Midnight Ramblings - December 2010

This week's update is a short one. Many thanks for all the holiday greetings sent by friends and family. Here's a few original cartoon cards posted with permission from the artitsts. Best wishes to MF.com readers for a happy Christmas!

A vintage card from the Hogan's Alley shop by Al Smith.

Seasons greetings from Bob Vojtko.

Mini comix and holiday greetings just like Grandad used to make from Dan Taylor.

Happy holiday wishes from Macedonio Garcia.

The cast of Cornelia Cartoons by Kel Crum.

Congratulations to Steve Lafler on the successful completion of his fundraising effort on Kickstarter.

Top November 2010 October 2010

December 18, 2010

Beloved
Erich Fletschinger was kind enough to send his new comic Beloved to preview in this week's Ramblings. Beloved is a beautifully handmade mini comic (4.25" x 7") with a 12 page b&w story nested inside a sturdy, two-color cover. You can catch up on Fletschinger's adventures on his blog: My Name is Erich. For ordering info for Beloved send email to E.S. Fletschinger. Below are the opening two pages of the comic.

More minis?
Steve Willis this week announced his interest in putting together some new minis. One idea is to collect 8 or more random images sent in by cartoonists and build a story out of them. If you're interested, you can get in touch with Steve via Morty the Dog.

The Comix Reader and Rivit

The Comix Reader
Richard Cowdry recently completed a newsprint comix called The Comix Reader. He's started a The Comix Reader blog, where you can see a preview of what's inside. It's available over the counter in UK shops such as Gosh! or directly from Richard Cowdry for £1 + 99p postage, for orders outside the UK. Martin Skidmore reviewed it for FA the Comiczine.

Ribit!
Gerry Giovinco of CO2 Comics announced the arrival Frank Thorne's Rivit on the popular webcomic site. The Ribit character is unique among all of Thorne's creations, as detailed on the CO2 Comics Blog. She's smaller, leaner, meaner, and greener than any of his previous bikini-clan, hell-raising women and she's sure to slice her way into your heart. Stop by Ribit weekly to read her continuing exploits.

kuš! # 8
The eighth issue of the cute comics anthology from Riga with international contributors is out. The book is part of the Track Changes art project. For a preview
of what's inside and a list of contributors see the komiksi website. kuš! #8 is A5-size, 116 pages, perfect bound, full color throughout and presented in English. It's available from the komiksi shop for $11 (USD postage paid), sent via PayPal. For news updates from the Latvian-based publishers see the komiksi blog, which is written in English.

Climate Change
Darryl Cunningham revealed his latest journalistic comic this week: Climate Change. The 18-page full color comic is posted at Darryl Cunningham Investigates, where you can also read a score or more of reactions to his report.

Carousel #26, Mustard #5

Carousel #26
The hybrid- lit magazine Carousel #26 is now available for order. The 72-page, perfect bound volume from editor Mark Laliberte is available for $10 in stores. See Carousel Magazine for preview pages. See the Carousel Superstore for subscriptions and bundles.

Mustard #5
Andrew Waugh has several illustrations and a two-page comic strip in Mustard #5. The 36-page British comedy magazine's website features a lovely preview of the interior pages. You can buy the new issue, most of the older ones, and a nice set of postcards from the Mustard Shop. They even have a Mustard Calendar for sale.

The Amazing Mr. Kuiper
Glenn Fleming, the man behind the celebrated British comics magazine, Crikey! has started work on a new project. The Amazing Mr. Kuiper is still a work in progress, so stay tuned to Glenn Fleming central for more on Kuiper and other creative endeavors.

Chase #12
In Point of Inteception (by Jim Main, John Lambert and Dan Taylor) Kevin Roper continues his infiltration of the Marsden family and romances Tamara Marsden. Nate Solomon shows up at the California coast HQ of Babcock Industries and receives a "warm" reception from sister-in-law Barbara "Babs" Babcock. And SCDF agents Christian Goode and Liam "Doc" Sweet journey to the French Riveria to help reactivate former agent Amananda Poe, who is no longer the same girl they used to know. 24 pages, b&w interior, full color cover by John Lambert and Marc Haines. $4.30 postpaid from Main Enterprises.

Pat Lewis is a Winner!
Congratulation to Cragmore cartoonist Pat Lewis for successfully completing National Novel Writing Month 2010. Lewis blogged about his experience writing a 50,000 word novel in a month on LiveJournal.

