Sparkplug Comic Books

Comics Claptrip: The Sell-Out Episode

2008-11-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

There is a brand new web-isode of Comics Claptrap up right now. This time the duo of our own modern day Lewis and Martin (Rina Ayuyang and Thien Pham) interview the ONE and ONLY JIM RUGG. I'm pretty excited and listening to it right now.
Lots of fun.

New Mats!? Print!!!

2008-11-21T01:19:00.001-08:00

Check it out:
Cargo Cult Print
http://www.comicartcollective.com/detail.cfm?page=B86CBAC7-3048-77F0-11AB03345B30772B

New Comic Book Day

2008-11-19T23:01:00.000-08:00

I bought some comics today at Forbidden Planet (13th and Broadway, Manhattan). I also work there and all day, while working register, I kept hoping for someone to buy one of these (except jin and jam which i actually got at GRNY). It didnt happen. Wednesday at FP is mostly about ringing up justice league of america or what have you. Which...hey, I'm totally cool with. If there's one thing that mainstream comic fans have over art comics fans, it's dedication and excitement. All the Wolverine fans come out the day Wolvies book comes out. They love it! So, where where the king cat fans? Huh? Sittin at home. Waiting for the weekend. I'd like to see art comic fans come up to the register with the same total commitment to comics that your average teen titans "head" has.

King Cat #69
by John P

I really love the first story in this...about Misun checking out some "for rent" signs and John looking out the window. It reminds me of the story where John is in the car with Kera, and she goes out to get food. John is in the car with the cat. Kera comes back and gives John french fries. The panel goes something like "here, i bought you french fries." then there's a silent panel. Then another panel with the caption "she bought me french fries." That is one of my all time favorite King Cat stories.

I think about it all the time...a nice moment of John rendering someones kindness (at least that's what i always think of it in terms of). Anyway....this first story in king Cat #69 seems like it's got legs for my memory in the same way that story did.

Jin and jam #1 by hellen jo

WHOA. This comic is soooooo cool. I can't get over it. I remember reading some early Hellen Jo comics and thinking (hoping?) "if I ever meet this girl, she will try to beat me up." Of course when you meet Hellen, she is the nicest girl in the world, which makes her tougher than tough comics all the more amazing. The drawing in this is just so cool. I wish i could draw like Hellen...it looks like so much fun. If there is any justice in the world, this will be the most popular comic around, STAT.

The Lagoon by Lilli Carre

I've been waiting for this comic to come out for a while. The Thing about Madeline and Dorado Park are two of my favorite mini comic of the last....well, two of my favorite minis ever. Carre is, to me, an incredible writer. Madeline was like a perfect little short story where everything clicked and you were kinda bowled over by the economy and precision of the project. Lagoon is really different, and (as an artist) very inspiring. It's fascinating to see Carre's line loosen up. There are even some drawing in here that are rather crude (crude by Lilli Carre standards that is)---and I love those drawings. I don't know if it was a choice to have meticulous drawings next to looser ones...but it's really potent and good when you look at the book. It's one of those things where comics are "intimate" in the way everyone says they are but cant articulate why. You can see the human hand in how this was built and the skill all at once.

What is most interesting to me, after reading it once, is how different the book feels from page to page (or within the same page sometimes). Madeline and Dorado had one dominant emotion throughout. Lagoon is almost light at times...and then, within the same page you'll feel totally different emotional pulls. But like Madeline and Dorado its got this total sense of authority to it. I trust this book.

Independent Online Booksales

2008-11-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

I know that most indy booksellers online are still probably buying their stock from distros and not directly but I'm really interested in finding ones to work with and shop at.
Two that I found last month that really interest me are:
Brookline Booksmith
and
Haymarket Books
I'm making a point of avoiding Amazon or trying to work with individual sellers on there. Of course the Microcosm store is amazing too:
http://www.microcosmpublishing.com/
I think the big problem is that by its very nature Amazon meets the needs of most of us at a cheaper cost. But the damage it does is at least comparable to that of Border's and Barnes and Noble in the early 90s. And so, I think going with smaller specialty sellers is the road of the future for Sparkplug.

