Midnight Ramblings - June 2009

Satyr #9 Preview
When I was growing up, my mother got me a couple of English Rupert the Bear books. Where she got them, I'll never know, but I loved them. Rupert's stories were like the perfect combination of comic and prose stories. Each page features four panels with captions and two paragraphs of text below.

Panels from Une Fable Sombre

Last year I was doing a lot of free write exercises. One of them developed into a flash fiction story about a detective working on a missing persons case. When it was finished I realized it would be ideal for a comic story. Inspired by I, I developed the story using three rows of panels on each page with narrative below. The story is called Une Fable Sombre. It's five pages long and will appear in the next issue of Satyr from Main Enterprises.

A regular Satyr contributor, Bebop, also has a story in issue nine. Production Manager Richard Sullivan has assembled all the pages and is readying the final package for print. The 40-page, magazine-size comic should be available in another week or two. The price is $5.70 (which includes $1.75 for shipping). Order directly from Main Enterprises.

Zine of Bronze #6 and Sherlock Holmes #1 covers

And at print now from Main Enterprises is Zine of Bronze #6. It's 24-pages, plus a full color cover. Editor Jim Main is accepting advance orders for this magazine-size zine via email. The book is $5.00 (postage paid).

Main's also working on the second issues of his mini comics, WTF!?! and Halloween. He's looking for b&w cartoons, comics, and illustrations for both. Send email if you'd like to contribute.

New Sherlock Holmes Pulp
Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Books announced the release of their newest title, Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective. The master sleuth returns in five brand new mysterious by four of today’s finest writers.

A famous soccer player is found dead in the club house. An unidentified stowaway is murdered aboard a U.S. Navy warship, while another man is found asphyxiated in an empty, locked room. These are several of the twisted puzzles challenging the Baker Street sleuth as he once again takes up the hunt on the fog ridden streets of London accompanied, as always, by his faithful ally, Dr.Watson.

Writers Aaron Smith, Andrew Salmon, Van Allen Plexico and I.A. Watson have set forth exciting new mysteries done in the traditional style of the original Holmes stories by his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are no space aliens here nor howling werewolves, simply good old fashion whodunits. So arm yourself for danger and all manner of villainy as once again, the game is afoot!

This premier volume features a cover by artist Mark Maddox, with interior illustrations and design by Rob Davis. Edited by Airship 27 Prod. founder, Ron Fortier. “Sherlock Holmes is clearly the most beloved fictional character ever created,” Fortier offered in discussing the new book. “We’ve assembled a collection of five terrific stories we are sure will entertain Holmes fans around the world.” Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective #1 is $16.50 from Airship 27.

Poopsheet
Rick Bradford added several cool new features to his mini-comic community website. Members can now add any comic-related events to the new Events calendar.

Poopsheet is part of Twitter and posts mini comic-related news. You can follow PoopsheetComics on Twitter or read the latest Tweets on the Poopsheet Foundation homepage in the left sidebar.

Firefox users who want to banish the "Ads by Google" that appear on the right sidebar of Poopsheet can get the Adblock Plus add-on from Mozilla.

I encourage you to join the Poopsheet Foundation, sign-up for Bradford's eNewsletter, and take advantage the 20% off sale at the Poopsheet Shop before it ends on June 30th.

The Bottom Line on Self-Publishing
Hooray for Sean Azzopardi. He shared the cost, margin, and pricing details for his graphic novel 12 Hour Shift—and his general pricing strategy for his mini comics—on Phatcomics this week. (And thoughts on the impact of Longbox.) I'm always thrilled to see someone brave enough to share this sort of data for the benefit of other indie cartoonists. Kudos Sean!

Wildside Twofers
Wildside Press is making room in their warehouse for new titles by offering a free book from a select list of their back-catalog for every order of a newer title. A few of the selections include Edgar Rice Burroughs, Anne McCaffrey, and Spicy Adventures.

Total Television Productions and Summit artwork

Total TV Tome
Cartoon Brew highlighted a new book coming from BearManor Media this week. Total Television Productions contains a comprehensive episode guide for series like Underdog, Tennessee Tuxedo, the King and Odie, and all their other productions, written by historian Mark Arnold. It's available for $29.95 from BearManor Media.

Tom Lechner's Summit
The amazing Mr. Lechner has posted a ten pager on TomLechner.com. He's been experimenting with color high in the mountains.

Munden's Bar
ComicMix has seven episodes of Munden's Bar online with work by John Ostrander, Skip Williamson, Marc Hempel, Joe Staton, John Workman, Matt Webb, William Messner-Loebs, Bob Pinaha, Joanna Estep, Martha Thomases, Hilary Barta, Jason Millet, and M.J. Butler. All episodes under the direction of Editor Mike Gold. If you enjoy funny noir, you'll love Munden's Bar.

