Weekly Weird Trigger Warnings 2

Links to other blogs:

This 2022 Don Newton birthday tribute at 13th Dimension focused on his Charlton work, including all his Phantom covers. (Top illustration from GCD)

Don Newton also puts in appearance in Ken Meyer Jr.'s November Ink Stains blog. A young Gary Groth also figures into the history of Nebulous 1.

Duck Comics Revue examines a Bob Gregory Daisy and Donald story from the 70s. Gregory is better known as underground comix cartoonist Roberta Gregory's Dad.

Gilbert Hernandez Gets Some Love (Finally):

With the release of Lovers and Haters it's good to see some press for the most famous unsung cartoonist around.

Greg Hunter at TCJ takes the scholarly approach to Lovers and Haters. I particularly love this quote:

"He exists lately in, if not a purposeful exile, than the territory one finds while privileging creation over legacy."

Brad Curry is back in Canon #6 with three articles on Gilbert Hernandez. Curry is my favorite writer on Beto Bro Hernandez, you should check out his work (also in Canon #1, iirc).

Thomas Batten reviews the book for Library Journal.

Swedish cartoonist spotlight:

Fantagraphics has been translating a lot of Swedish alternative comics, including Moa Romanova's Buff Soul and Bim Eriksson's Baby Blue this year. Austin English has imported four books from another Swedish creator, Emilie Ostergren:

Check them out at Domino Books

Bud Plant Rare Books:

Bud Plant has all the Russ Cochran EC Science Fiction hardcovers in stock: Weird Science, Weird Fantasy, Weird Science-Fantasy

Manitoba has all the comics!

ComicKrakk and 420lanpartier69 are two great Comics YouTubers from Winnipeg, Manitoba who are always digging up treasure in their city. A Moment of Cerebus highlights comics dealer Doug Sulipa of Steinbach, Manitoba and his Million(!) comic book inventory. 

Comix Reading List:

Two of the most recent Richard Corben Library volumes. I absolutely loved the all black and white Rowlf volume, Corben's talent really comes out when not hidden behind that luscious coloring of his. Rat God is a bit Lovecraft-like with some bizarre time-twisting, I just started it but I'm sold on Corben's story already.

Comics Video Watchlist:

Two of my most watched Comics YouTubers are ComicKkrakk and Hercules Petix. There was a little serendipity between the channels in the form of Young Master by Larry Hama and Val Mayerik.

Skip to 21:18

Young Master 1-5

Young Master 6-9; The Master 1-2

Weekly Weird Trigger Warnings 1

Here's a rundown of what I'm reading, reviewing, or watching in the land of comics, hopefully on a semi-weekly basis:

Comics Video Watchlist:

Dan Elsen, well-known from ComicKkrakk live chats, has started his own channel. Weird does not do justice to the comic he spotlights in this video-

Donald Rex is someone I've admired for years. He's currently putting a lot of effort into preserving the work of the foreign artists that contributed to Charlton from the late 60s to the mid 70s-

I bought the cheaper ebook version of this one

Comix Reading List:

It seems I've been reading all Fantagraphics Books recently-

21st Century Spain Rodriguez is as good as any.

Did not remember the bits of horror inserted amongst the irony and humor.

I'm not a big Tardi fan, but I love these noir adaptations.

You can't beat Bill Everett horror stories!

To paraphrase Kris Kristofferson: if you don't like Reed Crandall, you can kiss our ass.

Reviews:

I was honored to contribute to Broken Frontier's Thought Bubble 2025 coverage-

Dead on Arrival by Mexican artist Samanta Batllori

Under Pressure by Polish creator Robert Sienicki

Through the Looking Glass by UK creator KitsuneArt

Angry Duck by Norwegian creator KA Sandholm

The Hanging by Irish/Canadian creator Aaron Losty (w/Becca Carey)

Beyond the Black Void by Jason Measures and a host of UK creators

The Gloriously Untrue Adventures of Sapphira #1 by UK novelist Sapphira Olson

Down North Where No One Goes by Spanish artist Ramon Perales Cano

So many great interviews and reviews centered around Thought Bubble 2025 can be found here.

Image: Domino Books

 

My feature on Ines Estrada and her Gatoshop online store is included with an amazing array of interviews, reviews, and articles. Donald Rex is interviewed herein. My personal highlight would be more Brad Curry writings on Gilbert Hernandez. Order from Colin Blanchette here

I also (with equal amounts reservations and enthusiasm) contributed seven entries to the "100 Best Superhero Comics of All-time" coming up in DIE WITH YOUR MASK ON #3. Pre-order (also from Colin Blanchette) here

In the works Five Highlights of The Comics Journal 51 and 52...