Joshua W. Cotter Storyteller Spotlight

                                                      Goat or G.O.A.T.? You decide.

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I first encountered Joshua W. Cotter's comics checking out the unique SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST from the local library at least a decade ago, a few years ago I ordered the intense tabloid INFINITE C©CK from the artist. His style and vision had become more refined in the intervening years, but his comics would still never be mistaken for anyone elses. Lucky for us the last fifteen years of Cotter's comics are readily available from his online store and Fantagraphics Books.

NOD AWAY VOLUME 3 is being self-published by Cotter with funding from two different sources, crowdfunding and patreon. Page 12 WIP pencils posted on bluesky:

GOAT AND SHEEP IN THE WELL is Cotter's most recent release, which was first serialized online. Order free PDF here

JOSH is a horror anthology with stories from four cartoonists named Josh: Bayer, Cotter, Simmons, and Stephens! Order from Josh C. here

One of my favorite Cotter comix is THEE INFINITE C©CK a tabloid newspaper published at the end of 2022. Order here

 

In 2021, NOD AWAY VOLUME 2 was published by Fantagraphics Books. It still remains in print from Fantagraphics

 "Written and drawn with more passionate intensity per page than perhaps anything else out there, this is the embodiment of a true magnum opus[...]" -Four Color Apocalypse

SKYSCRAPERS, INC. was a special publication issued on the 10th anniversary of the release of Cotter's SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST. Order from Cotter

In 2016, Cotter's NOD AWAY series debuted from Fantagraphics Books. Order from Fantagraphics

 "What makes the work so compelling is Cotter’s ability to let things unfold at a precise pace, allowing us to get to know the characters and setting up a sequence of drama that doesn’t really give you the tools to guess what is coming next." -John Seven (The Beat, June 6, 2016)

Joshua W. Cotter recently published a second edition of DRIVEN BY LEMONS (originally published by AdHouse in 2009). Order the new printing here

 "The story of an anthropomorphic rabbit in Chicago experiencing an autistic meltdown." - Cotter

SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST published by AdHouse Books in 2008 was Joshua W. Cotter's first published graphic novel. It is out of print but Cotter sells a PDF here

An interview with Cotter by the late, great Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter on November 17, 2007. Where I learned SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST was first released as a self-published mini-comic, then AdHouse Books released the story as single comics before collecting them in a hardcover in 2008.

Also out of print is the AdHouse collection BARBRA IN THE SKY WITH NEIL DIAMONDS, 48 pages of "newspaper strips that Joshua Cotter created for the Kansas City Star between the years of 2002 and 2007". Fortunately, AdHouse still has a downloadable preview of this book so you can check out some of this early (color!) work from Cotter.

A highlight of Cotter's store is a series of seven drawings under the collective title THEIR ROYAL MAJESTIES. These remind me of Tetsunori Tawaraya, but I don't think there's any connection other than them both being freaking geniuses...

Leo Fox Storyteller Spotlight

 

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I discovered Leo Fox through the 2022 Shortbox Comics Fair and the original digital version of his short comic MY BODY UNSPOOLING. This is still, visually, one of the wildest comics I've come across in recent years. Recently, Leo has graduated from self-publishing to being one of a growing group of talented cartoonists being published by San Francisco publisher Silver Sprocket.

Fox's most recent book from Silver Sprocket was first serialized online. BOY ISLAND is available in hardcover and digital.

MY BODY UNSPOOLING was released in print and digital earlier this year from Silver Sprocket. The comic also won an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic in 2024.

Cover of original 2022 ShortBox Comics Fair digital edition (no longer available):

Helen Chazan reviews both BOY ISLAND and MY BODY UNSPOOLING for THE COMICS JOURNAL (8/28/24)

The "Boy Island Launch Party" was held August 23, 2024 at Gosh Comics London, this great poster announced the signing...

Andy Oliver interviewed Leo Fox during Pride Month 2024 on Broken Frontier. (June 4, 2024)

In 2023, Silver Sprocket published Fox's incredible "Queer fable about the dangers of obsession". PROKARYOTE SEASON is available in trade paperback and digital:

in 2022, Leo Fox received one of the first Athenaeum Gives grants "to cartoonists that are early in their careers." 

Fox's GODNIGHT STARMAN was nominated in The 2022 Minicomics Awards:

PROKARYOTE SEASON was originally self-published in 2021.

GOODNIGHT STARMAN is an early self-published comic by Fox, sampled on his site:

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The earliest comic work on Fox's site is the 110(!) page CAR BOOT PRAYER.

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The earliest comic mentioned on the site is 2019's A REALLY BIG HOUSE. More self-published comics and biographical information here

Some of Fox's intense paintings and other rare comics can be found here

Darya Foroohar Storyteller Spotlight

 

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I discovered Chicago-based Darya Foroohar's comix through Ryan Carey's review of their digest-sized INSATIABLE, I was so impressed I emailed the artist and ordered a copy. A rarity around here. They are really pushing the boundaries of autobiographical comics into areas of horror and self-reflection that is much needed in comix.

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INSATIABLE (Domino Books)

Austin English: "Farah brings us a horror comic drawn in an immediate and direct style, a strongly told and cartooned piece of work."

Shortly after reviewer Ryan Carey announced on his Patreon he would be publishing Darya's next book, the magazine-sized THE HAMMER.

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This book is available directly from Ryan Carey for $6 (plus $3 postage) sent through PayPal to fourcolorapocalypse@gmail.com (include shipping address in notes). Domino Books also has copies.

Recently, Bridge Books of Chicago published the hardcover MY EYES, YOUR GAZE. Order your copy here.

The folks at Radiator Comics have a whole section on their site devoted to Darya here. They have some earlier comix still in stock:

BLOOD FOR BLOOD

EMPIRE OUTSIDE THE FRAME

Howling Pages of Chicago has this Darya title Somewhere Far From Here:

If it happens to be sold out it is posted online here.

Lastly, Quimby's Bookstore has a very early Darya title archived in their New Arrivals way back in February 5th, 2022!

Read the whole comic online here.