Watching Comics: Loading the Canon

 Loading the Canon took several weeks to resurrect and examine the feature "The Top 100 (English Language) Comics of the Century" from The Comics Journal #210. Colin makes this series of videos more personal by illustrating each of the hundred entries with books from his collection, and further expanding our experience with his opinions on each subject. This was a fairly flawed list, in my opinion, but only from a technical standpoint, as I believe every comic, story, strip, and book listed deserves to be preserved for posterity (it just could have been compressed and more series added). Thanks to the Loading the Canon channel for taking the time to make this series...

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Part Nine:

Part Ten:

All videos from Loading the Canon. Go to his channel to Like and Subscribe.

My Comic Reading List 2022

This is a continuation of the Twitter hashtag "my500comicgoal":

781 SPEAK OF THE DEVIL by Gilbert Hernandez. Hoopla app.

Collects the six-issue Dark Horse miniseries from 2007. I know HUMAN DIASTROPHISM and POISON RIVER are usually talked about as Gilbert's best work, but I would definitely make a case for this story to be considered right up there at the top. Some of his tightest art, with plenty of experimentation sprinkled in. The story with it's mixture of perversion, family dysfunction, and teen angst, takes so many twists and turns it's an accomplishment how smoothly and quickly the story flows.

Here's two at-the-library reads that I enjoyed, but don't necessarily remember a lot about. Reading SPACE TRASH, though, I kept thinking what bullshit those tiny Ablaze hardcovers are. Oni is putting out huge beautifully printed hardcovers.

782 SPACE TRASH HC by Jenn Woodall

783 SLASH THEM ALL by Antoine Maillard

784 THE FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS THE IDIOTS ABROAD AND OTHER FOLLIES by Gilbert Shelton and Paul Mavrides (color assist by Guy Colwell). Hoopla app.

I've always wanted to read "The Idiots Abroad" serial and it certainly didn't disappoint. It thankfully descends into sociopolitical and pseudo-religious chaos in grand underground comix tradition. 

785 THE SPACE CADET by Jonathan Hedrick and Stefano Cardoselli. Hoopla app.

Stefano Cardoselli's art has been on my radar this year from a successful Zoop campaign to the recent Caffeinated Hearts from the same team. Nice full page images show off Cardoselli art very nicely.

Beyond the LCS: Love and Rockets Boxed Set at In Stock Trades

Those of you looking to buy LOVE AND ROCKETS THE FIRST FIFTY 40th ANNIVERSARY boxed set, it just came back on In Stock Trades for $280 (plus shipping).

New Comic Book Day 11/30

My recommendations from the weekly New Comics listings in Previews World:

An all-new original graphic novel from two unique artists.

Press Release

Andi Watson

Simon Gane

I like the premise of this new graphic novel from award-winning creator Edgar Camacho.

Penguin Random House page

Writer/cover artist Billy Tucci grounds this superhero story in some truly horrific historical events.

Maria Laura Sanapo

Edu Menna

One of the line of OGN by new creators put out by Lev Gleason.

Inaki Azpiazu

A history of Blue Note Records in comics form, from a veteran cartoonist.

Dave Chisolm

What's the author of The Squirrel Machine been up to? Bad things drawn good, that's what!

Hans Rickheit (link NSFW)

A graphic novel by the CEO of Heavy Metal, and it looks great.

Matthew Medney

Fred Perry Profile Picture

I'm not a Fred Perry fan, but there's no denying his Furry talent! I'm all for celebrating the man's talent and longevity, with Gold Digger #300 coming in 2023.

I love those old AC Comics western reprints, these are full color classic science fiction stories, I believe. 

AC Comics

Another OGN by an award-winning creator...

Press Release/Product Page

Cole Pauls

Eddy Atoms

The newest graphic novel from the artist of Stray Dogs and Luna Park.

Danijel Zezelj

Panellogy 427 (Danijel Zezelj profile)

I already have this and the first issue, and it's one of the best comics I've read this year. For fans of creators experimenting with the comics form.

