Love & Maggie

Love and Rockets Links: Dark Horse Comics Spotlight

2012-01-30T23:04:00.000-06:00

Though Gilbert Hernandez has spent the majority of his career at Fantagraphics Books, he has worked for many other comics companies in the past thirty years. Dark Horse Comics has published many of Gilbert's books, including GIRL CRAZY, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, CITIZEN REX, and various anthology stories. It was announced 1/13 that Gilbert will be doing another mini-series for Dark Horse this year titled, FATIMA: THE BLOOD SPINNERS. The first issue of this zombie-themed series will be out June 20, 2012, just in time for Comic Con International. original press release here.

A preview of the CITIZEN REX collection can be found on the Dark Horse website here.

Here's an odd job: THE GUILD: VORK with cover only by Gilbert.

The press release for the first slate of Dark Horse Originals back in November 2010 can be viewed here. This included CITIZEN REX by Mario and Gilbert.

Previews from individual issues of CITIZEN REX are still online: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This series is not available for digital download.

Gilbert's mini-series SPEAK OF THE DEVIL also has some previews still online: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, collection. The collection is still in print, while all the single issues are available for digital download.

Gilbert's first series from Dark Horse, GIRL CRAZY, is not available in print, digital download, or free preview. However, there is still a product page posted on the Dark Horse website.

According to Grand Comics Database, Gilbert's first published work for Dark Horse was in BETTIE PAGE COMICS 1 (March 1996), a six-page story co-written with Dave Stevens and drawn by Tony Meers. This issue also included promo material for his GIRL CRAZY series which debuted a few months later.

Going way to a few years after LOVE & ROCKETS started, Dark Horse has Los Bros Hernandez version of MISTER X back in print in an Archives hardcover-type format. Preview of three pages can be found here.

A not-so-old one is still online for free viewing: "Dreamstar" by Gilbert from 2009 from MySPACE DARK HORSE PRESENTS.

Dark Horse has been reprinting the work of the unjustly overlooked Jesse Marsh in it's hardcover TARZAN ARCHIVES: THE JESSE MARSH YEARS. Of interest to L&R fans is Jesse Marsh is an early influence of Gilbert Hernandez, in the following preview pages you can still spot similarities in figure- and line-work between the two. Here are links to free previews of the ten volumes so far: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten.

Love and Rockets Links: 1/10

2012-01-10T10:04:00.003-06:00

charity: Jaime donated items for the successful fundraising campaign over the holiday season for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

preview: Kim Thompson provides us with a glimpse of the back cover to Jaime's much-anticipated GOD AND SCIENCE: THE RETURN OF THE TI-GIRLS.

Gilbert Gets Some, Love That Is: Michael DeForge influenced by, and Marjorie Liu reading his POISON RIVER book.

ebay: Here's a rare French editon of "Death of Speedy"-era Jaime LOCAS stories, titled MODERN SEX.

ebay: Here's a wild Zippo lighter with appropriated Jaime graphics. Great scans.

ebay: Looks like no one bought this super-rare punk rock concert flyer supposedly by Jaime.

*SPOTLIGHT ON TOM SPURGEON:

1. "Deconstructing Comics Podcast #300: Jaime Hernandez" Tom Spurgeon is interviewed by Tim and Kumar on the subject of Jaime Hernandez.

2. "Deconstructing Comics Podcast #305: Gilbert Hernandez" Tom Spurgeon is interviewed by Tim and Kumar on the subject of Gilbert Hernandez. (sorry if these links don't work)

3. I always enjoy Tom Spurgeon's "CR Holiday Interview" series, here's a link that takes you to all of this year's entries. It's stunning to look at the full list and realize that back-in-the-day this would have been a whole year's worth of interviews in THE COMICS JOURNAL. The interview with Kim Thompson is especially recommended by us, as he's kind of the editor of LOVE AND ROCKETS (although Mr. Thompson makes it sound sound like he's Jimmy Olsen to Los Bros Perry White!).

Love and Rockets Links: Marble Season

2011-12-13T11:29:00.000-06:00

The big news since the last post is Gilbert publishing a future book with Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly. Drawn and Quarterly 1, Drawn and Quarterly 2 (above image via this link), The Comics Reporter, Comic Book Resources 1, 2, Digital Spy, Internet Movie Database, The Beat. Tumblr posts: nebraska-admiral; mepresta; librairiedrawnandquarterly; and, entrecomics. Twitter blew up over the news, rather than link to what is basically the same sentiment retweeted ad infinitum, here is a list of people and entities that retweeted the news from D&Q and The Comics Reporter and others: Forbidden Planet International, Gert Meesters, Bryan Munn, John Linton Roberson, Russell Fox, Willdaves Machado, Chris Mautner, Entrecomics, Evan Harrison Cass, Box Brown, Vince Bonavoglia, Walter Biggins, Domitille Collardey, Christopher "Coop" Cooper, Gram M. Sigerdsawn, Heidi MacDonald, Eric Orchard, Ed Brubaker, Matthew J. Brady, Sequential, Jim Dougan, Dylan Horrocks, SMKFandom, Page 45, Graham Palm, Portal GHQ, Alexandre Nagado, Mohamed Namaka, Milena Azevedo, Robot 6, Nina Lords, Publisher Guide, Dirk Deppey, Comicbook.com, bestsellbooks, Kiana Wehinger, and Kirsten Harper.

Congratulations to Gilbert Hernandez for finding another outlet for his prolific output, and, yet again, expanding the scope of his work. Some people have been suprised that MARBLE SEASON is not being published by Fantagraphics Books. Please remember Joe Sacco, Chris Ware, Dan Clowes, and Charles Burns have had projects published at (or gravitated toward) Drawn & Quarterly after long publishing relationships with Fantagraphics. It is only logical that as Fantagraphics Books develops it's art book, classic comics strip reprint, and text novel lines that some of these graphic novel projects will be picked up by other quality publishers like D&Q or Abrams. It's good news that there are more quality graphic novels being produced today than only a couple of publishers can handle.

While waiting for MARBLE SEASON folks new to Gilbert's work might want to check out his "Kid Stuff Kids" series of one-pagers from LOVE AND ROCKETS V2#6 11 13 14 15 16, all reprinted in LUBA: THREE DAUGHTERS or LUBA hardcover.

Love and Rockets Links: 12/6

2011-12-06T10:00:00.001-06:00

gossip: Michael Dooley reports on the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con and reveals where Jaime shops for comics.

gossip: Jamie McKelvie tweets that Jaime Hernandez is left-handed.

biography: NationMaster page on Gilbert Hernandez (interesting, but don't click any links).

not Jaime: But wouldn't it be cool if Jaime was the best comic book artist AND polka musician.

twitter: Jerry G tweet reviews that PALOMAR hardcover.

twitter: Lindsey Denmark tweet buys that chub HEARTBREAK SOUP collection.

twitter: Nicolas Pillai tweet buys the same, for a good reason.

twitter: Tor Ame Hegna comments on PW description of Gilbert. I, personally, think Gilbert Hernandez is the Gilbert Hernandez of comics, completely unique in every way.

twitter: Mark Frauenfelder tweet links (twinks?) to a Jordan Crane print of the cover to LOVE AND ROCKETS V1#24, or he would have if the link worked.

twitter: Gibson Twist shout out to artistic influences Evan Dorkin, Jaime, and Dan DeCarlo.

twitter: I just wanted to type @theseantcollins, though this tweet does reference Jaime.

twitter: Dustin Falconer and Sean T. Collins are having the sort of conversation you only used to be able to overhear at a comic book shop.

twitter: Salvador Munoz links to Jaime's illustrations for the Criterion dvd DIVORCE, ITALIAN STYLE.

twitter: Chris Doherty links to another Jordan Crane post of Jaime's work this time that "Ghoul Man" mini-comic.

Love and Rockets Links: 11/28

2011-11-28T10:20:00.000-06:00

exhibition: Giant Robot's seventh annual "Post its" show again features a contribution by Jaime. Show runs 12-10 through 12-29.

essay: Derek A Badman ponders "What Makes a Comic Great?" and includes Jaime's "Locas" as one general example at the end.

illustration: silez + ukuk, on tumblr, post an amazing full-figure woman wrestler drawing by Jaime.

influences: comics alliance has a portfolio of work by Adam Huntley who cites Jaime as an influence.

lists: Michael Cavna @ The Washington Post calls for nominations for the best comics of 2011, he mentions LRNS#4 as an example.

tumblr: Dry The Rain (liz velrene?) posts a very early Love and Rockets Volume 1 cover, which is loved by many, many others on the net.

academia: "Comics and Graphic Storytelling: A Sample Syllabus" by Harry Jenkins, includes "Heartbreak Soup" and "100 Rooms" as course work.

original art: Albert Moy displays some nice early Volume 1 pages by Gilbert.

original art: So, page one of Gilbert's "Heartbreak Soup" is on display above, while here we have Scott Eder on eBay selling page 17! Check out the never before published page on the back of the original art.

ebay: I've never seen this Maggie & Hopey t-shirt before, very cool and color too.

twitter: Kathryn tweet review of Jaime's contribution to CBGB

twitter: Salma tweet review of Jaime's Maggie the Mechanic chub collection

twitter: PAblo Uatu links to a post of the Jaime cd cover "Flaming Burnout: An Estrus Benefit"

twitter: Chan Clementine, a Brit Love and Rockets fan evidently, enthuses about The Art of Jaime Hernandez.

twitter: Chan Clementine doesn't know who Jaime is but likes his art anyway, I've been there also about 25 years ago.

twitter: Doctor Comics links to an academic essay by Tony Venezia "California Gothic: Jaime Hernandez's Ghost of Hoppers."

twitter: Alex Segura (Executive Director of Publicity and Marketing for Archie Comics) links to his posting of the covers to Love and Rockets Volume 1 1-9.

twitter: Johnny Gabes hates Gilbert's "Scarlet by Starlight" in LRNS#4. Go for it!

twitter: Jeff Newelt recommends Gilbert's YEAH! collection.

New and Upcoming Jaime and Gilbert Books

2011-11-18T09:46:00.004-06:00

LOVE AND ROCKETS LIBRARY: THE LOCAS COLLECTION is a boxed set of five 7.5 x 9.25 inch collections of Jaime's work from "Love and Rockets Volume One and Two" "Penny Century" and "Whoa Nellie." A great way to quickly access most of Jaime's Locas stories, on sale by the way.

THE ADVENTURES OF VENUS (June 2012, Fantagraphics Spring/Summer distributor catalog) reprints all the previously uncollected "Venus" stories from Gilbert's late, lamented "Measles" anthology. Includes a new "Venus" story. 104 page 7 x 7 inch hardcover.

GOD AND SCIENCE: RETURN OF THE TI-GIRLS (July 2012, Fantagraphics Spring/Summer distributor catalog) reprints the "Ti-Girls" stories from "Love and Rockets New Stories 1 + 2" as well as an astonishing 30-new pages of stories and covers. 144 page full-size hardcover.

FBI-MINI #4 "Before Love and Rockets" (available now) is a premium mini-comic you can request when ordering any "Love and Rockets" book. It contains several late 70s/1980 era posters by Jaime and an "Inez" story by Gilbert, originally published in "Love and Rockets Sketchbook Volume 1." (from THE FANTAGRAPHICS ULTIMATE CATALOG OF COMICS Winter 2012)

The L&M Reader's Guide to Love and Rockets

2011-11-09T10:52:00.005-06:00

"Maggie vs. Maniakk" and "100 Rooms" via

For those who like "Ti-Girls Adventures Number 34" try:

Jaime's "Maggie vs. Maniakk" in LOVE AND ROCKETS #3 (1983) is a hilarious fantasy in which Maggie finds Ultimax on skid row and becomes his sidekick, G0-G0 Girl. They finally go into battle with Maniakk and Ultimax prevails, sort of. The great part about this story (apart from the insane art!) is it's told by Maggie to a group of her friends, and each has their own reaction to Maggie's tale.

For those who want to read early Jaime, but are put off by sci-fi elements of "Mechanics" try:

One of Jaime's early epics was "100 Rooms" in LOVE AND ROCKETS #4 (1983) about Maggie and Hoppy staying with Penny Century in H.R. Costigan's mansion, ostensibly so Maggie can borrow some money for her dream boots. The main feature is of course Jaime's awesome party sequence, peopled with all sorts of odd creatures and some superheroes. This story is very character driven like later "Locas" stories, with Maggie having an affair with a mysterious man, but declaring her love for Hopey at the end of the story. With Jaime's, still developing, sophisticated storytelling we are left with only the expression on Hopey's face (who's hiding around the corner) to figure out her true feelings for Maggie (expanded version page 30, panel 7).

Love and Rockets Volume Two #16 via

For those who like "The Love Bunglers" try:

In LOVE AND ROCKETS VOLUME TWO Ray, for the first time in many years it seems, encounters Maggie at a bar while in pursuit of Frogmouth. Excerpt from "Life Through Whispers" (LRV2 #11 page 2, panels 5 + 6):

"[...]So then, I'm not two feet from the exit and blam! There
it is. My heart jolted but I still managed to make it outside"

"Damn, was it really her? Was it Maggie? Maggie with different
hair? What the hell was she doing here? Well, I know she knows Doyle, but...does
she know Vivian, too? Fuck, did she notice me? She looked right at me! My God,
what's next?"

Ray then very briefly reunites with Maggie through Frogmouth and Angel in the stories "Near Mint" and "Fine to Very Fine" (LRV2#15 and #16). Ray goes to a comics convention with Frogmouth in the first story and runs into Angel and Maggie, the second story continues as Ray spends the evening with Angel and Maggie at a couple of after-con parties. Ray's night ends on a sad notes as he leaves Maggie and goes back into the party (LRV2#16, page 6 panel 4):

"I went back into the party feelin' pretty fuckin' good.
That is, until I realized I never got any contact info from Maggie. In an
instant, I was back to my pissy, cynical self all over again."

And, that's how Jaime left Ray's short encounter with Maggie in LOVE AND ROCKETS VOLUME TWO.

I hope this helps some of you newer readers pick out a quick starting point, as all of Jaime's LOVE AND ROCKETS, WHOA NELLIE, and PENNY CENTURY stories are now in print in those chubby LOVE AND ROCKETS LIBRARY editions. I'll put out future installments of this guide if time or interest warrants.

Love and Rockets Links: 10/24

2011-10-21T10:20:00.004-05:00

Commentary and Criticism on Jaime in Love and Rockets New Stories 4:

"Your Wednesday Sequence 29/Jaime Hernandez" by Matt Seneca

"Go Read: The Comics Journal Profiles Jaime Hernandez" by Tom Spurgeon

"The Best: Jaime Hernandez's 'The Love Bunglers'" by Dan Nadel

"Frank Santoro and Adrian Tomine on 'The Love Bunglers'" by Frank and Adrian

"Everybody's Talking About Jaime Hernandez and Love and Rockets New Stories #4" by Sean T. Collins

"Quote of the Day: Bad Comics Are the Disease, Jaime Hernandez is the Cure" by Sean T. Collins

"You've Come a Long Way, Jaime..." by Sean T. Collins

Tom Spurgeon comments on the last article

Buy The Book Already! Fantagraphics Amazon.com Barnes and Noble

We are taking a break see you sometime in November.

Love and Rockets Links: 10/17

2011-10-17T23:05:00.003-05:00

ebay: Jaime t-shirt with Damachers image.

tumblr: Gilbert tagged on tumblr. w/some adult images posted.

influences: Adam Pasion cites Gilbert and Love and Rockets as influences on his art.

review: Elizabeth Bird reviews Nursery Rhyme Comics, and I was suprised to see Gilbert contributes to this one, also.

review: Ron Richards @ iFanboy reviews L&RNS 4.

review: Tony Keen @ FA Online reviews L&RNS 4.

Happy Birthday Jaime: DC Women Kicking Ass

twitter: Skyla quotes Gilbert from THE COMICS JOURNAL 178.

twitter: Skyla gives us a link to Jaime's twitter account, for us non-tweets.

twitter: Gilbert's at the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, November 5.

twitter: Xavi Romiro tweet reviews the PALOMAR hardcover

twitter: @bboyspodcast find out Gilbert is nice guy, so much for his chances of getting into Curmudgeon Hall of Fame.

twitter: Aben Maler retweeted by Fantagraphics, my head is spinning.

twitter: streetecnik pictures The Girls From HOPPERS

Original Art Spotlight:

ebay: Gilbert's Iron Man 1 2

Scott Eder Gallery: Gilbert two covers; Jaime eight covers, illustrations, and a poster.

Comic Art Fans: Jaime gallery containing 51 pieces; Gilbert search of site contains 130 pieces, and 6 pieces from Mario, as well.

Albert Moy Comic Art: Jaime 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Romitaman: Jaime MISTER X 1 page 6.

Fantagraphics Flickr: Jaime's Ti-Girls LRNS 1, Gilbert 19+ pieces @ Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery March 13, 2010, Gilbert's THE TROUBLEMAKERS, Gilbert's Hypnotwist LRNS2, Gilbert's Wonder Woman, Jaime's Wonder Woman, Jaime artwork @ Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery April 4, 2009. I've posted most of these before, but they sure are fun to look at!

twitpic: squidita posts detail of some "Death of Speedy"-era Jaime art. via FlogBlog

Illustration Art Gallery: Amazing early "Mechanics" page by Jaime.

Love and Rockets Links: 10/10

2011-10-10T10:27:00.003-05:00

image via

Hispanic Heritage Month: Virginia Commonwealth University has been hosting an exhibit of Los Bros Hernandez (Mario, included) publications at their James Branch Cabell Library (it says a display case on the fourth floor, to be exact).

preview: thanks to Comics Alliance here's Jaime's (color!) contribution to First Second's NURSERY RHYME COMICS.

preview: Fantagraphics posts a story from Jaime's ESPERANZA collection on facebook.

shelf porn: Jaime's VILLAGE VOICE cover on Greg Farrell's wall courtesy CBR.

not Jaime Hernandez: I love this gruesome t-shirt design by another artist named Jaime Hernandez.

commentary: Rob Gonsalves at guy.com discusses LOVE & ROCKETS in relation to superhero comics in general and the DC 52.

APE: Eric Reynolds saw Mario Hernandez at the 2011 Alternative Press Expo.

twitter: Tom Spurgeon (Comics Reporter) tweets birthday wishes to JAIME HERNANDEZ (on 10/10 if you're reading this sometime other than today).

twitter: Here's another birthday wish for Jaime, this one from publisher Aben Maler (I can't actually read danish, so here's hoping this isn't an invoice for 52 copies of their new L&R collection).

twitter: Danish publisher Aben Maler has published a collection of Jaime's "Death of Speedy"-era stories. cover pictured above.

twitter: John Schork writes a twitter-review of Gilbert's LUBA hardcover.

twitter: Matt Seneca tweets a link to his in-depth analysis of an early Jaime story, "Hopey."

twitter: Salvador Munoz tweets a link to a very popular photo of Los Bros Hernandez (originally taken by Patrick Rosenkranz?).

Paul Gravett: this is his site for extra information on his 1001 COMICS TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE book, both Jaime and Gilbert are listed in the creators index.

"Comics, Creativity, and Culture : International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives" in Iowa Spotlight:

University of Iowa page with list of all events from the CCCII weekend, includes links to five related articles.

Janice Headley presents a comprehensive rundown of events at and around the University of Iowa this past weekend.

Flickr set of pieces from the "Graphic Language: The Art and Language of Comics" exhibition at the Black Box Theatre in the Iowa Memorial Union.

Samantha Gentry of the Daily Iowan reports Thursday on the comics-related events at UofI.

Jessica Abel tweets from Iowa on October 7.

Jen Shook tweets from Jaime and Gilbert's keynote speech October 8.

more links will be posted in future "links" posts if I come across any.

Love and Rockets Links: 10/3

2011-10-02T19:09:00.003-05:00

IOWA: A University of Iowa gallery showing of comics art, including work by Gilbert Hernandez, called "Graphic Language: The Art and Literature of Comics" is running at the Black Box Theatre at the Iowa Memorial Union, September 24-December 11. This is in conjunction with the symposium of October 6-8 "Comics, Creativity, and Culture: International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives" where Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez are among the keynote speakers. information from here.

Here's a nicely constructed sales page, centered around Gilbert's recent books, for some enterprise called Comic Book Back Issues. I don't endorse this site (whatever it may be) but the addition of a short, old video clip of Gilbert and a picture of him signing one of his books is a nice touch.

twitter: comicgate.de plugs Jaime and others in STRANGE TALES II trade paperback in german twitter: Alicia K. is cryin' over Jaime's newest Locas story

twitter: Elin Bjurvald thinks Jaime is the greatest living cartoonist (add "one of the..." and I'd agree with that one)

twitter: Spandex comic (great background art, btw) says Jaime is their God. God says please buy 100 copies of L&R:NS #4 in tribute.

twitter: Francesco Ciaponi tweets a link to a BoingBoing post of Jordan Crane's silkscreen poster of Jaime's L&R cover, the post includes a ton of links to previous Jaime Hernandez-themed BoingBoing posts.

twitter: finally, some love for Gilberto, as Lost Caterpillar is rereading that great PALOMAR hardcover.

twitter: Carlos continues the praise-a-thon for Gilbert's L&R:NS #4 and CITIZEN REX collection.

Jack Jackson's American History Part 2: Hall of Fame

2011-10-01T10:38:00.002-05:00

I was so excited about the new Fantagraphics Books Jack Jackson reprint series that I completely overlooked the fact Mr. Jackson was elected by judge's choice into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame along with Ernie Bushmiller, Lynd Ward, and Mart Nodell (the judges for the Eisner Awards in 2011 were Ned Cato, Karen Green, Andy Helfer, Rich Johnson, and Chris Powell). The induction ceremonies for these, and the other four generally-elected members, were at Comic-Con International just a few short months ago. Mr. Jackson's son, Sam, is reported to have accepted the honor for his late father.

Past Eisner Hall of Fame inductees from the underground comix scene are: Robert Crumb (1991) and Art Spiegelman (1999). That's it unless you want to count Vaughn Bode (2006) or Harvey Pekar (2011).

Love and Rockets Links: 9/26

2011-09-26T00:52:00.001-05:00

image via

twitter: Ella Wredenfors encounters severe health difficulties due to Fantagraphics Jaime tweets.

twitter1, twitter2, twitter3, twitter4: Tom Spurgeon invites masochistic flagellation while enraptured by Jaime's newest work.

twitter: Woodrow Phoenix continues the Jaime lovefest with a link to a VILLAGE VOICE article from last year.

twitter: Adri tweets a link to some great Jaime art they posted on tumblr.

twitter: @LaCupulaComic links to their foreign edition of PENNY CENTURY with enthusiastic accompanying text and full color cover image (one of my favorite Penny drawings, by the way).

twitter: @Earinc (aka Eric Reynolds) critique of the new DC comics while continuing our parade of praise for Jaime.

twitter: @fylovenrockets with more love for Jaime's new work

twitter: Jaime Hernandez tweets about Dylan Williams.

review: short review of Jaime's contribution to LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 4 by Tom Spurgeon.

review: Douglas Wolk writes three sentences about L&R:NS #4 for Comics Alliance.

crabby artists at conventions: this is a great behind-the-scenes type post by Dustin Harbin about themed-sketchbooks at conventions. Jaime is mentioned briefly as a contributor to one of these.

TCJ: Frank Santoro talks margins, comparing Gilbert Hernandez and CF. A truly unique perspective on these two artists.

IOWA: Corey K. Creekmur opinion-piece for the Iowa Press-Citizen on the upcoming comics-related events at/around the University of Iowa. Both Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez are slated to appear as keynote speakers at the "Comics, Creativity, and Culture" symposium.

influences: Mike Rhode interviews graphic novelist George O'Connor for the Washington City Paper. O'Connor, author of JOURNEY INTO MOHAWK COUNTRY, names Jaime as one of his influences.

mugshot: Bizarro Jaime's been bad

mugshot: so's this Gilbert dude (persons who are not Los Bros Hernandez but have the same names are innocent until proven guilty)

Love and Rockets fan art spotlight (inspired by/stolen from this mike baehr post):

Anthony Vukojevich Covers LOVE AND ROCKETS 1; Sarah Blum Covers LOVE AND ROCKETS 27; KG Covers LOVE AND ROCKETS 23; Anthony Vukojevich Covers BIRDLAND V2#1; Derek Van Gieson repanels LOCAS; Derek Van Gieson repanels NEW LOVE #2; LOVE AND ROCKETS #1 As a Femme Fatale Supergroup by Kevin Mellon;

Love and Rockets Links: 9/19

2011-09-13T08:36:00.005-05:00

LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES #4 is in stock and available for ordering. product page

Jaime will have a story in the Alison Bechdel-edited BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2011. chicago reader

Jaime's "Top 10 Criterion Collection Titles" is like a movie mixtape from the master. here

Photo of Jaime at Bergen St. Comics signing courtesy of Will Hines on tumblr.

IOWA: "Symposium on 'Comics, Creativity, and Culture: International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives" at the University of Iowa, October 5-8. pdf bios of participants including Gilbert and Jaime.

IOWA: John Porcellino blog post on the above event in which he is also participating.

ebay: a rare, to me at least, promo poster for the unjustly-overlooked Gilbert series, GRIP.

twitter: @ComicsFilm posts a link to Sean T. Collins' review of the new L&R.

twitter: @copcomco (i.e. Copacetic Comics) links to their facebook posting on the new L&R.

twitter: @Brian_Evinou links to a video of Gary Groth interviewing Jaime at SPX 2010. Hey, it's new to me.

twitter: @pivic gives us a twitter review of Gilbert's Palomar (hardcover).

Comics Reporter Archives Spotlight:

"Comics for Kids" 1997 A long essay on all-ages comics from a mid-90s perspective. The quote "(Rumor has it that one major alternative cartoonist may edit an all-ages anthology beginning next year )" may refer to the Gilbert Hernandez-edited MEASLES anthology that began in 1998. The first issue featured all-ages stories by these alternative cartoonists: Gilbert's "Venus"; Jim Woodring; Steven Weissman; Lewis Trondheim; and Mario Hernandez.

"Five For Friday#5: Alt-Comics" 2004 Palomar by Gilbert listed by Tom Spurgeon in this early installment of our favorite CR feature.

"A Top 40 For 2004" 2005 Another early installment of a CR tradition, many Los Bros. works on this one (extra credit for picking a Joel Orff book!).

"The Five Worst Gateway Comics" 2006 This has nothing to do with the Hernandez Brothers, but has got to be one of the funniest posts I've ever read on CR.

"CCI's Con Programming, Reduced To Comics Offerings" 2007 This was the 25th Anniversary of LOVE AND ROCKETS with spotlight panels featuring Jaime and Gilbert.

"CR Sunday Feature: The 50 Things That Every Comics Collection Truly Needs" 2008 It's true, and of course L&R is on there.

"TCJ Subscriber Letter (Big)" 2009 I may have cried when I read this on CR, nice old "Mechanics" panel by Jaime for an illustration.

BONUS: "Five For Friday #1: Snapshot" 2004 The, perhaps, inauspicious debut of this long-running CR feature.

Love and Rockets Links: 9/12

2011-09-06T22:51:00.003-05:00

IGNATZ AWARDS: Jaime won the Ignatz for his highly-lauded "Browntown" story from L&R V3#3. Excellent presentation of all the award winners on comics reporter.

ebay: Unusual double "7 vinyl record, front and back covers by Jaime, and also the vinyl labels themselves are illustrated by him. The perfect accent for your swingin' bachelor pad.

Jaime Hernandez and Frank Santoro: old photo posted on tumblr.

twitter: Many tweets about Jaime's Bergen Street Comics signing. Here are a few: @shatterday1; @shatterday2; @fantagraphics; @comedyminusone; @hodgman retweeted by 25 others; @normal_isabella; @willhines; @avram; @simonfraser; @bmfu; @josegermo; @bergenstcomics;

@xaime.

twitter: here are couple international tweets about Jaime's Ignatz. @lacupulacomic and @exit_smiling.

