The Comics Alternative

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Episode 206: SPX 2016 and the Ignatz Awards Sep 21, 2016

Show notes

Last weekend was the Small Press Expo held in Bethesda, MD, and a big part of that event was the recognition of the 2016 Ignatz Award nominees. So for this week's episode, Gwen and Derek discuss the many and diverse titles populating that list, looking for trends and making observations about this year's selections. The nominees in all nine categories, announced last month, were chosen by a five-member jury, and then attendees voted on their favorites during the first day of the event. Gwen starts things going by asking Derek about his experiences at SPX, and then the two plunge into the heart of the discussion. They do not run down the entire list of nominees in an organized manner, beginning with one category and then moving on to the next, but their exchange is more free-flowing and associational, taking up titles as they come up in the conversation. In this way, Gwen and Derek are able to cover about all of the nominees and draw insightful connections among many of the texts. They notice, for example, that many of the winners seem to skew younger, and that, at times, complex and longer-form storytelling doesn't get the same kind of attention as episodic or one-off narratives. They also comment on the fact that established names within the medium, such as Daniel Clowes, Adrian Tomine, Trina Robbins, and Kim Deitch, were completely shut out in the final selection. However, Gwen and Derek do not so much emphasize the actual winners of the nine categories -- although they do discuss these -- as they do the broader sweep of each category's population and what that might say about the current state of small press and indie comics.

Comics Alternative Interviews: Carol Tyler Sep 20, 2016

Show notes

Last week at Small Press Expo, Derek had the opportunity to sit down with Carol Tyler for a one-on-one interview. Her book from last year, Soldier's Heart: The Campaign to Understand My WWII Veteran Father: A Daughter's Memoir (Fantagraphics) was up for a 2016 Ignatz Award in the "Outstanding Graphic Novel" category. Derek talked with Carol about the book's nomination and about the impact her memoir has had on her own life since its publication. They spend a good deal of time talking about the current state of veteran's affairs, the debilitating effects of PTSD, and how Soldier's Heart both has and hasn't resonated within the veteran's community. Carol also discusses the current projects she has underway, including a follow up (sort of) to her father's story and a project documenting the days leading up to her attending The Beatles concert at Comiskey Park in August 1965. As she tells Derek, in that work she'll be channelling her inner 13-year-old-girl self. This is a moving and, at times, a deeply personal interview, one that reflects the sheer impact of Carol Tyler's writing.

On Location: The September Visit to Valhalla Games and Comics Sep 16, 2016

Show notes

The September on-location episode marks a first for The Comics Alternative. Derek is now talking with customers and employees at Valhalla Games and Comics in Plano, TX...which is at the same exact physical location where he's been doing the on-location show for the past few years. What had once been Collected is now Valhalla! But the people and comics inside have remained the same. Talking with Derek this month are some of the shop regulars, including Krystle, Craig, and Nick. They begin by discussing the recent change in ownership -- and, unfortunately, neither Valhalla's owner, David Larson, nor Sabrina, the shop manager, were able to be there -- and everyone's excitement over the changes in store. But then they get into the core of this month's discussion, which is on crime comics. Craig comes prepared with a big stack of recent examples, including The Fix, The Baker Street Peculiars, and The Black Monday Murders. And Nick chimes in with crime titles he'd recommend, as well. The conversation gets even more lively when Derek questions Craig on his definition of "superhero," which he seems to apply in a much less discriminating way than the others. They spend a good deal of time discussing examples of outright noir, such as Scalped and 100 Bullets, and genre-blending crime comics such as Fatale, Weird Detective, and even The Spirit. All in all, this was a successful first recording at the new Valhalla Games and Comics!

