976 sq. ft.

I was pretty excited when I discovered that Tom Kaczynski was going to be one of the new Mome contributors, back in the Spring 2007 issue. I’d picked up a few of his minicomics at APE, and was impressed by his aesthetic, from drawing style to color choices and cover design. Definitely an artist to watch, and his first couple of contributions to that anthology kept me interested. But his most recent piece, 976 sq. ft., really struck a chord with me.

His previous Mome work is steeped in modern anxiety, a theme he’s continued from his work in the free-associative minicomics Transalaska, Transsiberia, and Transatlantis. While those minis featured first person, stream of consciousness ruminations on the nature of modern society and his place in it, specifically through the lens of his upbringing in Communist Poland, his two initial Mome pieces placed those themes into loose narratives that borrow heavily from the psychological thriller genre.

976 sq. ft. is similar, examining the changing face of urban neighborhoods through the obsession of one couple. When I started reading it, I had to flip to the back of the book and check his biography, to see if he was living in Seattle, since it described so well what was happening all over town. Turns out he’s currently in Minneapolis. But his description of the condominium onslaught in a sub-neighborhood of an unnamed city could’ve easily described one of several neighborhoods here in my town. The tiny chunk of non-descript buildings that suddenly becomes a “Neighborhood,” complete with catchy marketing name and accompanying upscale junk mail, the construction site changing the visual and auditory nature of the neighborhood, the growing unease of the current residents. I felt like I was reading about Ballard, Capitol Hill, Fremont. Like the recent mourning over the death of a certain block of E. Pike here in Seattle, 976 sq. ft. uses a single piece of development to underscore the psychological impact of gentrification. It’s a palpable feeling for those of us enduring the rental market in one of the few cities where the housing boom is still going strong, rather than creating foreclosed ghost towns.  It’s a great piece that’s timely, and interesting as a story in its own right.

Webcomic linkdumping because we can

Webcomics can be a real downer. The pace of putting up a comic on a regular schedule can make the most motivated and ambitious of cartoonists weep, and it usually shows in their work. That being said, there are definite exceptions and they give the format an excitement and originality. I have a couple favorites and it is my comic loving duty to spread the word.

Bellen! by Box Brown (M-W-F)

Yes, it’s a love story. And yes, it can be excessively saccharine. But riding the lows and highs of the strip mirrors the changes in a relationship and this makes it feel very geniune. The tears and pain are balanced with tenderness, which makes this a great read.

The Rack by Kevin Church and Benjamin Birdie (M-Tu-W-F)

You’ve heard of it. The marketing machine that is Kevin has made sure you have. And if you aren’t already, you should also be reading it. The Rack is a smart story with likable characters in a comic store that feels very much like the one you visit every Wednesday. Church and Birdie, who have previously worked on Boom! Studios webcomic Nitrogyclerin, have definitely hit their stride with this comic. And you may even find a kinship with the typecast characters. Lydia tickles my fancy, but probably because I would toss back a few drinks with her and talk shit about all the surrounding patrons and collectively swoon over Phonogram backissues - CAUSE THAT’S HOW WE ROLL.

SMILE (A Dental Drama) by Raina Telgemeier (W)

I love Raina. And if you don’t share the same sentiment you are cold, cruel, insensitive creature that barely deserves to breathe. She’s sweet and talented and smart and…dentally impaired? The diary format allows her to tell the tale of prepubescent woe brought on by braces and not feeling like the others. It has lost a bit of luster with consecutive weeks of guest strips, and with The Big News she will most likely leave this one to die a slow, painful death. It is too bad.

Girls with Slingshots by Danielle Corsetto (M-Tu-W-Th-F)

There is a little bit of everything for every reader: romance, sexuality, machismo, drunken louts, mid-twenties angst, and even a talking cactus. The art is good and the humor is better. It’s been nice watching this strip gain momentum, as Danielle has cast off the schlepping of wage earner status and has set up a PayPal donation bucket to assist her readership support the story they love.

Cat and Girl by Dorothy Gambrell (Tu-Th-F)

Everyone loves this webcomic. I’m not even sure why I feel compelled to list it here. It’s a given that everyone reads this, along with Diesel Sweeties and Penny Arcade, right? If not, shoot me an email and I will categorically interrogate you on how you could have survived this long in the world with your overwhelming lameness.

DAR: A Super Girly Top Secret Diary by Erika Moen (Tu)

Not only is she a super awesome Pacific Northwest cartoonist that we’ve been able to make paper stars with at Stumptown, but she’s also a fascinating artist. Her style is thick and lucid and beautiful. Plus she can write a story, which is more elusive than it should be.  I wish she would post more, but I’d take quality over quantity any day.

Claustrophobia!

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the Fantagraphics bookstore opened it’s doors in the semi-industrial, semi-artsy Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. They’ve already become a local institution of sorts, bringing in a steady stream of comic creators for readings and signings, not to mention a enviable series of gallery shows. We’ve been treated to the likes of Peter Bagge, Los Bros Hernandez, Ellen Forney, Anders Nilsen, Jim Woodring, Ivan Brunetti, and more. And best of all, there’s usually free beer, and sometimes rock and roll to be had at these shindigs.