Poster for Jaime's Bergen Street Comics signing posted on flickr.

Jaime's Bergen Street Comics signing on facebook.

SPX donated graphic novels to the Montgomery County Public Libraries in Bethesda, Maryland. Gilbert Hernandez's SLOTH is mentioned in the article by Alex Ruoff.

The Copacetic Comic Company sale page for Gilbert and Mario's CITIZEN REX hardcover.

ebay: Don't miss this! An early Gilbert "Palomar" original art page for sale by Scott Eder Original Art Gallery. Awesome pictures.

twitter: Timothy O'Neil shares some love for Gilbert's time on DC's BIRDS OF PREY series.

Sean T. Collins spotlight:

(Jaime reviews)LOCAS hardcover; MAGGIE THE MECHANIC digest; THE GIRL FROM HOPPERS digest; PERLA LA LOCA digest; PENNY CENTURY digest; GHOST OF HOPPERS; THE EDUCATION OF HOPEY GLASS; LOVE AND ROCKETS V2#20; LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 1 original review; LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 1 &2 ; LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 3; (Gilbert reviews) HEARTBREAK SOUP digest; HUMAN DIASTROPHISM digest; BEYOND PALOMAR digest; BIRDLAND; LUBA IN AMERICA; LUBA: THE BOOK OF OFELIA; LUBA: THREE DAUGHTERS; HIGH SOFT LISP; LOVE AND ROCKETS V2#20; NEW TALES OF OLD PALOMAR 1-3; CHANCE IN HELL; SPEAK OF THE DEVIL; THE TROUBLEMAKERS; LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 1-3/"Dreamstar"; FEAR OF COMICS; CITIZEN REX; LOVE FROM THE SHADOWS; (Los Bros reviews) AMOR Y COHETES; LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 4;

Love and Rockets Links; Labor Day edition

2011-09-05T00:06:00.002-05:00

Drawing: Gilbert/Jaime sketch posted on ffffound, Luba as Batman and Maggie as Robin.

Melissa Wiley on GeekMom previews Jaime's contribution to the First Second anthology NURSERY RHYME COMICS.

Chris Mautner's "Six by 6: Six Great Superhero Comics by Unlikely Cartoonists" on CBR ranks Jaime's "Ti-Girls" serial at #2.

"Karen" recommends LOST WOMEN & OTHER STORIES by Jaime in this comment thread call for graphic novel recommendations at Nerdy Apple Bottom.

Made in China can be a good thing: At Beijing Today english-language website the China National Publication Import and Export Corporation's bookstore recommends THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ.

Ebay: Go see one of those Gilbert Stussy X t-shirts while it lasts.
Twitter: Josh Johnson mini-review of Gilbert's LOVE FROM THE SHADOWS.
Twitter: Grey Granite links to an old MISTER X cover by Jaime.
Twitter: Kyousansei seems to be a Japanese fan of American cartoonists like Jaime.
Twitter: Max Kaufmann confesses what all comic book artists come to realize eventually.
Twitter: And, Harry Moyer gets angry with the same realization.
Twitter: Gerardo V. links to an essay about Jaime's "Locas" series. foreign language text
Twitter: Donal Fall got THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ.

Spotlight on Marc Sobel:
love and rockets postcards; a rare Mario mention; nice Gilbert image and link to TWC essay; SHELF LIFE introduction; SL: Love & Rockets 1; SL: Love & Rockets 2; SL: Love & Rockets 3; SL: Love & Rockets 4; SL: Love & Rockets 5; SL: Love & Rockets 6; SL: Love & Rockets 7; SL: Love & Rockets 8; SL: Love & Rockets 9; SL: Love & Rockets 10; SL: Love & Rockets 11; SL: Love & Rockets 12; SL: Love & Rockets 13; SL: Love & Rockets 14; SL: Love & Rockets 15. "Birdland Reconsidered" was five-part series on the original The Comics Journal website, it is not archived on tcj.com's current incarnation.

Jack Jackson's American History: February 2012

2011-09-01T23:05:00.003-05:00

Tom Spurgeon reported on Tuesday of a forthcoming edition of Jack Jackson's LOS TEJANOS/LOST CAUSE from Fantagraphics Books. I emailed some questions to Publisher Kim Thompson at Fantagraphics and received this reply from the series editor/Publisher Gary Groth:

What are the other four titles to be collected in the second and third Jack Jackson omnibus volumes?
GG: "Tentatively, this is how the books would break down:
Los Tejanos & Lost Cause
Indian Lover & Comanche Moon
Alamo & San Saba
The first is set in stone and contains an introduction by the novelist Ron Hansen."

If sales are good enough, will there be a fourth volume of Mr. Jackson's shorter historical works (some already seen in the previous Fantagraphics collection: GOD'S BOSOM AND OTHER STORIES)?
GG: "Yes. Plus, don't forget his satirical work, which we collected in Optimism of Youth."

Are any of Mr. Jackson's family involved in the development of these collected editions?
GG: "Yes, mostly his son, Sam Jackson, who I'm working with closely. Sam provided impeccable reproductions of his father's work from which we are scanning everything."

Has an art director been assigned to the series?
GG: "It's not set in stone, but it looks like Jacob Covey will design the books."

Are there similar challenges to marketing Mr. Jackson's historical novels, and bringing Jacques Tardi's historical novels to the U.S. market?
GG: "I don't edit the Tardi series, but the only similarity between the two authors is that they have both been previously published in the US without much commercial success. We turned that around with Tardi and intend to do the same thing with Jackson, whose time, we hope, has come. Regardless of how successful his forthcoming books are, I'm only sorry he's not alive to see his life's work all published in a uniform series of volumes." [answers via email: 9/1]

I wholeheartedly commend Mr. Groth for publishing the collected works of, in my humble opinion, the best author to emerge from the underground scene. Mr. Jackson was able to create a compelling, believable world in each of his historical novels, peopled with characters that come alive through historical detail and natural dialogue. Hopefully, these works will find the wider audience (and the respect) that Mr. Jackson deserves.

Links:
Gary Groth's tribute from THE COMICS JOURNAL 278: "Recuerden Jack Jackson"
LOS TEJANOS/LOST CAUSE Fantagraphics Books product page
LOS TEJANOS/LOST CAUSE Amazon.com product page
Ron Hansen biographical/bibliographical information

Here is an in-depth documentary about Mr. Jackson by historian Patrick Rosenkranz via YouTube:

Love and Rockets Links, Long Time Gone

2011-08-30T11:13:00.003-05:00

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO IOWA?: Apparently, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez will be at the Shambaugh Auditorium at the University of Iowa, October 8 at 7:30pm. Love and Maggie unfortunately is based on the other side of Iowa, sigh.

Check out the FlogBlog archives for the month of August as there are about a dozen great links and posts on Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez...

HARVEY AWARDS: FlogBlog salutes Gilbert and Jaime (LOVE AND ROCKETS V3#3) for their win in "Best Continuing or Limited Series" category.

HARVEY AWARDS: Abrams ComicArts congratulates Todd Hignite and Jaime Hernandez (THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ) for their win in the "Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation" category.

Rob Clough comes through with his top 50 comics of 2010, coming in at #3 is LOVE AND ROCKETS V3#3. As always Mr. Clough discusses many high concept, obscure, and otherwise excellent uses of graphic storytelling in all forms. link via comics reporter

Thank God for Twitter?: Jaime Hernandez is now on this social media thingy. via @debaoki and others

Twitter mini-debate on Jaime's superhero drawing here.

One more twitter: personal appearance by Jaime at Bergen Street Comics 9/10. website.

Graeme McMillan splurges on the new THE COMPLETE LOVE AND ROCKETS LIBRARY: ESPERANZA.

Noah Berlatsky's summer reading list includes three from Los Bros Hernandez.

Benn Ray at Atomic Books (Baltimore, MD) lists ESPERANZA along with other new releases of note.

The Shame Idols posted two album covers by Jaime Hernandez on their MySpace page.

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #71 Part Three

2010-09-12T22:06:00.000-05:00

COLUMNS:
"Suspended Animation: The Man of Spinach" (pages 97-100) by Jim Korkis [Seriously. Does it get any better than Mr. Korkis writing on the history of animation? As can be expected from Mr. Korkis, his column on the history of POPEYE cartoons begins with short histories of both the Fleischer Studios and the comic strip POPEYE. He then proceeds with a step-by-step evolution of the Fleischer POPEYE cartoons (from the pilot cartoon in the BETTY BOOP series) followed by the Famous Studios version, the ultra-streamlined television incarnation by Gene Deitch, a rare ABC Saturday morning feature-length one shot movie starring Popeye, and a 1978 Hanna-Barbera effort. Searching YouTube we can put together a visual version of Mr. Korkis' essay:

via

via

via

via

via

"Suspended Animation: Animation 1981 The New Age of Animation" (pages 100-101) by Jim Korkis [Not content with the minutiae-rich POPEYE animated history Mr. Korkis also follows the theme of the issue with a short overview of all-things-animation in 1981. Ralph Bakshi's AMERICAN POP; Disney's THE FOX AND THE HOUND; HEAVY METAL movie; and Warner Brothers THE LOONEY, LOONEY BUGS BUNNY MOVIE are the feature movies he discusses. While Leonard Maltin's OF MICE AND MAGIC; Jeff Lenburg's THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ANIMATED CARTOONS; Roger Maxwell's ART AND ANIMATION; Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald's WARNER BROTHERS CARTOONS; and, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston's DISNEY ANIMATION: THE ILLUSION OF LIFE are the books he lists from the previous year. Saturday Morning television cartoons from 1981 singled out are: SPIDERMAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS; THE KID SUPER POWER HOUR (Captain Marvel); THE SMURFS; Jack Kirby's GOLDIE GOLD; HEATHCLIFF/MARMADUKE; and, the (then) new Disney television show WALT DISNEY ON CBS. Mr. Korkis also recalls the deaths the previous year of Michael Maltese, Steve Bosustow, Lotte Reininger, and Hans Conreid. He concludes with a look ahead to the animation front in 1982.]

"The Lake Isle: Sturgeon: Love as Knowledge" (pages 104-105) by Carter Scholz photo [This a short, yet detailed, review of Theodore Sturgeon's writing in general, and in particular his two short stories "Brownshoes" and "Slow Sculpture." Carter Scholz was a prolific science fiction writer and critic at this time, a bilbiography of his writings can be found here.]

"Panel Progressions: The EC Progressives, Part Two: Bernard Krigstein" (pages 107-112) by Greg Potter [This long-running column was inaugurated in The Journal 47 (July 1979) with a column analyzing Will Eisner (accompanying the second half of a Will Eisner interview that issue). Subsequent installments ran in in issues 53(Neal Adams); 59(Jack Kirby); 63(Alex Raymond and Hal Foster); 67(Harvey Kurtzman, reprinted in THE COMICS JOURNAL LIBRARY Volume 7 without a copyright notice); this issue; and, a last gasp version that ran only once (that I'm aware of) in The Journal 94 (BAT LASH, supposed to be "analyses of the great comic series of the 1960s and 1970s" page 110), these were "from a work in progress by Gregory Potter." (The Journal 47, page 56) Mr. Potter also had an off and on career as a comic book writer as detailed at GCD.
This issue's installment focuses on Bernie Krigstein and his work on "Master Race." After a brief (and not necessarily accurate) capsule history of Mr. Krigstein's career up until his EC days, Mr. Potter does a fine turn describing the "single panel theory" of sequential art, it's strengths and weaknesses, and how it differs from the prevailing attitude of Will Eisner's "cinematic" storytelling (for a more modern example of the former, I believe Jaime Hernandez's storytelling is similar). Following this introduction of Mr. Krigstein's techniques he examines in detail, panel by panel "Master Race" (IMPACT 1, 1955. writer: Al Feldstein) which is also conveniently reproduced in it's entirety along with this essay. Coming at the story from structural, storytelling, fine art, and historical viewpoints Mr. Potter brings added insight into what is, arguably, one of the more revolutionary achievements in mainstream comics.]

THE COMICS JOURNAL (c)2010 Fantagraphics Books Inc.
"Popeye" (c)2010 King Features Syndicate, just saying is all.

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #71 Part Two

2010-09-09T00:25:00.001-05:00

THE COMICS LIBRARY: GRAPHIC STORY REVIEWS (COMICS IN 1981):

[This issue is an early version of the long-running "best-of-the-previous-year" editions that had it's first installment in, if I recall correctly, The Journal 44, and last in The Journal 296 (covering the best of 2008). In this particular instance editors, writers, reviewers, and columnists alike take a look at "Comics in 1981." Back in those days it seems there was Frank Miller's original run on DAREDEVIL representing the best of the Mainstream Super-Heroes, ELFQUEST/CEREBUS/Anthology magazines representing the "groundlevel" or independent companies, and RAW MAGAZINE representing the contemporary underground scene. Did I mention the writers got to choose the "best and worst" of 1981? This could get ugly, people!]

"The View From the Curb" (pages 31-33) by Jan Strnad [Jan Strnad chats about Marvel Comics, er, being too chatty, or having "too many words." He picks out Chris Claremont's 1981 AVENGERS ANNUAL and Roger Stern's Doctor Strange story "A Time For Love, A Time for Hate" as the most over-written of the Marvels he read. Bill Mantlo gets honorable mention for most annoying speech pattern for his "Bug" character in 'tik' MICRONAUTS. He has high praise for David Michelinie's IRON MAN, the Pini's ELFQUEST, and the aforementioned Chris Claremont's "Kitty's Fairy Tale" in X-MEN.]

"The Age of the Alternatives" (pages 33 35-36) by R. Fiore [Mr. Fiore singles out the above mentioned DAREDEVIL/CEREBUS/RAW trio for his take on Comics in 1981. Although, he does mention the long-forgotten PHANTOM ZONE mini-series by the late Steve Gerber and Gene Colan (both of whom are remembered more as the creative team behind HOWARD THE DUCK in the 70s) as a good turn on the Superman franchise. Mr. Fiore also takes the unique stand of comparing RAW MAGAZINE to it's two contemporary underground anthology competitors: WEIRDO and RIP OFF COMICS. The latter two don't fare too well in the comparison, Mr. Fiore perceptively adds, "The traditional underground (odd phrase) has a bad case of tired blood." Bravely, he also tackles the comic strips of the day, succinctly damning most of the field: "Three out of every four new strips about born losers. When Schulz started the trend it was a change of pace, but now with ZIGGY DRABBLE KUDZU ad infinitum ad nauseum, it's becoming a chorus of national demoralization. The fourth will be 'sophisticated' (read smug, enervated and hopelessly middlebrow). All four will be authored by someone who can't draw[...]" (excerpts (c)1982 Robert Fiore)

"Waiting for the Fruit Salad" (pages 36-37 39-40) by Kim Thompson [Mr. Thompson wades into the three major anthology magazines of the day: HEAVY METAL is singled out as best of the group despite it's reliance on METAL HURLANT translations and mediocre to indecipherable American contributions; EPIC ILLUSTRATED is called out for not being consistent or "very good"; while ECLIPSE MAGAZINE recycled mainstream writers and artists to bad effect. Mr. Thompson has something to say on nearly everything else: Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Frank Miller, Steve Leialoha, Walt Simonson, Gil Kane, Michael Golden, KA-ZAR, Alan Brennert, Jim Aparo, Gene Colan, DENNIS THE MENACE (comic book), MARVEL TALES, "Mister Wilcox, Mister Conrad" by Munoz and Sampayo and Art Spiegelman's "Maus" both from RAW, FREAK BROTHERS, WEIRDO, Kitchen Sink Press, Howard Cruse, Reed Waller's "Omaha," PHOEBE AND THE PIGEON PEOPLE, NARD 'N' PAT, CEREBUS, THE COMPLET WEIRD FANTASY, THE COMPLETE SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES, ELFQUEST, REID FLEMING WORLD'S TOUGHEST MILKMAN, VALERIAN, LUCKY LUKE, GARFIELD, BLONDIE'S AMERICA. Mr. Thompson also suprises with this short note: "The Hernandez Brothers' LOVE AND ROCKETS, a witty and gorgeously drawn collection of stories and vignettes." This is the only other contemporary mention of the original self-published LOVE AND ROCKETS I've come across, besides the formal review by Gary Groth in The Journal 67.]

GARY GROTH (middle) at 1982 San Diego Comic Con. PHOTO BY ALAN LIGHT (source)

"Recycling the Old, Searching for the New" (pages 40-41 43-47 49-51) by Gary Groth [Mr. Groth examines Frank Miller's DAREDEVIL and Art Spiegelman and Francois Mouly's RAW MAGAZINE in depth in his take on Comics in 1981. He fires a salvo across the bow of the 1981 comics industry with this paragraph: "What the comics published in '81 make clear, I think, is the codification of two distinct points of departure for creating comics. Broadly speaking, every artist working in comics gravitatates toward one approach or the other. On one side is the traditional mass-market Marvel-DC-superhero format, and the other stems from the underground movement begun in the early '60s. The difference between these two approaches is fundamental and so vast that one ultimately represents paralysis, the other greater possibilities of expression." (excerpt (c)1982 Gary Groth)]

"Another Year for the Road" (pages 51-53) by Gene Phillips [Mr. Phillips comments on HEAVY METAL in 1981 in general, and Druillet's "Salammbo" serial in particular. EPIC ILLUSTRATED is again deflated as "the largest disappointment." General overviews of Marvel and DC's best and worst are followed by positive remembrances of CEREBUS 31 and "Gilbert Shelton, ELFQUEST, several concepts in RAW," as well as ECLIPSE MAGAZINE and early Pacific titles.]

"From Elfland to Smallville" (pages 53-56) by Dwight R. Decker [Mr. Decker comments on Frank Miller's DAREDEVIL, Roger Stern's SPIDER-MAN, Roy Thomas's work at DC, Cary Bates and Kurt Schaffenberger's SUPERBOY, ELFQUEST, THE FIRST KINGDOM, CEREBUS THE AARDVARK, and concludes with a short note on French Comics.]

R.C. HARVEY (right) at the 1982 San Diego Comic Con. PHOTO BY ALAN LIGHT (source)

"Newstand Comics 1981: The State of the Art" (pages 56-57 60-63) by R.C. Harvey; illustration: R.C. Harvey [Mr. Harvey dissects the storytelling strengths and weaknesses of Roy Thomas and Frank Miller. The latter is different than his essay on Frank Miller's DAREDEVIL in THE ART OF THE COMIC BOOK (University Press of Mississippi, 1996)]

"DE-ELFING COMICS" BY JOHN CLIFTON
(pages 64-67 69-74 76-77) [Mr. Clifton delivers a brutal, but ultimately perceptive essay on the overuse of fantasy elements (elves in particular) in then contemporary comics. ELFQUEST, WEIRDWORLD, and THE WIZARD KING are the targets on which he sets his critical sights.

Perceptive in that this essay belies the growing pains of comics and comics' critics as the comics market expanded in new directions. Mr. Clifton gives us the brilliant (and probably still true) theory that just because a comic is different in format or subject matter does not automatically anoint it as a superior effort than mainstream superhero comics. Mr. Clifton puts forth a unique theory which he lays out in this sentence: "Perhaps the three books examined would be more successful if they did not fall in one degree or another for the Elevator Fallacy, which stipulates that a heightened regard for a medium must be followed by its packaged or costly presentation in supposedly heightened formats." (page 74)

Fan favorite ELFQUEST is mercilessly deconstructed, whether it be storytelling weaknesses or illogic and false-ringing issues within the narrative. Early painted-comic experiment WEIRDWORLD (or "Warriors of the Shadow Realm" three-part magazine series and in EPIC ILLUSTRATED) is deplored for lazy, muddy coloring and inconsistent writing. Wallace Wood's THE WIZARD KING gets off fairly easily only being scolded for it's "worthless and insulting use of myth." (page 74)

Mr. Clifton's masterstroke may be the hubris he shows in the last two paragraphs of his essay, by comparing ELFQUEST and RAW: "But I don't wish to imply a relationship between such polar opposites of fandom fetish as ELFQUEST and the 'experimental' RAW MAGAZINE. Rather let me say it directly--RAW and ELFQUEST are identical! They are extremes that meet, in the intuition as in the fact, and together work to assure everyone concerned that yes, without question, without fail, comics history is moving onward, for our learning and intellect have signed the contract to keep it so. ELFQUEST is a thoroughly safe comic that gaurantees art in the comics today, this moment, through the right creatures and the right quota of sending. RAW is a thoroughly safe magazine that gaurantees us art, theoretically independent from anyone ever liking it, by giving us comics criticism and self-journalism in the form of panels, and by replacing mere imaginative activity with sure-stuff, cute-to-astute inventions of aesthetic-analytical speculation. Both provide a literalist, Time to Feel Important consumerist high for those obsessed with 'accomplishment' rather than inspiration, imprisoned wakefulness as over dreaming abandon, 'the state of comics' as against appreciating a comic and with conserving intelligently cultured laboratory specimens for the academical banter of fandom clerics, rather than making strips anyone will ever love, creatively experience, or play with again. RAW is medicine for bumptious sods and slithering psycho-wunks, so stapled with 'elevated values,' so adult, so much Velanna, we must give it dentures; gerontologists, not art, will have use for it. ELFQUEST can't even manage to be clearly bad; it sequentially teddy-bears us, teaches us supernatural inconsistency and societal garble, and celebrates 'the way' of happy determinism.

"It makes one almost want to start reading the X-MEN again--even mainstream hack was never like this. The real dispute on the direction of comics is not over whether it should be a child's medium or an adult medium, but over whether it is already an 'elevated art' or not. The adultists believe it is not, despise its centrally child-oriented locus, and cry into the night for its elevation, mostly through aesthetic speculation and adaptations; they suffer from a defective confidence in the medium as it is. Those who know that the comics medium already is elevated believe so precisely because the form has avoided eclipsing itself into academicist privatism, going thud in the dungeon on programmic, deadening research into 'itself'--remaining instead undirected, public, and child-centered for its very life; these are the progressives, for they are right. The difference is, as ever, in believing that the art is all around us and is external to us, versus believing that we have to work or borrow to 'achieve' it: perception and historical example versus invention and logical possibilities. RAW (actually well cooked and harmless) or comics? Elves (despite their fans) or comics? The dreamers for either have their work cut out for them." (page 77, excerpts (c)1982 John Clifton)

This unjustly forgotten piece also, in my opinon, has some weak points that get back to my point on the past growing pains of comics critics as well as the comics they wrote about. As when Mr. Clifton details the inconsistencies in both Wendy Pini and Art Spiegelman's storytelling and linework. This comparison seems to me (in hindsight, mind you) incongruous as both folks were coming at comics from two very different schools of thought (see Mr. Groth quoted above who deftly explains the difference).

Mr. Clifton also contributed two more essays to The Journal (as well as some letters in "Blood & Thunder"):
"The 7 Deadly Comics Cliches" illustrations: Joe Sinardi [in THE COMICS JOURNAL 53 (Winter 1980), yeah something else besides the infamous Ellison interview was in that issue!]
"Bite Now, Suckers" illustrations: [in THE COMICS JOURNAL 90 (May/June 1984), a supremely bizarre dialogue between the comic characters The Watcher, Cerebus the Aardvark, Vladek Spiegelman, and real-life character John Clifton. (source)]

Dean Mullaney and MIKE FRIEDRICH (respectively) at the 1982 San Diego Comic Con. PHOTO BY ALAN LIGHT (source)

INTERVIEWS:

"Reaching for the Stars With Mike Friedrich" (pages 79-81 83-87 89-92) interviewed by Kim Thompson ("[...]during the Summer of 1981[...]"). Transcribed and edited by Kim Thompson. Copy-edited by Mike Friedrich. photos: uncredited. [I'm not sure if it's possible to be someone as important as Mike Friedrich is to the history of comics to also be little-known outside of the industry today, but to me that's how it seems. Therefore this interview cames as a revelation to me as it details his journey from comics fandom, through writing for Marvel and DC, starting up his own comics company (Star*Reach) and its foreshadowing of independent comics/direct market of the early 80s, and finally his work as Manager of Direct Sales for Marvel Comics during the golden years of the Jim Shooter-era. There is also a wealth of firsthand details of the birth and infancy of the direct sales market and the rise of the specialty comics stores.]

[For a complete bibliography and history of STAR*REACH the comic, and a 2005 interview with Mike Friedrich conducted by Richard Arndt (who also interviews STAR*REACH contributors: Lee Marrs, Steve Leialoha, Trina Robbins, and Mike Vosburg) look at Mr. Arndt's site here.]

[For something more recent, here is a link to Mike Friedrich interviewing Bill Everett's daughter, Wendy Everett for COMIC BOOK ARTIST 2 (TwoMorrows Publishing).]

Roy Thomas at the 2003 Torino Comics festival. PHOTO BY GIANFRANCO GORIA (source) image (c)2003 Gianfranco Goria

"Roy Thomas" (pages 94-96) moderated by Adam Malin at the Los Angeles Creation Convention (November 1981). Transcribed and edited by Gary Groth. illustrations: Kevin Nowlan [Wonder Woman, Arak/Captain Carrot!] [For a three-page convention transcript Roy Thomas talks about quite a few things, including his career history from fandom days through leaving Marvel for DC that year; writing CONAN for Marvel; writing ALL-STAR SQUADRON for DC; working with Gerry Conway (future LAW & ORDER franchise writer/producer) on the screenplay for Ralph Bakshi's FIRE AND ICE animated film; and, the general state of contemporary comics.]

THE COMICS JOURNAL (c)2010 Fantagraphics Books, Inc. All excerpted text is (c) the respective authors, only used under Fair Use.

[1982 San Diego Comic Con photos and many more comics and celebrity related photos can be found on Alan Light's Flickr home page.]
[More photos of Fantagraphics Books staff and cartoonists can be found on the American Virus Flickr home page.]
[More pictures of comic book personalities in foreign countries can be found on Gianfranco Goria's Flickr home page.]

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #71 part one

2010-08-15T22:34:00.000-05:00

This is the third installment of our ongoing celebration of the magazine version of THE COMICS JOURNAL that ran from 37 to 300, and is due to return for it's now annual (or so) incarnation. This is one of my all-time favorite issues mostly for the classic Peter Poplaski cover, but also for the fact that this is during the run where they first turned the magazine over to someone other than the original triumvirate (Gary Groth, Mike Catron, and Kim Thompson). Dwight Decker was a writer for The Journal beginning way back in the tabloid-version days, a fanzine publisher and writer long before that even, and had been promoted to Co-Assistant Editor and C0-Newswatch Editor (with Kim Thompson) in issue 68. I don't have a copy of The Journal 69, but by the next issue (#70) Mr. Decker had been promoted to Managing Editor where he served for a few issues. The Journal 74 and 75 saw Mr. Decker's job re-invented as Assistant Editor and Co-Newswatch Editor (again, with Kim Thompson). While I don't have copies of issues 76 and 77, The Journal 78 finds a Robert J. Sodaro listed as Assistant Editor. Though brief, Mr. Decker's tenure saw some farsighted editorials and a good mix of mainstream, classic comic strips, and the emerging alternative comics scene (including the birth of Fantagraphics Books in a press release written by Mr. Decker in The Journal 70). Even all these years later Mr. Decker is still active in comics fandom, see his letter in Rob Imes's DITKOMANIA 69 (October 2008).

THE COMICS JOURNAL 71 (March 1982) buy here

Fantagraphics, Inc., Stamford, CT
GARY GROTH Executive Editor/Art Director

DWIGHT R. DECKER Managing Editor

PEPPY WHITE Assistant Art Director

KIM THOMPSON Newswatch Editor/Production Assistant

DALE LUCIANO Associate Editor

J. MICHAEL CATRON Circulation Director/Advertising

GRETCHEN MEYER Mascot

COVER:
Peter Poplaski created this fondly remembered (by me, at least) "battle of the century" between the Segar-era Popeye and the equally Segar-esque no-neck big belly Hulk of Marvel Comics fame! Mr. Poplaski is probably best remembered as the long-time art director for so many Kitchen Sink Press comix and books and a contributor to the majority of that company's publications from the 70s through the 90s. Check here for a good sales listing of many of the varied projects he's done for Kitchen Sink over the years, and detailed bibliographies at GCD under Pete and Peter, and a rare interview with the artist by Bob Andelman.