Comics Alternative Interviews: Erica Mena Sep 15, 2016

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:24 - Introduction
00:02:28 - Setup of interview
00:05:05 - Interview with Erica Mena
00:53:01 - Wrap up
00:54:14 - Contact us

On this episode of the interview series, Edward and Derek have as their guest Erica Mena. She is the translator of two recent Spanish-language works from Fantagraphics, Paco Roca's Wrinkles and the anthology Spanish Fever. The guys actually discussed the latter on this month's Euro Comics episode, and since Edward knew its translator, they thought it'd be revealing to get Erica on the podcast to talk about her work on the anthology. They spend a good deal of time discussing the Spanish Fever project, and they also talk extensively about Wrinkles (something Edward and Derek didn't have time for on the Euro Comics show). But the guys also ask Erica about her efforts on The Eternaut, Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López's classic sci-fi narrative that was finally translated into English and published last year. During her conversation with the guys, Erica shares some of her philosophy of translation, compares professional notes with Edward, and discusses how her own poetry has helped determine the kind of translator that she's become.

Visit Erica's website and discover her love of animated cats!

Episode 205: Reviews of Angel Catbird, Vol. 1, Everafter #1, and Glitterbomb #1 Sep 14, 2016

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:30 - Introduction
00:02:32 - Comics Alternative news
00:05:57 - Angel Catbird, Vol. 1
00:39:10 - Everafter #1
00:52:07 - Glitterbomb #1
01:05:39 - Wrap up
01:06:41 - Contact us

On this week's episode, the Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics look at three recent texts, each fantastical in its own way. They begin with Margaret Atwood and Johnnie Christmas's Angel Catbird, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse Books), a unique amalgamation of Golden Age superhero comics, environmental awareness, and ailurophilia. This is the first mainstream comics foray for Atwood, a Canadian novelist, poet, and winner of the Man Booker Prize. Andy and Derek spend a good deal of time talking about the tone of this book as well as its intended, or perhaps inferred, readers. They also sense a faint whiff of "Omaha" the Cat Dancer.

Next, the guys turn their attention to the new addition to the Fables world, Everafter #1 (Vertigo Comics). Written by David Justus and Matthew Sturges, and with art by Travis Moore, this new title picks up where Bill Willingham's long-running series left off. Several of the old Fables make their ways into this first issue, but what appears to distinguish Everafter from the original run is its emphasis on adventure, similar to Chris Roberson's Cinderella stories.

Finally, Andy and Derek discuss the first issue in the new Image Comics series, Glitterbomb. This is Jim Zub's look at the exploitative nature of Hollywood culture, but with a healthy dose of horror thrown in. The guys wonder if this series will adopt a polemical tone similar to Bitch Planet. And they are especially taken by the art of newcomer Djibril Morissette-Phan.

Webcomics: Reviews of The Red Hook, Kill 6 Billion Demons, and Rice Boy Sep 12, 2016

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:27 - Introduction
00:07:03 - Brief comments on the 2016 Ignatz Award nominees for Outstanding Online Comic
00:18:07 - The Red Hook
00:57:28 - Kill 6 Billion Demons
01:21:11 - Interview with Jim McClain and Paul Schultz
01:41:15 - Rice Boy
02:13:55 - Wrap up
02:15:30 - Contact us

On this extra-long episode of The Comics Alternative Webcomics, Sean and Derek cover a lot of territory on the webcomics front. They begin with a few brief comments on this year's Ignatz Award nominees for Outstanding Online Comic. They also contrast the way that the Ignatz judges classify webcomics with what the Eisner Awards has been doing lately, combining webcomics and digital comics.

After that, the guys jump into the core of this month's episode with a look at Dean Haspiel's The Red Hook. They discuss, among other things, the fact that superhero comics are relatively rare in webcomics and that this title is reminiscent of what Haspiel did with The Fox, for Archie Comics, and with his own comics centered on Billy Dogma and Jane Legit. Sean and Derek also spend a bit of time talking about Webtoons, the platform where you'll find The Red Hook.

Next, they review Kill 6 Billion Demons. Both of the guys are impressed by Tom Parkinson-Morgan's art and the intricacies involved in his world-building, but they are somewhat critical of the webcomic's design and usability. It's not easy to navigate that site, which is surprising, given the fact that Kill 6 Billion Demons has been around since 2013.