Of course, the best way to celebrate the first anniversary of a comics retail shop is to invite artists and musicians to come mingle with the unwashed masses, cram everybody into a small space filled with comics, and give them all some beer and a discount on new books. And that’s just what the Fantagraphics shop di last night, with Ellen Forney, Jim Woodring, and Jim Blanchard hosting the get together and signing books, and music by The Tom Price Desert Classic.

Now, when I say “a small space,” I mean the fire marshall probably would have passed out (and subsequently shut the place down) if he’d happened by. It was the kind of turnout that leads to clogged aisles and the use of elbows as navigational devices. I guess it just means that the store is too popular for its own good, which isn’t exactly a bad thing. Better to have too many people show up to your party than not enough. But it did lead to a hot and claustrophoic environment that’s not exactly ideal for comics browsing.

Browsing wasn’t really the main point of the night thought, despite the generous 20% discount on all new books. There was plenty of mingling to be done, with fellow comics fans and a smattering of local artists making the rounds through the night. While we here at the Successless Comics blog are more of the wallflowery sort, we did snag a few paparazzi shots of the local inkerati (though I couldn’t quite get a good shot Ellen Forney’s adorable pink furry hat). There’s plenty to look at in the Fantagraphics group on Flickr.

Pabst blue Ribbon and George Herriman. Now that’s what I call a party. Maybe we’ll see you at the 2nd anniversary get together!

Go Home Team

Geographically speaking, we are lucky enough to live in a hotbed of HAWT COMIC ACTIVITY. Seattle is lucky enough to shove Fantagraphics, a hip library system that names Perspeolis as Book of the Year, awesome shops like Zanadu, artists from Peter Bagge to Tatiana Gill, et al. into one small area.

So when Newsarama interviewed a Successless and Seattle favorite cartoonist Ellen Forney, I squealed a bit. We’ve definitely written about our deep affections for her work, and it’s nice to see other folks taking notice as well.

Forney has had a banner year, with I Love Led Zeppelin being praised by all types of media outlets, and the New York Times taking note of her book with Sherman Alexie (another Seattle native - see how cool we are?!), things will get only better. Walking by Cornish College (where Forney teaches) everyday on my way to work serves as a reminder of the seven degrees of awesome Seattle represents.

If we were sports fans, which we are not, this would be like the Mariners going to the Super Bowl. Or is that the Seahawks going to the World Series? Or is it the Sonics going to the Olympics? (note: I’m totally kidding. I do not need to be schooled in the art of sports championships, so quiet in the peanut gallery.)

An open letter to a surprising hero

Dear Scott Pilgrim,

I remember what I was doing when I was 23. There are some parallels, despite our many differences: I too was drinking cheap beer, working some lame job, poorly flirting with cute boys, and trying to milk the last of my carefree days. That is about it, and this is where our stories diverge. I was regularly showering. I wasn’t mooching off a roommate, inadvertently stringing a hapless high school girl along, trying to date someone out of my league, or living my life as if it were a video game.

And thank goodness. When recounting your tale, I am aware by how much cooler you are than I was/am. I mean, afterall, you are noble in fighting your out-of-league girlfriend’s exes, playing much better bass to local crowds in a band, and surrounded by cute girls with fashionable haircuts. And you do this all while being charming enough for your roommate to pay your way. This is pretty damn cool.

And your coolness even elevates higher than the regard I held you in before. In your latest tale (Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together) I get to see some evolution. You got a job! You turned down advances from a former high school crush! You told the pitifull high school girl there was no chance while not crushing her to bits! You saved the day, all while fighting a half-ninja and keeping your cool despite her romantic adventures with your lady (that you weren’t even privy to witness)!

I’m happy to witness your growth, even if its tale was delayed because Amazon is run by fucktards and your scribe wasn’t directly mailing out to his rabid fanbase. All in all, good show Scott P. Let’s hope you pop back up on the radar soon.

Love (without the mush),

Serene

We’re Back!

Oh, Hi. We have a comics blog, don’t we. I’d almost forgot about that, and I’ll bet you had too, seeing as it’s been months and months since we’ve posted. But we haven’t been idle all this time, oh no. We’ve been working hard on launching a new version of this site. Well, not for the whole time obviously. That would be kind of sad. But we eventually did just that, and here it is. You’re soaking in it.

We’re getting our comics blogging legs back at the moment, so excuse the dust and bleary-eyed expressions on the faces of your humble authors. We’re on a new blogging platform, at a new URL (comics.successless.org). The old one might work, but it probably won’t. Sorry for the inconvenience. I’ll put up a redirect page when I get a chance for all you stragglers.

Anyways…let me know if anything about this new design isn’t working for you. I know there are a lot of broken pictures. I’m trying to fix that, but they may have disappeared into Blogger’s database, never to return. Wish me luck on that one. Otherwise, kick the tires, see how the seats feel, leave a comment or two if you so desire. Actual content: coming soon.