Know Comics at Top Drawer

2008-11-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Luke P. has started a great new blog with interviews with Scott Teplin and John Hankiewicz so far. A good solid format of asking a standard set of questions. It is surprising how this format leads to such good results:
http://10drawerquestions.blogspot.com/

The values of art.

2008-11-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

I've been slack in posting with too many shows in the past couple months but I'm gonna be boring the shit out of you all really soon. In the meantime, here is an amazing article on the value of ideas, creativity and the art object.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/magazine/16hyde-t.html
Damien Jay sent me the link and introduced me to Lewis Hyde, two of the best parts from the article are:

"Gift economies, as Mauss defines them, are marked by circulation and connectivity: goods have value only insofar as they are treated as gifts, and gifts can remain gifts only if they are continually given away. This results in a kind of engine of community cohesion, in which objects create social, psychological, emotional and spiritual bonds as they pass from hand
to hand."

and

"Unlike a commodity, whose value begins to decline the moment it changes hands, an artwork gains in value from the act of being circulated-published, shown, written about, passed from generation to generation - from being, at its core, an offering."

A.P.E. 2008 movie

2008-11-04T17:33:00.000-08:00

i made a video at A.P.E. this weekend.

i miss all of you already.

I.W.D.Y. at APE with Sparkplug...

2008-10-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

I Will Destroy You will be heading up to San Francisco for the APE comic festival this weekend.

I'll be joining my friends at the Sparkplug Comic Books table.

This will be the first time I've had The Blot at APE.
I'll also have The Melvins Comic Book "Your Disease Spread Quick," and "Brilliantly Ham-fisted" and a few other things.

EXCLUSIVE and NEW: The Obama vs McCain poster above will be a giveaway at the APE comic festival this weekend. Don't forget to VOTE!

Also- I have a few pieces in the PANELISTS IV show at Giant Robot San Francisco.

Danny Dutch! Check it out!

2008-10-28T21:48:00.001-07:00

New Books and New Shows

2008-10-28T19:29:00.001-07:00

Sparkplug Comic Books is premiering three new books at this weekend's Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco, CA.

The Airy Tales by Olga Volozova - A collection of ethereal and beautifully illustrated fictions.
Jin & Jam #1 by Hellen Jo - The first part of an on-going series drawn and written like a brick wrapped in a velvet pillowcase.
Danny Dutch by David King - Would-be webcomics that are too papery for the internet.

http://www.sparkplugcomicbooks.com/
All of the new books and more are up for sale at the website. There are also much better descriptions (blame me for those silly summations). Orders will go out next week.

Sparkplug Comic Books with be tabling at the Alternative Press Expo on Saturday and Sunday, November 1st & 2nd with Teenage Dinosaur, Juliacks and Jesse Reklaw. We'll be right next to Tugboat Press. Our booths are number 360-362. Please come by, we'll have an amazing selection of minis and small publisher books including the fifth issue of Elijah Brubaker's Reich, Theo Ellsworth's new Capacity book and a new Steve Ditko comic.

ALSO, the next weekend Sparkplug will be set up as part of the Comics Garden at the Wordstock Book Fair in Portland, Oregon. Saturday, November 8th & Sunday, November 9th 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. It is held at the Portland Convention Center. For more information, check out their website:
http://www.wordstockfestival.com/

Saturday night in San Francisco:

Hellen Jo, Olga Volozova, David King and Trevor Alixopulos will all be involved at the amazing reading on Saturday November 1st at the Cartoon Art Museum in SF. Keith Knight, Jesse Reklaw and Julia Wertz will all be reading too. Basically you have to be there. It starts at 8pm and goes till 11. More info on the C.A.M. is available at their website:
http://www.cartoonart.org/

ALSO that same night is the grand opening for the Panelists show at Giant Robot San Francisco. Sparkplug sweathearts Trevor Alixopulos, Shawn Cheng, Hellen Jo, David King, Mats!?, Tom Neely, Kazimir Strzepek, Vanessa Davis, Theo Ellsworth, Renee French, Lark Pien, Jesse Reklaw and about a million more artists are going to be showing. The Panelists opening runs from 6:30 to 10 pm so you could go there and then over to the CAM reading. It'll be great.

