The Personal Statement
A stack of books–new editions of John Porcellino’s King-Cat collections from Drawn & Quarterly–sends our writer into a voyage of discovery regarding the influential cartoonist, whom he now reads for the first time.
Features
Gary Leib: 1955 – 2021
We look back at the life and career of the beloved cartoonist, musician & animator Gary Leib, who passed away late last week.
“I Felt An Urgency The Publishing Industry Did Not Share”: Michael Mark Cohen and Cartooning Capitalism
When he couldn’t find a publisher for the radical cartoons of the early 20th Century, Michael Mark Cohen took to the internet. The result, Cartooning Capitalism, remains a one-stop history and engagement lesson in the power of cartooning, and the power that cartooning depicts.
We Won’t Need No Rocket To Fly Through Space – This Week’s Links
The NEWS is here. It is NEWS ABOUT COMICS. There are REVIEWS. There are STORIES AND THOUGHTS. You can find them all now, you can feel them all NOW. Ask Clark and he will tell YOU.
Ego’s Door: A Cartoonist’s Diary
This week’s Cartoonist’s Diary comes at you in one extreme, recognizably dramatic installment: join Michael Olivo as he and a very special guest deal with existential and creative ennui via illustrative assault. Or do they?
Beyond Spider-Man: Steve Ditko’s Letters Provide Insight into an Enigmatic Creator
The written correspondence of Steve Ditko is so voluminous that even now, three years after his passing, readers are still sharing their conversations with the legend. Robert Elder looks at his own conversations with Ditko, a couple of recent non-fiction titles that utilize some of the letters, and examines the scope of this part of the Ditko’s life.
The Frank Thorne Interview
CW: This post contains explicit, drawn pornographic images. In this conversation from The Comics Journal #280 (January 2007), Frank Thorne talks about a cartooning career that ultimately spanned more than 60 years. He worked in genres such as SF, sword and sorcery and history on comic books and strips — most notably, on Marvel’s Red Sonja title — before following his bliss.
Halcyon And On And On – This Week’s Links
Another Friday arrives, and its time for the comics biz to rest its head: but not yours, art-loving-zealot! You’ve got news to read, interviews to click on and critical essays to ponder. Clark’s got them all lined up for you–join him now, on the other side of forever!
Frank Thorne: 1930-2021
A true original, Frank Thorne’s career was a testament to joy, pleasure and rapacious creativity–and a hell of a lot of craft. In this obituary, Matt Seneca touches upon some of the many high points, following Thorne’s passing earlier this week.
Charlie and The Courtroom
Cynthia Rose looks at cartoonist François Boucq’s courtroom illustration coverage of the recent trial for the murders at Charlie Hebdo, in Montrouge and at the Hyper Cacher (“Super Kosher”) supermarket, which he covered on behalf of Charlie Hebdo and recently saw release as Janvier 2015 The Trial in collaboration with Yannick Haenel.
A Conversation With The Makers Of Queer Japan
Graham Kolbeins and Anne Ishii, the duo behind Massive Goods and The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame talk with Alex Dueben about their recent documentary, Queer Japan
La Belle Dame Sans Merci – This Week’s Links
Once again, another week of comics news has arrived: reader, which story while you click on solely for the purpose of the intoxicating rage its narrative will provide? It’s a personal question that only you can answer, with that answer laying beyond the risen shore: begin your journey to truth now.
“We Don’t Owe Anything To Anyone”: An Interview with Ana Galvañ
Spanish cartoonist Ana Galvañ catches up with us about her next wildly colorful comic, coming to English later this year, and what got’s her excited coming next from Spain’s zine & collective scene.
’Way Out West in the Golden Age
Bob goes back to the Golden Age of Western Comics in his latest column, which he was inspired to write after he read a book, aptly titled “Golden Age Western Comics”. History and snark abound!
“I Don’t Want To Be Driven By Any Feelings When I’m Doing The Story”: An Interview With GB Tran
A career length conversation with GB Tran, a cartoonist and educator who came to comics via super-heroes and then turned to memoir with Vietnamerica. In this conversation, he talks about how his methodical approach to artistic work, and the surprising emotional reactions readers bring to his work.
Mike Shea-Wright: Day Five
Mike closes out the week with some new tools, some more teaching, and a whole lot of VIOLENCE. (Drawings of violence!)
Looking Out For Number One – This Week’s Links
It’s Friday: you made it. From here on out, smooth sailing–you’ve just got one last task before you. Take a deep breath. Situate your ass between its cheeks. Now get to clicking. The comics news awaits!
“What Might Be Just Out Of Frame?”: An Interview With Arik Roper
The influential artist and image-maker intent on expanding the popular interpretation of what “fantasy” implies catches us up on how he went from SVA to Dopesmoker, from MTV to psychedelia, and what he’s got planned for the future.
Mike Shea-Wright: Day Four
Mike Shea-Wright is an illustrator and public school teacher in New York, NY. Current focus is a quarterly mini-comic & art mail Patreon, and printing a couple projects for his Gumroad that are just sitting on his computer ready to ride. He also enjoys printmaking, bookbinding, and figuring out which left-behind student drawings will make good tattoos. He is @susan_saranwrap on Instagram.
Mike Shea-Wright: Day Three
Today, Mike is messing around with some new tools, letting The Conformist inform his thoughts and pace his training: it’s a classic Cartoonist’s Diary situation!
Si Spencer: 1961 – 2021
A look a the career of beloved British comics writer, Si Spencer, whose sudden passing has taken many by surprise in the UK comics community.
Mike Shea-Wright: Day Two
TCJ’s annual coverage of Garfield makes an earlier than usual appearance in today’s Diary (try to spot ’em all!). But what’s this? Pluggers to boot? My cup, she runneth over!
How Ernest Hemingway Provided Inspiration for the Darkest Spider-Man Story: ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt’
J.M. DeMatteis talks about the real life inspiration behind the influential and shocking conclusion of Kraven’s Last Hunt: the violent death of Ernest Hemingway.
Mike Shea-Wright: Day One
How many second graders can you fit into one art class? Fix that theoretical number of children in your head before cracking open today’s Cartoonist Diary. Fix it in there with a nail gun. Then click “Continue reading”.