"The French Zorro starring Peter Poplaski" via Arktown Productions

NEWSWATCH:

*"DC Hires Two More Editors" (page 6) by Kim Thompson [Marv Wolfman and Ernie Colon were to co-edit GREEN LANTERN, THE NIGHT FORCE, WONDER WOMAN, and WORLD'S FINEST with four more titles to be named later. Those titles were ARION, BLACKHAWK, THE FLASH. NEW TALENT SHOWCASE, and the MEDUSA CHAIN graphic novel, with Mr. Colon working on and off with Mr. Wolfman from October 1982-April 1985. source]

*"Promotions and Hirings at DC Comics" (page 7) by Dwight Decker [Paul Levitz promoted to Vice President of Operations, Michael Flynn as Promotion Manager, and Declan Mulcahy as Manager/Administration.]

*"DC's Schedule: New Books and Cancellations" (page 7) by Dwight Decker and Kim Thompson [NIGHT FORCE, LEGION OF SUPERHEROES ANNUAL 1, AMETHYST, SGT. ROCK ANNUAL 6, DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL 1, WORLD'S FINEST 283, SUPERMAN FAMILY 222, PANDORA PANN (unpublished), WARLORD ANNUAL 1, BATMAN ANNUAL 8 (the Von Eeden classic), BLACKHAWK, and UNKNOWN SOLDIER 268.]

*"Marvel's Titan Series Nearing Completion" (page 9) by Kim Thompson ["After several months in limbo, the Marvel Titan series announced last Summer is finally making some headway, and the first issue is expected to go on sale this Summer.

"Science in Comics: As conceived by Michael Hollingshead, a freelance
scientific writer whose work has appeared in Omni, the Titan Science Series is
intended as a series of comic books explaining scientific fact in comic book
format.
[...]
"Origin Issue: The first issue of the series, which is planned to be
published in the regular 32-page format, is being prepared for this summer.
Written by Jim Shooter and Steve Bissette, it will be the ultimate origin story
in comics: the birth of life and man on Earth.
"Bissette will also be drawing the second issue. After that, Shooter said,
the list of creators would read 'like a Who's Who of Marvel.'" page 9 (c) 1982
Kim Thompson]

*"Marvel Miscellania: Merchandising and More" (page 9) by Dwight Decker and Kim Thompson ["Marvel Comics announced in early 1982 that it had been named licensing agent for merchandise associated with Hasbro's GI JOE doll, the ARCHIE COMICS characters [!], and the characters featured on the children's TV show THE GREAT SPACE COASTER." (page 9); Carol Kalish named Assistant Direct Sales Manager for Marvel; and, Mark Gruenwald promoted to Editor.]

*"Eclipse to Publish Three Swamp Thing Tie-Ins" (page 10) by Dwight Decker [Eclipse Enterprises publishing news: THE MAKING OF THE SWAMP THING MOVIE MAGAZINE, SWAMP THING PORTFOLIO, SWAMP THING SCREENPLAY BOOK, SABRE, SCORPIO ROSE, DESTROYER DUCK.] [1982 Swamp Thing movie trailer]

*"New Media Publications Relocates to Florida" (page 10-11) by Kim Thompson

*"Undergrounds: GEN stops, OMAHA goes" (page 11) by Kim Thompson [GEN OF HIROSHIMA and I SAW IT; BIZARRE SEX 9(Omaha the Cat Dancer) and DOPE COMIX banned in U.K. and Australia, respectively; BIZARRE SEX 10 upcoming; and, THE LOWBROW ART OF ROBERT WILLIAMS published by Rip Off Press.]

*"Archie Comics Cuts Back, Revamps Line" (page 13) by Dwight Decker [also information on Bob Bolling drawing SABRINA at that time]

*OBITUARY: Harry 'A' Chesler (c.1898-December 28, 1981) (page 13) by Dwight Decker and Kim Thompson

*"Pinis Prepare ELFQUEST Companion Magazine" (page 14) by Dwight Decker [YEARNINGS 1 co-edited by Richard Pini and Jane Fancher]

*"New Magazine to Feature Comics Section" (page 14-15) by Kim Thompson [THE AMERICAN BYSTANDER with contributions from David Boswell, Mary K. Brown, Charles Burns, Josh and Drew Friedman, Bill Griffith, Jeff Jones, Patrick MacDonald, Mimi Pond, and Bob Schwartz. Obscure mentions of this short-lived effort from NATIONAL LAMPOON founding editor Brian McConnachie here here and here.]

*"Cartoonists Sought for Payment of Royalties" (page 15) by Dwight Decker

*"Strip News: Two Veteran Cartoonists Dead" (page 15) by Dwight Decker and Kim Thompson

OBITUARY: Wally Bishop (1905-January 15, 1982) creator of "Muggs and Skeeter" comic strip

OBITUARY: Harry Hanan (1916-January 19, 1982) creator of "Louie" pantomine comic strip *"News From Hither and Yon" (page 16) by Dwight Decker and Kim Thompson (no credits on this one) [Pacific Comics: ROG 2000; Look Mom Comics: PSYCHO COMICS 2; Western Publishing (Whitman): ASTRAL FRONTIERS (unpublished until Robin Snyder's REVOLVER series) and BUCK ROGERS by Nicola Cuti/Al McWilliams; John C. Productions (JCP): JCP FEATURE 1, BASICALLY STRANGE 1, HALL OF FAME CLASSICS 1, THUNDER AGENTS 1, SPACE GIANTS 1; Russ Cochran: VAULT OF HORROR Complete EC Library set; Capital Comics: NEXUS; Sal Quartaccio: Portfolio news; Warren: ROOK cancelled; FantaCo: GATES OF EDEN 2; Dargaud: LUCKY LUKE, WALTER MELON, VALERIAN, VAGABOND IN LIMBO, ASTERIX IN BELGIUM. Phil Yeh's THE MAGIC GUMBALL MACHINE and superhero title JUSTICE MACHINE 3 are pictured but not mentioned in the article.]

BLOOD & THUNDER:

*Ingrid Neilson: illustration page 19 GCD

*Gilbert Hernandez: illustration page 20 Fantagraphics Who's Who

*Scott Pellegrini: illustration page 21 GCD

*Jaime Hernandez: illustration page 22 Fantagraphics Who's Who [dated 1981 this is a pre-Fantagraphics LOVE AND ROCKETS 1 appearance of Maggie. Curiously, this drawing brings to mind Jaime's later clear-line style, rather than the scratchy early L&R stories. Yes, only at this blog would we droolingly overanalyze a thirty year old spot illustration!]

*Dennis Fujitake: illustration page 24 Who's Who

*Mario Macari: illustration page 25 [The Spirit one two three]

*Mitch O'Connell: illustration page 26 [dated "79"] [Ginger Fox GCD]

*Brian Pearce: illustration page 27 Who's Who [this isn't art related, but here's an argument between Mr. Pearce and Todd Klein over lettering the letter "I." Please step away from the fonts.]

*ALAN BRENNERT (page 19-20) imdb GCD [this is one of my favorite "Blood & Thunder" letters, there is much information on writing for TV and comics both of which Mr. Brennert does/did quite well. A very gentlemanly exchange between Mr. Brennert and Mr. O'Neil all in all.]

*DENNY O'NEIL replies to Mr. Brennert (page 20)

*J.J. PIERCE (pages 21-22)

*CARTER SCHOLZ replies to Mr. Pierce (page 22)

*STEVE STILES (pages 22 24)

*MATT DENN (page 24) [Reading his biography at the link, it seems a real possiblity that the Lt. Governor of Delaware was a big AMAZING SPIDER-MAN fan at the age of 16 and wrote a rather stirring argument against the stereotypical portrayal of an overweight character in issue 226 of that comic. I don't make this stuff up, folks!]

*BHOB STEWART (pages 24-25) [Mr. Stewart letter replying to Jan Strnad, and on the Nostalgia Press EC Library Vol. II that was never published.]

*PAUL R. WILSON (page 25)

*THE EDITORS reply to Mr. Wilson (page 25)

*DR. PHILLIP S. KOTT (pages 25-26)

*KIM THOMPSON replies to Dr. Kott (page 26) [Mr. Thompson is put in the unenviable task of defending his not including Jack Kirby as a "comics great" alongside Harvey Kurtzman, Will Eisner, and Carl Barks, and does quite well in the end.]

*DWIGHT R. DECKER (pages 26-27 29)

*GEORGE EVANS (pages 29-30) [Jim Keefe has a lot of online material on this famous cartoonist here. This letter is a first hand account of George Evans's working relationship with Harvey Kurtzman at EC Comics, I guess it's hilarious reading if you are neither one as they certainly grated sensibilities as far as collaborating on those EC war stories, it seems.] GCD Who's Who

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #59 part two

2010-08-08T22:57:00.000-05:00

image from IDW 2009 reissue of both DETECTIVES INC. stories including the original-graphic-novel, whose review is referenced below. amazon.com (with bonus Rob Clough customer reviews!) and mycomicshop.com product pages.

THE COMICS JOURNAL 59 part two: buy here

After a long delay here we are again analyzing some of my favorite issues of the print version of THE COMICS JOURNAL. Acknowledgement must go to Peter Coogan and his ground-breaking online index of The Journal which is an essential tool for anyone doing research on the seminal magazine, and a tool I rely on heavily as I don't have many of those early issues. The late Jerry Bails's online Who's Who of American Comic Books is another great help in researching who was doing what when. And, of course I didn't even know about The Grand Comics Database when I first started this research project! Check out these sites for help in your own comics research, and remember to check around various print and web sources to verify your facts (I'm not the greatest at this but am trying to improve).

THE COMICS LIBRARY/GRAPHIC STORY REVIEWS:
"McGregor's 'Detectives, Inc.': Artless, Prating Emotionalism" (pages 40 42 44 46) by Kim Thompson [Remember a lifetime ago, when going over The Journal 38, I suggested Mr. Thompson and Gary Groth would find more worthy subjects for their review efforts? No, didn't think so. Anyway, this is a murder in print of Don McGregor and Marshall Rogers's original Eclipse-graphic-novel-version of DETECTIVE INC. (even the letterer, Tom Orzechowski is kicked in the family jewels for his part in the debacle). This might be a harbinger of things to come. As The Journal continually refused to accept mediocre comics dressed up as "graphic novels," or published outside the big two publishers as pale shades propped up in genre trappings of melodrama or power-fantasy, as the maturing of the medium. Were in fact insulted or angrily disappointed by this betrayal of what they thought was the comics medium's potential.]
[this entire review was posted on tcj.com and is found in the archives here, a well-reasoned counter-point review of DETECTIVES, INC. by Robert Fiore was published as the opening piece of The Journal 65.]

"God Isn't Dead! He's Just Blitzed Three Sheets to the Wind!" (pages 46-47) by David Stallman [Something that supposedly was a rarity in The Journal, a positive review! This time of "The Alchemist Supreme" serial by Godard/Ribera (translated by interview subject Ted White) from HEAVY METAL May-September 1980 (also a link to HM index of issues edited by Ted White). Reviewer Mr. Stallman gets so worked up he even quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson at the beginning of his article.]

"Super-Heroes Without Pictures" (pages 49-50 52) by Peter Sanderson; illustrations: Tony Caputo, Scott McCloud [Perhaps it might be strange to some to see sometime Marvel historian Mr. Sanderson writing for The Journal, but I believe the editors never discriminated against good writing. And this is a well-written critique of a precursor to so many superhero prose novels, short story collections, or shared-world anthologies that proliferated in the late eighties and beyond. THE MARVEL SUPERHEROES was one of those Pocket Books/Marvel Comics efforts, only this one (edited by Len Wein/Marv Wolfman) contained original prose short novels written by comics writers Jim Shooter, Mary Jo Duffy, the aforementioned editors, and the possibly pseudonymous Kyle Christopher.]

CAPSULE REVIEWS:
"Justice League of America 186" (page 52) by David Stallman
"The Hulk! 23" (pages 52-3) by Gary Groth [This review starts out with a hellish thrashing of a Jim Shooter Hulk story, a must read for admirers of Mr. Groth's writing: "Don't homosexuals have enough problems with heterosexual bigotry without being cast as thugs and rapists in the latest issue of the HULK! magazine? To be fair to the writer, Jim Shooter, homosexuals aren't the only literary victims here: heterosexuals get it too, and, believe it or not, even drug addicts are maligned in what may well be the most falsified characterization of a drug addict in the history of American media. I can't even begin to enumerate the bad dialogue, melodramatic fakery, and manipulative sentimentality with which this story abounds. Even the Hulk's tantrums, turning over cars, smashing buildings, and mouthing infantile dialogue looks sillier than usual when placed in the context of bad human melodrama. Suffice it to say that this is Marvel's version of an adult story, replete with an attempted homosexual rape of Bruce Banner, a portentious child-custody trial, a suicide, sex, and drugs. You can just imagine the horrors." (c) 1980 Gary Groth.]
"Machine Man 15-17" (pages 53-4) by Dale Luciano
"Bald Ego Cartoon Stories 1" (page 54) by Kim Thompson [Note to Frank Santoro: This comic sounds tailor-made for one of your comic boxes, an Earl Geier classic.]
"Abbott and Costello Meet the Bride of Hembeck" (page 54) by Kim Thompson
"The New Teen Titans 1" (page 54) by David Stallman

INTERVIEW:
"A Life on the Fringe of Comics: An Interview With Ted White" conducted by Gary Groth (with Kim Thompson, Gary Kwapisz, and Dan Steffan) on 8/15/80. Transcribed by Mr. Thompson and edited by Mr. Groth; illustrations: Ricky Livingston (2), Harry Bell, Ingrid Neilson, Grant Canfield, Gilbert Hernandez [Dennis the Menace's Father as Elvis Costello?], and Gary Kwapisz
[The safe pick for this period of the The Journal would have been issue 53 with the Harlan Ellison interview, but (no offense to the talented Mr. Ellison, of course) that interview is unreadable and a bit dated in my opinion. This interview with Ted White may have escaped notice over the years, as it to is dated in some subjects, however Mr. White's opinions are entertaining and well-stated throughout. Personally, I've always thought this was a high point of early Journal's, with Mr. White talking at length about a number of non-comics subjects, or at least non-Marvel and DC subjects: his dismissal as Editor of HEAVY METAL, background information on working at HEAVY METAL in 1980, on working with Julie Simmons and John Workman at HM, three amazing pages talking about drugs/perceptions of drugs/drug culture (a short excerpt: "I believe that these are drugs we need to counteract the dehumanizing influences of a mechanistic, highly populated society, and for that reason I am in favor of both marijuana and the psychedelics. I am not in favor of alchohol, downers, speed -- cocaine I'll leave somewhere in limbo. Certain people can take it past the point where it does them any good, but for some people it seems to be good. Again, it also depends on your metabolism. Some people get a different thing from the same drug than I would." page 65 (c)1980 Ted White.), debating the potential of the comics medium, Art Spiegelman, Jack Kirby, Archie Goodwin, editing in general, critiques his October 1980 issue of HEAVY METAL in regards to storytelling content, Neal Adams, "conventional comics," Don Heck, Gene Colan, Dick Ayers, Stan Lee, EC Comics, visit to EC offices in 1955 with Lary Stark and Fred Von Bernewitz, writing in comics, the stages of Mr. White's comics fandom, a great couple paragraphs on die-hard older comics fans, comics continuity, fandom days (with Larry Stark, Fred Von Bernewitz, Bhob Stewart, John Benson, Bill Spicer), Phil Seuling, "nurds" and "pear-shaped people" (yes he's talking about you, twinkie breath!), Don McGregor and DETECTIVES, INC., the function of art, Michael Fleisher and CHASING HAIRY, and finally gives his opinion on THE COMICS JOURNAL itself.]
[Mr. White has had a long, varied career as fanzine contributor/editor, science-fiction author, editor of AMAZING and FANTASTIC sci-fi magazines, disc jockey "Dr. Progresso," editor of HEAVY METAL, and musician among many other outlets. An index of his comics work can be found here courtesy of GCD.]
[Also, Mr. White was a writer for The Journal during two different periods, writing reviews in 76-78 81 83 (source) and his series "The History of Comics Fandom" in 231 234 235 (from my spotty collection). BONUS: here are some online science-fiction fanzine reviews by Mr. White that were contemporary with his second run on The Journal.]

PANEL PROGRESSIONS:
"The Gods and Heroes of Jack Kirby" (pages 84-89 91-93) by Greg Potter [The third in Mr. Potter's series of comics analysis this time examining Jack Kirby's "The Pact" from NEW GODS 7.]

SUSPENDED ANIMATION:
"Double Your Pleasure! Double Your Fun! Two New Animation Books Reviewed" (pages 94-5) by Jim Korkis [One of the finest writers on animation reviews two classic books on animation: OF MICE AND MAGIC by Leonard Maltin (w/Jerry Beck) and THE AMERICAN ANIMATED CARTOON: A CRITICAL ANTHOLOGY by Danny and Gerald Peary. links to amazon.com and abebooks.com sales pages, respectively]
"In Memoriam: Tex Avery [February 28, 1908-August 26, 1980]" (page 95) by Jim Korkis [Mr. Korkis delivers a four-paragraph obituary covering the legendary animator's entire career.]
[Jim Korkis was the animation writer at The Journal for many years, his work can be found in The Journal 39, 41-45 48 56 59 60 62-64 66-69 71. source. Here is a wonderful recent podcast featuring Mr. Korkis speaking on Disney history, and recently he has been mentioned on Didier Ghez's Disney website.]
[above recent photo of Jim Korkis via.]

CINEMA JOURNAL:

"Kubrick's 'The Shining': An Ambitious, Failed Masterpiece" (pages 97-100) by Dale Luciano [View clips on youtube.com here and here. Before Dale Luciano moved on to reviewing alternative comics and mini-comics in the eighties (he was the force behind "The Newave Comix Survey" in The Journal 96-99 101 102), he wrote many detailed insightful movie reviews. source]

UNDERGROUND COMIX:
"A Melonhead's View of History" (pages 101-103) by Bill Sherman [Mr. Sherman reviews Larry Gonick's THE CARTOON HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE Volumes 1-4, the comic book version published by Rip Off Press.]
"Capsule Reviews: FIFTIES FUNNIES and FREAK BROTHERS 6" (page 103) by Bill Sherman

COMICS CHECKLIST: OCTOBER 1980:
Comics that were scheduled to be released during October 1980, note that Marvel and DC had different release dates back then! We didn't really notice at the time as most of us still bought off the spinner rack! Just for the heck of it, here's the list of The Journal's direct market distributors back then: Sea Gate Distributors (NY); New Media/Irjax (FL); Bud Plant (CA); and, Glenwood Distributors (IL). Here is a link swarm to various GCD cover posts for your nostalgiac meandering:
MARVEL: AMAZING ADVENTURES 14 10/28; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 212 10/14; AVENGERS 203 10/21; BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 23 10/28; CAPTAIN AMERICA 253 10/14; CONAN 118 10/21; DAREDEVIL 168 10/7; THE DEFENDERS 81 10/28; FANTASTIC FOUR 226 10/28; FANTASY MASTERPIECES 14 10/21; GHOST RIDER 52 10/14; INCREDIBLE HULK 255 10/21; IRON MAN 142 10/28; MAN-THING 7 10/21; MARVEL SPOTLIGHT 9[CAPTAIN UNIVERSE] 10/28; MARVEL SUPER-ACTION 27 10/28; MARVEL SUPER-HEROES 95 10/7; MARVEL TALES 123 10/21; MARVEL TEAM-UP 101 10/28; MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE 71 10/7; MARVEL'S GREATEST COMICS 94 10/21; MASTER OF KUNG FU 96 10/28; MICRONAUTS 25 10/14; MOON KNIGHT 3 10/14; ROM 14 10/21; SAVAGE SHE-HULK 12 10/14; SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN 50 10/28; SPIDER-WOMAN 34 10/7; STAR TREK 10 10/7; STAR WARS 43 10/28; TALES TO ASTONISH 14 10/21; THOR 303 10/14; X-MEN 141 10/21. MARVEL MAGAZINES: CRAZY 69 10/14; HULK 24 10/21; SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN 59 10/7.
DC: ACTION COMICS 515 10/23; BATMAN 331 10/9; BRAVE AND THE BOLD 170 10/23; DC COMICS PRESENTS 29 10/9; DETECTIVE COMICS 497 10/23; FLASH 293 10/9; GHOSTS 96 10/9; G.I. COMBAT 226 10/9; GREEN LANTERN 136 10/23; HOUSE OF MYSTERY 288 10/23; JONAH HEX 44 10/9; JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 186 10/9; LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 271 10/23; MYSTERY IN SPACE 115 10/23; SUPERBOY 13 10/23; NEW TEEN TITANS 3 10/9; SECRETS OF SINISTER HOUSE 32 10/9; SGT. ROCK 348 10/23; SUPER FRIENDS 40 10/23; SUPERMAN 355 10/9; SUPERMAN FAMILY 206 10/9; UNEXPECTED 206 10/23; UNKNOWN SOLDIER 248 10/9; WARLORD 41 10/23; WEIRD WAR TALES 85 10/9; WONDER WOMAN 275 10/9.
Whitman: BATTLE OF THE PLANETS 9 10/28; BUCK ROGERS 9 10/28; CHIP N DALE 69 10/21; DAFFY DUCK 131 (there's something so wrong about this cover) 10/28; DAISY AND DONALD 47 10/21; DONALD DUCK 224 10/21; FLASH GORDON 31 10/28; LOONEY TUNES 35 10/28; MICKEY MOUSE 209 10/21; PINK PANTHER 77 10/21; TOM AND JERRY 382 (there is no such issue, but reversing the last two numbers brings us the first Whitman issue of this series) 10/21; TWEETY & SYLVESTER 107 (cn/a) 10/28; UNCLE SCROOGE 181 10/21; WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES 483 10/21; YOSEMITE SAM 70 10/28.
HEAVY METAL: HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE November 1980 (October).
WARREN: EERIE 117 10/7; 1994 16 10/14; ROOK 5 10/21.
COMELY COMICS: CAPTAIN CANUCK 12 (October).
AARDVARK-VANAHEIM: CEREBUS THE AARDVARK 21 (October).
FANTACO: MUGSHOTS (October); SMILIN' ED COMICS 2 (October).

EDITORIAL CARTOON:
"Untitled" (inside back cover) by "Red Meat" [cartoon of Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, and Jim Galton stabbing Roy Thomas in the back. I think the pseudonymous artist was Gary Kwapisz, but I'm not certain.]

BACK COVER:
"Machine Man vs. Doctor Octopus" painted by Dennis Fujitake

THE COMICS JOURNAL (c) 2010 Fantagraphics Books, Inc. Unauthorized, but fairly used throughout. Anyone owning copyright to illustrations, and wishing them removed please send a complaint through the comments -- they will be immediately taken down.

Love and Rockets Long Gone Links

2010-07-26T22:08:00.000-05:00

image via
Found another Gilbert Hernandez Stussy t-shirt for sale on the above Japanese retail-site. More close-up shots and the back of the shirt can also be found at the above link. Art (c) 2010 Gilbert Hernandez.

Comic-Con Links:
Missed it in my earlier post of Hernandez signings at San Diego Comic-con 2010, Abrams ComicArts was giving away posters of THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ at their booth, #1216. Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite were scheduled to sign at the ComicArts booth Friday 7/23 from 3:00-4:00pm, and Saturday 7/24 from 10:00-11:00am. via Comic Book Resources/Abrams press release 7/20.

Academic: COMIC ARTS CONFERENCE SESSION #15: ALTERNATIVE COMICS. "[...]Sheri McCord (Saint Louis University) argues that Jaime Hernandez's characters Maggie and Hopey reveal the complexities of being sexual women to their audience and illustrate the conflict between friendship and attraction, love and desire." This was to be held Sunday 7/25 from 1:00-2:30pm in Room 26AB at the San Diego Comic-Con 2010.

Panel: "Writing Queer: Creating and Writing LGBT Characters" a panel featuring Gilbert Hernandez, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Judd Winick, Paige Braddock, and Howard Cruse. This was to be held Thursday 7/22 6:00-7:00pm in Room 32AB at the San Diego Comic-Con 2010.

Mike Baehr reports from the Hernandez Family signing Friday 7/23 at the San Diego Comic-con, looks like a huge crowd for the crew from the seven photos posted by Baehr. via FlogBlog

Tom Spurgeon reports on 7/24 from the San Diego Comic-con that LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 3 was among the brisk sellers at the Fantagraphics table. via comicsreporter.com

Mr. Spurgeon also reported that COMICS REPORTER won the 2010 Eisner Award in it's category. Congratulations, very well deserved.

Fantagraphics Books photos from San Diego Comic-Con 2010 on flickr.com.

FlogBlog Spotlight:
Mike Baehr reports on three new signed bookplates by Jaime Hernandez when you order copies of PENNY CENTURY, LOCAS, and LOCAS II from Fantagraphics. via FlogBlog

Mike Baehr digs up another tattoo based on LOVE AND ROCKETS at FlogBlog.

Mike Baehr also finds some old photos of Jaime and Gilbert on the Hernandez Brothers' Facebook page, linked through/via FlogBlog.

Review: Sean T. Collins reviews MOME 17-19, including Gilbert's "Roy" story in the latter. via Flog Blog

Essay: Bob Temuka writes about the perception of LOVE AND ROCKETS in general, and reviews Jaime's GHOST OF HOPPERS collection specifically. A rare lengthy exploration of the L&R universe. via FlogBlog

Essay: Spanish-language review of Gilbert's work via FlogBlog

Various and Sundry:
Fun Stuff: Tom Spurgeon posed the challenge of naming five future inductees into the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame in his "Five for Friday 219." Mr. Spurgeon and a few others named the Hernandez Brothers, I agree but only had five choices! I don't know if a Hall of Fame is something a comic book artist of the Hernadez's level actually covets, but they certainly deserve to be named among the best cartoonists in history.

Review: R.C. Harvey reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ for tcj.com. Hasn't it been established that Harry Lucey was more of an influence on Jaime then Dan DeCarlo? Is this something that exists only in my own fevered brain? Lucey's work is fairly swiped in several of the most effective panels in Jaime's stories.

Essay: @ComicsComics T. Hodler's "To Be (or Not to Be) Continued" mentions the Hernandez Brothers' work in relation to his question of how serial works were/would be affected by imminent/unimagined collection into book form.

Upcoming Comics: Laura Hudson reports that Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez will be contributing to the Marvel series, STRANGE TALES II. via comicsalliance.com

Upcoming Comics: Albert Ching, at Newsarama, interviews STRANGE TALES II editor Jody LeHeup who gives up the Marvel characters Los Bros did for that upcoming series. "Space Phantom" by Jaime and "Iron Man" by Gilbert.

Upcoming Comics: LOVE FROM THE SHADOWS, Gilbert's third Fritz-movie hardcover graphic novel (after CHANCE IN HELL and TROUBLEMAKERS) is set to be released 12/31/10. via infibeam.com (India)

Upcoming Comics: Chris Mautner reports Fantagraphics to release a trade paperback collecting all nine issue of YEAH the late-lamented DC series by Peter Bagge and Gilbert Hernandez.

Review: EnComics reposts an Amazon.com review of LOVE AND ROCKETS Vol. 14: LUBA CONQUERS THE WORLD, which generated two comments.

Historical Artifiact: Another copy of the self-published first issue of LOVE AND ROCKETS has turned up on eBay for sale. It seems a bit high-priced, but there aren't a lot of these around any more (this makes three I've caught on this auction site alone).

