At the risk of being Seattle-centric

Ellen Forney gets validated by the City of Seattle! It looks like someone deserves a toast for the decision to hire her for custom artwork to be installed in the Capitol Hill Sound Transit Station.

I can’t wait to go to my neighborhood station and see one of our favorite artists. If you are getting weepy with jealousy (as you should), ask nicely and I’ll take you on an Ellen Forney tour of my neighborhood. Unfortunately some of the spots here her art was featured are gone (R.I.P. The Globe), but fear not as there are many more haunts to visit.

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

And then…

A quick addendum to Dylan’s Emerald City ComiCon post…

While walking around the artist gallery I had my first bona fide fangirl moment.

I was mulling around Brian Wood’s table, waiting for some space to clear so I could get a copy of Demo to be signed. Once space cleared I stepped forward. He looked up and said “I know you…You are an internet friend.” I stopped dead in my tracks and melted into an emotional puddle. What felt like hours, but was probably mere seconds, I composed myself enough to have some awkward conversation about things to do on a Saturday night in Seattle.

Walking away with a floating sensation, I could now identify with the never ending stream of fans waiting for Brian Michael Bendis: I now officially entered retarded fandom.

The rest of the time I spent in a haze and didn’t really care much about what happened around me. I wasn’t really into everything else the Con had to offer, so I listlessly picked up stupid toys and fingered poly bagged issues without a care in the world.

Fanta-awesome

As one of the first group of patrons to cross the threshold into unchartered Fantagraphics Books retail country, I can say that there is no greater sight than seeing an Acme Novelty Library stand next to a spinner rack swollen with Love and Rockets and Black Hole. But to stay with current blogging trends and to guarantee there isn’t any actual content, let’s make this into a photo post:

Storefront in the Georgetown neighborhood in Seattle. For non-Seattlites, this is a ten minute drive down the freeway from downtown Seattle.

The masses ache to spend cash. Dylan is in the middle of this shot. Yay Dylan!

The wall of signed prints and posters.

The appropriately hyped damage room. Many, many steals.

The Acme Novelty Library stand

I have now found my personal oasis.

Since it was a soft opening there were a few details to be worked out (like a functional credit card machine), but we were told by December 2nd, everything will be perfect. December 2nd is the official grand opening super-fantastic night that everyone should attend. Hey, flights to Seattle aren’t that bad. And if you aren’t totally psycho we may even have some room for you to crash. You just have to ask nicely. And yes, we also accept bribes.

Fantagraphics Store

Seattle comics fans, make some space in your schedule this Saturday to visit the newest comics retailer in the city. Now, this isn’t just any old direct market outlet packed with toys and collectables and a few racks of superhero pamphlets. No siree, this is the long-rumoured, finally real Fantagraphics retail storefront!

Looks like they;ll be stocking “everything Fantagraphics has in print, including our soon-to-be-legendary damaged room, featuring discounted and often out-of-print books unavailable anywhere else.” I don’t think you can afford to miss out, especially as that damaged room will probably get picked over right quick. Come early.

FANTAGRAPHIC BOOKS
1201 South Vale Street
Seattle, WA 98108
Mon. - Sat 11:30 - 8
Sun 11:30 - 5
206-658-0110

Two Things

Not to be too much of a fanboy or anything, but I have two things to say…

First: If you’re not reading Scott Pilgrim you’re either irredeemably OLD, or you’re missing out on some of the most wholeheartedly energetic and wildly inventive comics work today. I finally received my copy of Volume 3 and it continues the high quality of the first two volumes. More about it later.

Second: If you’re not reading Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Annotated Pilgrim (part 1, part 2, more to come) on Livejournal, you are not using your internet conenction to its full potential. Disconnect your service, sell of your computer, and move to Siberia with your head hung in shame. There is no excuse.

Thanks for your time.

Scottaholism

Dear Comics Blogs:

I love Scott Pilgrim, as much, if not more than, you all do. And this makes me sad. Why? Because I haven’t yet been able to read Volume 3, even though I’ve salivated over it’s release for months and months, and have seen it sitting on the shelf at my local comics shop, taunting me. You see, I’m waiting for my signed copy to show up in the mail before I read it, and so far I’ve been able to resist buying an unsigned copy to read beforehand, like I did with Volume 2. But really, this is torture. I’m about to claw my eyes out in anticipation.

In other words, STOP FUCKING POSTING REVIEWS! It’s too much! It’s like you’re all just trying to torment me while I wait…and wait…and wait…

But it’ll be worth it. In a few more days, I’ll be able to dig in, read and re-read it, savor the humour and drama and action and giddiness and squeal like a schoolgirl. And then, finally, I can find out what people have been saying about it for the past few weeks.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The Scott Pilgrim Chronicles

While sifting through teenage melodrama and stupid quizzes, I came across interesting facts about one of my favorite comic characters, Scott Pilgrim. Live and direct from Mal’s Livejournal:

He wears tighty whiteys.
Vera Brogsol, who I adore, will be in one of the final crowd scenes.
Scott played DnD.
Final Fantasy 3 is one of his favorite video games.
There is some inconclusive yet encouraging talk of some hot Wallace/Scott action.

Many other nuggets are buried in this exciting, revealing post (don’t worry, there are no spoilers). It’s awesome to read, especially since I am almost foaming at the mouth to get in on the Volume 3 action. I suppose this will have to placate me for a bit, since hearing that he isn’t done with it is totally disheartening.

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