Short Pants Summer
Shortpants Press reported this week plans for the release of a new issue of Shuteye by the end of summer. They're also hard at work on a collected edition of the Ouija Interviews and Bone Closet Comics.

2009 Reuben Awards
Hogan's Alley has a terrific photo report from the annual awards event of the National Cartoonists Society. All snapped by Hogan's director of artistic art, David Folkman.

More small press reviews from Midnight Fiction:
Shannon Smith's Addicted to Distraction on Poopsheet Foundation

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June 20, 2009

Underground Comic
Underground is a new, five-issue series that goes on sale in September. Published by Image Comics, it's written by Jeff Parker, drawn by Steve Lieber, and colored by Ron Chan of Periscope Studios. As Lieber's Whiteout movie readies to hit theaters worldwide, the acclaimed artist returns to the adventure genre with a new thriller, pairing with acclaimed writer Jeff Parker (Agents of Atlas, Exiles) to create Underground.

Park Ranger and avid caver Wesley Fischer is on a one-woman mission to stop Stillwater Cave from being turned into a tourist trap, but public opinion is not on her side. When locals begin blasting in the cave, Wes and a fellow ranger investigate—and a confrontation spirals into a deadly chase deep under the Kentucky mountains. Underground preview.

20% Off Everything Sale
For the remainder of June, our partner site, Poopsheet Foundation, is having a 20% off everything in their shop sale. The Poopsheet Shop has nearly a thousand recent and back issue mini comics, art zines, fanzines, and underground comix in stock. During the sale orders for $100 and over include free shipping. Complete directions for the Poopsheet Shop sale. For timely news, sign up for their free newsletter. (Scroll down to the bottom of the left sidebar of the site's homepage.)

Apartment 307
Josh Blair, Pete Borrebach, and Noah Van Sciver all live in apartment 307. Not in the same apartment, but apart in 307s around the country. Eerie coincidence or convenient kismet? Whichever, it was enough to inspire a new 20-page, digest-size comic available for $3 through the Blair's Candy or Medicine blog.

Blair wrote a post called Why I Love Anthologies on his blog this week that I found very interesting. I agree with his point that anthologies are great samplers. I've also noticed a lot of different groups of comikers producing anthologies. These formal or informal collectives are driven by location (Good Minnesotan), schools (I Know Joe Kimpel), era (Time Warp Comix), or some other unifying factor. For cartoonists who are just starting out, these collective-based anthologies are ideal. Yes, the quality of the content has a wide range, but that's part of what makes them enticing—the chance to discover someone new.

Cute But Sad
Howard Hardiman announced his Badger character from his mini comic now has a new website. Hardiman plans to update the Cute But Sad website weekly (Tuesdays) with new episodes of Badger revealing where he grew up, where he lives now, and continuing his adventures where his Badger mini comic leaves off.

Jack in the Box graphic novel and Thrilling Adventures #3 covers

C2D4 News
Writer Martin Buxton and artist Tony Wicks announced the first graphic novel from C2D4 (Comics to Die For) this week. The idea that we are products of our environment will be put to the test by alien beings living beneath our feet. The 120-page Jack in the Box graphic novel tells the story of a young boy abducted by interdimensional beings as a baby and forced to take part in a bizarre sensory experiment. The novel will launch officially at British International Comics Show (BICS) in October. Jack in the Box preview (in the gallery).

Thrilling Adventures #3
The resurrection of the classic Pulp Magazine continues! Add some adventure to your summer reading with the latest quarterly issue of Thrilling Adventures featuring a look at the weapons and combat techniques of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian Tales by T.J. Glenn, an exciting new adventure with some familiar legendary heroes from days of yore by Barry Reese, a classic Suicide Squad story by Emile C. Tepperman, and fans of comics set in WW2 will get a thrill out of cover artists' Jay Piscopo's graphic feature starring his hero, Commander X!

Comic Storytelling Class
If you're in Stumptown, cartoonist Aron Nels Steinke is teaching a Comics: Storytelling class this summer at Portland Community College. Check out instructor Steinke's Top Shelf 2.0 webcomic and more about the PCC Comics: Storytelling class.