Susan E. Thomas reports on Calvin Reid's donation of graphic novels and other books to the BMCC Library, including unknown titles by Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez.

In a review of Ian MacDonald's DESOLATION ROAD Jason Pettus refers to an old influence of Gilbert's: "I have however, already read and reviewed yet another [ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF] SOLITUDE ripoff from these same exact years, Gilbert Hernandez's PALOMAR stories [...]."

George Beliard posts a rare early original art page by Gilbert, page three from his "Heartbreak Soup" story dated 1983. via comicartfans.com

Rene Dorenbos posts Gilbert original art from two calendar plates and an original series cover for LOVE AND ROCKETS (all "Poison River" era pieces). via comicartfans.com

Scott Eder Gallery posts a page of Gilbert's original art from "Human Diastrophism" (censored). note: not a link to the SE Gallery.

Greg Moutafis posts a Jaime commission sketch. via comicartfans.com

IDNKT: "In the first story in 'The Rocketeer,' Jaime Hernandez worked on a page with Dave [...]," Scott Dunbier quoted in an article about IDW's reprinting of Dave Stevens' THE ROCKETEER series. Article is written by Comic Book Resources staff writer Shaun Manning. Good article, Mr. Manning! [oops, I'll have to backtrack a link for this one.]

The Hernandez Brothers and LOVE AND ROCKETS are mentioned as influences on Jim Mahfood in this profile of the artist.

Essay: "Remembering Los Angeles as a Hotbed of Alt-weekly Comics" by Ben Schwartz, includes quotes from Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez.

List: Joe Vince's list of "Eight Comic Book Musical Acts That Are Ready for the Big Screen" includes Hopey Glass.

List: Casey Seijas's list of "Comics Most Bizarre Sex Scenes, Situations & Creators" list Gilbert's LUBA series.

Weird: LUBA hardcover cover posted on Hairy Sack of Magic, what appears to be a design blog. I wouldn't click anything on, curiosity killed the browser.

Hernandez Family Appearances at Comic-con 2010

2010-07-19T15:25:00.005-05:00

LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 3 cover image (c) 2010 Jaime Hernandez via

Special announcement
from Mike Baehr at FlogBlog: Gilbert's daughter Ms. Hernandez will be signing at Comic-con 2010, along with the elder Hernandez's, in support of the debut of her THE ADVENTURES OF CRYSTAL GIRL #3. Be there or miss out!

Courtesy of Mike Baehr of FlogBlog and Heidi MacDonald at The Beat here are Gilbert and Jaime's (and Mario, too) signing schedule at Comic-con 2010:
Thursday 7/22: Gilbert and Mario at Dark Horse table (#2615) from 1:00-2:00.
Thursday 7/22: Gilbert and Jaime at Fantagraphics table (#1718) from 2:00-4:00
Friday 7/23: Gilbert and Jaime at Fantagraphics table (#1718) from Noon-2:00
Saturday 7/24: Gilbert and Jaime at Fantagraphics table (#1718) from 3:00-5:00
Sunday 7/25: Gilbert and Jaime at Fantagraphics table (#1718) from 2:00-4:00

When you are done experiencing the Hernandez's and buying all their new work, you ought to check out the awesomeness that is Tom Spurgeon on his many Comic-con panel appearances. Mr. Spurgeon is a favorite here, if I may say so while destroying whatever thin line of impartiality I may have had, and his interviewing skills and comics knowledge should make all these varied panels even more enjoyable.

Harvey Pekar 1939-2010

2010-07-13T23:37:00.002-05:00

image via

Tom Spurgeon writes a comprehensive obituary/celebration of the late Harvey Pekar here. There you can read Robert Fiore's unique insight into Mr. Pekar's influence on the 80s alternative comics cartoonists, very well thought out. Above is a rare collaboration between Mr. Pekar and Gilbert Hernandez, inside AMERICAN SPLENDOR 4 (Vertigo, February 2007) Gilbet illustrates the six-page "Today I am a Mouse" story. Check it out, and find an AMERICAN SPLENDOR collection at your local library and honor the man by reading his work.

Another Gilbert Hernandez Stussy T-Shirt!

2010-05-23T23:11:00.002-05:00

image via (c)2010 Stussy
These are in stock at MOTIVATION BOUTIQUE; 1203 S. University Avenue; Ann Arbor, MI 48104. phone 734-769-2260, or follow the link above which will take you indirectly to their online store.

Love and Rockets Links Monster-Sized: Interviews

2010-05-20T10:01:00.001-05:00

Here are a number of video interviews with both Gilbert and Jaime conducted this year as well as a few text interviews from MOCCA 2010. These have probably all been up on Flog Blog, but I thought it would be nice to have them all in one place. The Midtown Comics video doesn't start the Gilbert interview until the 5:00 mark, by the way.

Scion Magazine 15: Gilbert Hernandez from Scion ART on Vimeo.

Daniela Capistrano interviews Gilbert for an MTV-related blog.

via
Peter Guiterrez interviews Jaime and Todd Hignite prior to MOCCA 2010 for graphicnovelreporter.com

Audio and Transcript of the "Art of the Superhero" panel at MOCCA 2010 with Jaime, many photos posted, as well. via Journalista

R.C. Baker interviews Jaime for THE VILLAGE VOICE at MOCCA 2010. Cover and link courtesy FlogBlog here.

Christopher Irving interviews Jaime at MOCCA 2010. via FlogBlog and highly recommended.

Steve Bunche interviews Todd Hignite (THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ) for publishersweekly.com

via

Love and Rockets Links Monster-Sized: Reviews

2010-05-19T00:04:00.001-05:00

Here are all of the writings I've found (on Flog Blog, Comics Reporter, Journalista, and various and sundry other places) since about February on the latest flurry of Hernandez Brothers books:
Tom Spurgeon reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ for comicsreporter.com
Parka short review, many pages posted, video of book preview of THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ
The A.V. Club reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ
Tim Heffernan reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ for esquire.com
John Seven reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ
Aaron Krach reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ
Gary Sassaman reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ
Joe reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ at the Forbidden Planet blog
Richard reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ at the Forbidden Planet blog
Diane Rios short review of THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ, and personal anecdote of Jaime
Gerald reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ on facebook
Ebooks Reviews (an Amazon Affiliate partner, whatever that means) posts five customer reviews of THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ
BBC 6music reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ via Flog Blog (Not specified which particular show reviewed the book, so I'm linking to the whole bloody day's programmes. Should be able to access until 5/24.) [see comments section as of 5/23]
Update 5/23: Jeremy Estes reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ for PopMatters

Michael Pinto reviews/kills the upcoming CBGB 1 on fanboy.com

Garrett Martin reviews HIGH SOFT LISP for bostonherald.com
Win Wiacek reviews HIGH SOFT LISP for comicsreview.co.uk (it's not every day Gilbert gets compared to Gustave Flaubert!)
Anonymous Publisher's Weekly staffer reviews HIGH SOFT LISP via FlogBlog
Jason Michelitch reviews HIGH SOFT LISP at comicsalliance.com via FlogBlog

Anonymous Publisher's Weekly staffer reviews PENNY CENTURY via FlogBlog
Scott Cederlund on PENNY CENTURY: "I think I have a few issues of Jaime Hernandez's PENNY CENTURY mini. All I really remember of it is women wrestlers. I still need to finish the original LOCAS stories one of these days." [Just buy the damn books and stick 'em in a box somewhere, buyers not readers that's what we want! New Fantagraphics ad campaign coming soon. Seriously, this is one of my favorite capsule reviews, it's nice to come across a casual L&R reader.]

Jared Osborn reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS
Andrew Wheeler reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS via FlogBlog
David Leibow reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS for monkeygoggles.com
Justin Spotten reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS for associatedcontent.com

Roberto C. Madruga posts on LUBA hardcover

Michael C. Lorah reviews LOCAS II hardcover
Grant Goggans reviews LOCAS II hardcover

Encomics short review of THE EDUCATION OF HOPEY GLASS, many good comments following

Snow Wildsmith reviews MySPACE DARK HORSE PRESENTS Volume 4, including Gilbert's "Dreamstar" story

Sterg Botzakis reviews SLOTH

Encomics reviews THE GIRL FROM HOPPERS, good comment following by Scott Allen
LeMc reviews THE GIRL FROM HOPPERS

Sarah reviews HEARTBREAK SOUP (Love and Rockets Library edition)
Hannah Seidel contrasts HEARTBREAK SOUP with AMERICAN SPLENDOR

Jared Osborn reviews LOCAS I hardcover

Tom Knapp reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS original collections Volumes 1-10 12 20, NEW TALES OF OLD PALOMAR 2, LOCAS I hardcover, and PALOMAR hardcover.
Mary Harvey reviews CHANCE IN HELL, same link as above

Annaleigh Clark reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS VOLUME 6: DUCK FEET and L&R series in general at isak.typepad.com

Love and Rockets Links Monster-Sized: Events

2010-05-14T01:12:00.002-05:00

Gilbert at Napoli Comicon 2010. Photographer unknown. via

*Chris Estey writes a hilarious description of Gilbert in anticipation of his appearance at the Emerald City Comicon 2010

*Gavin Lees reports on Emerald City Comicon 2010 (3/13-3/14) for tcj.com, including Gilbert and family appearing to support HIGH SOFT LISP release. via comicsreporter

*Gavin Lees photo of Carol, daughter, and Gilbert Hernandez sitting together at Emerald City Comicon 2010. via comicsreporter

*Stephanie Hayes photo of Gary Groth and Gilbert at Emerald City Comicon 2010. via FlogBlog

*Larry Reid reports on "High Soft Lisp" art exhibition and book signing with Gilbert Hernandez at Fantagraphics Books Store & Gallery as part of 3/13 "Art Attack" events in Seattle, see poster above

*Jonas Seamen posts 25 photos from Gilbert's signing at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery 3/13. via FlogBlog

*Fantagraphics Books posts 32 photos from Gilbert's appearance at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery 3/13. via FlogBlog

*Press Release for Jaime and Todd Hignite's 4/9 signing at Jim Hanley's Universe

*Arambulo posts one two photos of Jaime from his signing (w/Todd Hignite) at Jim Hanley's Universe (4/9), Vito Delsante is seen interviewing Jaime in the latter picture

*rhythmbandit posts a couple of Jaime "Maggie" pages in honor of meeting the artist at his Jim Hanley's Universe signing, a comment in the following thread from meatwhichdreams describes meeting Jaime at MOCCA 2010.

*Abrams Comicarts press release on panels and book signings for MOCCA 2010

*Excellent MOCCA 2010 report by Gil Roth, in line by Marc Sobel to see Jaime. Photo of Jaime at top of post. via comicsreporter

*Marc Sobel goes to MOCCA 2010 and meets Jaime, and even found a copy of SILVERHEELS 3 with that rare color Jaime backup story. Yes, I'm jealous.

*Geoff Grogan reports across the aisle from Jaime and his enormous line at MOCCA 2010

*Colin Panetta comments on "The Art of the Superhero" panel Jaime participated in at MOCCA 2010. via comicreporter

*Michel Fiffe writes on talking to Jaime at MOCCA 2010, attending his panel appearance, and meeting Marc Sobel. Michel posts Jaime's contribution to STRIPAIDS USA, as well. via comicsreporter

*C. Edwards reports on "The Art of the Superhero" panel Jaime participated in at MOCCA 2010. via comicsreporter

*Tom Spurgeon deflates "The Art of the Superhero" panel at MOCCA 2010 (I agree with him on this, after reading the panel transcript). via comicsreporter

*My favorite photo from MOCCA 2010 has Jaime apparently playing a heated game of "rock-paper-scissors" with Miss Lasko-Gross.

*Mike Baehr takes 10 photos of Jaime at MOCCA 2010

*Arambulo posts photos of Jaime signing at MOCCA 2010. via comicsreporter

*bh123 posts several photos of Jaime from MOCCA 2010, including one with (I swear) Gary Groth smiling. via comicsreporter

*Two photos of Jaime signing at the Fantagraphics table while at MOCCA 2010. one, two.

*Virtual Memorist posts two photos of Jaime at MOCCA 2010: one of him drawing Beautiful Dreamer that Gil Roth wrote about and the other of him drawing Hopey. via comicsreporter
*Seth Kushner posts photos from MOCCA 2010 including several of Jaime (in group and portrait)

*Seth Kushner posts two more photos of Jaime at MOCCA 2010.

*Brian Heater two photos (also here) of Jaime and other "Art of the Superhero" panelists. via comicsreporter

*David Mazzucchelli wins L.A. Times Festival of Books "Graphic Novel" Prize over Gilbert's LUBA. Article here.

*Gilbert signing at New York City's MIDTOWN COMICS on April 24. press release here

MIDTOWN COMICS website photos of Gilbert and daughter at their April 24 signing. (no permalink so you'll have to scroll down to find the photos)

*Photos from Gilbert and daughter's MIDTOWN COMICS signing posted by blueneurosis. one, two, three.

*Carolyn Kellogg reports on FAMILY BOOKSTORE signing with Jaime, Todd Hignite, and Jordan Crane. May 4 at 7:oopm.

*Jason Chen plugs Jaime's FAMILY BOOKSTORE signing at the gq.com fashion blog "The GQ Eye"

*Jaime, Todd Hignite, and Jordan Crane signing at FAMILY (Los Angeles, CA) May 4 at 7:00pm.

5/18 Update: Lilliam Rivera (mondette.com) reports on Jaime's FAMILY signing, includes several photos

*Press release for Jaime and Todd Hignite signing at VROMAN'S BOOKSTORE May 5.

*Jaime and Todd Hignite signing at VROMAN'S BOOKSTORE (Pasadena, CA) May 5 at 7:00pm.

*Gilbert guest at Napoli Comicon 2010. via twitter

*NAPOLI COMICON 2010: Italian-language homepage, or pdf in English of convention events

5/18 Update: "Adventurist Cartoonists & Far Out Comics" show at FAMILY bookstore at 5:00pm on 5/30. Jaime will present the 1949 Joseph L. Mankiewicz film "A Letter to Three Wives," followed by a Q&A on the movie moderated by Sammy Harkham (Kramers Ergot).

Love and Rockets Links Monster-Sized: Crush

2010-05-07T14:24:00.002-05:00

Here we go with another marathon round of old and new links, first up praise, influences, recommendations, and dubious mentions:

Thom Buchanan crushes on Jaime's version of Supergirl.

Sean R. Corbin is writing a sestina based on Jaime's "La Blanca" story, and has a cat sort of named after his favorite L&R character: Maggie.

"Maggie & Hopey" essay by Candise Branum.

Jamie S. Rich links to a Jaime story and unleashes a crush thread.

Jon Abrams crushes on Jaime in the essay, "That's Right, I Said Comics Issue #11."

U.K. cartoonist Dave Shelton (GOOD DOG, BAD DOG) mentions Jaime among artists that "excite" him.

Evan Dorkin mentions Jaime and Gilbert among his favorite cartoonists in a TCAF-related interview.

Heidi MacDonald spotlights the (then) upcoming THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ, with a nice comment thread following.

Will Hines recommends THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ, as well.

Mike (Missoula, MT) has THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ on his reading list.

Danyel Chapman has LOCAS II hardcover on the "to-read" list.

Anthony M. Napoli (Brooklyn Beat) lists SLOTH and LUBA hardcovers on his current reading list.

FCHS artist Rachel "Ronnie" Friere is profiled, her Jaime Hernandez influence is pointed out.

Chris Wisnia recalls meeting, and being inspired by, Gilbert at the 2002 San Diego Comicon. He mentions buying a mini-comic from Gilbert titled CRIME-STOPPERS OF AMERICA VOL. 1.

Dean Haspiel mentions (in an interview by Chris Beckett) that he read LOVE AND ROCKETS in the 1980s.

Stephanie is moved by "the comics of Jaime Hernandez."

Rob Imes (DITKOMANIA, editor) comments on Dave Sim mentions in THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ, and places Jaime Hernandez in his "Top 5 comics creators of all time."

Claudio Yuga (in Portugese) on LOVE AND ROCKETS (or, Amor e Foguetes).

Frank Santoro reminisces about MOCCA 2010 and sends some art-envy Jaime's way.

Musician Jeffrey Lewis crushes on the comic LOVE AND ROCKETS.

David P. Welsh recommends Gilbert's PALOMAR stories, again.

Jamie P. lists Jaime Hernandez among his influences.

Peter Crane mentions Gilbert's work on the original LOVE AND ROCKETS series, in passing, in the middle of a long essay on Dave Sim and CEREBUS.

Jonah Westbrook comments on Jaime.

Scott Eder: Gene Kogan reports on the "Hotwire Vol. 3" exhibit at the Scott Eder Gallery, along with a profile of Scott Eder mentioning he has Jaime Hernandez original art in his personal collection.

Matt Fraction crushes on Gilbert and Jaime in an interview at Sega blog.

Update 5/10: Sherm Cohen read LOVE AND ROCKETS in the early eighties while attending the Joe Kubert School.

Gilbert Hernandez Stussy T-Shirts

2010-05-02T21:02:00.010-05:00

image via

Following their line of Jaime Hernandez custom-designed t-shirts, Stussy has tapped Gilbert for two designs this Summer as well.

Links to announcements: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, and original post on highsnobiety (I believe).

STUSSY home page here, if you can find them there are also features, t-shirts, and some video of Gary Panter, Savage Pencil, and Peter Bagge.

Love and Rockets Mini-Links

2010-04-18T22:39:00.003-05:00

I've been working for two weeks on the latest Link Dump, and thought a teaser might buy me a little time to sort out two months worth of Hernandez awesomity.

Next big thing link:
The L.A. TIMES BOOK PRIZE "Graphic Novel" category winner will be announced this Friday (4-23), according to this report by Callie Miller. The nominees are also listed:
1) LUBA hardcover Gilbert Hernandez
2) GOGO MONSTER Taiyo Matsumoto
3) ASTERIOS POLYP David Mazzucchelli
4) SCOTT PILGRIM Volume 5 Bryan Lee O'Malley
5) FOOTNOTES IN GAZA Joe Sacco

Smackdown spotlight links:
Tim Hodler reviews THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ by Todd Hignite, and the greatest comment thread in the history of the Fantagraphics Production crew ensues. Jacob Covey and Adam Grano (co-workers of TAOJH book designer Jordan Crane), Fantagraphics Co-Publisher Kim Thompson, and Abrams ComicArts executive editor Charlie Kochman, and a cast of dozens discuss design in comics-themed books in more depth than ever thought possible. Fascinating discussion by some folks you don't usually hear from.

Marc Sobel responds at "Trouble With Comics" to Tim Holder's article. I like Marc's efforts on the Hernandez Brothers, and with THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ now released to the general public it seems like a good time to revisit this discussion.

Speaking-of-Jordan-Crane link:
Jordan Crane posted the first portion of Jaime's 2002 mini-comic DEATH TALES 1, the rest is to be posted 4-28. This looks to be a limited edition comic from San Diego Comicon, or some similar event.

Calling All Academics link:
Gene Kannenberg reports on a call for papers from guest editors Christopher Gonzalez and Derek Parker Royal for a special Hernandez Brothers tribute issue of the publication "ImageTexT."

Review: BART SIMPSON 52

2010-04-11T14:04:00.005-05:00

SIMPSONS COMICS PRESENTS: BART SIMPSON 52 (Bongo Comics, February 2010)

"Homer Simpson: Chick Magnet" 12 pages
GILBERT HERNANDEZ: writer/artist
ALLAN HELLARD: colorist
KAREN BATES: letterer
BILL MORRISON: editor
MIKE ROTE: staff artist

Gilbert Hernandez returns for a second time to the Simpsons universe, following 2008's "Homerstein Conquers the World" in TREEHOUSE OF HORROR 14. This story tracks the journey back home of Homer and Bart from the forbidden donut shop. When Bart tries to bribe another comic from his Dad, he throws the comic into the trash. It's retrieved surreptitiously by Bart, and stashed in Homer's back pocket. Gilbert turns the comic into one of his "magical object" plot devices. The boys walk is interrupted constantly by beautiful women mistaking Homer for a TV star or lost love. Then Homer begins to think he has some kind of newfound effect on women, and has Bart pick out one on which to test his supposed animal magnetism. This works all too well as Homer is lovingly mangled by a very butch-looking gal. Bart is left holding the comic book after the melee when a little red-haired girl says "hi" to him. A nonplussed Bart shoves the comic back into Homer's back pocket, whereupon they are chased down the sidewalk by a horde of crazed women. Bart quickly throws the comic at the stampede and the ladies lose all interest in the chase. Leading Bart to conclude, "A man with a comic book attracts a woman like nothing else[...]." I enjoyed this rare opportunity to see Gilbert's work in color, as well as his take on the Simpsons character's. However, one review I read found the story hard to understand. This may be true for some folks as Gilbert paces his stories like almost no one else. The story is basically just a father and son walk with the magic comic thrown in as the action instigator. If more creators were able to tell a story with the less-is-more template, I think there would be more comics that children would want to read. In closing, I hope to see more of Gilbert in future Simpsons comics, if editor Bill Morrison sees fit. -Gary Usher

New Books from the Hernandez Brothers

2010-04-06T23:37:00.013-05:00

Hello, sorry for the long lapses between posts, family matters and a lack of cat pictures to fill up space all contributed.
All of Jaime and Gilbert's books that we have been waiting patiently for have been released in the last few weeks (and a suprise from Gilbert and Homer):

PENNY CENTURY publisher page

HIGH-SOFT LISP publishers page

THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ publishers page

BART SIMPSON 52 mycomicshop.com page

I'm leaning toward buying the first three in a package deal from amazon.com for a little over $50, here's a link to one of the books for sale on amazon that lists the deal.
We had a question from Matt in the comments section quite a while back that I will try to answer now: "I'm trying to figure out if I should get LOCAS II of PENNY CENTURY or both. Any idea what the difference is between the two collections?"
Remember that those great hardcovers like LOCAS and LOCAS II do not reprint every strip by Jaime from LOVE AND ROCKETS Volumes One and Two. If you aren't picky about that I would recommend the hardcover LOCAS II, as it reprints all under one cover most of LOCAS IN LOVE, DICKS AND DEEDEES, GHOST OF HOPPERS, and THE EDUCATION OF HOPEY GLASS. The softcover PENNY CENTURY volume will include the WHOA NELLIE graphic novel that does not appear in LOCAS II, and the eventual follow-up to this volume will include the rest of the stories appearing in LOCAS II. I'm also thinking that "La Maggie la Loca" and "Gold Diggers of 1969" from LOVE AND ROCKETS Volume Two #20 are not in the LOCAS II hardcover.
This is all vaguely confusing, so here are links to the contents pages of the two books so you will be able to see side by side which stories are in which book (you might have to click on "table of contents" in the "look inside" feature of these two sales pages):
PENNY CENTURY title page
LOCAS II title page one/page two

All artwork (c)2010 Jaime Hernandez or Gilbert Hernandez

Top Ten Issues of The Comics Journal: 59 Part One

2010-03-12T23:59:00.003-06:00

THE COMICS JOURNAL 59 (October 1980) buy here
Fantagraphics, Inc., 196 West Haviland Lane, Stamford CT 06903
GARY G. GROTH: Executive Editor, Art Director
KIM THOMPSON: Editor, Circulation Director
GARY KWAPISZ: Assistant Art Director
JOHN DAKIN: Correspondent
BRUCE SWEENEY: Correspondent ("Undergrounds")
GRETCHEN MEYER: Senior Mascot
KAREN C. HUNTER: Live-in Mascot
VIVIA McKENZIE: Live-in Mascot

FRONT COVER:
Ken Macklin was a fantasy artist probably best known for his "Dr. Watchstop" and "Weasel Patrol" series in the comics world. Neither of those had started yet when he did this cover for the JOURNAL, but he was active in other other areas. Two of his contemporary paintings are posted here, a role-playing game cover here, his Schanes and Schanes published "Smug the Dragon" print [advertised in this issue of the JOURNAL], and work in RIGEL SCIENCE FICTION 1 (Summer 1981, Aesir Press) [latter via abebooks.co.uk]. He was married to fantasy artist Lela Dowling. Later he had a career in game animation and creation for LucasFilm (and others) [source: http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/by_title/developerId,1373].
(c)1980 Ken Macklin

OPENING SHOTS:
"The Obscure Eisner" (page 4) by Jim Korkis [THE SPIRIT reprints and offbeat Eisner appearances in ARMY MOTORS, P.S. MAGAZINE, STAR JAWS, 101 OUTER SPACE JOKES, African-American textbooks, interviews and research (like Catherine Yronwode was conducting and writing in THE SPIRIT MAGAZINE and other publications).]

NEWSWATCH:
[Individual articles are not credited. The contents page says, "researched, compiled, and edited by Kim Thompson." The majority of the news articles are probably written by Mr. Thompson, assisted by John Dakin, with Bruce Sweeney reporting on his specialty "Undergrounds."]

[With the recent retirement of President & Publisher (or whatever he was, the last time I bought a DC comic Jenette Kahn was still in charge) Paul Levitz from DC Comics the below quoted news article is particularly relevant, it details Levitz's early promotion to Manager of Business Affairs.]
"Changes at DC Comics: Giordano Named Editor, Levitz and Orlando Promoted" pages 8-9 J. Michael Catron: photos [quoted from beginning of article: "DC Comics' Managing Editor Joe Orlando has been promoted to Editorial Director, while Paul Levitz, formerly the Editorial Coordinator, has been promoted to Manager of Business Affairs. In addition, Dick Giordano has been hired to take over the editing chores on the titles vacated by Levitz.
"Orlando and Levitz: Special Projects
"Both Orlando and Levitz will, according to a DC press release, be more active in the areas of DC's merchandising properties that range beyond the regular comics publishing business.
"DC Publisher Jenette Kahn commented on Orlando's promotion: 'Joe's unique ability to rise to meet the creative challenges of mastering new fields has been an important asset to DC's growth as a multi-faceted publishing company.' she added that despite his promotion, Orlando's management of the DC editorial team would 'remain an important part of his contribution.'
"Similarly, Levitz will continue working in an administrative capacity at DC Comics, while gaining an increased responsibility with regard to special projects. In order to make time for his new functions, he will relinquish the three comics titles he is currently editing, BATMAN, DETECTIVE, and BRAVE AND THE BOLD." (c)1980 Kim Thompson/The Comics Journal
*"Roy Thomas at DC" page 9 [Mr. Thomas' first work at DC was to include: BATMAN [somewhere in 331-342 which were published in 1981] , ALL-STAR SQUADRON (not titled yet), ARAK (not titled yet), DC COMICS PRESENTS [33 34 37], GREEN LANTERN [1981 issues were 136-147], and a "Supergirl" story [in SUPERMAN FAMILY 205-213 1981 issues]. issue #'s taken from STANDARD CATALOG OF COMIC BOOKS 4th edition (KP Books, 2005)]
*"Marvel Focuses on Direct Sales" pages 11-12 ["Dazzler #1 Exclusive" "The Cooperative Advertising Program" "Albums in Preparations" [several future Marvel graphic novels are mentioned in this section, one as yet unpublished (outside of excerpts in THE JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR, anyway) is THE PRISONER, to be written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Gil Kane/Joe Rubinstein and Jack Kirby/Walt Simonson, respectively] "The General Market Not Forgotten" [MARVEL UNIVERSE (which sounds an awful lot like BIZARRE ADVENTURES, down to the Christmas issue), Simon and Shuster books, and children's books)]
*"Briefly Noted at Marvel Comics" page 12 [Daredevil drug story, Death of Phoenix ending changed, Hulk color magazine goes b/w, DC/Marvel team-ups announced (Spiderman/Superman, Batman/Hulk, X-Men/Legion of Superheroes, and JLA/Avengers), CAPTAIN AMERICA 255 printed from John Byrne pencil art, Jim Shooter/Alan Weiss SUB-MARINER comic, JAMES BOND comic (FOR YOUR EYES ONLY 1, 2), DENNIS THE MENACE comic]
*"Charlton to Publish Aspiring Pros' Work for Free" page 14 [good history of this effort which published Mark Heike, Arn Saba, and other future pros in CHARLTON BULLSEYE, notable for a short interview with Bill Pearson when he was an editor at Charlton.]
*"Marvel Merry-G0-Round" page 14 [John Garcia was to have drawn THOR 304, and many other comings and goings of Marvel artists and writers]
*"DC Merry-Go-Round" page 15
*"DC Heroes & Villains" page 15
*"Adventure Comics Skips Two Months" page 15
*obituary: Douglas Kenney (December 10, 1947-August 27, 1980) [source] page 15
*"Len Mogel Takes Over Heavy Metal From Ted White" page 17 photo: Len Mogel
*"Comic Strips: 'Lookin' Fine' Begins" page 17 photo: Ray Billingsley [short bio of Ray Billingsley, Mort Gerberg's "Hang In There!," "Lone Ranger" comic strip by Cary Bates/Russ Heath, "Barbara Cartland Romances" begins November 1980, 30th anniversary of "Peanuts," 25th anniversary of Irwin Hasen's "Dondi," and Lou Little named Head of Comics Development at Field News Syndicate.]
*"Alternative Press" page 19 [GANG BANG (Wallace Wood's infamous tijuana bible-type effort); VISIONS 2; QUESTAR; Fantaco: BAH HEMBECK, SMILIN' ED 2, MUGSHOTS, ALIEN ENCOUNTERS; Eclipse: ECLIPSE MAGAZINE 1 (contents for first issue were to include Jim Starlin, Don McGregor's "Ragamuffins" and a Steve Englehart/Marshall Rogers "serial"); CKR Productions/Comely Comics news.]
*"Undergrounds" page 19 [Rip Off Press: RIP OFF 7 and CARTOON HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE 5; Last Gasp: SAN FRANCISCO 6, YOUNG LUST 6, HAROLD HEDD 1(reprint); Kitchen Sink: SPIRIT MAGAZINE 25, GAY COMICS, NARD N PAT 2, SNARF 9.]