Stewart Kenneth Moore

Thirty creators in this anthology, so far as I can tell this was only available before as a premium for subscribing to The Nib.

Product Page

Final note: There's a heavy international presence in the books that caught my eye this week, love to see this trend. Creators from the UK, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, and Basque and Tahltan thrown in, as well.

New Comic Book Day 11/29

My recommendations from New Comics coming 11/29 from LUNAR DISTRIBUTION:

NEW YORK NINJA SUPER SPECIAL by Charles Forsman. Published by Floating World Comics. 

This looks like a comic book sequel to a not-so-classic movie. The Floating World pedigree makes this worth a look.

PINK LEMONADE #3 by Nick Cagnetti. Published by Oni Press.

I'm looking forward to every issue of this beautifully drawn colorful series.

SUPERMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS published by DC Comics.

The barrel-chested square-jawed phase of Superman's career. This is way out of my price range, and the stories may not be as wacky as the 60s. However, I would definitely look through a copy at the library if I saw it.

WORLD OF KRYPTON TP art by Michael Avon Oeming

If I won the lottery I would buy everything Michael Avon Oeming has created, and the time to read it all.

Five Highlights from THE NEW NOSTALGIA JOURNAL 28

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 THE NEW NOSTALGIA JOURNAL 28 (September 1976)

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Advertisement by Joel Milke selling Basil Wolverton original art, and HEEBIE JEEBIE FUNNIES small press comic with art by Milke, Doug Hansen, George Erling, Jay Lynch, Rick Griffin, Gary Hallgren, and Larry Todd. [page 16]

Carter Scholz recent photo

Carter Scholz "Exploring Ellison" reviewing no less than three of Harlan Ellison's books: DEATHBIRD STORIES, APPROACHING OBLIVION, and LOVE AIN'T NOTHING BUT LOVE MISSPELLED. [page 28-29]

Doug Fratz fondly remembers "The Decker Era" and Dwight Decker's "faan" fiction of 1969-71. Dwight Decker was a future Managing Editor of THE COMICS JOURNAL. [page 36]

 "TNJ Letters" starts a longstanding tradition of angry LOC from comics professionals, the honor going to then Star Reach publisher Mike Friedrich. Richard Morrissey is another name people might recognize from this first Journal battlefield, I mean letter column. [page 8 10]

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Bud Plant watch: "New for August" listings include AMERICAN SPLENDOR 1, METAL HURLANT 6 with new Corben, ILLUSTRATED FICTION 3: CHANDLER by Steranko (also lists a deluxe 8 1/2 x 11 edition), DOGMAN and ZOMIX (two UK underground comix), Frank Thorne Red Sonja poster, and sale item TANTE LENY 20 (Dutch underground). [page 9]

Beyond the LCS: Image Comics on Humble Bundle

For those who aren't familiar, Humble Bundle offers themed bundles of digital comics for a fraction of cover price.

This particular one is called IMAGE COMICS 30th ANNIVERSARY BOOK BUNDLE: THE 10s.

I'm most tempted by the 85 issues of SAVAGE DRAGON. I'm a casual fan of Erik Larsen and don't own any issues of this series.

There's also THE AUTUMNLANDS by Kurt Busiek, SEX with art by Piotr Kowalski, LUTHER STRODE with early art by Tradd Moore, that's about it for catching my interest. The SAVAGE DRAGON singles alone would be worth the $25 minimum.

Follow the link to check out the two dozen other fan favorite titles, like SAGA or SPAWN.