Steve Albini on business

2008-10-25T00:22:00.001-07:00

I'd seen this a long time ago but man, is it amazing to hear now:

The documentary that is from was great.

This one has more stuff that makes sense with comics:

And I can't believe I never saw this piece he wrote called the problem with music.

Trevor Alixopulos on the Comix Claptrap

2008-10-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

This week Rina and her buddy (who now reminds me of Henry Rollins) have put up yet another AMAZING webisode (sorry). Trevor Alixopulos is his usual, disarming self. Take a listen here:
http://comixclaptrap.blogspot.com/

New blog by me

2008-10-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

Hey, I started a new blog of cartoonist interviews. Check it out over here:

http://20cartoonquestions.blogspot.com/

Comix Claptrap interview with Renee French.

2008-10-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

Renee French has been interviewed on my new favorite comics blog: Comix Claptrap
The role of Alger Hiss is played by Thien Pham and the role of most awesome interviewer ever is played by Rina Ayuyang. Also, Josh Frankel gives good solid reviews of the new books out, or at least some good history on them, since he can't read them all that quickly. Renee is hilarious.

Dunja Jankovic's Department of Art

2008-10-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

When I was first handed this book from Sparkplug's Distro to review, I was so frazzled from SPX that I didn't know what to make of it. At the time I couldn't even decipher the title and the red demonic face screen printed on the cover intimidated me even further from opening this - what I was soon to discover- amazing book.

Department of Art is all over the place, the comic maintains a very gloomy aesthetic, as the story deals with the chronic frustrations of sustaining focus around a group of procrastinating peers. Dunja's energetic line work gives her bleak characters an animated feeling that's always on beat gives the comic an impecible sense of timing and loss thereof. The strongest quality in this story is the use of time, how it bears down on the main character and also how one can get lost in trivial games of self encouragement that only further one's procrastination.

Dunja's use of mixed media (most of this is pen and ink, collage, pastel and even some paintings) enhances her comic's Kafka-esque impression yet it adds humor to the protagonist's constant attempt to maintain a Positive Mental Attitude throughout the drudging monotony of the 9-5 routine.

There's some very interesting influences/similarities in the art that I enjoyed seeing, those who also enjoy Blutch, Baudoin, Fly or Taiyu Matsumoto would really appreciatte what Dunja has going on. Much like the aforementioned artists there's such an elegant quality to the chaos she's managed to somehow harness in an incredible piece of work that hopefully will continue and blow more people out of the water, as it should.

Alixopulos at Quimby's Saturday Night - 10/11!

2008-10-10T13:06:00.001-07:00

CHICAGO’S FINEST WELCOME
ALIXOPULOS AT QUIMBY’S!!!

October 11, 2008, 7 – 9:00 PM
Quimby’s Comics
1854 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
http://www.quimbys.com/

Come celebrate the release of Trevor Alixopulos’ 2008 Ignatz Award nominated graphic novel, The Hot Breath of War by Sparkplug Comic Books, with some of Chicago’s finest emerging cartoonists. Join Trevor’s friends and fellow 2008 Ignatz Award winners and nominees Laura Park, Lilli Carre and Jeremy Onsmith for a signing to celebrate the release the Hot Breath of War.

The Hot Breath of War explores love amidst conflict and the seduction of violence itself. Trevor lives and draws in Santa Rosa and is also the author of Mine Tonight (also by Sparkplug Comic Books).