[The below sidebar appeared at the end of the "Newswatch" section and was the first salvo in a long, bitter legal battle fought through most of the 80s.]
"NOTICE FROM THE EDITORS: On May 1st, 1980 we received a letter from Michael Fleisher threatening legal action against The Comics Journal if we did not print an 'apology and retraction' that Fleisher had written and signed our names to. Fleisher's claim was that Harlan Ellison made 'defamatory and untrue statements' about him and his work in 'The Harlan Ellison Interview' (Journal #53).
"We had researched the four points of contention that Fleisher outlined and prepared a statement covering each of them, which we would have published in this issue, in addition to a reply to Fleisher's letter from Ellison.
"However, in mid-August, Fleisher told Gary Groth that he had filed suit against The Comics Journal. Our attorneys have advised us not to print our statement until we receive legal notification of Fleisher's suit.
"We will keep our readers informed of things as they develop. -THE EDITORS"
(c)1980 THE COMICS JOURNAL, Fantagraphics, Inc.

BLOOD AND THUNDER:
[The links do not necessarily correspond with the names below, although I did try and track down what these folks were doing currently. Richard Gagnon was a particularly tough one as there is a Canadian cartoonist and musician both with the same name, unfortunately the cartoonist would have only been 15-years old when this issue came out and he had no ties to New Jersey at all. Likewise, facebook had almost every name below multiple times, so that was certainly not helpful if there were no clues to where they lived in their intro page.]

#Peter Iro/Willie Blyberg: illustration page 21
#unknown: illustration page 23
#Bruce Zick: illustration page 25 [films]
#Stu Potts: editorial cartoon page 27
#Willie Blyberg/Mutschler: illustration page 30 [www.comics.org and http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_pastwinners.php#1988 ]
#Bob Staszak: illustration page 31 [Mr. Staszak was a prolific cover artist for THE COMCS READER ca. 1975-80. source]
#Alan Hanley: illustration page 34
#Scott McCloud (credited as "McLeod"): illustration page 37
#JAMES KEEPNEWS page 20 [On the JOURNAL'S unbiased news coverage, Gene Colan, and Neal Adams]
#BILL HENLEY JR. pages 20-21 [This arrogant and condescending (and well-written) piece may encapsulate the perfect "B&T" letter! Wish I could print the whole thing, but you'll just have to find your own copy.]
#MIKE VALERIO page 21 [On the other hand Mr. Valerio may very well have been the perfect JOURNAL reader as evidenced by this short quote, "Essentially, comics are like any other business, whether it's producing Harlequin Romance novels or bottles of beer. We're talking about mass production for a mass audience. We're talking about the junk food of literature. That's all comics are." I really wonder how many other readers got this point in the entire history of the magazine? Mainstream comics were a product, while the actual FORM of comics storytelling could (and should) be used to create a unique hybrid of art/literature. (Okay, I added the latter point on myself, but it's a logical conclusion leading from Mr. Valerio's well-stated point.)] [wrote articles in the JOURNAL 65 and 67. source]
#RICH MORRISSEY pages 21-22 [on the JOURNAL'S biased news coverage] [obituary 1 2]
#THE EDITORS REPLY to Mr. Morrissey page 22 [history of JOURNAL coverage of various creator departures and a nice look at how Mr. Thompson approached news gathering back then.]
#KENT C. ORLANDO pages 22-23 [on editors Jack C. Harris and Dick Giordano] [author of "Cheeks, the Toy Wonder" MySpace page, now defunct. source]
#JOHN PIERCE page 23 [on Jack C. Harris]
#DENNIS SUMMERS pages 23-24 [reply to letter from James Lentini (#55) on Howard Chaykin Interview (#51)] ["Texturing: Concepts and Techniques" by Dennis Summers (Charles River Media, 2004), also a possible match.]
#ROBIN SNYDER page 24 [quoted in full: "Despite your 'elitist' attitudes and your habit of ignoring the bulk of the comics industry's output (war, mystery, and humor) I still find much of worth in your publication.
"Case in point: the light, up-beat Jack Harris interview [#55] makes up for the depressing, negative features of the past.
"I do agree with the points Kim Thompson raised in the editorial, however I think the solution lies in presenting the problem in a positive manner." (c)1980 Robin Snyder ]
(Mr. Snyder ten years later founded THE HISTORY OF COMICS (now just THE COMICS) newsletter which did exactly what he proposed in this short letter, a perfect counterpoint to the JOURNAL in my humble opinion.]
#MARIO NAVES page 24 [on the Marshall Rogers interview (#54)]
#LARRY BAFUS page 24 [on Marshall Rogers cover to DETECTIVE COMICS 476]
#FRANK BRUNNER page 24 [reply to R. Fiore's review "The Rocky Road to Tanelorn" (#55) of his "Elric of Melnibone" story in STAR*REACH GREATEST HITS.]
#R. FIORE REPLIES to Mr. Brunner pages 24-25 [this was R. Fiore's third review for the JOURNAL, preceded by reviews of "Night Music" (#54) and "Weirdworld" (#52) (source). He does a great job standing his ground, definitely an important part of the JOURNAL'S long tradition of excellence in criticism.]
#BILL MANTLO page 25 [replying to Brian Snell's letter, asks Are Critics Frustrated Writers?, and on the "fan elite."] [books-in-print and bio: http://hiwaay.net/~Ikseitz/comics/Rom/comic/mantlo.shtml ]
#THE EDITORS REPLY to Mr. Mantlo pages 25-26 [on positive reviews in the JOURNAL, on Burne Hogarth's analysis of mainstream comics, on commerce vs. content, and on reviewers as writers.]
#DAVE SIM page 26 [replying to Jim McPherson letter (#56)] [link via cerebusfangirl.com]
#MIKE W. BARR page 26-27 [replying to Jim McPherson letter (#56), on work being ignored by an independent publisher.]
#MIKE GOLD page 28 [replies to Stephen McGonagle (#56) letter, on Len Wein's comics writing]
#WALLY STOELTING page 29 [on Jack C. Harris interview (#55)]
#MIKE SOPP page 29 [on woes of Marvel fans] [twitter?]
#RICHARD GAGNON pages 29-30 [on Michael Fleisher interview (#56), reply to David Seidman on comics reviews.] [Google Phonebook lists three possible matches for "Richard Gagnon New Jersey"]
#DAVID S. MARSHALL page 30 [on Neal Adams back cover (#56)]
#CHRIS ASH page 30 [on Gene Phillips essay ""(#55)]
#GENE PHILLIPS REPLIES to Mr. Ash pages 31 33 [on comics creator's ancestral, racial, and religious tradition and influences, I think]
#RICH MORRISSEY (ROUND 2) pages 33-34 [on Michael Fleisher interview (#56), on Fleisher's writing on "The Spectre" "Jonah Hex," and Fleisher's swipes of old "Batman" plots (they call this "updating" nowadays, don't they?)
#JACK C. HARRIS page 34 [on SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE MAGAZINE written by Michael Fleisher.]
#MIKE SOPP (ROUND 2) page 37 [on MOON KNIGHT]
#JOHN BENSON page 37 [on Richard Howell's review of HEARTTHROBS (#55), the DC Comics trade paperback collection of Romance comics.] [Mr. Benson edited ROMANCE WITHOUT TEARS and CONFESSIONS, ROMANCES, SECRETS, AND TEMPTATIONS about Romance comics from fantagraphics.com.]
#TODD GOLDBERG pages 37 100 [on the JOURNAL 55, in general] [book]
#RUSS MAHERAS page 100 [on David Stallman's review of EPIC ILLUSTRATED 1 (#54).]

The Comics Journal (c)2010 Fantagraphics Books Inc.

Love and Rockets Links to Days Gone By

2010-02-04T08:58:00.005-06:00

REVIEW:
*Rob Clough reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS for tcj.com
*Jim Rugg (guest reviewer) reviews Gilbert's THE TROUBLEMAKERS and others for Robot 6. via FlogBlog
*A.V. Club (Zack Handlen, Keith Phipps, Leonard Pierce, or Tasha Robinson) reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS. via FlogBlog
*Russell Heitzmann reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS, scroll down to "Wednesday Roundup: Week of Jan 6/09"[year should be "10"] to find.
*Rich Kreiner reviews the LUBA hardcover for tcj.com
*Benjamin Herman reviews CITIZEN REX 1 2 3 4 5 and 6 for associatedcontent.com.

LISTS:
see comicsreporter.com archives for extensive coverage of "Best of 2009" and "Best of Decade" lists, or FlogBlog for more Hernandez Brother-centric lists.
*Brian Hibbs lists 100 best-selling books at Comix Experience, San Francisco. LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES [no#] is on this list.
*Marc Sobel writes a fun column (at Trouble With Comics) on older comics he has recently read or reread. First is Gilbert's BIRDLAND XXX series, and he also mentions Gilbert's back-up story in an issue of HATE. Well worth a read if you didn't see it the first time it was posted. Mr. Sobel also writes for tcj.com.
*Greg McElhatton reading list of graphic novels for 2009 includes LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES 2.
*Michael C. Lorah's "Best of 2009" has Gilbert's LUBA hardcover at #4.
*Richard Cowdry mentions CITIZEN REX in his runners up for "Best of 2009."
*Brian Michael Bendis includes SLOTH by Gilbert on his reading list for 2009.
*Ernest Hilbert also read SLOTH, uhm, ahh, two years ago. Thank you and good night.

MISCELLANEOUS:
*Tom Spurgeon wishes Gilbert a happy birthday.
*David P. Welsh (late of comicsreporter.com, we miss you already!) pays tribute to Gilbert on his birthday, and recommends his PALOMAR stories (and other like-minded media).
*Rich Johnston lists LOVE AND ROCKETS [I'm assuming he means both Volume 2 and NEW STORIES] among the honorary mentions in his Rumour Awards "Comic of the Decade" post.
*DIAMOND PREVIEWS "Staff Picks" for 1/10 include THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ: THE SECRETS OF LIFE AND DEATH
*Adisakdi Tantimedh compares Season Five finale of DOCTOR WHO BBC series to end of Jaime's "The Death of Speedy Ortiz" storyline. I haven't seen the episode, but this is a well-done article about the (maybe) far-reaching influences of L&R.
*Cristiana Theodoli challenged herself to read 17 books and graphic novels over Christmas break, including LOVE AND ROCKETS LIBRARY: MAGGIE THE MECHANIC.
*Derek's "On My Pop Culture To-D0-List This Week [of January 7]" includes reading the LOCAS II hardcover by Jaime. Hope you are a speed-reader, Derek.
*Tom G. Wilkinson is reading fifty-two books in fifty-two weeks in 2010. First on the list was LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 1: MUSIC FOR MECHANICS by all three Bros. Post includes art samples and a good review of the book.

MEDIA:
Gilbert Hernandez is interviewed (audio) on 88.9 KNPR on the occasion of his being awarded a United States Artists fellowship.

COME AGAIN?:
Gilbert Hernandez original art from "Duck Feet" story sells for only $330.55 from Scott Eder Original Art on eBay. No, I still wouldn't be able to afford it, but the price seems on the low side for any piece of original art by a well-regarded cartoonist.

MYSTERY:
*I've noticed some strange websites that sell inocuous items, and have hidden comments sections that mention Gilbert and Jaime's work sometimes. Google Alerts picks out the key words from behind their firewall, but does not show the entire thread. "weightliftingshoes06.dnsalias.org" references Gilbert's THE NAKED COSMOS, and "oceanliving04.selfip.org" references Gilbert's PALOMAR stories.
*via Mike Sterling/via comics reporter I don't remember what this link goes to, although I supsect it's some rare Jaime cover art.

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: 38 Conclusion

2010-01-28T13:20:00.000-06:00

INTERVIEW:
"An Interview with Gil Kane [April 6, 1926-January 31, 2000]" conducted by Gary Groth at Boston Newcon (October 20-22, 1976) and New York Creation Con (November 19, 1976). Transcribed by Mr. Groth, and edited by the same, with Mr. Thompson and Gil Kane.
[I don't believe this conversation has been reprinted in that Hermes Press book of Gil Kane interviews, so here's a paraphrasing of topics covered in this interview: The failure of HIS NAME IS SAVAGE and Adventure House; HIS NAME IS SAVAGE connection to "Conan" and Glenn Lord; Distribution and success (and failure) in the comics industry; Martin Goodman and Atlas/Seaboard; DC Comics and lack of a creative editorial viewpoint; "Comics is an incestuous business;" Adult comics content; Comics fanzines (John Benson mentioned) and fans at conventions; Influences: "Scorchy Smith" by Noel Sickles and "Tarzan" ("The Egyptian Period") by Hal Foster; Storytelling in comics; What he would do in comics if no commercial, content, or format restrictions; Jean Giraud (Moebius) comic artist he says is the "best comic strip artist going now;" Films and critical standards for evaluating comics; STAR HAWKS and Ron Goulart; EXCALIBUR book with John Jakes; Comics don't create they duplicate success until the characters are exhausted creatively; Views on: Harvey Kurtzman, Bernie Wrightson, Jim Steranko, Barry Windsor-Smith, Frank Frazetta, Jenette Kahn, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, Alex Nino, Ross Andru, Robert Kanigher, Neal Adams, Mike Golden, and others; Comics and content vs. format; and, more on films and parallels with comics.]

FANDOM REVIEW:
"Hogarth & CRIMMERS: An Excercise in Academic Futility" (pages 47-48) by Paul Dushkind [Mr. Dushkind takes over the "Fandom Review" column from early JOURNAL contributor Doug Fratz, who went on to edit the science-fiction magazine THRUST/QUANTUM. The following issue (#39 April 1978) the column passes on to Marilyn Bethke and her series of critiques of the JOURNAL'S comics press contemporaries!]

SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY:
"Growing Up Weird" (pages 49-50 55) by Mel Gilden. Ron Wilber: "Captain Video" illustration [I'm considering this the second (and last?) in a series of unpublished articles from Frank Catalano's defunct SIRIUS XIV science-fiction newsletter although I could be mistaken, the first (appearing in the previous issue of the JOURNAL) was "You, too, need protein for a smoother glissando (Or, food for thought)" by Greg Bear. This essay is a well-done slice-of-life done from the viewpoint of a science-fiction author growing up on science-fiction books and telelvision, and pondering how these inspired his writing career and life in general.]

REVIEW:
"The Kingdom and the Power of Jack Katz" (pages 51-52 54-55) by Bill Sherman [Mr. Sherman reviews the first six volumes, focusing somewhat on volumes 5 and 6, of Jack Katz's self-published THE FIRST KINGDOM, an anomaly in the 70s outside of the underground comix and far to individualistic to be considered mainstream.] [Preview page from the then upcoming THE FIRST KINGDOM Volume 7 on page 54]

PRIME-TIME SUPERHEROES:
"Greenskin, Webhead, and the Boob Tube" (pages 56-57) by Kim Thompson. Bob Aull: illustration [This was a bit of a surprise, a review of the pilots of the "Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Hulk." Since Mr. Thompson is now bringing us those amazing Tardi translations, I think I'll refrain from quoting any passages from this one!]
sidebar: "News Update: Marvel TV Movies" [Stan Lee said these movies were in development Human Torch, Captain America (released in 1979), Howard the Duck (released in 1986), Ms. Marvel, Dr. Strange (released in 1978), and Sub-Mariner. Also mentions Marvel considering buying their own animation studio, which I seem to recall them eventually accomplishing in the 1980s.]

ANIMATION:
"Allegro Non Troppo: Fantasia With a Vengeance" (pages 58-59) by Gary Groth [review of Bruno Bozzetto's animated movie, particularly the sequence adapting Ravel's "Bolero" which can be viewed below.]
part 1
part 2

via
"The Hobbit: A Rich and Colorful TV Adaptation" (pages 59 62) by Steve Clement (1953-1981)
sidebar: "Doonesbury" [a review of two animated television releases from 1977, the latter titled fully: "A Doonesbury Special."]

THE CREATIVE EXPERIENCE:
"The Outer Limits of the Imagination" (pages 60-61) by Jim Wilson. Judy (Judith) Hunt: illustration. [a review by then-television-producer Wilson of Ted C. Rypel's THE OUTER LIMITS: AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW Volumes 1 and 2. I believe this is Mr. Wilson's last column for the JOURNAL as he does not contribute to the next issue, he was a contributor beginning with THE NOSTALGIA JOURNAL 27, the first Fantagraphics issue.]

COMIC STRIPS:
"Howard the Duck" (pages 63-66) by Steve Gerber and Gene Colan. [Three Sunday pages of the short-lived comic strip incarnation reprinted in black and white. 7/3, 7/10, and 7/17 with the first being printed twice just because it's TCJ!] [link via Journalista]

BACK COVER:
montage of ASTERIX, "Close Encounters," STAR HAWKS, and an original illustration by Joe Sinardi.

ADVERTISEMENTS:
(page 2) OMNIVERSE 1, Fall 1977, Mark Gruenwald/Dean Mullaney editors [Pete Poplaski cover, reprinted along with ad]
(page 3) subscription ad
(page 4) ROCKET'S BLAST COMICOLLECTOR 139, James Van Hise editor [Star Wars-themed issue. contributors: Ralph Fowler, Morris Scott Dollens, Steven Fabian, Kerry Gammill, Ron Wilber, Don Rosa.]
(page 6) Greg Tuliebitz sale list
(page 11) READER WRITTEN COMICS 2 [contributors: Steve Vance, Max Giguere, Dave Sim, Bill Kent Jr., and Bruce Shane.]
(page 12) 1977 Comic Art Fan Awards - Nominating Ballot [administered by Don Fortier]
(pages 16-17) Monkey's Retreat/Well News Service ad
(page 19) OUTER LIMITS NEWSLETTER, Steve Streeter editor
(page 23) Abel Mills 35mm film clips sale
(page 24) Pikes Peak Book Exchange, SCAN magazine ad
(page 31) Bud Plant ad [ASTERIX]
(page 32) Camelot of Houston, TX ad [THE GOLDEN AGE OF TARZAN 1939-1942 by Burne Hogarth.]
(page 33) Camelot of Houston, TX ad [this page has a "Drake Vader" t-shirt design by Newsome advertised.]
(page 46) 1978 COLLECTORS SHOWCASE auction catalog ad [painted cover reproductions by: Alex Schomburg; Sheldon Moldoff; Fred Ray; Dan Zolnerowich; Alfred Avison; Dick Briefer; Creig Flessel; C.C. Beck; John Celardo; Mike Sekowsky; Alex Kotsky; Paul Reinman; and, Bill Ward. Wow, here's what your favorite golden-age comic book artists were doing in 1978!]
(page 50) MR. KISS KISS BANG BANG 2, Mike France editor [James Bond movie fanzine]
(page 53) Bud Plant ad [FIRST KINGDOM]
(page 55) Sanford L. Jones E.C. Comics sale list
(page 57) BIZARRE THRILLS 1, Bill Black editor [High quality early Bill Black publication (still in print digitally). contributors: R.C. Harvey, Marc Hempel, Tom Lyle, Clifford Neal, Bill Pearson, Joe Staton, Steve Vance (he gets around), and Wallace Wood. partial cover illustration of "Phantom Lady" by Joe Staton and Mr. Black reproduced with the ad.]
(page 62) classified ads from: CEG, Star Gallery, Ernest Whitaker, Stan Timmons, Ward O. Batty, Dwight Decker, Charles Lawrence, Old Radio Warehouse, Howard Rogofsky, Larry Collier, Peter Crosby, Fry's, Christian Haerle, Mark E. Ernst, Harland Ronning, Clifford Meth, Chris Lareau, Bill-Dale Marcinko, and Masthead: AJFTHWON.
(page 67) Bill Cole ad

AFTERWORD:
Coming to a final top ten out of 274 issues of THE NOSTALGIA/COMICS JOURNAL without going crazy required dividing up the long run into rough periods and special issues. The first period (or "era," if you want to get pretentious) I label the "pre-lawsuit" halcyon days which ran from 27-52. While there were many individual highlights among these efforts (discounting all the tabloid issues which I've never seen), I picked #38 for the exhaustive Dwight Decker article on "Asterix" (which still stands up today as a history of the early years of the series) and Gary Groth's interview with Gil Kane which stretched the boundaries of comics journalism in touching on the artist's life and interests outside of comics rather than the worlds on paper he created (that some comic fans mistake for "real" life). There are also some quality shorter pieces like Bill Sherman's analysis of the early issues of THE FIRST KINGDOM, an unjustly forgotten pioneering work. Having reviews by both Mr. Groth and Mr. Thompson in the same issue would seem to push this one over the top, however I'll just say they got a lot better material to analyze in future issues. -GU

THE COMICS JOURNAL (c)2010 Fantagraphics Books, Inc.

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #38 Part Two

2010-01-17T10:04:00.001-06:00

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP (page 13):
Here are some numbers that reflect the circulation of the tabloid-version of THE COMICS JOURNAL, contrast these with the statement on the contents page (page 5) of "Paid Circulation: 9,000" for the magazine-version.
"Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)
1. Title of publication: THE COMICS JOURNAL
2. Date of filing: 1 Oct. 1977
3. Frequency of issue: BI-MONTHLY
A. No. of issues published annually: 6
B. Annual subscription price: $1.80
4. Location of known office of publication: 9308 CHERRY HILL ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740
5. Location of the headquarters or general offices of the publishers: SAME
6. Names and addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor:
Publisher: FANTAGRAPHICS, INC., 9308 CHERRY HILL ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740. Editor: GARY G. GROTH, SAME
Managing editor: J. MICHAEL CATRON, SAME
7. Owner (If owned by a corporation, it's name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder, the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a partnership or other unicorporated firm, its name and address, as well as that of each individual must be given.): FANTAGRAPHICS, INC., CHERRY HILL ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740
1) GARY G. GROTH, SAME
2) J. MICHAEL CATRON, SAME
8. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities (If there are none, so state): NONE
9. [...]
10. Extent and nature of circulation:
A. Total no. copies printed (net press run):
Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 3, 157
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,500
B. Paid circulation:
1. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales:
Average no. copies during preceding 12 months: 125
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 500
2. Mail Subscriptions:
Average no. copies during preceding 12 months: 2, 632
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 2, 682
C. Total paid circulation (sum of 10B1 and 10B2):
Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 2,757
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,182
[D.]Free distribution by mail, carrier or other means. Samples, complimentary, and other free copies:
Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 206
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 268
E. Total distribution (sum of C and D):
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: 2,963
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,450
F. Copies not distributed:
1. Office use, left over, unaccounted, spoiled after printing:
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: 194
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 50
2. Returns from news agents:
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: ----
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: ----
G. Total (Sum of E, F1 and 2 should equal net press run shown in A):
Average no. copies each issue during the preceding 12 months: 3,157
Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 3,500
11. [...]
12. [...]"

COMICS REVIEWS (page 14-15 18-19):
-"Steel and Fire from Conway" (page 14-15) by Gene Phillips [STEEL 1 and FIRESTORM 1 by Gerry Conway] This was Mr. Phillips second review for the JOURNAL, he had previously reviewed THOR in #35. (source Peter Coogan)
-"Women's Lib and DC" (page 15) by Marilyn Jo Bethke [SHOWCASE 97 (Power Girl)] This was Marilyn Bethke's first contribution to the JOURNAL, she became a powerful voice in future issues especially valuable (in my opinion, at least) as an interviewer (Joe Staton: #45 and Howard Chaykin: #51, off the top of my head). This review is fairly conservative with some perceptive analysis of the incompatibility of the Joe Staton and Joe Orlando art team. Although she does get in a nice paragraph in the middle of the review, on feminism: "Power Girl's statements reek of token feminism, stereotyped 'women's lib' behavior, which has nothing to do with real sexism, feminism, or liberation. The condescension of 'Come to Momma' on page two and the reverse sexism of 'You men -- always making problems...' on page six are examples of a particularly disgusting new women's stereotype, the 'libber.' Such distortion of feminism and its issues does nothing more than hurt all feminists, women and men, and turn women's (and men's) liberation from a serious, important, and complex issue into an over-simplified cliche.[...]" (page 15, column two) (excerpt (c)2009 Marilyn Bethke)
-"The Schlumps and the Spacecraft: A Grouse at Close Encounters" (pages 18-19) by Dennis O'Neil [review of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND by the comics writer and editor]

FEATURE:
"Asterix: 'These Frenchmen Are Crazy!'" (pages 20-22 25-30) by Dwight R. Decker
I. "These Gauls are Crazy"
[Introduction to the basics of the ASTERIX album series and it's two main characters.]
II. Background
[Historical perspective on Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's work before ASTERIX, the early days of ASTERIX in "Pilote" magazine, and it's place among then contemporary French comics.]
III. The Creators
[Short biographies of Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo]
IV. The World of Asterix
[The intersections of ASTERIX'S fictional world and historical France.]
V. The Players
[Character descriptions of Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix, Getafix, Cacophonix, and Vitalstatistix.]
VI. How to Read Asterix
[A reader's guide on where to start reading this (even 32 years ago!) long-running series.]
VII. Critique
[Mr. Decker goes over a few weaknesses of the ASTERIX series.]

sidebar 1: ASTERIX FILMOGRAPHY
"Asterix the Gaul" (1968)

via
"Asterix and Cleopatra" (1970)

via
"The Twelve Tasks of Asterix" (1976)

via
sidebar 2: ASTERIX CHECKLIST [link to gallery of all english editions of ASTERIX, click on "Universalis" and choose English]
sidebar 3: Don Rosa: illustration [Tribute to Rene Goscinny (1926-77) upon his death, featuring all the major ASTERIX characters]

THE COMICS JOURNAL (c)2009 Fantagraphics Books Inc.
Our examination of THE COMICS JOURNAL #38 concludes next time (thrill to Gary Groth's review of ALLEGRO NON TROPPO)...