*PPFSZT! #29
The twenty-ninth issue of Jim Main's "Fizz-it," his ground-level comics magazine will be out soon. Issue #29 features a wraparound cover by Troy Boyle and Troy Zurel. The inside front cover is by Scott McClung and the contents page sports a lovely robotic illo by Brad W. Foster. Main's introduction provides a nice bit of history about the title as well as several of his characters from the 1980s. The two-page intro includes a couple of pages of previously unpublished comics by Main and Steve Lafler. Here's a preview on the balance of what's inside:

Zacron 3412 (1 page) by Simon Mackie.

Birthday Horseman (2 pages) by Brien Wayne Powell.

The Acrobat and the Simian in A Step in a New Direction (9 pages) written by Jim Main, pencils by Steve Keeter, and inked by Jack Bertram.

Supergal (1 page) by Steve Shipley.

Giant Gia in I Married a Giant (5 pages) by Dan Burke.

Flying Sharks (12 pages) by George Leon.

Time Out (3 pages) by Michael Vance and Dave Farley.

Horrible Monster Chart (1 page) by Jeff Mason.

The Interview (8 pages) by Scott McClung.

A Lot of Jack! (2 pages) cartoons by Jack Bertram.

Help! Mummy! (1 page) by Simon Mackie. The issue concludes with 3 pages of letters with illustrations by Christopher Durant and Jeff Mason. *PPFSZT! #29 will be available soon from Main Enterprises. Advance orders, $7 (postage paid), are encouraged.

SPACE Finalists
Bob Corby announced the list of 2010 SPACE Prize finalists this week. The nominees are culled from comics collected at the 2010 convention. This year there will be a winner in each of three categories: General, mini-comic, and webcomic. For the full list of nominees see Back Porch Comics.

Top November 2010 October 2010

December 11, 2010

Weird Muse Minis
Dan W. Taylor has been busy this quarter. He's recently published a whole new crop of mini comics including Porky Belly #6, Pork Belly #7, Brutal Girlfriend #1, Pork Belly #8, Demon Lord Komix #1, and Pork Belly Holiday Special 2010. Check the links for details and order them all as a holiday gift for yourself!

Submissions Wanted Central
Want to find out who's soliciting submissions for mini comics and anthologies? Check out the new section for same at Poopsheet Foundation—the place to eat, sleep, and breathe minis. And while you're browsing PF, be sure to check out Dan Taylor's photos. He's posted severals years worth of pics from shows like SPACE, Mid-Ohio Con, Gem City, etc.

More TeeMee
Windy City punster Jim Siergey has added more cartoon designs to his TeeMee Cafe Press Shop. For a moment including his Othello Kitty design from Nart ...Again. But it seems the Cafe Cops take satire too seriously and the offering disappeared shortly after it was added. Mr. Siergey's response, "Me...OW!"

Latta Newsletter
The illustrious father of Avatards and Rashy Rabbit, Josh Latta, has started an email newsletter highlighting the hijinx inside the walls of Lattaland. Sign up for your copy if you dare.

EC for Me, See? #1
Jim Main, along with Dan W. Taylor, published a new 20-page mini comic this week. EC for Me, See? #1 features EC-inspired artwork by Jeff Mason, JTW, Floydman, Barry Southworth, Jeff Austin, Scott Shriver, Terry Pavlet, Dave Farley, Jim Siergey, and Troy Boyle. It's $2.50 postage paid from Main Enterprises.

Main Enterprises 2011
Main also announced plans for his first batch of zines for the new year. PPFSZT! #29 will probably squeak into late 2010 and it will be followed by Chase! #13, Main Enterprises Presents! #3, Shadow of Dracula #3, Sunday Phonies, Zeroes! #1E, Myths and Legends #1, and Satyr #12 (with that terrific Gary Fields cover). Main Enterprises. Watch this space for a preview of PPFSZT! #29 next week.

Comical Animal
Jim Medway, with the help of his friends, has begun an online publication called Comical Animal. It's for "comic, cartoon and kids book aficionados," with cartoons and prose features. Although at first glance it appears like a blog, it's really all about the timing of its publication. Instead of adding frequent, short posts, Medway will publish a magazine-worth of posts all at once on a bi-monthly schedule. It's a fascinating approach and the content is first rate. Check out the first issue at Comical Animal. You can read Kenny Penman's interview with Jim Medway at Forbidden Planet International (whom I thank for the tip).

Dark Valentine #3, Morpheus Tales #11

Dark Valentine #3
Katherine Tomlinson (publisher), Joy Sillesen (editor), and Joanne Renaud (art director) have published the third issue of their literary magazine of dark fiction. Dark Valentine #3 includes 15 wintery tales meant to keep fear at bay by conjuring up greater horrors and giving them names. Here are cannibals, creatures and zombies. Dark fairy tales and chronicles of urban madness, yours for the asking. The 116 page free PDF file includes over a dozen full color story illustrations. Download your copy at Dark Valentine Magazine.

Morpheus Tales #11
The new issue of the magazine of horror, science fiction, and fantasy is now shipping. Morpheus Tales #11 features the work of nearly a dozen writers of macabre tales. It's available as a single issue for £3.50 plus postage, or as part of a four-issue subscription for £11.00 plus postage from Morpheus Tales.

Holiday Art Savings
Cartoonist Jeremy Eaton is holding a holiday sale online, now through Dec. 21st. All of his original art is going for up to 60% off its list price. Most of it is listed at the Comic Art Collective, but check out Jeremy Eaton's Blog and the For Sale page of the Jeremy Eaton website as well.

Comics Interview
Gerry Giovinco explores the history of character licensing in his article The Comic Company: Licensed to Thrill over at CO2 Comics. He also announces the company's first print book, Comics Interview by David Anthony Kraft.

eBook Tales
Don't want your neighbors on your bus ride to work knowing you're devouring Beyond Heaving Bosoms or its ilk? NYT writer Julie Bosman reports romance is leading the wave of the ebook movement in Lusty Tales and Hot Sales.

Ursula Le Guin
Dmae Roberts profiles veteran artists and arts organizations on Oregon Treasures. She features the work of literary science fiction and fantasy author Ursula Le Guin on the Dec. 7 encore edition of Oregon Treasures, which can be heard online.

Wildside Sites
John Betancourt is in the midst of reorganizing the Wildside websites. For his magazine titles like Weird Tales and Sherlock Holmes Mystery check out Wildside Magazines, where a site redesign in complete. For books by authors like Robert E. Howard, Leigh Brackett, Clifford Simak, and many others see Wildside Books, which will be revamped in January. And finally, the site for ebooks, Wildside Press, is schedule for redesign by March. The new issue of Sherlock Holmes Mystery (#5), with a cover by Charles Bernard, is due in January and Weird Tales #357 is headed for press.

Chuck Dixon Interview
The folks at All Pulp are generating volumes of content, mostly about the new age of pulp. They run lots of interviews, but the comments in a recent conversation with Chuck Dixon really caught my attention. Dixon defines what pulp meant originally and how that has evolved today. Although his own writing is mostly focused on stories of comics, I thought his observations on pulp nailed it. Chuck Dixon interview.

Cathy Leamy Interview
C. Ché Salazar posted the first part of his interview with Cathy Leamy this week on Production 3C. The Boston-based cartoonist's most recent work includes Greenblooded and Reggie & Brian and the Lousy Nickname.

Jason M. Burns sent news of a couple of new books coming from Ape Entertainment. Pocket God #3 features two stories one written by Burns, with pencils by Rolando "Rolo" Mallada and inks & coloring by Paul Little; and one written by Jim Hankins, with artwork by Lucas Ferreyra. Cover by Mallada.

Shrek #2 includes stories written by Troy Dye & Tom Kelesides, Scott Shaw!, Jim Hankins, and (Matt) Anderson; drawn by Christine Larsen, Mikhail Drujic, Rob Reilly, and Robb Mommaerts; with color work by Tim Durning, Jay Moyano, JM Ringuet, and Rolando Mallada. Cover by Mommaerts & Mallada.

Rabid Rabbit #12
The new edition of Rabid Rabbit made its debut at the Brooklyn Comics & Graphic Arts Festival last week. With a cover by Nathan Fox, the book should be available through RR's distribution outlets in the weeks ahead—or buy it for $6 direct right now from the Rabid Rabbit Shop.

Inside Midnight Fiction
Our Rick McCollum zinography continues to fill out with the addition of nearly a dozen more covers of comics featuring his work. Dimension Z, Knights Round Table, and his Screaming Masks issue of the Tundra Sketchbook Series to name a few. You can shop for many of McCollum's back catalog at My Comic Shop. Just click on the cover image, many are linked directly to the item.

Top November 2010 October 2010

December 4, 2010

Sean Azzopardi
Our December cartoon for the free 2010 Midnight Fiction Desk Calendar was drawn by UK cartoonist Sean Azzopardi. Sean recently published a print version of his collaboration with Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, Necessary Monsters, which along with several other books is available from the Sean Azzopardi Shop. Sean was interviewed by Matt Badham in January 2010 for Forbidden Planet International and in March 2008 for Overspill. Many thanks to Sean for contributing to this year's desk calendar!

So Buttons: Holiday
(From the press release) Hot on the heels of So Buttons #3: So Horror-ble, indie comics scribe Jonathan Baylis delivers a special holiday treat, So Buttons Holiday Special #1. Featuring a T. J. Kirsch cover starring the writer's pet Boston Terrier, Mocha, in a Santa cap, this graphic mini is the ideal primer lo get everyone into the spirit of the season.

The book opens with a story that returns Baylis to his autobiographical roots after his brief sojourn into macabre fiction. In So... Chalk It I Ip to Konglateral Damage the auteur and film aficionado explains why King Kong will always be synonymous with Thanksgiving. Artist, Thomas Boatwright, who masterfully depicted Baylis's only auto-bio tale in So Horror-ble, deftly captures the writer's annual frustration and ultimate triumph.

Baylis adapts a childhood tale of his wife, comedian Ophira Eisenberg—who's been featured on Comedy Central's Premium Comedy Blend and was selected as one of New York magazine's Top 10 Comics that "Funny People Find Funny"—for the mini's concluding tale. In So. . . He Mad It Out of Clay, the raconteur relates Eisenberg's problems as a young Jew during Chrisimastime growing up in the primarily gentile climes of Calgary, Canada. Baylis handles the story with sensitivity. allowing the humor to evolve naturally, making for a more poignant piece that embraces both religions in the holiday spirit. So Buttons art veteran T. J. Kirsch. whose work has been featured in every issue of the series, proves once again why his signature delicate linework and subtle humor is the perfect compliment to Baylis's thoughtful writing style.

No volume of So Buttons would be complete without a great back cover and the Holiday Special #1 delivers a knockout; a battle for the ages with a yamulke-capped, tallit-draped King Kong hauling everybody's favorite Man with the Bag. It's an inspired piece by artist Paul Salvi that cleverly teases to the stories featured therein.

So Buttons Holiday Special #1 is 8 b&w pages, plus covers. 5.5" x 8.5" with saddle stitch binding. It's available for $2 plus $1 from So Buttons.

The Enquirer Dharbin
A successful Kickstarter campaign funded the publishing of a wonderful newsprint comics section by Dustin Harbin. The Enquirer Dharbin unfurls to a massive 16" x 21" comics newspaper in glorious full color. At 8 pages, its more like the equivalent of 32 pages of funnies, for the amazing price tag of just $1, but please add another $3 for mailing. Here's the link to Harbin's Mart (but hurry they are going fast!). And if you want to keep tabs on him, check out the Dharblog.

Jim Steranko Portfolio
Ken Meyer Jr.'s Ink Stains column on ComicAttack.net hit 25 this week, and it's a doozie. Somehow I missed the Jim Steranko Portfolio in 1970. No matter, because Meyer provides a complete blow-by-blow of page after page of gorgeous design and illustration. There are many highlights here including covers from silver age fanzines like Fantastic Fanzine, promotional sheets for original character designs for Harvey, and two complete stories of some of Steranko's earliest work at age 15 and 16. The portfolio and Meyer's article really traces Steranko's career from its beginnings until about 1970, when the piece was published by Supergraphics. Ink Stains #25.

TeeMee
Pun and toon master, Jim Siergey launched an apparel response to the recent airport security procedures this week. I'd love to see the look on an airport screener's face when they get their hands on one of these.

Stark House Mystery Classics
Publisher Greg Shepard announced a new collection of classic mysteries by Peter Rabe for January 2011. The new volume includes Rabe's final manuscripts The Silent Wall and The Return of Marvin Palaver as well as a rare short story, Hard Case Redhead. See Stark House Press for more details.

Comix Debut in Brooklyn
Sparkplug Comic Books is premiering Habitat #2 along with the East Coast intro of Studygroup 12 #4 at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival this weekend (Dec. 4). Habitat #2 is Dunja Jankovic's sequel to her Department of Art. The 48 page comix is available for $9 from Sparkplug Comic Books, where you can also preview three of its pages.

Studygroup 12 #4 is a 9" x 12" perfect bound book and includes work by dozens of Pacific Northwest small press comix artists. You can read more about it and preview several pages at Secret Voice's Etsy Shop.

Sparkplug also announced their new catalog, which will available in early 2011.

El Vocho
Steve Lafler has launched a new Kickstarter project for his latest graphic novel, El Vocho. In his own words, "After two years of ink slinging, I've completed the 104 page El Vocho graphic novel. Over the past few months I've promoted the book, with great prepublishing events in Portland, OR and San Francisco. Now I have a modest order in hand from Diamond Comic Distributors. I will print the book and ship Diamond their order, then the plan is to continue to market El Vocho to smaller distributors, independent bookstores, comic specialty retailers and individuals. The Diamond order covers part of the cost to print and ship the book, but I am looking to raise funds to cover the balance of the printing and shipping costs."

El Vocho is being posted online, one page per week at CO2 Comics. The book's namesake El Vocho even has it's own theme song, Ballad of the Bug. The Comics Journal interviewed Lafler in September about the book and his comics career.

District Comics
Matt Dembicki (Trickster: Native American Tales) announced a new online anthology this week. The stories will feature the history of Washington, D.C., from its beginnings to contemporary times. The site will be free to encourage use by schools, libraries, comic readers, and anyone else interested in the nation's capital. Dembicki has an open call for submissions, which is described in detail at District Comics.

The Great Treasury of
Christmas Comic Book Stories
Yoe! Books and publisher IDW have released The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories, just in time for the holidays. The 176 page volume features Christmas comics from the Golden Age that will warm the hearts of children of all ages. Top cartoonists like Walt Kelly (Pogo), John Stanley (Little Lulu), and Dan Noonan penned the humorous, heartwarming comics in this beautiful collection. You'll meet elves, reindeer, talking snowmen, funny animals, and, of course, Santa Claus himself, in terrific stories that will provide a sense of wonder for the whole family. The hardcover, full color book is roughly 8.5" x 11" and is available for $34.99 from IDW publishing, Powell's Books, MyComicShop and other retailers.

Brideau's Mini 'o the Month
Neil Brideau, who's published Alpha City Comics, Who is That?, The Trugglemat and several other comics, has announced a mini comic of the month club. In a spirit of experimentation Brideau will send out a new, original mini comic each month during 2011. Subscriptions are available in 12- and 6-month increments. Previous Mini 'o the month clubs have been offered by Liz Ballie (2009) and Pat Grant (2010). Subscribe at From the Well.

Gaylord Phoenix
Edie Fake's debut graphic novel, Gaylord Phoenix follows the danger-fraught journeys of the gaylord phoenix, a creature willing to sacrifice anything for love and self-knowledge. Fake confronts the reader with violent and unexpected manifestations of sexual connection and romantic possession as the gaylord phoenix searches for his lost love, his origins and his place in the world. Culled from Edie Fake's minicomic series of the same name, Gaylord Phoenix portrays the most human, universal struggle in an epic, majestically rendered world where transformations, magic and sex are part of the everyday fabric of life. The 256 page, two-color book is available for $17.95 from publisher Secret Acres.

Inside Midnight Fiction
A couple of years ago I decided to try becoming an Amazon.com Affiliate. I setup search boxes on every page of the site to try and earn a small percentage of sales from promoting them. In a year's time the earnings were zero, so I stopped promoting them. If you go through every page on the site you can probably still find one, but for the most part they're gone. I considered joining Powell's program but never did it. Then one day I noticed that Buddy Saunders' outfit MyComicShop was offering an Affiliate program. I remembered Saunders from his ads in The Buyer's Guide, back when Alan Light was publishing it. Saunders always had great prices and accurate grading. Since I discovered his online store, I've become a customer again. He carries a terrific stock of the kind of things that appeal to me like Dog Boy, Neil the Horse, Ms. Tree, and anything by Rick McCollum. You get the idea. Anyway, now I'm an affiliate, and I'm slowly adding links to the site wherever it makes sense. This week I received my first Affiliate credit. Of course, I don't know who ordered, but THANK YOU whoever you are. I'm thrilled! Thanks for using the links on MF.com to click through and shop at MyComicShop!