Before they turn to the final webcomic of the month, Derek and Sean introduce what they hope will be a new feature of the monthly series. Beginning with this episode, they will talk briefly with Jim McClain and Paul Schultz about a new webcomics they're creating, Poe and the Mysteriads. Every month they hope to check in with the creators about the step-by-step process they're going through in developing the title, from story concept to art choices to the design of the website.

Finally, Sean and Derek look at Evan Dahm's already completed webcomic, Rice Boy. This is the second time Dahm's work has been a focus of the webcomics series, the first occasion being a discussion of Vattu back in January 2015. This is a much earlier webcomic, and the guys discuss the evolution of Dahm's art and storytelling style as the story develops. It's an intriguing fantastical quest narrative, and if you're not already familiar with Dahm, then this would be a great way to get to know his work.

Comics Alternative Interviews: Peter Hogan Sep 09, 2016

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:25 - Introduction
00:02:28 - Setup of interview
00:03:38 - Interview with Peter Hogan
00:45:36 - Wrap up
00:46:10 - Contact us

Peter Hogan is the guest on this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews. His new miniseries in the Resident Alien line, The Man with No Name, begins next week with the release of issue #1. Derek talks with Peter about this ongoing Dark Horse series and what we can expect in this new narrative arc. They also spend a good deal of time discussing the genesis of Resident Alien, possible inspirations for the title, its episodic publishing model, and the working relationship between Peter and the artist of the series, Steve Parkhouse. Derek asks Peter about the stand-alone nature of each storyline, and how, at the same time, he's able to weave a larger ongoing narrative that binds everything together and develops incrementally with each issue. In this way, and to use American television comparisons, Resident Alien reads like episodes of Cannon or Quincy (which involves another medical professional), with a larger unfolding saga akin to The Fugitive...and, of course, a good bit of My Favorite Martian thrown in for that extraterrestrial touch. And, without giving anything away, Peter also hints about the direction of The Man with No Name and what we might see over the next two narrative arcs.

Episode 204: The September Previews Catalog Sep 07, 2016

Show notes

It's the beginning of September, the first of the month, so that must mean it's time for the Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics to look at the latest Previews catalog. As they do every month, Andy and Derek carefully go through the the Diamond publication, highlighting upcoming titles they're interested in, commenting on solicitations that sound interesting, and discussing creators they look forward to reading. Among the many comics they mention on this episode are from publishers such as

Dark Horse Comics - Ether #1 and Dept. H Volume 1: Pressure
DC/Vertigo - Mother Panic #1 and Jack of Fables: Deluxe Edition Book One
IDW Publishing/Top Shelf - Comic Book History of Comics #1, Tonoharu: Part Three, The Theory of the Grain of Sand, and Weird Love: Jailbird Romance
Image Comics -A.D.: After Death, Book One, Frontier #1, Violent Love #1, Chew #60, and One Week in the Library
Abstract Studio - Motor Girl #1
Action Lab - Athena Voltaire and the Volcano Goddess #1
Alternative Comics - Compulsive Comics and King-Cat Comix and Stories #76
Big Planet/Retrofit Comics - Summerland
Bergen Street Press - Copra: Round Four
BOOM! Studios - Namesake #1, Slam! #1, and Baker Street Peculiars
Conundrum Press - Lake Jehovah and The Palace of Champions
Drawn & Quarterly - Seth's Dominion
Dynamite Entertainment - Grand Passion #1
Faber and Faber - Love in Vain: Robert Johnson 1911-1938
Fantagraphics Books - Turn Loose Our Death Rays and Kill Them All: The Complete Works of Fletcher Hanks, Blubber #4, Beyond Time and Again, and Laid Waste
First Second - Last Man, Vol. 9: The Rescue
Hermes Press - Dark Shadows: The Best of the Original Series
Jet City Comics - Cirque American, Vol. 1: Girl over Paris
Last Gasp - Cometbus #57
New York Review Comics - Pretending Is Lying
Oni Press - Motro #1
SelfMadeHero - The Can Opener's Daughter
Super Genius - Trish Trash: Rollergirl from Mars
Titan Comics - The Mummy #1
Valiant Entertainment - Faith #5
VIZ Media - Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, Vol. 1, and Sunny, Vol. 6