Top 10 Issues of The Comics Journal: #38

2010-01-12T22:32:00.000-06:00

Introduction: This is the first installment of my in-depth examination of the "Top 10" issues of THE COMICS JOURNAL in chronological order. Following is my experiment with applying the template of a TCJ index over a "link" structure much like the "Love and Rockets Links" feature. Maybe this is a bad idea, it's certainly a lot more labor intensive than I had projected. I am trying to track down the writers in this issue, anybody knowing the whereabouts of Dwight Decker, in particular, please send a comment. Thanks. -Gary Usher 1/12/10

THE COMICS JOURNAL 38 (February 1978)
Fantagraphics Inc., College Park, MD
GARY GROTH Executive Editor/Art Director
KIM THOMPSON Editor/Circulation Director
"Special thanks to JOHN CORNELL and BOB AULL for their invaluable artistic assistance, and to MARK DIEVENDORF for his editorial assistance." (page 5)

COVER:
"Star Hawks" by Gil Kane, his major project for 1978 was this comic strip written by science-fiction author/comics historian Ron Goulart. Mr. Kane also worked varied jobs at Marvel Comics Group including covers and filler stories for various titles, and pencilling stints on DAREDEVIL and JOHN CARTER WARLORD OF MARS. source

NEWSWATCH (pages 7-11):
*"DC News" pages 7 9 10 (mostly on the fallout of cancelled and new titles introduced after the DC Implosion. I believe this was around when that collapse occurred, anyway. Where's John Wells when you need him??)
*"DC Announces Format Change: 50cent-40 Page Books in June" pages 8 9
-sidebar: "The Story of 40 Page Comics" (a rare look into the mechanics of comic book printing)
-sidebar: "The Ever-Rising Cost of Comics" (history of prices and formats from the 1950s to 70s)
**On the "Superman" movie (page 10): "The world premiere of the SUPERMAN film will be at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, at the Eisenhower Theatre, on June 11 [1978] as a benefit for the Special Olympics.[...]"

*"Marvel News" pages 10 11: (movie adaptations, WHAT IF? creative teams, and various other creator announcements. Humble Beginnings Dept.: "...while, on the newcomers front, Frank Miller will pencil a Doc Samson backup story. "
**On the "Action Art Studios" (page 10): "This is also the reason for the creation of Tony and Mary DeZuniga's ACTION ART STUDIOS, which will help Marvel battle the Dreaded Deadline Doom by pencilling and inking terminally late jobs. The studio is composed mainly of New York-based artists, including some graduates from Buscema's and Kubert's cartooning schools, and is supervised by Alfredo Alcala, with Rudy Nebres giving the artists basic training. Currently the studio is working on the MARVEL CLASSICS line; the first few titles they are doing are ALICE IN WONDERLAND (pencilled by Ken Landgraf) and THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (pencilled by Chuck Nanco and Ed Menji), and a fill-in inking job on NOVA. DeZuniga himself will be inking SPIDER-WOMAN and THOR, presumbably with the help of his new
Tribe."

*Obituary (page 11): JOHN VERPOORTEN (1940-December 18, 1977)

*"Alternative Comics Publishers News" page 11:
-John Workman promoted to Art Director of HEAVY METAL
-ETERNAL CHAMPION 3 story by Michael Moorcock, Mike Friedrich/art by Howard Chaykin a graphic novel to be published by Integrated Pierrot Press
-STAR*REACH adding color and changing format
-HEAVY METAL news
-GASM new magazine edited by Jeff Goodman. Notable contributors were to be Ben Katchor and Mark Wheatley.
-HOT STUF' 5 published by Sal Quartuccio. Notable contributor Richard Corben.
-WEIRD HEROES 8 and 9 news, announced the series sold for publication in Japan's COOL GUY MAGAZINE
-THE ILLUSTRATED ROGER ZELAZNY by Gray Morrow published, various publicity measures are listed
-EMPIRE story by Samuel Delaney/art by Howard Chaykin graphic novel published by Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc. [Here's a review of this book by modern TCJ critic Jog]
-Announcement of graphic novel written by Doug Moench and Theodore Sturgeon/art by Alex Nino to be released in the Summer of 1978. [MORE THAN HUMAN, serialized in HEAVY METAL]

(THE FIRST) BLOOD & THUNDER (page 13):
*Here we go, folks! Kim Thompson renamed the letters column "Blood & Thunder" with this issue, and it leads off with a letter from Larry Charet[this link will take you to a jpg file, top photo/far right figure is Larry Charet, photo posted by Joe Sarno] Chicago Comicon Convention Co-Chairman. He criticizes Stan Timmon's report on the Convention published in the previous issue (#37), and in classic B&T fashion Timmons is given a chance to respond. Tame stuff compared to later issues, but it's the beginning of something special.
*The other letter is a fan lament from Bill Cantey.

THE COMICS JOURNAL is (c)2009 Fantagraphics Books Inc., any quoted material is assumed covered by "Fair Use" and is used for historical purposes only.
This site does not necessarily endorse any of the links leading to retail sites, and this project is not authorized by "The Comics Journal" or Fantagraphics Books Inc. in any way.

Top 10 All-Time Issues of The Comics Journal

2010-01-06T21:38:00.003-06:00

I've been seeing a deluge of "Best of 2009" or "Best of the Decade" comics and graphic novel lists, many with the Hernandez Brothers various projects singled out. It got me thinking about going in a different direction and honoring THE COMICS JOURNAL and it's recently-completed 300-issue run, a magazine that was very important in introducing me to the Hernandez Brothers and LOVE AND ROCKETS, some 23-24 years ago. Here are ten issues I've picked out of my collection that are either personal favorites, defining moments in the magazine's history, or just plain revelatory in their own right, all in my own humble opinion:

THE COMICS JOURNAL 38 (February 1977)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 59 (October 1980)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 71 (March 1982)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 115 (April 1987)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 138 (October 1990)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 210 (February 1999)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 227 (September 2000)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 238 (October 2001)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 250 (February 2003)
THE COMICS JOURNAL 298 (May 2009)

Over the next several weeks I'll be writing at length on each issue I picked and why they stand out to me. Please send your comments on what your favorite issue of THE COMICS JOURNAL is, and maybe I'll write up that issue as well! (P.S. The above list is skewed to the issues I have in hand, completely missing the Tom Spurgeon years, and my "golden age" of TCJ being approximately issues 112-150. Please hate accordingly.)

Gilbert Hernandez You May Have Already Won $50,000

2009-12-17T09:22:00.005-06:00

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO GILBERT HERNANDEZ ON HIS BEING AWARDED A $50,000 UNITED STATES ARTISTS FELLOWSHIP IN THE CATEGORY OF LITERATURE, SPECIFICALLY GILBERT WAS NAMED A 2009 RASMUSON FELLOW ALONG WITH SCOTT CARRIER, PERRY EATON, JUDY PFAFF, AND DARIO ROBLETO.

*A full list of United States Artists fellows for 2009 can be found here, broken down into arts categories and which sub-fellowship they were awarded (evidently the United States Artists fellowships are funded by different donors, hence the Rasmuson fellowship is the USA fellowship funded by that family's generosity).

*As far as I can tell Carolyn Kellogg broke the story in her "Jacket Copy" blog on the LA Times website. She gives details on the actual grant money and on the other winners of the United States Artists fellowship for Literature, but does not mention the Rasmuson fellowship.

*Eric Reynolds, one of Gilbert's publishers at Fantagraphics, posted an announcement on the official Fantagraphics blog.

*Tom Spurgeon and Heidi MacDonald reported further details and congratulations on The Comics Reporter and The Beat, respectively.

*James Bucky Carter offered congratulations to Gilbert and mentioned "little" brother Jaime will be speaking at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) on February 23, 2010.

Twitter (via):
http://twitter.com/stevensolo/status/6729461329
http://twitter.com/espabl/status/6720534995
http://twitter.com/cafeespacial/status/6711823855
http://twitter.com/phil_thomas/status/67108480803
http://twitter.com/DarkHorseComics/status/6707996536
http://twitter.com/thejillthompson/status/6704093450
http://twitter.com/ramondeveyra/status/6703792500
http://twitter.com/SlowDecade/status/6703171714
http://twitter.com/misfitina/status/6703070772
http://twitter.com/evandorkin/status/6703012275
http://twitter.com/iheartpizza/status/6702328792

via

Pictured above, a small intimate party at the Hernandez home the night Gilbert got word of his Rasmuson fellowship, well it could have looked like this anyway. [NSFWorC]

Gilbert Hernandez in MOME anthology

2009-12-16T21:47:00.005-06:00

Eric Reynolds breaks the news that Gilbert Hernandez will have a 12-page story in MOME 19 (Summer 2010). As with most publishing news, this is subject to change.

Love and Rockets 1979-82

2009-12-12T20:43:00.008-06:00

I. Fantagraphics Comics

Gary Groth was a longtime fanzine publisher with FANTASTIC FANZINE 1-13 (plus assorted specials and other publications like the 1972 GUARDSMEN OF INFINITY PORTFOLIO by Groth, George Keitel, Jim Wilson, and future science-fiction author, Carter Scholz), and upon returning to comics to publish THE COMICS JOURNAL he also had a few side projects. THE COMICS JOURNAL #47 (and other early issues of TCJ) had an advertisement titled "Fantagraphics Bookshelf" which lists the following: ALWAYS COMES TWILIGHT (Jan Strnad, Jim Wilson, Bill Cantey, David Anthony Kraft, D[wight] Jon Zimmerman, Steve Leialoha, Don Newton, Clyde Caldwell, Dennis Fujitake, Ron Wilber, Robert Kline, John Adkins Richardson, and Jim Pinkoski contributions); COLOUR YOUR DREAMS (Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, How[ard] Chaykin, Barry [Windsor] Smith, Walt Simonson, Dennis Fujitake, Dave Cockrum, Howard Pyle, Roy Krenkel, Maxfield Parrish, Steve Hickman, and Jeff Jones artwork); and, WORD BALLOONS ("This spectacular fanzine features a cover by Jeff Jones and back cover by Dave Cockrum; a long interview with Neal Adams conducted by Marty Pasko; underground and sf reviews; convention speeches by Jim Steranko, Dennis O'Neil, and Archie Goodwin; art portfolios; and an incredible round table discussion on the merits of comics writing among Dennis O'Neil, Ted White, Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Gerry Conway, and Mark Hanerfeld. THE COMICS JOURNAL'S precursor[...]").

So, Gary Groth and Kim Thompson weren't exactly strangers to publishing when the following article (most likely penned by the latter) appeared in that same THE COMICS JOURNAL #47 (July 1979) in the Newswatch section under the heading "Alternative Press":

Fantagraphics, the publisher responsible for THE COMICS JOURNAL, will expand it's sphere of operations this summer with the publication of several new alternative comics.

Fantagraphics Comics will consist of all types of comics, from PG-rated epic fantasies to X-rated undergrounds. "Our only criteria," according to Publisher Gary Groth, "are uniqueness and quality. We have no intention of restricting our output in any other way."

Grass Green, the author of such classic undergrounds as GOOD JIVE, will return to comix after a six-year sabbatical with HORNY COMIX, a 32-page "adults only" comic. Green has built up quite an inventory of material during his vacation from the medium, and Fantagraphics plans to release several more books of his.

Jay Disbrow, the Golden Age artist who retired from [comics] 20 years ago, is back in the saddle with THE FLAMES OF GYRO, an epic adventure saga starring his hero, Valgar Gunnar. The 32-page story is being done in wash, and Disbrow himself considers it the pinnacle of his career.

PORTIA PRINZ, Buscema School graduate Richard Howell's continuing comedy/drama/fantasy will, with a schedule of thrice yearly, be Fantagraphics' first regularly published comics magazine. The first three issues will consist of reprints of stories published in an earlier, limited edition, with new back-up strips and covers; beginning with issue 4, the book will contain all-new material.

Dwight Decker, one of THE COMICS JOURNAL's regular columnists, will script two comics: LORD OF THE MOON and AGE OF STEEL AND STEAM. LORD OF THE MOON will be a heroic fantasy set on the moon in the 25th century, and will be illustrated by longtime JOURNAL contributor Dennis Fujitake; AGE OF STEEL AND STEAM will concern the adventures of a train detective in the late 19th century, and will be drawn by Ron Harris.

Also in preparation is a science fiction anthology title.

All of these books will be 32 8 1/2" x 11", black and white pages with color covers.

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason this line of comics never materialized (with the exception of THE FLAMES OF GYRO, which I always considered the first Fantagraphics comic book) at Fantagraphics. At least three issues of HORNY COMIX were published by Rip Off Press in 1991 and PORTIA PRINZ OF THE GLAMAZONS was published by Eclipse Comics beginning in 1986 with a trade paperback (original or reprint, I don't know) by Marlowe & Co. in 1994. The Dwight Decker material is probably lost in an old issue of K-a, and, likewise, the science fiction anthology never came together.

Months later, Gilbert Hernandez spot illustrations start turning up with THE COMICS JOURNAL #53 (Winter 1980 [early 1980]). There's a "Two-Face" illustration on page 22 and another illustration on page 65, both are dated 1979. [I don't have access to THE COMICS JOURNAL 50-52, so don't know if any of Gilbert's drawings actually were published in 1979]

II. The Comic
In their collective interview in THE COMICS JOURNAL #126 (January 1989) the three Hernandez brothers discussed how the first self-published LOVE AND ROCKETS came about:

Gilbert remembers drawing Inez and Bang ("Music for Monsters" eventually) after graduating high school, some had Barbarian women visiting them from space in a sort of "Locas"-type setting [ca. 1978 barbarian women sketches (including an early version of "Fritz") can be found on pages 112 and 139 LOVE AND ROCKETS SKETCHBOOK VOLUME ONE, there are three "Inez" and "Bang/Fritz" full comic strips from 1978-79 reprinted as well]. Six Months before Mario came up with the idea for publishing their own comic Gilbert was working on the HEAVY METAL-influenced "BEM," but abandoned it until he needed a story to put in the comic.[page 86-7]

Jaime was going to junior college at this time and taking all the art classes he could, including a figure drawing class by a professor named Dietz who was very influential (aside from Moebius and fine art). He was also going to punk rock shows regularly and some of the characters seen in that scene inspired Hopey. His Maggie character was around before this as an older character named "Maggie Chase" as early as 1977, by 1980 ["Maggie the Mechanic" page 18 LOVE AND ROCKETS SKETCHBOOK VOLUME ONE] she has de-aged and started appearing in sketchbook drawings alongside Izzy and Hopey [page 30 top left LRS VOLUME ONE].[page 75 and 77]

Gilbert says that it took a year between the time Mario had the idea to do their own comic and the time they published while he finished up "BEM" and Jaime developed "Mechan-X" with his Maggie and Hopey characters. "We were doing our stuff, but we were sort of not into it that much anymore, and Mario says[...]"[page 87]

MARIO: [Jaime's "How to Kill a..."] kind of put it over the top. "If this is this good, he'll hold up the book at least. He'll hold it up for everybody else." So I told Gilbert, "We're definitely going to do this." And Gilbert started working on "BEM," and his stuff was getting really polished, and I thought, "Oh, Jeez, this is just going beyond." So I badgered this girl to get us into the print shop at the local college, and made up negatives of the first issue. Then we borrowed money from our brother Ismael." [page 74]
[...]
"So we did that, went out and got a printer to print the pages for us, and he did a lousy job of it."
"We used to see ads for these little 50 cent comic books that guys self-produced, and it had been years since I'd last seen one, but I assumed it was still going on.
[question from interviewer Robert Fiore: "Like, mini-comics?"]
"Yeah, but they were just rip-offs of super-hero comics. So I just took it from there, I figured we could always sell it through fanzines." [page 74]

According to Jaime, they took copies of the book to the 1981 Creation Con and didn't get any positive reactions. Gilbert added they sold some copies to "one of the Schanes brothers," who Mario remembers buying "a bundle of them at 50cents apiece." Finally,Gilbert sent a copy of the self-published LOVE AND ROCKETS #1 to "the meanest sons-of-bitches in the world" at THE COMICS JOURNAL, and the rest is history...[page 74]

The original self-published LOVE AND ROCKETS #1 was only 32-pages long, the front cover featured a character from Gilbert's "BEM" story and Jaime's back cover featured all his "Mechan-x" characters, Hopey, Maggie, and Penny Century. The front cover lists these stories: "How To Kill a...by Isabel Reubens" by Jaime; "Music For Monsters" by Gilbert; "Mechan-X" by Jaime; and, "BEM" by Gilbert. With the three images posted by Comics and Comix on their ebay page, you could probably reconstruct what Gary Groth and company saw when the self-published LOVE AND ROCKETS 1 arrived in their mail. Comics and Comix posted the covers on their ebay store page when they had a copy of the book for sale, they also kindly reprinted the introduction Los Bros wrote for the inside front cover. Here's the text for historical purposes:

Welcome, Ladies and Gentleman, to the first issue of "Love and Rockets," brought to you by the "New Unholy Trio," Los Brothers Hernandez? Who? Hernandez? Oh, didn't they used to letter "Superfriends" or color "Tooth of Dracula"? Have an loc printed in Manswamp? Not quite folks. We, the brothers (Jaime, 'Bert, and Mario) Hernandez, have tried to get into the comics jungle for a few years now, but could never seem to make the right connections. (You may have seen a smattering of our work in "The Comics Journal", "The Buyer's Guide", and "Fandom Circus" to name a few.)

But now editor (and future contributor) Mario decided upon himself that it was time to do it ourselves. Our own Comics with our own ideas; our own mistakes and our own accomplishments.

This is what is before you now. Our comic. Done our way. We hope you enjoy it, and we'll be hearing from you soon.

Love and Rockets-
[signed] 'BERT, JAIME, AND MARIO
Los Brothers Hernandez
[stamped] P.O Box 861
Port Hueneme, CA
93041

III. The Reviews

Kim Thompson astutely mentions the self-published version of LOVE AND ROCKETS in "Comics in 1981: Waiting for the Fruit Salad" (THE COMICS JOURNAL 71 page 40):

The Hernandez Brothers LOVE AND ROCKETS, a witty and gorgeously drawn collection of stories and vignettes.

Gary Groth wrote the only full length review of the self-published LOVE AND ROCKETS in THE COMICS JOURNAL 67 (October 1981) pages 52-4, that I'm aware of or frankly the only one (besides Kim Thompson's) that matters:

"Love, Rockets and Thinking Artists"

LOVE AND ROCKETS is a most impressive debut of, not one, but two very promising young artist-writers. The fanzine is self-published and showcases the strip-work of Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez. (A third brother, Mario, acted as editor, production supervisor, and business head; they bill themselves as "Los Brothers Hernandez.")

Obviously I like Jaime's and 'Bert's work--they also publish in THE COMICS JOURNAL--but even I wasn't prepared for the literate, witty humor and carefully crafted eidetic style. There are three very important elements that separate this fine, "amateur" effort from the galloping mediocrity littering the comics stands these days. First, LOVE AND ROCKETS is the work of genuine imagination; a very, individual, idiosyncratic, and energetic imagination. Second, both Jaime and 'Bert deal with ideas, not pretentious nonsense or regurgitated pulp trappings. Finally, they've got the technical wherewithal that's always the necessary complement to the imagination.

Most mainstream comics artists (and writers) mistake visual storytelling--the moving of one central image from one panel to the next--for narrative. When an artist draws a fight scene, he thinks he's telling a story. (The same is true of television; give a TV director a car chase to photograph, and he's on his way to becoming an auteur.) The Hernandezes never fall into this trap. They are obviously concerned with the writing first--which is to say the narrative--and those concerns shape and influence the artwork.

The lead strip, entitled "BEM," is written and drawn by 'Bert, and if the title isn't a tip-off, you probably won't understand the story. It's a sharp, snappy parody of superheroes, Japanese monster movies, formula plots, dimestore-mentality melodrama, horror flicks, pulp fiction--in short, everythin that that particularly low breed of illiterate comics fan cherishes above everything better. The strip is filled with cleverly disguised sterotypes from popular culture that come and go and that haven't much to do with the forward thrust of the narrative per se, but are meant as wry comments on all kinds of American kitsch--which is, after all, the point of the strip. (I especially liked a three-panel aside that refers to King Kong and Fay Wray which features the two characters who make the point and are never seen again. In such a way does 'Bert avoid the tedious logorrhea of a Steve Gerber.) The strip works remarkably well, not only because of the economical, wry script, but because of the acute visual pacing. Everything is very tightly organized visually so that the narrative structure has a very concise, ordered feel to it. Sequences begin and end on a single page (or less when less is called for) and the last panel of one page foreshadows the action in the first panel of the next to excellent comedic effect.

'Bert has a good ear for dialogue and is especially adept at capturing that clipped, staccato rhythm of speech indicative of frustration, fear, or anger. The artwork (like the writing) is lean and economical and while the influences are evident--Eisner, Ditko, and, of all things, Archie comics--'Bert's composition and storytelling are very much his own, and very much a part of the story itself.

"Mechan-X" (written and drawn by Jaime Hernandez) isn't much of a story, really; it's an episode in a day in the life of Maggie, a prosolar mechanic (whatever that is). The story's conflict arises when a criminal tries to escape the planet by disguising himself as a member of the mechanics' team, programming robots to do his bidding and taking Maggie hostage. The plan backfires so quickly that the action is clearly subordinated to the oddly endearing characters, whom we get to know through the relaxed and credible dialogue. (It's obvious the story takes place in the future, although the futuristic trappings never call attention to themselves. There were hints of bi-sexuality in the story, too, which I felt struck an optimistic note, suggesting more civilized--i.e., advanced--attitudes toward sexuality.)

The title of Jaime's second story--"How To Kill A...by Isabel Ruebens" actually helps define this four-page tour-de-force. In fact, it's not a story at all in the accepted sense, but an exquisite, focused depiction of a journey into the writerly imagination in purely visual terms. (It's rather like the visual equivalent of programme music, not so much a story as the suggestion of a story.) Isabel Ruebens is a writer of intrigue, mystery, or detective fiction, but a writer who takes her work seriously. The strip illustrates her inner search for the narrative components she needs; without them, the book won't hold together. Anyone who's ever put pen to paper should appreciate this woman's struggle to find the right word, the right tone, the right structure. The last six pages are a sober portrait of a modern day elucubration.

The production values are modest, but adequate. The magazine weighs in at 36 pages (including self-covers), printed on paper approximating that used by ECLIPSE magazine and THE COMICS JOURNAL. The printing is a bit sloppy--paste-up lines are visible and large areas of black tend to bleed--but for a dollar (plus 50[cents] postage) this is a real bargain.

Since creators in the comic book industry hold rendering techniques in much higher esteem than cogitation, only a handful of American comic book artists actually think--and the the ranks of thinking artists we can add 'Bert and Jaime Hernandez. Their minor but superb effort is cause for celebration.
(c) 2009 Gary Groth For historical purposes only, do not re-post.

You can see why Gary Groth and Kim Thompson combined to slowly change the comics industry (whether for the better or the worse) into what it is today, one wonders if anyone else would have recognized the special qualities in this modest package of stories by unknown (past their spot illos for THE COMICS JOURNAL) artists and not only write so succinctly on their merits but in short order plan an entire publishing company around them. What you see from Fantagraphics Books today began with the package containing the self-published LOVE AND ROCKETS arriving in THE COMICS JOURNAL offices.

IV. The Competition

Gilbert and Jaime felt their work was only good enough for fanzines at the time, as it didn't fit in with Marvel or DC styles at the time. Gilbert says that they were too lazy to submit stuff to the undergrounds, although the drug content and lack of economical motivation also factored into their passing over the underground and sticking with their fanzine structure (self- publishing).[page 73]

A look through Clay Geerdes' 1981 COMIX WORLD newsletters (162-186, to be exact) to get perspective on what underground comix were being published, and to what exactly LOVE AND ROCKETS could have been considered an alternative:
CRYSTAL NIGHT (Sharon Rudahl); COMMIES FROM MARS 3 (Tim Boxell); COCAINE COMIX 2 (Bruce Sweeney, Jim Valentino, Chidlaw, Warren Greenwood)
COCAINE COMIX 3 (Sean Kerri, Warren Greenwood, Rich Chidlaw, George DiCaprio [Leonardo's Dad], T. Jensen); SNARF 9 (Robert Crumb, Howard Cruse, Rick Geary, Steve Stiles, Joel Beck, Julian Hoge, "Stumps" Schwind, Leslie Cabarga, Kim Deitch, Dan Steffan, William Prince, Denis Kitchen); WEIRDO 1 2 3 (Robert Crumb, editor); DOPE COMIX 4 (Rand Holmes, Greg Irons, Jim Valentino, Aline Kominsky-Crumb); RIP OFF COMIX 8 9; DOPIN' DAN 4 (Ted Richards); DR. ATOMIC 4 (Larry Todd); WHOLE WHEAT 3 (Vincent Jackson); NARD 'N' PAT 2 (Jay Lynch); FLAMING CARROT COMICS 1 (Bob Burden); ANARCHY COMICS 3 (Matt Feazell, Jay Kinney, Spain); ULTRA KLUTZ 1 (Jeff Nicholson); BIZARRE SEX 9 ("Omaha the Cat Dancer" Reed Waller); POWERPAK 2 (Aline Kominsky-Crumb); PHOEBE AND THE PIGEON PEOPLE 3 (Jay Lynch/Gary Whitney); AFTERSHOCK (Rebecca Wilson, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Diane Noomin, and Phoebe Gloeckner); GUTS (Steve Lafler). Clay Geerdes also mentions, CHOLO, a hispanic-oriented comic published by early underground publisher Gary Arlington which I've never seen a copy or mention of before.

V. Fantagraphics Books

Although Fantagraphics Books had published THE FLAMES OF GYRO and Dwight Decker's THE ELQUEST GATHERUM, I trace the true beginning of the company we know today to this news story written by Dwight R. Decker in THE COMICS JOURNAL 70 (January 1982) pages 14-15:

"Fantagraphics Schedules Five New Books"
Coming in 1982: Two X-Men Books, Kane's SAVAGE, and LOS TEJANOS

Fantagraphics Books, a sister company to Fantagraphics, Inc. (which publishes THE COMICS JOURNAL), has announced its publishing schedule for the next several months. Fantagraphics Books specializes in books of or relating to comics art, and its first title, THE ELFQUEST GATHERUM, a book about the popular alternative comics series ELFQUEST, appeared in late December, 1981.

[...]

LOVE AND ROCKETS: Seen for April 1 release is LOVE AND ROCKETS, a 64-page comic book by Jaime and 'Bert Hernandez, a collection of stories that by turns satirize and challenge the assumptions by which most comic books are based.

About half the material in the book saw print before in an edition printed by the Hernandez Brothers themselves; when Fantagraphics Books president Gary Groth saw it, he called it "a cause for celebration" in his review in JOURNAL #67, and arranged with the Hernandez Brothers to reprint it in an expanded, quality format.

"Almost all alternative comics have followed very traditional patterns of storytelling and story content, utilizing creators with a proven track record," Groth said. "With that in mind, LOVE AND ROCKETS is inventive and courageous, coming as it does from two highly talented but unknown artists and writers."

The stories include "BEM," a long adventure epic that parodies nearly every cliche in the genre, from Japanese monster movies on, and "Mechan-X," a day in the life of a "pro-solar mechanic" that includes foiling the plot of a malevolent alien.

LOVE AND ROCKETS will be 64 pages with color covers and black-and-white interiors, and sell for $2.95.

[...]

Satisfying High Standards: When asked about the overall philosophy guiding his company's choice of publications, Gary Groth replied, "LOVE AND ROCKETS and LOS [TEJANOS] in particular--as well as other projects we are now working on--should answer JOURNAL readers who have been wondering what kind of comics art comes up to our high standards and elitist expectations. Well, these are they, published in as high-quality format as we can manage.

"We feel we have a responsibility to publish superior even though unknown talent," he added, "and we hope the readers who frequent the direct-sale market will support our efforts."

