Love and Rockets Links: 1/10

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!).

New and Upcoming Jaime and Gilbert Books

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

"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, Long Time Gone

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 one

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

THE COMICS JOURNAL (c)2010 Fantagraphics Books, Inc. This list is unauthorized, but undertaken with respect to the past staff of this great magazine .

Love and Rockets Long Gone Links

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

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.

Love and Rockets Links Monster-Sized: Interviews

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

via

Love and Rockets Links Monster-Sized: Crush

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.

Love and Rockets Mini-Links

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."

New Books from the Hernandez Brothers

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

Love and Rockets Links to Days Gone By

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.

Love and Rockets 1979-82

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.

Self-Published LOVE AND ROCKETS front cover (c) 1981 Gilbert Hernandez (reprinted from inside back cover of Fantagraphics reprint of LOVE AND ROCKETS 1, Fifth Printing 1995)

Fantagraphics LOVE AND ROCKETS 1 front cover (c) 1982 Jaime Hernandez via

Love and Rockets Links 'R' Us

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.