Dog Comix #6-1/2 and Lunarcy mini comic covers

More small press comic reviews from Midnight Fiction:
Gary Fields' Dog Comix #6-1/2 on Poopsheet Foundation

Josh Blair's Lunarcy on Comic Related

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June 13, 2009

Abstract Comics
Bill Shut sent news of a new anthology coming soon from Fantagraphics Books. Beginning with the experiments of Saul Steinberg, through some of the more psychedelic creations of R. Crumb, and more recently, cartoonists created comics whose panels contain little to no representational imagery, and which tell no stories. Reduced to the panel grid, brushstrokes, and sometimes colors, abstract comics highlight the formal mechanisms that underlie all comics. The first collection devoted to this genre, Abstract Comics: The Anthology, is edited by Andrei Molotiu, an art historian and contemporary abstract-comic creator. It gathers the best abstract comics so far, including early experiments by Gary Panter, Moebius, Patrick McDonnell, and Lewis Trondheim, and pieces by little-known pioneers such as Benoit Joly, Bill Boichel, Bill Shut and Jeff Zenick, as well as by recent practitioners such as Ibn al Rabin, Billy Mavreas, Mark Staff Brandl, and many others. Abstract Comics also features first attempts, commissioned specifically for this anthology, by well-known cartoonists such as James Kochalka, Ivan Brunetti, J.R. Williams and Warren Craghead.

Tales of Good ol' Snoop Doggy Dog and Ghost Comics covers

MoCCA Magic
One of the books that debuted at MoCCA this year was J.T. Yost's latest mini comic. Tales of Good ol' Snoop Doggy Dog is available now from his website.

In May, Ed Choy Moorman's Bare Bones Press released a 176-page anthology called Ghost Comics. Winner of a Xeric grant, net proceeds from book sales benefit RS Eden. For a full contributor list and ordering information check out Moorman's website. He also recently completed Dark Cloud Comin' and The Love Song of Kermit the Frog.

Main Zine Machine
During the first five months of 2009, Main Enterprises has already published a year's worth of new small press zines, but there are plenty more in the works. Jim Main reports he and his contributors plan to complete Comic Fan #5, Satyr #9, Zine of Bronze #6, Chase #8, Dark Corridor #4, Strange Space Stories #1, Boot Hill #2, an Edgar Allan Poe mini comic, Ack #2, Heroic #1, Halloween #2, WTF!?! #2, The Attic #1, and who knows what else by year's end! Several of these books are well into production, but other still need material. If you're interested in contributing, Main can be contacted through Main Enterprises.

Candy of Medicine #7 and Sunward covers

CorM #7 is Coming
Josh Blair announced this week, the seventh issue of his Candy or Medicine anthology mini comicwill be out in July. See his blog for a list of contributors.

Sunward Ho!
Jason Viola reports his new mini comic called Sunward is now available for $4 from the Herman the Manatee store. Sunward is about a guy named Rhino Dave who finds himself in an unfortunate gravitational position. It’s drawn in a similar style to Herman and the story captures the same claustrophobia and anxiety, but the characters are less out of a children’s cartoon and more from a strange adolescent dream. You can read the first four pages of the 40-page mini comic on Viola's LiveJournal.

Alley Oop
The University of Missouri is hosting 75 Years of the Comic World of V.T. Hamlin that's loaded with articles, photos, and artwork. (Thanks to Mike Lynch, who got it from Tom Spurgeon.)

Go Rep Yourself
Julie Sabatier's June 25th edition of Destination DIY will delve into the topic of Representing Yourself. The podcast releases at 7:00 pm.

Artist Search
Outlaw Entertainment announced an international artist search this week. Participating artists must submit a five page sequential sample based on an existing Outlaw Entertainment script by July 15th. The winner will receive $1000. See Outlaw Entertainment for complete rules and sample scripts.

WTF!?! #1 and Old Man Winter covers More small press reviews from Midnight Fiction:

Jim Main's WTF!?! #1 on Poopsheet Foundation

J.T. Yost's Old Man Winter on Comic Related

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June 6, 2009

Devil in June
Welcome to June mocha lovers. This month's Midnight Fiction calendar image is very loosely based on a 16th century devil from an altarpiece in the San Miguel Church in Jerez de la Frontera. Who would have ever guessed? Want the full desk calendar? Download here.

Innsmouth Free Press and Captain Hazzard covers

Innsmouth Free Press Debuts
The inaugural issue of issue of Innsmouth Free Press is now available to read online or download. With fiction by Pamela Kinney, Robert Borski, Caroline Totten, Kirk Barrett, and Paula Stiles the digital journal's theme for their summer issue is "water".

