Weekly Weird Trigger Warnings 6

 New Comic From Steven Solomon:

speedpasterobot.com

Mail Call! It's always a special day when a new comic arrives from beautiful Brooklyn, NY. Order your copy here. More thoughts on this one in the new year.

Melinda Gebbie New Book:

Knockabout

John Freeman reports on a new career-spanning retrospective by one of the more original artists to ever grace a comix page, the one and only Melinda Gebbie. Ordering information on the Knockabout site. I was permanently scarred by her story in Slow Death #7, by turns abstract, violent, political:

Internet Archive

Shotaro Ishinomori Untranslated Manga Weirdness:

ebay

Erik Amaya writes on comicon.com about an obscure, untranslated Manga series by legendary creator Shotaro Ishinomori (Cyborg 900, Kamen Rider). Last Gasp, Nakama, Bubbles, Strangers, Smudge, Anyone?

Warren Tufts Genius Remembered:

Bud Plant

Peter Bosch at 13th Dimension celebrates the 100th anniversary of Warren Tufts birthday with a large selection of Casey Ruggles and Lance art, as well as his super rare late career work in humor comics and animation.

Ines Estrada Has a Blog:

inechi.com

 

See Canon Zine #6 for my profile of Estrada, but we didn't talk much about the new edition of Alienation released a few months ago. It was great to hear of this blog from Estrada. There is a very long process post on the new book that is essential reading for comix creators and readers, as well.

Tom Tomorrow was in Iowa Yesterday:

Kickstarter

Tom Tomorrow is a bit like Charles Schulz, in that I don't recall a time when his comic "This Modern World" wasn't around. The Daily Cartoonist ran a post of a profile of Dan Perkins (aka Tom Tomorrow) in an Iowa alternative newspaper, Little Vilage. I would have lost a bet if someone told me Tom Tomorrow grew up in Iowa City!

Year in Review at Neoglyphic Media:

A recent newsletter detailed Cullen Beckhorn's last year publishing, including the Alive Outside anthology, globe-trotting in support of that and various exhibitions, and also publishing a number of books including their latest, Matthew Thurber's Looking For the Cat #7.

Jeff Nicholson Not Dead, Still Talented:

.

Classic Colonia

GCD

 

New Colonia

Amazon

 

It was a great surprise finding a new interview with Jeff Nicholson, conducted by Jason Bergman, up on The Comics Journal site! Even more exciting was the news he would be finishing his Colonia series after a two decade break.

It's not ideal but still nice to seeing, in my opinion anyway, small press and independent cartoonists using the Amazon framework to distribute their work. You can purchase the entire Colonia series digitally here.

Ablaze Absorbs Legendary Graphic Novel Publisher NBM:

Both GCD

 

Heidi MacDonald at The Beat reports that pioneering publisher of English-language translations of French graphic novels (their first two releases pictured above), NBM, has been sold to Ablaze. NBM will continue as a sub imprint of Ablaze with founder Terry Nantier continuing to put together future releases.

 

Hard Core Drugs Comes to an End:

Sleepyhouse2 finished one of my favorite comics of 2025 recently! Read for yourself online.

Lucy Sullivan "A Right Old Mess":

According to On the Hush Quarterly #9: Lucy Sullivan's next book, Mother's Ruin, will be coming out Fall 2027 from Avery Hill! Sullivan has been working on this follow-up to Early Doors for several years now. "I've resisted [watercolor] as a medium for a long time as I'm such a clumsy artist and usually end up making a right old mess." For updates on Mother's Ruin and WIP subscribe to her newsletter.

A1/Deadline #1

The new mashup of two classic UK anthology series, was (if I understand correctly) originally going to feature four pages from Tales From the Quarantine, but due to circumstances we are getting a new collaboration between Fraser Campbell and Lucy Sullivan! For more information on the magazine check out the campaign page

Peter Milligan Interviewed on New 2000 A.D. Serial:

Comic Book Yeti

 

Nicely done interview at Comic Book Yeti (conducted by Andrew Irvin) with Peter Milligan and Kieran McKeown, who are collaborating on "Discarded" that will be running in the pages of 2000 A.D. beginning with Prog 2463.

We'll Be Back January 5th:

I do not like the holiday season, but put on a brave face for the fam. However, I'm not made of stone, Nat King Cole is a particular favorite this time of year:

Silent Night, Nat King Cole

Five Highlights From The Comics Journal #51

 

The first of many full-color back cover ads

THE COMICS JOURNAL #51 (November 1979)

1. NEWSWATCH: Undergrounds by Bruce Sweeney (Clay Geerdes uncredited)

There's a ton of mini-comics listed this month. Much thanks to Poopsheet Foundation for having cover reproductions of most of these rare comics (all images from PF, unless where indicated)

mycomicshop

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comixjoint

comicbookrealm

eBay

2. MARILYN BETHKE WATCH:  Criticism vs. Analysis and An Interview With Howard Chaykin

Marilyn Bethke (along with ten other Journal critics) responds to Paul Levitz's essay from the previous issue. Bethke's response starts thusly:

 "Paul Levitz has certainly made some valid points in his article. The kind of analysis within a historical frame of reference he refers to is clearly lacking in fan writing and would provide 'fans' and 'pros' with a thorough, working knowledge and background in comics art. Very little has been done in this area, and as a fairly young medium, comics could only benefit from scrupulous and scholarly commentary. But, and this is the important question, is it criticism? I think not."

 

Marilyn Bethke conducts one of the most awkward interviews in Journal history, with a pissed off Gary Groth conducting a follow-up interview.

3. WILDMAN & RUBBEROY vs. SPEED ALIEN by Grass Green (Eddie Eddings inks) 7 pages

4. UNDERGROUND COMIX: Sympathy for the Groundlevel by Bill Sherman

 "Groundlevel" is an outdated term from the late 70s, coined before the term "independent" comics became more prevalent in the 80s. It refers to the, then either nascent or nebulous, genre comics mixed with the creator-owned ethos of the undergrounds. Think Byron Preiss, Heavy Metal, Cerebus, or Eclipse at this time. 

Sherman examines one forgotten, Hot Stuf', and one well-known, Star*Reach, example of this term. I liked this bit of obscure history from the end of Sherman's column pointing to what may have happened to a lot of these Groundlevel titles.

Leave it to the Hercules Petix YouTube channel to show us inside Hot Stuf' 5-8:

5. SUSPENDED ANIMATION: The New Japanese Invasion by Jim Korkis

This is a sequel, of sorts, to "Suspended Animation: Metamorphoses: The Greeks Must Have Had a Word for It" from TCJ #42. Korkis gives an update on Metamorphoses and talks more about Japanese animation ied to the United States during the 60s and 70s. It was fascinating to learn more about Osamu Tezuka's history in animation, in particular. Korkis recounts Tezuka's visit to Los Angeles, and meeting an important anime proponent whose name comics fans may recall: Fred Patten.

Weekly Weird Trigger Warnings 5

Copacetic Comics Gift Guide:

We've been lurking the Pittsburgh-based Copacetic Comics site for years now, not quite making an order yet. They have a great 2025 Holiday Gift Guide this year with over 50 hand-picked books, some low stock and some on sale. The WWIII Illustrated set is a particularly nice idea!

Copacetic

Bud's Art Book Free Comics:

Bud Plant

Bud's Art Books has eight free items (with a purchase) including the Moebius postcard set (pictured above), Bob Foster items, First Kingdom #1, and old issues of Walt Disney Comics and Stories.

 

Plant is also running a 30% off sale of over 200 items, with only one or two copies left in stock, until December 16th. You never know what you're going to find on BAB, like the last copy of Ron English's Greetings From Delusionville tabloid-sized hardcover.

It's been reported Bud Plant will be retiring next year, so order while you can!

The Comics Journal Spotlight Interview of the Month:

Books With Pictures

Zach Rabiroff interviews Books With Pictures, Portland OR comics shop, owner Katie Pryde. This is an in-depth talk about Pryde's early years in comics retail and the intense threadbare line between breaking even and being in the red in the modern landscape of comic shops. One of the best interviews on the site this year.

Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo 2025 Scene Report:

micexpo.org

Arpad Okay has a great write-up at The Beat of the recent 2025 Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, including five highlights from his show haul.

More links from the show include a list of books debuting at MICE 2025, and a related list of all the 2025 MICE Mini Grant recipients.

Zine Freak News:

The UK underground comix and alternative zine distro, Zine Freak, sent out an update recently, including the cover to Matt Simmons' main publication, MZW. If you are a fan of comics that bite (or sometimes lick, according to that cover below), check out his Patreon and Discord, or stop by his comix stall at Lancaster's Assembly Rooms Emporium if you're in the UK.

Patreon

Black Comic Lords Virtual Convention:

The Beat

December 6th brought an entire days live programming of Black comics creators and publishers on the Black Comic Lords YouTube channel. Reported by George Carmona 3rd on The Beat. All 12 hours of programming have been archived on their channel!

Rob Clough's 31 Days of CCS Begins:

!

Rob Clough, Looper

It's December, so Rob Clough brings us 31 days of reviews of comics from alumni of The Center for Cartoon Studies! First up was veteran cartoonist Colleen Frakes. Check out Clough's High-Low blog throughout December for more of this series.

Optical Sloth reviews the Bible:

Optical Sloth

 

Kevin Bramer comes up with some amazing finds. John Minkoff has a wild line, and Bible stories are always worthy of adaptation, imho. Check out the review or comic

1987: The Year That Ruined My Life:

GCD

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TCJ

My first new issue of The Comics Journal was #115. Maybe not coincidentally my first issue of Love and Rockets was #20. Both were (according to GCD) published in April 1987. I was 17 and a junior in high school, at the time. I was already a misanthropic weirdo, so I guess this just sealed the deal!

New Thick Lines Podcast by Katie Skelly and Sally Madden:

Buy here

Katie Skelly and Sally Madden discuss Junko Mizuno's Pure Trance. More info on Mizuno here. Listen to Thick Lines here.

Scarred for Life by 2000 AD.:

2000 A.D.

Michael Molcher and (Trigger Warning favorite) Chloe Maveal interview the team behind the Scarred for Life book series, Stephen Brotherstone and Dave Lawrence.

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lulu.com

If you aren't familiar with the Scarred For Life series, it examines the weird and warped pop culture of the UK. They have a three book series covering the 70s, 80s, and 90s, as well as live presentations and a podcast.

Comix Reading List:

Speaking of Katie Skelly, I poured over all her books on Hoopla in one day (plus bonus story with Alex DeCampi in Twisted Romance). I loved all her work, although My Pretty Vampire may have been a slight favorite. Nothing quite like a good cartoony horror book.

all Hoopla

Comixology Unlimited had Volume Two of Fantagraphics Guido Crepax series, which I was totally not prepared for. This is probably some of the densest, most surreal comics narrative I've ever seen. I don't even know if I like it, but it's definitely an experience.

Comixology Unlimited