"One of the most dismaying recent trends," added Kim Thompson, an editor for the company, "is alternative comics' attempts to emulate 'mainstream' comics in format as well as content. So far, two alternative publishers have adopted the shoddily-printed four-color format that has been the bane of American comics for so long. We feel that quality material deserves quality production--that is the only way for comics to come out of the ghetto they've built for themselves."

In conclusion, this long and winding trip through the prehistory of LOVE AND ROCKETS will hopefully shed some light on how the paths of Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez and Gary Groth and Kim Thompson all diverged at several points to not only launch the LOVE AND ROCKETS series still going strong today, but also the Fantagraphics Books line that likewise is still publishing today on the same principles they established back in 1979--"Our only criteria are uniqueness and quality" to repeat a quote from Gary Groth.

Love and Rockets Links 'R' Us

2009-12-07T11:51:00.012-06:00

LISTS:
Steven Grant includes the LOCAS II hardcover by Jaime in his holiday shopping guide. Don't forget to read Mr. Grant's column about narrative techniques in comics, he's a little like the Alex Toth of comics writers.

Sean T. Collins asks "What's Wrong With The A.V. Club's Best Comics Of The '00s List?" Sean says there is no Hernandez Brothers work in this list of 25, and I'm okay with that. Now if Robot 6 or Comics Reporter did a top, say, 100 list of Best Comics of the '00s and didn't include at least one book by Los Bros., then I'd be freaking out like the manga fans in the comments section of this post. via Journalista

Tucker Stone's essay "Then as Farce" on the decade in comics, mentions LOVE AND ROCKETS at the bottom of the post. via Journalista

Douglas Wolk lists LUBA among his "Top 5 Graphic Novels of 2009." via Journalista

"Nexus Graphica" columnists Rick Law and Mark Landon Williams list half of their top 10 comics and graphic novels of 2009. Mark picks the LOCAS II hardcover at #10. via FlogBlog

Butch Perez posts a list of his Top Ten books (for no particular year or reason). It includes Gilbert's recent HEARTBREAK SOUP and HUMAN DIASTROPHISM paperbacks.
Jaime and Gilbert have been sparking a little bit of commentary here (Michael Mayket, Alonso) and here (Micmacs) in the comment sections of Brian Cronin's "Good Comics" Top 100 storylines. Gilbert and Jaime bring up the rear in that list with two of their better continued stories "Blood of Palomar" (94th) and "Death of Speedy" (87th) showing up early on the list. Again, check out the comment threads at the end of the last two links, as well, for an idea where Los Bros stand with todays discerning mainstream comics fans. You have to believe "Mechanics" and "Poison River" will place higher on the list, but don't count on it.

Glen Weldon reviews the PALOMAR hardcover in his "Five MORE Tomes With Which To Tough Out Your Turkey Coma." via Flog Blog

REVIEWS:
**(This is an old review but worth revisiting) Rebecca Frati in her column "Comic Book Virgin #54" reviews Gilbert's L'ENFER EST PAVE DE BONNES INTENTIONS (google translation: Hell is Paved With Good Intentions) which is the Editions Delcourt French translation of CHANCE IN HELL. Editions Delcourt Hernandez Brothers titles also include the forthcoming LUBA 1; and these already-released titles LA RIVIERE EMPOISONNEE [POSION RIVER] and a mouthwatering edition of LOCAS: ELLES NE PENSENT QU'A [google translation: "They Only Think About It").
*Nihil Novum reviews SLOTH for the Fifty Books Project.
*Grant Goggans reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2.
*Shawn Conner reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2 (and also mentions Los Bros. in relation to Johnny Ryan and his PRISON PIT book).
*Tom Spurgeon reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS.
*Brad Buckner has a capsule review of Gilbert's THE TROUBLEMAKERS. via Flog Blog
*Johnny Gabes analysis of CITIZEN REX at Relevant Panels.
*Erik Henriksen's "Hype Talk" column reviews MYSPACE DARK HORSE PRESENTS Volume 4, and mentions Gilbert among the contributors.
*Decapitated Dan reviews DORIS DANGER GIANT MONSTER ADVENTURES 1 (Slave Labor Graphics, November 2009). Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez are listed as contributors, probably pin-ups. Dan says this is "An amazing appreciation of classic giant monster works by Lee[...]Kirby[...]." Slave Labor online catalogue page can be accessed here. Video Preview. (Diamond Code: SEP090572; ISBN#978-1-59362-180-3)

INTERVIEWS/PREVIEWS:
Newnumber6 posts a link to a YouTube posting of the 2/18/93 episode of "Prisoners of Gravity" TV show. It has a short Gilbert Hernandez interview on racism and stereotypes in his comics. He's second to last on the episode.

Comic Book Resources has cover and three-page preview of CITIZEN REX 6.

Comixology has press release, cover, and three-page preview of CITIZEN REX 6. This site has an interesting feature that lists how many customers have this title on their "Pull" list, just for the record 46 have CITIZEN REX 6 on their list. Another version of this page has links to previews of the first five issues of CITIZEN REX, as well.

Atomic Books previews CITIZEN REX 6, lists December 9th as release date.

Gosh Comics (London) gives the U.K. release date for CITIZEN REX 6 as December 10th.

Edward Kaye posts a preview of CITIZEN REX 6, although I get nothing on my computer.
Maybe you will have better luck (or better hardware).

Peter Ha posts a preview of CITIZEN REX 6 on Techland, but I don't pull up anything on this one either.

Matt Brady previews CITIZEN REX 6, set to come out December 9th.

Kevin Melrose and Chris Mautner discuss CITIZEN REX 6 in their new roundup of comics that were to have arrived December 9th.

Jog recommends the last issue of the CITIZEN REX mini-series, although, all things considered, it sounds like he would have rather skipped to the collected edition.

It should be noted that Matt Brady and Jog have been there consistently calling attention to the monthly releases of CITIZEN REX. Now, I agree, where's the hardcover collection, in color, signed by Gilbert and Mario, in a Seth-designed slipcase, and throw in a hologram foil tip-in plate and I'll be happy!

MISCELLANEOUS:
Giant Robot, 2062 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90025. "Post-It Show 4" December 5, 2009-January 13, 2010. Opening reception was December 5 6:30pm-10:00pm. Jaime Hernandez Post-It size artwork on display with many, many other artists. via Flog Blog
*Jack reports more info about Giant Robot's "Post-It Show 4" (with an original work by Jaime). A good-sized photo along with post.
*Artist Lisa Hanawalt ("I Want You") talks about the Giant Robot "Post-It Show 4" and posts all of her beautiful post-its from the same show. (sort-of NSFW)
*Twitter: Michelle Borok writes Jaime's post-it's are sold out from Giant Robot's "Post-It Show 4."

Paul Gravett reports on the "ComiXmas: When Worlds Collide" exhibition of comics-related prints at LondonPrint Studio Gallery, 425 Harrow Road, London. The show runs from 12/11/09-2/6/10 and includes prints of images from Gilbert Hernandez's LUBA hardcover.

Sandy Bilius strikes again (and again) with more compilations of Best of... lists.
2005 No Hernandez Brothers titles on this year's list
2006 14. GHOSTS OF HOPPERS
2007 12. CHANCE IN HELL//50. LOVE AND ROCKETS [NEW STORIES?]//85. LOVE AND ROCKETS: MAGGIE THE MECHANIC

Comic Book Realm has a price guide listing for CITIZEN REX 6 and, also, the first five issues of the miniseries. I don't know why, I just link 'em!

Comic Collector Live has a (limited) sales history and price guide for CITIZEN REX 6.

A long review of Peter Bagge books (starting with his newest one), has several passing references to LOVE AND ROCKETS. The article seems to be posted from something called Optical Sloth, or maybe that's the author's name.

Bitterfig's short-short fiction story "Finger Shaped" describes a character as someone who "read LOVE AND ROCKETS[...]." (NSFW)

Tom Spurgeon catalogues comix scenes by city and geographical area at comicsreporter.com, including Jaime in L.A. and Gilbert in Las Vegas (not sure if big brother is listed, or not).

Heidi MacDonald discusses comics that might make the cut on "The View" or "Oprah," LOVE AND ROCKETS is mentioned in this context.

Is it any suprise that Heidi MacDonald owns "all the LOVE AND ROCKETS collections[...]?"

Tim H. getting into comics via LOCAS II (also mentions the first LOCAS hardcover).

Alex recalls (among many other cool things) the Forbidden Planet comics store in New York ca. 2005, and mentions various artists having special shelf sections including Gilbert and Jaime. Well, I thought it was interesting, we're lucky if Jack Kirby or Osamu Tezuka get a separate section in our comics stores.

Drytowel is reading Jaime's comics, about a paragraph of "analysis." The comment thread following is awesome.

I did not know Gilbert Hernandez (w/Laura Allred) drew the cover for CLERKS (THE COMIC BOOK), Oni Press, 1998.

Goth Love and Rockets-band fansite, credits Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez as inspiring the band's name. Really annoying soundtrack plays automatically, making this NSFW. It's not in english either, but I can't remember what language exactly.

Here is another product page from Powell's Books (of Portland, OR). This one is on the first LOCAS hardcover by Jaime. It includes press release, Publishers Weekly review, and nine pull-quote/reviews. They also have a copy of the, likewise out-of-print, PALOMAR hardcover by Gilbert, covered in similar fashion.

Citizen Rex 5 did not make icv2's Top 300 comics in November list, which means it sold less than 300's 2,699 copies. Looks like folks are either having a hard time finding copies (like me), or giving up and waiting for the collection. via Comics Reporter

CRUSH (YOU PUNY MORTALS):

World Famous comics writer Matt Fraction is looking forward to Gilbert's THE TROUBLEMAKERS.

via. Jennifer Brown interviews Charlie Kochman, editor of Abrams ComicArts imprint, who briefly discusses Todd Hignite and Jordan Crane's forthcoming THE ART OF JAIME HERNANDEZ.

Kim De Vries interviews Mike Madrid ("The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of the Comic Book Heroine") who favorably comments on Jaime's recent "Ti-Girls Adventures."

Slightly disturbing content on this website where under the heading "Bucket Lists Are For The Now" is "Send Jaime Hernandez a charming e-mail." Very original layout, though, in the form of an open Moleskine journal. (so NSFW/JBC)

Artist Colin Panetta crushes on Jaime Hernandez in this interview.

treadhead lists Jaime's LOCAS among his favorites on his sidebar.

CITIZEN REX 2 cover is posted on tumblr (second entry in list).

Dorian Peace posts a Maggie and Hopey panel, I believe it's from LOVE AND ROCKETS 50.

Jaime artwork from Comic Art Collective is re-posted on FFFFound, a record cover for Lungleg (showing wrestling gals) and links to two other re-posted Jaime drawings.

Los Bros Hernandez Chistmas Shopping Guide

2009-11-29T10:52:00.019-06:00

Tom Spurgeon recently posted his "Black Friday Holiday Shopping Guide '09" on comicsreporter.com. This included many gift ideas for comics enthusiasts, listed under the heading "Eighteen Perennials" was the newest LOVE AND ROCKETS LIBRAY seven-volume set reprinting the entirety of the original series in yet another format.
Inspired by Mr. Spurgeon's mammoth listing, here is a list of links to various Hernandez items on sale or out-of-print but still available around the internet:

All-Ages Comics by Gilbert:
MEASLES 1-8 (Fantagraphics) editor/"Venus"
YEAH 1-9 (DC/Homage) art
some of the above are in stock from mycomicshop.com and milehighcomics.com or your local comics store

Dark Horse:
GIRL CRAZY TPB
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL HC

Fritz Fantagraphics Novels:
CHANCE IN HELL HC
THE TROUBLEMAKERS HC

Ignatz-series by Gilbert:
NEW TALES OF OLD PALOMAR 1 2 3

Love and Rockets Old School Reprint Albums:
Signed Hardcovers on Sale
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 02: CHELO'S BURDEN
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 03: LAS MUJERES PERDIDAS
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 06: DUCK FEET
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 08: BLOOD OF PALOMAR
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 09: FLIES ON THE CEILING
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 12: POISON RIVER
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 13: CHESTER SQUARE
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 14: LUBA CONQUERS THE WORLD
LOVE AND ROCKETS BOOK 15: HERNANDEZ SATYRICON

Hard-to-find Mario Hernandez comics/anthologies:
Of course, if you are looking for something for the hardcore LOVE AND ROCKETS fan, you might want to do some digging around for some of the lesser-known anthology work of Big Brother/Inspiration Mario, or his sole solo book BRAIN CAPERS. RENEGADE ROMANCE had at least two issues, and all three Bros. contributed to that fondly remembered anthology. Some of these were in stock at various sites when I searched:
ALL SHOOK UP (Rip Off Press) lastgasp.com
BRAIN CAPERS (Fantagraphics) lastgasp.com
BUZZARD (Cat-Head Comics) in many issues
DARK HORSE PRESENTS somewhere in 93-104?? mycomicshop.com
HECK (Rip Off Press) ripoffpress.com
REAL GIRL (Fantagraphics) lastgasp.com
RENEGADE ROMANCE (Renegade Press)
THE NEW COMICS ANTHOLOGY (1991) Bob Callahan, editor

this website is not sponsored by any of the above publishers or websites, and does not endorse any retailer or publisher on the internet.

A Survey of Film Noir on the Internet

2009-11-24T13:51:00.009-06:00

A sort-of "Noir for Dummies" post by movie critic Roger Ebert can be found here, via. I'm not an expert on the "Film Noir" style of movies, but here are some links to lists, articles, and movie trailers and clips (w/some complete movies).

via
A "Top 50" list of "Film Noir" movies (as voted on by people that visit their site) can be found at imdb.com here, with a more complete list of 500 movies over here. I'm a little dubious that there are that many "Noir" type movies out there (Does anyone really think "The Ox-Bow Incident" is Film Noir?), probably a lot of crime and gangster or more recent titles thrown in there.

Tons of great research on film noir from origins of noir through modern explorations of the style can be found on filmsite.com, the last page has lists of "Classic Film Noir" (40s and 50s) and "Modern Film Noir" (1960-2006). This site is somehow attached to American Movie Classics network and it's affiliated channels and websites. Check out page one, two, three, four, five, and six.

Anyone looking for full-length "Film Noir" movies probably already has a cozy setup tailored to their computer already, however here are some places to look for us just starting the hunt:

=Retrovision.tv has these movies under the film noir-heading (I believe these are permalinks to other sites??): Amazing Mr. X, The (The Spiritualist); Beat the Devil; D.O.A.; Daughter of Horror (Dementia); Detour; Fear in the Night; He Walked By Night; Hitchhiker, The; Impact; Inner Sanctum; Jigsaw; Kansas City Confidential; Panic in the Streets; Parole Inc.; Payoff, The; Phantom of 42nd Street, The; Red House, The; Scar, The (Hollow Triumph); Scarlet Street; Second Woman, The; Strange Love of Martha Ivers; T-Men; Too Late for Tears.

=http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Afilm_Noir&sort=-publicdate has 43 titles under the heading film noir. I tested this site out, and was able to download in MPEG2 "Too Late For Tears" (w/the awesome Lizbeth Scott and Dan Duryea) to my Windows Media Player for no charge or registration.

=Veoh has a few movies tagged as "Film Noir" (and about as many old crime movies): The Big Combo; The Dark Hour; Detour; Killer Bait (Too Late For Tears); Money Madness; Port of New York; The Scar (Hollow Triumph); The Steel Trap; Sunset Boulevard; Woman on the Run.

=The biggest site if you're just looking for clips or trailers is definitely tcm.com website of Turner Classic Movies channel. Here's a list of some "Film Noir" (maybe a couple that aren't exactly, my fault not their's) movies with a link to their database page on the site: Ace in the Hole, Angels With Dirty Faces, Asphalt Jungle, Beware, My Lovely, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, Big Clock, Big Heat, Big Sleep, Blue Dahlia, Body and Soul, Boomerang, Brute Force, Cornered, Crack-Up, Criss Cross, Crossfire, Dark Corner, Dark Passage, Double Indemnity, Force of Evil, Gilda, Glass Key, He Walked By Night, High Sierra, Human Desire, I Am A Fuguitive From A Chain Gang, In a Lonely Place, Intruder in the Dust, Johnny Angel, Key Largo, Killer's Kiss, Kiss Me Deadly, Lady From Shanghai, Lady in the Lake, The Las Vegas Story, Macao, The Maltese Falcon, Miami Expose, Mildred Pierce, Ministry of Fear, Murder My Sweet, Naked City, Narrow Margin, Niagara, Nightfall, Night of the Hunter, On Dangerous Ground, Out of the Past, Pickup on South Street, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Railroaded, Shadow of a Doubt, Sorry Wrong Number, Sunset Boulevard, Sweet Smell of Success, They Live By Night, The Third Man, Touch of Evil, Violent Saturday, White Heat, The Wrong Man.

via

noiroftheweek.com looks like a well-done fan site for "Film Noir" movies, check here for a complete list of movies they've reviewed.

"Double Indemnity" clip from YouTube, a very sexy scene that is pretty much the epitomy of the sex side of the "Film Noir" style.
"Nightmare Alley" clip also from YouTube, this is the flipside of "Film Noir" the downfall of the hustler at the hands of a woman (or two, in this case).

Love and Rockets Links, Dames, and Tough Guys

2009-11-22T22:19:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't noticed (because I haven't been posting as frequently this month) this is "Crime Month" at L&M, with some off topic entries about crime comics, books, and movies in honor of the imminent release of Gilbert Hernandez's much-anticipated new standalone graphic novel THE TROUBLEMAKERS. Let's get back to the Love and Rockets with another round of old and new links:

Thanks to Mike Baehr of FlogBlog for linking to Love&Maggie twice in the past month, Mike's blog is the most important destination for anyone interested in the Hernandez Brother's activities. If I could pay back Mike with relevant posts for all the great links I've found on his blog it would be a little like paying off a credit card debt. You can subscribe to the RSS feed of FlogBlog here, also includes occasional posts by other Fantagraphics staffers (and owners!).

REVIEWS: (some via FlogBlog)
Andrew Wheeler reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2
Chad Derdowski of "Mania Review" reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS giving it a grade "B."
Nick Gazin reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS and LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2
Garrett Martin of "The Edge" has a short review of THE TROUBLEMAKERS giving it a "B+"
Don MacPherson reviews THE TROUBLEMAKERS
Niklas Pivic reviews LOCAS II hardcover, giving it 3 out of 5 stars.
Teddy Jamieson reviews LOCAS II for THE HERALD (Scotland).
Colin Panetta reviews Los Bros Hernandez's run on MR. X 1-4 from the 80s. (Nitpick: Gilbert and Mario wrote the stories, not creator Dean Motter.)

CRUSH:
*Listen to Memphis, TN band Lucero's song "The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo" available for download.
*San Smith's "Things I Love Thursday" includes Jaime's Stussy t-shirts.
*Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz (THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO) crushes on LOVE AND ROCKETS in an interview by John Hogan. via FlogBlog

EVENTS:
Mike Baehr posted and linked to photos by Patrick Rosekranz from "Wonder Woman Day IV" of Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez.
Thanks go to Lilli Chen for posting Wes's photo of Jaime's signing at Skylight Books back in September (it was a while back, anyways). Now does anyone have any photos from that writers panel at 826la Jaime was also on?

INTERVIEW/PREVIEW:
Comic Book Resources has press release, cover, and three-page preview of recently-released CITIZEN REX 5.
Comic Book Resources has Shaun Manning interviewing Gilbert Hernandez on the forthcoming THE TROUBLEMAKERS and future projects. via FlogBlog
Fantagraphics Books has a pdf file of THE TROUBLEMAKERS pages 1-12.
Comic Book Resources has THE TROUBLEMAKERS pages 13-23 posted. via Everybody!
Fantagraphics Books coming in February 2010 include Gilbert's HIGH SOFT LISP Fritz-themed collection from the early issues of LOVE AND ROCKETS Volume 2 and PENNY CENTURY which looks to be one of the smaller format collections, you guess which Jaime series it reprints. via FlogBlog

MISCELLANEOUS:

Kevin Melrose links to Sean Brennan's "Queerscope" database of over 230 names of gay characters in comics, including Hopey from LOVE AND ROCKETS (and hopefully the many other so-oriented characters created by Gilbert and Jaime).

Rich Johnston lists Alan Moore's obscure self-published AARGH anthology. I didn't remember Jaime Hernandez contributing to this anti-homophobia legislation effort, but Johnston lists him here. A great book if you ever come across a copy.

ICV2 has reported some sales figures for CITIZEN REX on it's website.
CITIZEN REX 2 was #287 out of the top 300 titles in August (3,591 copies sold)
CITIZEN REX 3 was not in the top 300 in September (#300 title sold 4,098 copies, though)
CITIZEN REX 4 was #299 out of the top 300 titles in October (2,752 copies sold)
Good numbers, I believe, for a science-fiction-themed independently published comic.

Jog and Matthew Brady dilligently reminded us that CITIZEN REX 5 came out 11/11. One more time guys.

Mike Baehr found a little Jaime Hernandez drawing in the background of a new Bob Dylan music video. It's obscure, It's Hernandez, I love it.

Herve St. Louis's "A New Theory of Comic Book: Part 2-Art and Business" is a well-reasoned academic-nostalgic type article that mentions LOVE AND ROCKETS in passing.

@Robot6 Sean T. Collins listed six alternative cartoonists that specialize in horror, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez are honorary mentions. This was a good post discussing little-known (to me, at least) cartoonists, worth a second look.

Two from Tumblr: cover to LOVE AND ROCKETS (original series) 23; and, a string of image, audio, and video posts on LOVE AND ROCKETS. quote: "I can't remember if they [the band Love and Rockets] named themselves after the amazing Hernandez Brothers comic book or the other way around." LOVE AND ROCKETS started as a self-published comic in 1981, you do the math.

via Clay Shirky mentions LOVE AND ROCKETS (and DUPLEX PLANET, as well) as "literature...that survived mainly in the independent ecosystem" of smaller local bookstores of two decades ago. Whether that assertion is true, or not, this is a perceptive article on the effects of internet booksellers on local bookstores.

Powells Books on-line sale page for the LUBA hardcover contains press release, Publishers Weekly review, cover reproduction, and synopsis. It's a little rocky, but interesting to see how different outlets display the Hernandez Brothers books.

David S. Carter reports Gilbert Hernandez's LUBA hardcover (and many other interesting and obscure titles) was added to his library's collection in July. MORE COMICS-ORIENTED LIBRARY BLOGS PLEASE!

The Comics Reporter wrote and linked to a sale by Buenaventura Press, 20% off on all their in stock books including these Gilbert/Jaime and Jaime only rarities: PRIVATE STASH $19.96; KRAMERS ERGOT 7 $100.00

Mike Baehr of FlogBlog linked to this awesome post by Ken Meyer Jr., who profiles NO SEX fanzine one of the few amateur publications that published Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez before LOVE AND ROCKETS. Ken interviews both artists and links to a pdf of an issue of NO SEX, as well as linking to NO SEX publisher (the late) David Heath Jr.'s website.

Graphic Novel Reporter has it's "Best of 2009: A Survey of Comics Readers" which includes James Buckey Carter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English Education, UTEP English Department who list the LUBA hardcover in his top 5 of 2009. via FlogBlog

Amazon.com also has "Best Books of 2009: Top 10 Comics & Graphic Novels" which lists LOCAS II at #6. via Robot6

Yes it's FlogBlog v. Journalista for internet supremacy in our header photo. Okay, so it's really Steve Brodie/Jane Greer/Robert Mitchum from "Out of the Past." photographed by Peter Stackpole (c) Time Inc.

A Survey of Modern Crime Comics

2009-11-16T19:19:00.008-06:00

My favorite comic of the past few years has been Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips CRIMINAL series, Brubaker has been a big influence on my reading habits (I first started reading Ross MacDonald way back when he mentioned him in his TCJ interview) by mentioning current and classic crime authors in the back pages of this series. Anybody wanting to try something besides a mainstream superhero or an alternative graphic novel couldn't do any better than trying this straight-up crime comic with well-defined characters on the wrong side of the law in a noir-heavy world.

CRIMINAL is, in my opinion, the best crime comic published currently, but searching the internet and mycomicshop.com turned up a lot more crime/noir titles from the past few years by some well-known to unknown creators.

B.C. (Before CRIMINAL) the most well-regarded crime comic was probably Paul Grist's KANE comic book series (recently seen in NOIR: A CRIME COMICS ANTHOLOGY). Guido Weisshahn has a thorough fan website on Paul Grist, in general, and KANE in particular. He has a complete bibliography of the series and an online sample of the comic.

Christopher Mills has numerous crime-comics-related websites including many with his own creations, FEMME NOIR and GRAVEDIGGER:

http://gunsinthegutters.blogspot.com/ reviews of crime/mystery comics, books etc. by Mills
http://www.atomicpulp.com/ focused on Christopher Mills writing projects
http://www.femme-noir.com/ character site for Mills's character with online comics samples
http://www.myspace.com/gravediggermccrae previews of and influences on Mills and Rick Burchett's hardboiled "Gravedigger" graphic novels

Michael Lorah interviews Rick Geary on his newest book (FAMOUS PLAYERS: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR. NBM, 2009) and the history of his true crime graphic novels.

Here is a link to another interview with Rick Geary on his true crime graphic novels that originally appeared in the magazine CRIMESPREE 32.

Boom Studios, well known for their new Disney/Pixar line of children's comics, has also put a lot of effort into more adult-oriented series/graphic novels including a lot of crime-style books:

10 (2005) Keith Giffen/Andy Kuhn large-sized one-shot
HUNTERS MOON 1-5 (2007) James L. White/Dalibor Talajic+Sebastian Cardoso
LEFT ON A MISSION 1-5 (2007) Chip Mosher/Francisco Francavilla
POTTERS FIELD 1-3 (2007) Mark Waid/Paul Azaceta preview
2 GUNS 1-5 (2007) Steven Grant/Mataes
HIGH ROLLERS 1-4 (2008) Gary Phillips (HIGH HAND, BANGERS)/Manoel Magalhaes
POTTERS FIELD: STONE COLD (2009) Mark Waid/Paul Asaceta [sequel]
UNKNOWN 1-4 (2009) Mark Waid/Minck Oosterveer
UNKNOWN: DEVIL MAD FLESH 1-4 (2009) Mark Waid/Minck Oosterveer
UNTHINKABLE 1-5 (2009) Mark Sable/Julian Totino Tedesco

Another mainstream publisher who has a crime-line is Joe Gentile's Moonstone, it's called Moonstone Noir consisting of original crime stories and licensed (or public domain) characters. Look here for individual titles with preview pages, prices, and more information:

BLACKSHIRT Adi Tantimedh/Diego Olmos
BOSTON BLACKIE Stefan Petrucha/Kirk Van Wormer
BULLDOG DRUMMOND William Messner-Loebs/Brett Barkley
HAT SQUAD Jay Faerber/Eric Yonge review
JACK HAGEE CJ Henderson/Richard Clark
JOHNNY DOLLAR David Gallagher/Eric Theriault preview
LONE WOLF Dan Jolley+Marie Croall/Terry Pallot+Corey Greene
MISTER KEEN: THE TRACER Justin Gray/Lee Ferguson
MR. MOTO Rafael Nieves/Tim Hamilton
MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER Joe Gentile/Trevor Von Eeden
PAT NOVAK Steven Grant/Tom Mandrake

Vincent Danks and Roger Gibson's HARKER series is profiled here.
Erik Skillman's EGG: HARDBOILED STORIES 1, can be linked to through his website, following the link takes you to a sale page on someplace called "Indy Planet" with synopses, artists credits, and sample pages.

Michael H. Price's SOUTHERN FRIED HOMICIDE can be found here.

Joshua Williams and Alejandro of OVERLOOK 1-3 are interviewed here with preview pages of series.

The above images are used for non-profit purposes only:

Please remember this is not a qualitative review, none of these titles is necessarily recommended by this site. (Although I will be checking out the Steven Grant books, the Gravedigger graphic novel, and always enjoy Rick Geary's work.)

Gilbert Hernandez Influences: Sophia Loren and Luba

2009-11-13T22:38:00.007-06:00

photo by Loomis Dean (c) Time Inc.
In THE COMICS JOURNAL 126 (January 1989) page 87-88 Gilbert Hernandez discusses a lot of the influences on his "Heartbreak Soup" story, including Sophia Loren and specifically her movies "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" and "Marriage Italian Style." He basically used a lot of material he had been seeing on TV and put it together with stories he'd heard from relatives that had lived in Mexico, and came up with the amazing "Heartbreak Soup" novella to start off his eternal Palomar series. Presented here are the trailer (w/striptease scene) for "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" and an amazing collection of powerful scenes from "Marriage Italian Style," both from YouTube. Loren's raw sexuality and moments of vulnerability (and anger) in the latter particularly remind me of Gilbert's Luba character. Take a look and go back and reread your early Palomar stories and see what you think!

via

via

Review: The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics (2008)

2009-11-05T15:03:00.005-06:00

I recently purchased a Dark Horse Books anthology, titled NOIR: A COLLECTION OF CRIME COMICS, with the intent on reviewing it (and the hope Gilbert Hernandez might have contributed). However, I was really disappointed with the material in this Diana Schutz-edited book. Lots of big names adding up to not a lot remotely resembling noir, save for the excellent "Criminal" short story by Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips. "Noir" to me has always meant the three Ds: Dark stories of Dopes getting mixed up with Dames. Sex, crime, and character flaws are what the best stories in this limited genre are built on. Ross MacDonald and Charles Willeford are what I think of when I'm determining if a story is just a crime or detective story, or if it's a character study of someone above and beyond the pale (the latter is quite good at that where some of his characters are so bad I'm practically yelling at the book. Check out Jason Starr's FAKE I.D. (Hard Case Crime) for a Willeford-worthy protagonist, if you can't find any Willeford classics.)

Browsing in a used bookstore I came across a book I had been wanting to take a look at, the Paul Gravett-edited THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST CRIME COMICS. Mr. Gravett's book has the advantage of being able to survey the entire history of crime comic strips and books, while Ms. Schutz had the much harder task of assembling new stories from little known creators. Mr. Gravett's book is thus much more satisfying to read, in my opinion, as there are a wide variety of tones, styles, and viewpoints throughout it's 479 pages. I've broken the contents down into four categories. CRIME NOVELISTS are well-represented by Dashiell Hammett (with artist Alex Raymond) and his rollercoaster pinball-machine comic strip "Secret Agent X-9"; Mickey Spillane is represented by the proto-Mike Hammer "Mike Lancer and the Syndicate of Death" a brutal story nicely drawn by prolific Harry Sahle; also by Mickey Spillane is the comic strip-version of "Mike Hammer" which reflects the novels very well, and is harshly realized by Ed Robbins' Caniff-like art; Ed McBain isn't particularly well-represented by "87th Precinct: Blind Man's Bluff" which has a wacky charm all it's own, but is famous as being Bernard Krigstein's last comics effort (with a lot of static art, but some nice Krigstein pages (54 and 61, for instance) and single panels that stand out; modern crime writer Max Allan Collins (and comics collaborator Terry Beatty) have "Ms. Tree: Maternity Leave" a wonderfully convoluted and violent episode that captures the series' strengths and weaknesses. BRITISH AUTHORS, Gravett finds some offbeat work from popular names and a particularly nice classic piece. Alan Moore has two stories "Old Gangsters Never Die" drawn by Lloyd Thatcher and "I Keep Coming Back" drawn by Oscar Zarate; Neil Gaiman's story "The Court" is illustrated by Warren Pleece and mixes dark sexuality with Gaiman's typical mystic themes. All three stories are not my favorites but certainly deserve a place in a book of this sort; Paul Grist's "Kane" series is better served by the early lengthier story presented here, than the newer short story printed in NOIR. The revelation, however, is "Roy Carson and the Old Master" from 1953 by British pulp cover painter Denis McLoughlin and his brother Colin. This is a great fast-paced grim story with a lot violence and suspense, and a good panel in the "crime-does-not-pay" tradition where a father's lapse into crime leads to his son's death. FOREIGN ARTISTS are, to me anyway, the highlight of this volume and include many creators Gravett has been championing since his ESCAPE MAGAZINE days, in fact "The Murderer of Hung" drawn by Jacques Tardi first appeared there (in translated form). It's an unusual revenge tale as the total dissipation of the title character turns out to be all the retribution the main character needs. Fans of 1980s European comics reprints will remember "Torpedo 1936: The Switch" by Sanchez Abuli/Jordi Bernet and "Alack Sinner: Talkin' With Joe" by Carlos Sampayo/Jose Munoz, both of these stories represent the series well (an interesting historical bit about why Alex Toth only drew a few "Torpedo 1936" stories, is recounted by Gravett). The suprise of this group was the completely unknown, to me, "Commissario Sprado: Strada" beautifully rendered by Italian artist Gianni De Luca (although the story is a little too police procedural-heavy for my tastes). CLASSIC CRIME COMICS are best represented by a trio of postwar noir classics "The Spirit: The Portier Fortune" by Will Eisner (maybe w/John Spranger); "The Crushed Gardenia" drawn by Alex Toth; and, "The Sewer" by EC's Johnny Craig are all peak performances. Examples of the popular CRIME DOES NOT PAY series by Fred Guardineer and Bill Everett, the good girl gone bad "The Money-Making Machine Swindlers" by Simon/Kirby, the trashy slangtastic "Murder, Morphine, and Me" by Jack Cole, and "Lily-white Joe" a better shot of vintage Krigstein give a good rounded picture of the 40s and 50s heyday of crime comics. That's not to mention "Mary Spratchet" an anonymous Fox CRIMES BY WOMEN story, which typifies so many of the lesser titles churned out to cash in on the trend. Finally, who can forget "El Borbah" Charles Burns' post-modern wrestler/detective with a perfect chilling tone (twisted beyond reason) of patricide and world conquest through a fertility clinic. In closing, there's a lot of straight hard-edged noir to be found in this collection, all of it is better executed (no pun intended) than the good intentions of Dark Horse's NOIR anthology.

check out Paul Gravett's website here where he posts his introduction to this book and several great color cover reproductions.

Jaime Hernandez Original Art & Sketches Links

2009-11-02T11:04:00.003-06:00

There are a few places on the internet to find postings of Jaime Hernandez original art and the many, many convention sketches and commissions he's done. Flickr is a great place to find higher quality posts, and I'll be looking there in the future. Today here are a couple major websites and a couple more suprises I found using a different search engine over the weekend (yahoo, I think):

The clearinghouse for alternative cartoonist commissions and illustration work seems to be Comic Art Collective. All of Jaime's entries are sold, but I believe you can still take a look at all the dozens of rare illustrations you wouln't normally come across.

Comic Art Fans is a nicely put together website, with 162 of Jaime's sketches (some original art, too) posted from 1/7/2004 to 10/27/2009. Interesting sidebar on this site is "Market Sales Data for Jaime Hernandez" which lists original art pages, the prices they have sold for, and even the date they sold. Yeah, I'm not affording any of those anytime soon!

Check out this page for two pieces of exceptional original art, including the splash page of Jaime's "Ninety-three Million Miles..." story and the cover to TRANSMETROPOLITAN 32.

Here is another great example of Jaime's fabulous femmes posted by the owner of the illustration back in 2004.

Gilbert Hernandez and The Naked Cosmos

2009-10-31T22:10:00.007-05:00

IMAGE (C) 2009 GILBERT HERNANDEZ

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM "LOVE AND MAGGIE"

Above is a great image from Gilbert Hernandez's film "The Naked Cosmos" (co-starring wife Carol Kovinick-Hernandez) a very strange-looking effort, to say the least. The official site can be found here, with ordering information, stills gallery (where I found the above image), and anything you need to know about this project. Below is the trailer, and if you don't want to buy the DVD after seeing it you shouldn't be reading this blog:

via

(this used to be offered by Fantagraphics Books, but I couldn't find it anywhere on their website. Check the usual places for out of print items if Bright Red Rocket is also sold out of the DVD.)

(11/1: here is the actual catalog page from the Bright Red Rocket website where the new printing of "The Naked Cosmos" is now available)

The Troublemakers is Coming Soon

2009-10-28T23:58:00.008-05:00

Gilbert Hernandez's eagerly awaited new original "Fritz" graphic novel, THE TROUBLEMAKERS, debuted at the Alternative Press Expo 2009. Fantagraphics has recently put the book up for pre-order here, along with several preview options. via FlogBlog

This should appeal to all fans of hardcore noir/crime fiction, such as Richard Stark, Dan J. Marlowe, and Charles Willeford. Not to mention followers of the Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips CRIMINAL series. My personal favorite noir comic of all-time is definitely Gilbert's POISON RIVER saga, so many great characters acting so badly and ending up even worse. This promises to be more of a Gil Brewer-type wild ride, rather then the density of POISON RIVER. If, like me, you want to see this series of graphic novels by Gilbert continue, BUY THIS BOOK!

Love and Rockets Links Old and New: Part 3

2009-10-28T00:00:00.006-05:00

CRUSH:

via

Chris Arrant interviews Vito Delsante (co-creator of the since-cancelled graphic novel FCHS) who lists Jaime's "Locas" stories as an influence.

Molly Young of We Love You So crushes on LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 1 and the Hernandez Brothers, in general.

A long time ago there was a huge posting of Jaime Hernandez rarities (including that SILVERHEELS 3 color story I've been looking for forever). I've got two addresses that you may be able to find this at, try here or here.

Brad Curran has unnatural attractions to a certain Love and Rockets mechanic, go look.

Erik's "now reading" sidebar is LOVE AND ROCKETS 2 (includes front cover). See previous link.

London, England's Gosh! Comics store blog talks about LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2 and CITIZEN REX 3.

Douglas Wolk recommends CITIZEN REX 3 (and crushes on LUBA) in his "Don't Ask! Just Buy It!" column.

Rocco Nigro at Trouble With Comics lists "Six Greats Comics of 2009" with #5 being CITIZEN REX 1. Geoff Grogan, same place, lists "Six Comics I happened to read in 2009 that I liked very much" including LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2, and "Six graphic novels I read in 2009 that I liked a good deal" citing LUBA and LOCAS II hardcovers.

Kiel Phegley interviews Jhonen Vasquez on his STRANGE TALES 2 contribution, wherein he reveals LOVE AND ROCKETS as an early influence (and mentions Gilbert's SLOTH as among the books he owns but hasn't read).

Wellington, New Zealand band "Kittentank" lead singer Frank Eggleton says the band's name was taken from "a graphic novel called LOVE AND ROCKETS."

On the Covered blog artist KG does a very nicely stylized version of Gilbert's classic Palomar statue cover from the original series LOVE AND ROCKETS 23.

Mike Sterling shows appreciation to both Gilbert and Jaime on his Progressive Ruin blog.

Gilbert Hernandez crushes on Scott Allie and Kevin McGovern's Dark Horse graphic novel EXURBIA. The link will take you to the press release with Gilbert's pull-quote, a preview, and another link for online ordering if you're so inclined.

some links via Flog Blog, Journalista, Savage Critics, and Comics Reporter

Love and Rockets Links Old and New: Part 2

2009-10-27T10:07:00.003-05:00

REVIEWS:

many are via FlogBlog, a few via Comics Reporter
Scott Cederlund reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 1.
Vanja has a long critique of Jaime's "Ti-Girls" serial from LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 1+2.
Irene reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2 as part of her vacation reading list on the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh blog.
Ace Bauer reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2.
Chris Mautner has a short review of LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2 at Robot 6.
Not-Matt-Brady-of-Newsarama has a long review of LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2.
Leroy Douressaux at Comic Book Bin reviews LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2, check out the links to other L&R-related Comic Book Bin articles at the bottom of the page.

Mark London Williams, in the "Nexus Graphica" column, reviews the LOCAS II hardcover.
Chris Estey discusses the LOCAS II hardcover collection.

Michael C. Lorah reviews the LUBA hardcover at Newsarama.

Gary Lactus reviews CITIZEN REX 1+2, be sure to read comment threads.
Don MacPherson reviews CITIZEN REX 1.
Infernolad briefly discusses CITIZEN REX 3.

Jill "The Nerdy Bird" reviews MYSPACE: DARK HORSE PRESENTS Volume 2 with Gilbert's "Manga" story, very well done website if I remember right.

Love and Rockets Links Old and New: Part 1

2009-10-25T23:00:00.004-05:00

Here's a roundup of the September and October links I've got backed up on, many of them are from the ever reliable FlogBlog.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Jaime Hernandez had an illustration in the New Yorker of Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke, which sparked much chatter among other entertainment bloggers (usually with Jaime's illustration accompanying). Thompson on Hollywood, Bob Westel, Heidi MacDonald, Thierry Atard, Nick Nadel, and Nikki Finke, herself.

Sean T. Collins briefly mentions Jaime and his relationship with genre comics in his Small Press Expo 2009 "New Action Panel" transcript here.

Brad Curran reviews his pull list including the unread LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2, the comments on this post are amazing they go on forever! I love it.

The Comics Reporter, er, reported that current CITIZEN REX editor Diana Schutz was nominated to THE JOE SHUSTER AWARDS "Hall of Fame" 2009 class. Congratulations to one of the more talented editors in the business.

Both The Comics Reporter and Poopsheet Foundation reported that KRAMERS ERGOT 7 won the 2009 Ignatz Award for "Outstanding Anthology or Collection." Jaime contributed to this monster book.

Brad Curran, again, this time with opinions on a variety of Hernandez Brothers books: LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 2; CITIZEN REX; SLOTH; and, "Palomar" stories.

CITIZEN REX 2 ranked 287th out of Diamond's TOP 300 comics sold in August, list here.

CITIZEN REX 3 and 4 have since been released, but I haven't been able to find copies at my local comics stores.

the folks at ifanboy had a few comments on CITIZEN REX 3, always worth a look.

Ng Suat Tong analyzes THE SANDMAN 1-20 by Neil Gaiman (and various) and mentions Jaime Hernandez's newer "Maggie" stories in comparison.

The FlogBlog reported that Jaime Hernandez's LA EDUCACION DE HOPEY GLASS won "Best Foreign Work" at the XIV Aviles Comic Convention, his second foreign work award for this book if I remember correctly.

"Look! It Moves" column by Adisakdi Tantimedh discusses Jaime's "Ti-Girls Adventures" stories in the context of FINAL CRISIS-type mainstream superhero crossover events.

Sean T. Collins lists his purchases from SPX 2009 including NEW TALES OF OLD PALOMAR 3 by Gilbert Hernandez.

Chris Mautner writes on Carol Kovinick-Hernandez's new photo uploads on her Facebook page. Also see THE COMICS JOURNAL 125 (October 1988) for three pages of Carol's photos from the 1988 San Diego Con.

Ed Howard brings up Jaime Hernandez in a discussion of the merits of Pixar animation.

Certainly the oddest comment thread I've come across, with Wendy Pini, George Perez, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez discussed in relationship to the art on Archie Comics!

Lu writes on participating in a read-a-thon, one of the books is HEARTBREAK SOUP by Gilbert Hernandez.

Sean T. Collins profiles what is probably the rarest publication Jaime Hernandez ever appeared in, a photocopied mini-comics version of KRAMERS ERGOT 7. Collins even posts a picture of the little book! Go take a look.

CITIZEN REX 4 was previewed one, two, three, four, five times in anticipation of it's release on October 21. Haven't seen a copy yet, but it's nice so many mentions in the blogosphere.

Jaime audio interview: http://comixclaptrap.blogspot.com/2009/10/season-2-episode-1-jaime-hernandez.html

Sandy Bilius has a "meta-list" of over a 100 critics best-of-2008 lists, which is boiled down into a top 100 of 2008 list here. It includes LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES 1 and THE EDUCATION OF HOPEY GLASS.

Tom Spurgeon's recent "Five for Friday" post on "Pals" included an inordinate number of characters from the LOVE AND ROCKETS pantheon, take a look here.

Jaime Hernandez Stussy T-shirts Now Available

2009-10-25T16:55:00.002-05:00

Remember those great t-shirts with designs by Jaime Hernandez that were announced a few months ago? Thanks to Jason at swag syndicate I finally found links to sale pages for each item on the Stussy website:

"Femme Rock"
http://www.stussy.com/#/shop/mens/tees/hernandez-femme-rock-tee
"Graveyard"
http://www.stussy.com/#/mens/tees/hernandez-graveyard-tee
"Stage Wrecker"
http://www.stussy.com/#/mens/tees/hernandez-stage-wrecker-tee
"Punk Girl"
http://www.stussy.com/#/mens/tees/hernandez-punk-girl-tee

The shirts come in a variety of sizes and cost $28.00 each, a real bargain for a custom Jaime designed anything!

For European Jaime fans Urban Industry has a "Stage Wrecker" and "Femme Rock" for sale on their website: http://www.urbanindustry.co.uk/products/brand.asp?bid=16

Jason's posting includes color pictures of a couple of the shirts, and is dated 9/22/09 so this post will not be new to some of you out there.

Wonder Woman Day IV: Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez Guests

2009-10-24T23:20:00.005-05:00

WONDER WOMAN DAY IV OCTOBER 25, 2009

Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez will be appearing in person signing from Noon-6:00pm

at EXCALIBUR COMICS, 2444 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, Oregon

benefitting the following charities: Raphael House of Portland; Bradley Angle; and, Portland Women's Crisis Line.

Silent Auction of original Wonder Woman drawings by Gilbert and Jaime (above), as of 11:15 CT on 10/24 Gilbert's drawing was at $150 and Jaime's drawing was at $435!! Way to go, folks.

Fantagraphics Books donated LOVE AND ROCKETS hardcover collections as door prizes.

more information here: http://www.wonderwomanmuseum.com/WWDay4/WWDay4.html

Origins of Maggie: Punk Rock Forever

2009-10-24T21:07:00.002-05:00

This is the final installment of "Origins of Maggie" series, going out with a bang with Letty's introduction of young Maggie to The Ramones. This sequence from "Wig Wam Bam 8" serves as Jaime's history of rock music he listened to, as well as the music that shaped his character. It was Letty's introduction of punk rock that led Maggie to Del Chimney's place, and after Letty's death to Izzy introducing Maggie to Hopey. The rest is history, as they say.

Re-reading Love and Rockets

2009-10-12T22:27:00.003-05:00

Tom Spurgeon wrote a great post on his comics reporter website about comics you might re-read and how they might help you reflect back on life in general and specific moments mirrored in comics memories, in particular. I immediately agreed with his choice of Jaime Hernandez's "Death of Speedy" storyline, since I just reread the whole thing a couple months ago. This is probably one of Jaime's shorter storylines, so that may have something to do with why I always pull this story out rather than "100 rooms" or "House of Raging Women" (not to mention the endless saga beginning after the "Death of Speedy"-storyline continuing through the end of the original series). In my opinion, it's Jaime's most realistic story as there really are no fantastic or supernatural elements until the very end (when they really hit hard, emotionally). The artwork is not as good as Jaime's current style, but how I remember copying those panels over and over again when I was in high school. Jaime's style back then was kind of uneven, in a GOOD way, as there were highly realistic renderings next to Harry Lucey-level hijinx next to old-style Mechanics renderings. Just a wonderful transistional phase that I really bought into at the time it was published, and of course still do every time I reread it. However, I didn't recall HOW much I bought into Jaime's story until I read this passage by Spurgeon, "[...]and most importantly have broken with the simple desire it invoked in me to want to live the way Hernandez depicts these people living their lives[...]". I identify with that statement, so much, as I was a very shy, isolated person when these characters dropped in my lap, so to speak. Not necessarily wanting to be a gang member, but just hanging out on the fringe of existence as Ray and Maggie and their ancilliary characters were doing in this story. The last paragraph of Spurgeon's post is probably my favorite writing on LOVE AND ROCKETS I've come across, it definitely lives up to the source that inspired it.

P.S. Steve Ditko's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and Carl Barks WDC&S 10-pagers, also make my short list.

Love and Rockets Curiosities #6

2009-10-12T22:14:00.004-05:00

I've seen a lot of foreign editions of LOVE AND ROCKETS while scrolling through ebay or Amazon, usually spanish or french-language reprints by local publishing houses. However, I have to admit being suprised that LOVE AND ROCKETS fame has spread as far afield as Africa. Capetown, South Africa, to be exact. Bid or Buy (yeah, BOB for short!) is "Africa's Largest Online Marketplace." They have a Capetown seller who had a hardcover LUBA volume for sale, although it had a different cover than the Fantagraphics edition (the cover was a montage of faces, rather than a single figure of Luba). Here's the address to the sale page, although the auction has expired already:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/16014581/Luba_Gilbert_Hernandez.html

Origins of Maggie: Kiss "Deuce" and Chic "Le Freak"

2009-09-26T22:29:00.002-05:00

I came across two videos from the 1970s music show "Midnight Special" that featured songs from Jaime's "Wig Wam Bam 8" which chronicled the friendship of Letty and Maggie and their musical coming-of-age. Kiss "The Deuce" is from a 1975 show, and Chic "Le Freak" is from 1978. Next, Letty introduces Maggie to punk rock and things will never be the same. Thanks to "Speedz" and "LODGIcare2500" who posted these historical gems on YouTube.

Review: DITKOMANIA #73 and #74

2009-09-21T12:40:00.004-05:00

Rob Imes (formerly editor of TUNE IN and creator of NOZ) revived Bill Hall's long dormant DITKOMANIA fanzine last year. This alone would be good news to all us Ditko-philes, but Rob has been putting on a veritable fanzine publishing workshop.

Not only does he put out issues regularly, the quality of printing has been consistently high (solid blacks, clear typesetting, and few, if any, typos).

What makes DITKOMANIA stand out is the depth and diversity of it's content, inspired by the unique career of Mr. Ditko naturally, but fostered by Rob's editorial vision, as well.

DITKOMANIA #73 is the Dr. Strange-themed issue. It starts out with a fun Fred Hembeck cover (see top of post). Riffing on his "Petey" stories starring a young Peter Parker, Fred de-ages Dr. Strange, Clea, and Baron Mordo for a cute scene.

Artist Winston (LITTLE MISS STRANGE) Blakely's "Dr. Strange: Master of Black Magic" succintly recaps Dr. Strange's origin, accompanied by a Blakely illustration of the series main characters.

"An Examination into the Beginnings of Dr. Strange" by historian Nick Caputo is in fact a long detailed examination of the development of Dr. Strange through his creation and entire Ditko run. It is supported by copious quotes from primary sources, and analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Lee/Ditko stories. Some very evocative illustrations by Larry (TALES OF FANTASY) Johnson, also.

Longtime comics reviewer/analyzer (he contributed to the first issue issue of DITKOMANIA in 1983 and the first magazine-sized issue [#37] of THE COMICS JOURNAL in 1977) Christoph Melchert compares themes such as "loneliness" "reality" "graphic inventiveness" and "intractable nature" in Steve Ditko's SPIDER-MAN and "Dr. Strange" series. This is a concisely written essay that brings up many similarities than I not only never noticed, but for which I wouldn't have even thought to look.

Michael Aushenker's regular column "Ditkotomy" has a review of DITKO ONCE MORE, one of Steve Ditko's new series of comic-book-formatted releases from Robin Snyder.

The issue is capped by an old-fashioned letters page (don't they call these "comment threads" in the 21st century. just kidding.) with letters and debate from Sam Kujava, Sam Gafford, Jason Sacks, Mike Tuz, Jim Kingman, Michael Aushenker, Batton Lash, Nick Caputo, and Nic Carcieri (chairman, United Fanzine Organization).

DITKOMANIA #74 has a "Ditko at DC" theme , it starts off with a rare Ditko "Shade the Changing Man" drawing from the cover of THE COMICS JOURNAL #33 (1977).

Editor Rob Imes leads off this issue with a review of the latest Ditko comic-sized effort from Robin Snyder, DITKO PRESENTS. Stories include: "The Madman" "The !?" "A Crime Story" and "Miss Eerie."

Ceylon Anderson contributes the timely "The Charlton Action Heroes and the Watchmen" which compares the various characters, and how Alan Moore might have reinterpreted the Charlton Action Heroes into his extreme vision of Watchmen. This is such a thorough examination right down to comparing scene to scene Watchmen and Chartlotn comics.

Brian Franczak gives us a three-page tour of all of Steve Ditko's work from 1966's STRANGE ADVENTURES #188 to TALES OF THE NEW GODS TPB in 2008. A lot of this stuff passed under my radar when I was a young comics reader, although I fondly remember his LEGION OF SUPERHEROES stint and that strident pin-up for SUPERMAN 400.

"The Story of Stalker" by Bryan Stroud is an in-depth reading of STALKER 1-4. Paul Levitz, Steve Ditko, and Wallace Wood's 1975 sword-and-sorcery series. This is a title I knew nothing about, so I learned quite a bit about this obscure (to me, at least) series.

"A Fleeting Shadow: Ditko on Batman" by Nick Caputo really suprised me as I had no idea Ditko had ever drawn the character. Or, for that matter, drawn him so well (almost completely black in the sample page printed with the article!).

Michael Aushenker's "Ditkotomy" column this issue examine's Ditko's place in mainstream comics: DC in particular and the peculiar heroes he created (or illustrated) there in general). I love the following line, "Ditko, in truth, was never truly conventional [...]." (New talent Javier Hernandez (EL MUERTO, MAN SWAMP, and podcast http://www.javiland.blogspot.com/ ), no relation to Los Bros Hernandez, turns in some nicely stylized illustrations for this article. Exceptional vision of the Creeper character.)

Greg Turner (central mailer of APA-LSH) turns in a rundown of Ditko's unjustly forgotten work (although to be fair, Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen's classic "Great Darkness Saga" began several issues after Ditko's last!) on LEGION OF SUPERHEROES 1980-81. Turner has an interesting way of naming each character Ditko draws on-model and off.

Nick Caputo tracks down obscure Ditko in two unpublished DC mystery stories, and one being published in THE UNEXPECTED #221, er, unexpectedly. DITKOMANIA is best at tracking down these unpublished stories or series.

The letters page for this issue features famous Ditko-fan Dave Sim, Larry Johnson, Mike Tuz, Jason Sacks, Bryan Stroud, and Christoph Melchert.

If you like Steve Ditko's comics now, or have in the past, I recommend you check out Rob Imes' DITKOMANIA. Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ditkomania . Ordering information: http://www.ditko-fever.com/dmreturns.html .

Robin Snyder has 16 Steve Ditko comics and books in print currently, from KONGA reprints (THE LONELY ONE, $11) to Ditko's forthcoming newest self-published comic A DITKO ACT TWO. My all-time favorites are THE MOCKER ($15) and the massive collection of old and new comics and essays AVENGING WORLD ($25). Looks like Mr. A may be collected in the future, as well.

Love and Rockets Curiosities #5

2009-09-14T12:20:00.003-05:00

Everyone's come across it at one time or another, searching on the internet for a certain phrase can lead one to something for which they really weren't looking. My Google Alert for "Love and Rockets" came back with a little item about an Australian "nightclub" called Love and Rockets. I put nightclub in quotes because, curiosity killing the cat (or blogger), when I did a search of "love and rockets" and "brisbane" together this is what I came back with (this link is probably NSFW, though I didn't go past the intro page):

http://www.loveandrockets.tv/

The homepage for a Brisbane, Australia gentleman's club, if you will, named after our favorite comic book series, deliberately or by unfortunate coincidence, I don't know.

Reviews of the two locations with addresses and maps can be found here and here. A quote from one of the reviews reads, "with a design drawing from the Enterprise and a luxury 70s lounge..."

If you want to see what the place looks like here's a PG-13 rated slideshow (still NSFW).

There's not anything else I can add beyond pointing out it's existence...