Comics Alternative Interviews: Dash Shaw Sep 06, 2016

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:24 - Introduction
00:02:13 - Setup of interview
00:03:30 - Interview with Dash Shaw
01:02:39 - Wrap up
01:03:52 - Contact us

On this interview episode, Derek talks with Dash Shaw about his latest book, Cosplayers (Fantagraphics). This "Perfect Collection," as it is called, brings together the Cosplayers stories that were previously released in the two earlier comic-book issues from April and July 2014, as well as the story that appeared in the 2015 Free Comic Book Day release of Hip Hop Family Tree Three-in-One. (The guys reviewed Cosplayers #1 in Episode 83.) However, as Dash points out, this isn't a mere repackaging of his earlier Cosplayers comics. The book not only includes brand new material, but it also reworks some of the visuals from the original stories. A telling example of this can be found in some of the book's collage art, where Dash takes the covers and some of the interior pages from the earlier comics, cuts them up, and re-presents them in collage form...much like his protagonists, Annie and Verti, do with their comic books in the story "Escape from Nostalgia World."

Image from A Cosplayers Christmas

Derek talks with Dash about his curious stylistic choices for this new work, as well as his experimental use of colors in earlier books such as Doctors and New School. But they also discuss some of Dash's other projects, such as his work in animation. His feature-length directorial debut, My Entire High School is Sinking Into the Sea, a film based on an earlier short story, will be premiering at next week's Toronto International Film Festival. Also, Dash reveals that he may not yet be done with Cosplayers, referencing the new story appearing in the summer 2016 issue of Smoke Signal and the upcoming one-shot A Cosplayers Christmas.All in all, this is a fascinating interview, and one that underscores why Dash is one of the few artists the Two Guys have featured in a Creator Spotlight episode.

See what's up with Dash on his Tumblr site!

Euro Comics: Reviews of Spanish Fever, The Longest Day of the Future, and Growing Up in Public Sep 05, 2016

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:28 - Introduction
00:02:45 - Setup of reviews
00:04:37 - Spanish Fever
00:46:27 - The Longest Day of the Future
01:00:45 - Growing Up in Public
01:28:04 - Wrap up
01:29:12 - Contact us

This month on the Euro Comics series, Edward and Derek discuss three works translated from Spanish, and all published by Fantagraphics. They begin with the anthology Spanish Fever: Stories by the New Spanish Cartoonists, edited by Santiago García. This is a collection of contemporary comics coming out of Spain, bringing together works by over thirty creators including Paco Roca, Max, Miguel Gallardo, David Rubín and Miguel Ángel Martín, as well as newcomers such as José Domingo, Anna Galvañ, Álvaro Ortiz and Sergi Puyol. As the guys point out, the styles, genres, and themes are diverse, making this not only a valuable introduction to new Spanish artists, but a well-rounded comics collection by any standard.

Next, the Two Guys turn to two creators from Argentina. The first is Lucas Varela and his The Longest Day of the Future. This is a mostly wordless narrative satirizing hegemonic corporate culture. There's an almost cinematic quality to Varela's storytelling, and Derek and Edward liken it to a Pixar film infused with a darker Cohen brothers' sensibility.

Finally, the two wrap up with Ezequiel Garcia's Growing Up in Public. His is a memoir, but one that wanders loosely without any discernible endpoint...and with a curious injection of Moby-Dick thrown in, to boot. Indeed, both Edward and Derek appreciate Garcia's different take on graphic autobiography, and they look forward to more from this Argentine artist.

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