"a genuine joy to read."

-Rob Clough, Sequart.com on Alixopulos’ Graphic Novel Mine Tonight (also by Sparkplug Comic Books)

Hot Breath of War Review

2008-10-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

The Hot Breath of War by Trevor ALixopulos just got a great 5 star write up on Comic Critique. Take a look: http://www.comiccritique.com/columns/gcolSt514.html
(also they don't like hotlinking)

Happy Accident Soiree at Desert Island!

2008-10-07T16:48:00.001-07:00

Yah mo' be there.

My Favorite Momentos of SPX

2008-10-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

SPX was super fun this year! In addition to having the privelege to lose Ignatzes to so many talented publishers and creators, Sparkplug had, what I am fairly certain was a collective blast. While I had an all around tremendous time, what follows are my five favorite moments:

1) Wiping poop off my step cat's butt the morning after Gabby Schultz, Jesse Reklaw, Sean Ford, and me drank an entire bottle of whiskey. This moment, while not really an official part of SPX programming, was nonetheless imortalized by Jesse in his tour diary:

2) Reading the "normal lady" part from Gabby's rad rad rad excerpt from Welcome to the Dahl House at the Atomic Books SPX-plosion party. Jesse read the boy part

3) Driving to SPX on Saturday with Kim and Ben (embedded video to follow as soon as Ben stops playing Wii or gets off the google and sends it to me).

4) Running into Brett Warnock at the post Ignatz ceremony fondue and cocktail hour and meeting Swedish cartoonist and rapper dudes extraordinaire, Simon Gardenfors and Johannes Klenell. They are so cool! They know my friend Christian Pallin who is pretty much the King of all of Sweden (although I can find no evidence of it on the interwebs) and who is not related to Sarah Palin in any way shape or form.

Look! Here's Simon rapping!

Check it out! Here's Simon's Wikipedia entry!

Top Shelf is putting out a book of Simon's comics which I think is going to be AWESOME. You can read about Simon and some of his fellow Swedish cartoonists' work in this write up on Comic Book Bin of "From the Shadow of the Northern Lights", an excellent Swedish comics anthology that Johannes edited and published through his Swedish based publishing house, Galago, that I believe Top Shelf is distro-ing:

5) Spending quality time with Theo Ellsworth on the ride back to Queens with Secret Acres. Theo is a really nice fellow. He politely listened to me blather on endlessly about all of my insights about how everything that is wrong with America today can be gleaned from a single viewing of I wanna work for Diddy.

Additionally, peeps of Portland should be on the lookout for for Theo's new catch-phrase (stolen from P. Diddy) which I believe I thoroughly convinced him to adopt and to employ under any and all circumstances:

"Yo that's whack. I roll with God all the way, y'all."

Theo may have just been being polite but I think he might also start saying it all the time too. I can't be sure though due to my East Coast location, so people of Portland keep me informed as to whether or not the aforementioned catch-phrase enters Theo's lexicon, n'kay? Thx.

XOSO

Clamix Cloptrip

2008-10-03T01:34:00.000-07:00

Rina Ayuyang and Bill O'Reilly have started a comics blog. It is pretty funny and they interview Vanessa Davis and Josh Frankel. It is worth a listen:
comixclaptrap.podomatic.com
The role of Bill O'Reilly is played by Thien Pham

Loads of new distributed comics at SPX!

2008-10-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

SO Many new books at SPX!
Spaniel Rage 2008 by Vanessa Davis
Department of Art (Ignatz Nominated) by Dunja Jankovic
Sweetheart #3 by Austin English
Eschew #1 by Robert Sergel
Stumblers #1 by Jeff LeVine
Tranquil Time by Onsmith and John Hankiewicz
Fine Tooth by Onsmith and John Hankiewicz
Tranny by Steve Lafler
Water Flies by Renee French
The Natural World by Damien Jay
I Am Often Mistaken For Miles Davis by Sarah Louise Wahrhaftig
Plus On Sait by Julia Gfroerer
All the Acient Kings by Julia Gfroerer
Real Madness #2 by Bobby Madness
The Marty Chronicles by Liz Dunning and Teppei Ando
Manhole #3 by Sacha Mardou
I Cut My Hair by Lisa Eisenberg
Estrus #6 by Mari Niaomi
Avenging Mind by Steve Ditko
Cryptic Wit #2 by Gerald Jablonski
Laterborn #6 by Jason Martin

And lots lots more. Seriously. But no Tim Goodyear, sorry.

SPX-plosion Party on Friday Night!

2008-10-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Elijah on video

2008-09-30T23:31:00.000-07:00

Maybe Dylan can give me some pointers on posting youtube stuff on this blog. Every time I try I fail. I was interviewed after a reading I did at the Portland public Library.
(okay, the video is up. Thanks Dylan)

Sparkplug at SPX this weekend!

2008-09-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend we will be premiering Reich #5 by Elijah Brubaker at the upcoming Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland. Also, copies are now available to buy online, but may not go out till after SPX. You can order them at the sparkplug website.

The night before SPX, we'll be co-sponsoring the SPX-plosion event at Atomic Books, a free event on Friday, October 3, 7PM - 10PM. Atomic's address is: 3620 Falls Rd in Baltimore, Maryland. Man-about-town Austin English will be reading at the event.

We will have tables at the Small Press Expo, as usual. It is this weekend, Saturday & Sunday October 4th & 5th. We'll probably have too many comics for the tables. Lots of new minis and books and new T-shirts as well. Sparkplug artists and friends will be on a number of panels. I'll be on a panel on small-press publishing on Sunday at 12:30pm with Randy Chang (Bodega Distribution), Alvin Buenaventura (Buenaventura Press) and Leon Avelino (Secret Acres), moderated by Rob Clough.

At the Sparkplug booth:
Saturday:
Dylan Williams: 11am-2pm 5pm-7pm
Shannon O'Leary: 2pm-6pm
Austin English: 1pm-3pm, 5pm-7pm
Jonas Madden-Connor 12pm-2pm 5pm-7pm
Trevor Alixopulos: 1pm-3pm
Chris Wright 3pm-4pm

Sunday Open 12-6pm

Dylan Williams 2pm-6pm (panel from 12:30-1:30)
Austin 1pm-4pm (panel from 4:30-5:30)
Shannon O'Leary 12pm-3pm
Jonas Madden-Connor 12pm-3pm
Trevor Alixopulos: 1pm-3pm
Chris Wright 3pm-4pm

The Ignatz awards recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning will be presented during SPX.
Sparkplug is up for six Ignatzs in total:
Inkweed – Chris Wright – Best Anthology or Collection
Windy Corner – Austin English - Best Anthology or Collection
Hot Breath of War – Trevor Alixopulos – Outstanding Graphic Novel
The Urn – Chris Wright, Inkweed – Outstanding Story
Austin English – Windy Corner #2 – Promising New Talent
Reich – Elijah Brubaker – Outstanding Series

shutting down comics

2008-09-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

So, I just heard that Minx isn't going to be publishing and as of last month neither is Virgin comics. There seems to be a lot of this going around in mid-level new-mainstream books. It is really interesting to me. Since these days arty and personal comics seems to be selling better than ever. I'm trying not to be smarmy since I know people who depend on these sort of things but it is important to note that doing things just because "that is what is selling" or "that is what people want" doesn't guarantee any kind of business success. So, why not just do comics that we like doing. It is funny because the Minx story on Comics Reporter ends with this thing about how it was an imprint run by real people and that speculation about what could have been done doesn't do anyone any good. As if learning from mistakes weren't important and what Minx represented to the rest of us wasn't important. Well, there you go.

Anyway have any take on this? I haven't read around on it yet.