Airship 27's Latest
Ron Fortier's Airship 27 Productions has re-released his first Captain Hazzard pulp with a brand new cover by Mark Maddox. Published by Cornerstone Books it's available from the Airship 27 shop for $16.50

Kimpel at MoCCA
Indie publishing haven I Know Joe Kimpel highlights several new titles at this weekend's NYC small press nexus. Xeric award winner Collen Frakes offers Woman King, an 88-page story about a girl raised by bears and the cyclical nature of war. Denis St. John provides Monsters & Girls: Amelia part 2 and Emily Wieja introduces part one of Huck & the Indians. IKJK will also feature their latest anthology Trivial, with work by Alex Kim, Alexis Frederick-Frost, Sean Ford, and A.L. Arnold. Plus Mario Van Buren will have copies of his new book, Prune Hands and Bob Oxman will debut Smuttynose 2. Also in attendance, Morgan Plell will be introducing the first issue of his Indestructible Universe Quarterly. If you can't make to the show, check out the I Know Joe Kimpel store for more on these and other titles.

TwoMorrows Turns Fifteen
John Morrow's TwoMorrows Publishing celebrates its fifteenth year with a 50% off sale on many of their popular titles. The sales runs through June, so check out their shop for all the details.

Awesomer
The second volume of Charlito and Mr. Phil's Indie Spinner Rack comics anthology was announced by Top Shelf this week. Awesome 2: Awesomer includes work by Chris Duffy, Sarah Glidden, Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey, Jeff Lemire, Alex Robinson, J. Chris Campbell, Robert Goodin, Alex Cahill, Chris Schweizer, and many more—with a cover by the legendary Jeff Smith. One half of sale proceeds go to a student scholarship at the Center for Cartoon Studies. $14.95 from Top Shelf.

Center for Cartoon Studies launches The Schulz Library blog
And speaking of said Studies Center, the nobel institution of high cartoon learning has launch a new blog honoring the memory of Charles Schulz.

book covers

Kirby Tribute
Small press stalwarts Larry Blake and Tim Corrigan joined forces to produce a wonderful new tribute issue of TC's Comics and Stories. The special 16-page issue (#34) features a massive monster is the tradition of Kirby's classic behemoths. Puny humans can get theirs for only $1.50 from New Voice Media.

Octopus Pie Merchandise Sale
Webcomiker Meredith Gran reports she's loading up the truck and heading to Stumptown. But she needs to lighten the load, so she's offering a sale on lots of Octopus Pie collections and swag at her online shop.

String #14
Comic collective 7000 BC released the fourteenth issue of String this week. The free PDF publication features comics by Courtney Angermeier, Jeff Benham, Danny Green, Shirl Sazynski, Nick Sedillos, Rent Cavalier, and Circe Olson Woessner. Some issues of String feature jam comics, but this issue features 32 pages of finished work. It's an outstanding issue. You can download String #14 here, as well as the previous thirteen.

NMSD #15
Delaine Derry Green is hard at work assembling the next massive issue of Not My Small Diary. She plans to have the remaining contributor's pages corralled by the end of the month. Then, it's on to production and printing. I'll be sure to include coverage here as soon as it's available.

Fugitive Hardcover
Phillip Margolin is a criminal defense lawyer turned best-selling author. At the release of his fourteenth novel, Fugitive, he spoke about how he turns an idea into a novel. Margolin is a self-taught writer and maintains that getting a strong idea is the hardest part of writing. Inspiration for his crime stories often comes from real events. For his novel Heartstone, which is loosely based on a real event, he obtained trial transcripts and a copy of the defense brief. From these he gained valuable information, procedures, and jargon that helped make his fictitious story more authentic.

He suggests that aspiring writers keep a notebook with them to jot down interesting ideas whenever they occur. Good places to mine ideas are old news stories on record at the library. He advises patience in writing fiction. Don't rush a story to meet a self-imposed deadline. Margolin's stories are plot driven. He advocates taking as much time as needed to work out a plot with solid story logic and enough surprises to keep readers engaged.

His method of expanding an idea into a novel-length book involves asking questions. Start with a small incident. Who are the victims? Who is the criminal? Where did the crime take place? Why there, and at that particular time? Why did the criminal select them? How does the crime impact the lives of the family or friends or business associates of the victims? What was gained from the crime? These and many other questions will expand the story and spawn subplots to add depth and layers to a story.

Margolin also likes his characters to face moral or ethical dilemmas due to the crime that's been committed. A witness may lie—not to protect the criminal—but to protect something else. What? The tension builds as the investigator gains knowledge and begins to suspect the witness is protecting someone or something.

For his own novels, Margolin develops a 25 to 60 page outline with many details. He doesn't begin writing the novel until he works out a satisfying ending. He typically writes four or five hours a day. Starting early, he reviews the previous
day's work and then refines it during his first hour. Then he begins writing new material. He produces about five new pages every day.