98. THE LOST WORLDS OF GEORGE METZGER (Fantagraphics Underground) Hoopla
What a great opportunity to catch up on one of the more unusual underground cartoonists. Metzger brings what would these days be called a manga-influenced art style, highly intricate and equally well-suited to action and drama. This reprints all of Metzger's solo comics (MOONDOG 1-4, TRUCKIN' 1-2, and MU, THE LAND THAT NEVER WAS) and nearly another dozen more shorts for anthologies. I say unusual because the little sex that Metzger injects into his stories is only used to move the narrative forward, not self indulgence like many other underground cartoonists.
99. WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED: 1979-2014 (PM Press) Hoopla
Good post-election reading material. I borrowed scans of the contents page from archive.org to show the wide range of subject matter and artists in this magazine.
100. ANARCHY COMICS: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (PM Press) Hoopla
Jay Kinney, Paul Mavrides, and company started this slightly tongue-in-cheek, slightly earnest political comic a couple years before WW3 ILLUSTRATED began. My favorite parts were definitely the Spain Rodriguez biographies of radicals Nestor Makhno, Buenaventura Durruti, as well as the Roman Spring and Paris Commune. Sharon Rudahl and Melinda Gebbie were also regulars.
101. BATMAN: THE CULT DELUXE EDITION (Penguin Random House) In Stock Trades
A DC hardcover Batman collection from the grim and gritty era following THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS? I don't fucking think so. Enter Ryan Carey, who reviewed this recent reprinting of the Jim Starlin written, Bernie Wrightson drawn series on his
patreon. This was definitely readable despite the usual melodrama of superhero comics, but the extended helping of Wrightson art is most worth a look here.
102. UFO MUSHROOM INVASION (Bud Plant) Library
I've become a big fan of Manga horror, especially Kazuo Umezu, this is more in a post-apocalyptic science fiction vein. Shirakawa Marina was little-known to me before I found this at the library. The art in this is really a cut above in it's slowly building tension and absolute dread as the alien spores take over. The over the top ending was brilliantly played. I normally wouldn't recommend a book from this publisher, but I do support the efforts of Ryan Holmberg who is behind this imprint.
103-106. COMICS BLOGGER #3-6 (Comics Blogger store) mail
I'm trying to play catch up after buying the first three (including #0) issues way back when I was still on twitter. Thomas Campbell has a great vision of comics and cartoonists that deserve more attention and analysis. Highlights from these (still in print) early issues are the Katie Lane (#3), Audra Stang (#4), and Tia Roxae (#6) interviews. The long form analysis of a Lynda Barry strip in #5 was particularly effective. Everybody's favorite transgressive comix critic, Ryan Carey, stops by for a debate with Campbell in #4. Hopefully in 2025 I can complete my run of a very worthy zine.
I don't know if this summary of the best in 2022 is necessarily unique, but it's certainly effective with critics and cartoonists writing on their favorites, interviews with creators, and excerpts of comics discussed. Everyone does such a thorough job in limited space to champion each selection. Helen Chazan writing on Yuichi Yokoyama's PLAZA combined with a sample from the graphic novel is my favorite section of the book. I've not been a fan of Yokoyama, Chazan does a wonderful job mangasplaining this truly experimental artist who I have not been able to wrap my head around. Austin English analysing Tim Hensley's use of classic comics visual language in his adaptation of MAGGIE: A GIRL OF THE STREETS by Stephen Crane, the accompanying interview and process work is fascinating.
108. THE SLIVERS OF LIGHT IN AN ENDLESS NIGHT (Self-published) Mail
Pivoting from an explosion of solo work in his revived CRANIUM FRENZY in recent years, Steve Willis puts together a jam anthology with old friends from his days editing CITY LIMITS GAZETTE: Bob Richart and Buzz Buzzizyk. Steve also collaborates with Charles Brubaker of LAUREN IPSUM fame. I don't recognize the names Cascadia Artpost or Anvil, however I really enjoyed their playing off the art of Steve Willis. I believe there's more to come in 2025!
109. RANDOM ALERT FACTOR (Self-published) Mail
There's autobiographical comics and there's autobiography via comics, luckily we have the latter here. Chris Cajero Cilla reviews EPIC ILLUSTRATED #11 (1982), WEIRDO #10 (1984), and DESTROY ALL COMICS #3 (1995). Instead of a fannish regurgitation of contents Cilla remembers the circumstances when he picked up each book, their effect on him personally at the time, and how they contributed to his evolving artistic sensibilities. I love the whole attitude and presentation of this zine from the cut and paste cover, the fake Mr. A movie poster, and the unique "Peripheral Playlist" from notes in the backs of his sketchbooks. If I found a listing for this zine in an old issue of FACTSHEET FIVE I would not be surprised.
110. WHERE DEMENTED WENTED: THE ART AND COMICS OF RORY HAYES (Fantagraphics Books/OOP) Hoopla
Flickr
Flickr
I've been in awe of Rory Hayes forever, the mix of primitive characters and intensely detailed inks make for a singular comix experience. This book not only puts Hayes's artistic output in perspective, but also his unusual life living and working at the San Francisco Comic Book Company as well as his later life before his death in 1983.
111. DRAWING POWER edited by Diane Noomin (
Abrams) Hoopla
Google Books
Google Books
Diane Noomin had a long comix career full of accomplishments, but beyond her brilliant Didi Glitz character this anthology will probably be the legacy for which she's justly remembered. The subject matter is handled in a wide variety of narrative and artistic styles. I'd like to think this anthology could serve as an educational tool for future generations, however I literally have little to no faith in my fellow man.
Alex Dueben does an excellent job not only introducing us to the very early psychedelic comic strips of "Hurricane Nancy", but also introduces us to Nancy Burton and her latter day creations, as well. A fine way to close out my year of catching up on underground comix.
2025 reading will bring more actual underground comix issues and the Fantagraphics Willy Murphy book. My most immediate reading for the New Year will be a ton of J Webster Sharp...
FONDANT 1-4 by J Webster Sharp (Self-published) Domino Books
here here here here
Also on the reading pile and also available from
Domino Books:
