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The Importance of June 16th to James Joyce, And a New Graphic Biography of the Famously Obtuse Writer
Bob has always liked his James Joyce biographies, when they’ve shown up in prose. He also, as you well know, likes his comics. So is a comic biography of Joyce, like the one by Alfonso Zapico, going to be the peanut butter to his chocolate? Let’s put it this way: the word “best” is about to get a bit of a workout.
Low Winter Sun – This Week’s Links
Those three little words we all long to hear: “It’s not NFTs.” And three more: “Friday link blog!”
Author Ron Goulart Dies at 89
Remembering a titan of fandom – the author of over 180 books, encompassing history, criticism, humor, science fiction and mystery. Ron Goulart died on January 14, 2022, aged 89.
Yoshinaga Fumi: Those Gallant Girls’ Comics of Hers
In this new translation of a 2005 essay, Natsume Fusasnosuke details what he likes about the work of Yoshinaga Fumi, creator of Ōoku: The Inner Chambers – with a special emphasis on her self-contained works Garden Dreams and All My Darling Daughters.
Westergaard and the World’s Most Notorious Cartoon
Matthias Wivel grapples with the thorny legacy of Kurt Westergaard, the Danish artist behind the most notorious editorial cartoon of the 21st century thus far. Westergaard died last July.
Excerpt: Shelterbelts
An exclusive preview of Jonathan Dyck’s Shelterbelts, courtesy of Conundrum Press awaits you!
Isolation, Empathy, and Wistfulness: An Interview with Aubrey Nolan
Sam Jaffe Goldstein catches up with cartoonist Aubrey Nolan about what she learned from her art show “Protection Spells”, what influences her work, and how she sees that work going forward.
Creation Matrix – This Week’s Links
I’ve been keeping a journal of inspiring phrases that pop into my head at night to use in this space. Last night I came up with “Reticence is Nothing to the Flying Man.” Is that any good? The rest were dirty.
Koyama Provides: The Artists
A collection of Koyama Provides grant recipients share about the projects, creations, and collaborations that they’ve received over the last year.
“If I Can Inspire Others To Do This Kind Of Thing, That Would Be Amazing”: A Conversation About Koyama Provides
After closing Koyama Press at the beginning of 2021, Annie Koyama turned her energies towards Koyama Provides, an ongoing series of financial grants for cartoonists, comics makers and other artistic ventures. We caught up with her about the project’s first year and the motives behind it.
Charlie Dear
There’s a new book of S. Clay Wilson’s correspondence out there, and Goshkin is ready to report back on the experience…and to consider why some artists end up with French bank accounts, while others worry about “a doorway reeking of piss”.
We’ll Take A Cup O’ Kindness – This Week’s Links
No— no, I’m glad about the first snowfall of the season. More time to read the links, right? Ha ha, no, it’ll melt, I’ll just let it…
“I Was Completely Out Of My Comfort Zone. I Was Outside Under A Pouring Rain”: Manuele Fior on Celestia and Beyond
Sitting down with one of Italian comics’ most visible contemporary talents, who saw his fifth book released in English last year: the lyrical SF story Celestia.
The Best Comics of 2021
Gadzooks! It’s the Best Comics of 2021! And it’s so long, you can read it until 2023.
Fantastic Ideas For A Fantastic World – This Week’s Links
My god, the madmen did it… they’ve closed TCJ! For this year, that is…
Islands In The Stream: 20 Years With Michel Rabagliati’s Paul
Cartoonist Mardou reflects on what decades of Michel Rabagliati’s Paul comics have given readers, and provides a guided path through reading them…or at least, reading as much of them as current English language translation allows!
“We’re Not Doing Books To Make Our Living.”: A Dungeon Interview With Lewis Trondheim
With all new English language editions of Lewis Trondheim & Joann Sfar’s Dungeon series making its way to the United States, it was about time to check in and find out how things are going with all those fantasy mammals, and the murderer’s row of talent that has been drawing them!
Tuono Pettinato: Super Cartoonist, Super Friend
Remembering the cartoonist Tuono Pettinato, a beloved figure on the Italian comics scene who died this past June.
Benefits Of A Classical Education – This Week’s Links
Wow, there really is only one more week ‘till Christmas. I ought to buy edible gifts tomorrow; there’s probably still food left… you know what’s REALLY nourishing, though?
Comix Experience Talks Enigma with Peter Milligan & Duncan Fegredo
Brian Hibbs of Comix Experience sits down with Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo, creators of seminal Vertigo era “anti-superhero” comic Enigma, newly reprinted by Dark Horse and Berger Books.
“A Book That Contains Years of My Life”: An Interview with Andrew White
As cartoonist Andrew White prepares to release we are breathing, a collection of his earlier comics, he catches up with Alec Berry on what has changed about his approach to the work, the art, and the intersection of the two.
Sharon Smith Kane, February 18, 1932 – November 3, 2021
Remembering the creator of the early teen humor comic Buttons an’ Beaux – begun when the artist was a teenager herself, with many years of creative work ahead.
Very Big In Sheboygan – This Week’s Links
Leaving, moving, selling, getting bought – that’s right, another week in comics.
Forever an Enigma: The History and Meaning(s) of Peter Milligan’s and Duncan Fegredo’s Postmodern Classic
Exactly 4,000 words on the sweep and meaning of the quintessential Vertigo era superhero comic, newly reissued in a deluxe collected edition.