The bonus of buying these bundles is some of the money goes to charity:

Broken Frontier in Review

I like to look back at the week's (or two weeks) postings on the BROKEN FRONTIER website to make sure I didn't miss anything of interest:

Maureen Burdock's QUEEN OF SNAILS reviewed by Sathyaraj Venkatesan

Maureen Burdock website

Mohammad Sabaaneh's POWER BORN OF DREAMS reviewed by Jon Aye

Mohammad Sabaaneh online

Keiler Robert's THE JOY OF QUITTING and CREEPY by Lindsay Pereira

Keiler Roberts website

Benji Nate's HELL PHONE BOOK ONE reviewed by Tom Baker

Benji Nate online

IDW's VOICES THAT COUNT: A COMICS ANTHOLOGY BY WOMEN reviewed by Andy Oliver

Clarrie and Blanche Pope's WELCOME HOME reviewed by Andy Oliver

Clarrie Pope's website

Drawn and Quarterly's MOVEMENTS AND MOMENTS ANTHOLOGY reviewed by Lindsay Pereira

Comics Haul: Black Friday Special

Krypton Comics of Omaha was having a 30% off sale, and my mission if I chose to accept it was getting this beast:

Checking out the expensive Warren SPIRIT MAGAZINE selection, I came across this cheap Kitchen Sink one:

Tucked in that same box was, inexplicably, this issue of the UK STAR LORD from 1978! WTF? Here's a few interior pages by some familiar names:

Cover by (above METALZOIC artist) the late Kevin O'Neill:

Future HEAVY METAL artist Azpiri...

Future WATCHMEN co-creator, Dave Gibbons...

Carlos Ezquerra STRONTIUM DOG in color...

A random Redondo, not sure which one...

The late Ian Kennedy painting in gray tones (the last page in color)...

Going across the parking lot to Half Price Books, this legacy anthology was on the shelf:

I would say 90%, if not all, classic comic strip reprint projects that followed were inspired by this collection. Just look at the cover alone, there's only two pictured that haven't had the complete series reprinted.

Comics Haul: New Comic Book Day 11/23

Picked up a few new comics from Dragon's Lair Comics & Games:

The new Tradd Moore DR. STRANGE #1

And, the surprise find of the week CARTOON DIALECTICS #3 from Uncivilized Books

So great to see stuff from the more independent small presses make their way into the LCS.

Last Gasp Vault: Graphic Novel/Manga Sale

Last Gasp Books and Comix is running a 50% off sale in their Graphic Novel and Manga sections through Wednesday 11/30. Here are some highlights:

ARTICHOKE TALES

Megan Kelso returned to comics in a big way after over a decade this year with WHO WILL MAKE THE PANCAKES? Here's an opportunity to get her incredible previous graphic novel.

AS YOU WERE VOLUME 4

Here's a thick digest-sized anthology co-published by Last Gasp and Silver Sprocket. Many of the usual SS suspects...

BAREFOOT GEN VOLUMES 1-10

These are new hardcover and trade paperback editions released earlier this year.

CONTRABAND

UK independent comics legend Phil Elliott illustrates this, his most recent graphic novel (written by Thomas J. Behe).

DE CAPE ET DE CROCS TOME 5

French-language anthropomorphic medieval series with an extremely odd plot description. I would take a chance...

EL VOCHO

You can't go wrong buying anything and everything by Steve Lafler. 

(image from GCD)

GOODNIGHT, IRENE

A collection of stories originally published by Fantagraphics in the 80s from GOOD GIRLS by Carol Lay. I'm still traumatized by the image of Irene's lip plate, see cover above!

JAMAIS CONTENT!

Another French-language book, this time by Walter Minus (THE NEW YORKER).

JUST THE FACTS

A collection of non-fiction comics by David Collier. Another veteran alternative cartoonist who deserves wider recognition. 

MARK TWAIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 1910-2011

This sounds like a ridiculous, genius, wild ride from the mind of Michael Kupperman.

MOXIE, MY SWEET

A collection of stories by the great Seattle comics creator Mark Campos, illustrated by fellow members of the Finecomix collective including my longtime favorite David Lasky.

SILLY DADDY: DEATH IN THE FAMILY

More 90s nostalgia, this time from Joe Chiappetta, a very memorable cartoonist and some truly weird art.

WENN MEIN HUND STRIBT MACH ICH MIR EINE JACKE

A German art book by Anke Feuchtenberger (W THE WHORE), from the Italian publisher Coconino Press.