Blog - July 2008

Traces
The latest free PDF download from the 7000 BC comics collective is available here. This time out the southwestern comikers jammed on a tracing pad and the result is a canine metamorphic treat.

Blazing Adventures #6
A special edition of Blazing Adventures was announced by Dash Courageous this week spotlighting the work of writer TJ Glenn and his character Dr. Shadows. This heroic pulp fiction zine is available as a free PDF file on the Blazing Adventures website. Issue #6 was edited by Robert S.P. Lee and features a cover illustration by Craig Shepard.

The Adventures of Gabriel Hunt
Writer and Editor of Hard Case Crime fiction books Charles Ardai announced last week a new pulp fiction venue. The Adventures of Gabriel Hunt is coming in 2009. To subscribe to the email list for updates stop by the website.

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July 19, 2008 Blog Entry
Midnight Ramblings

The Cloak
In the late 1960's many of the stories from monthly Marvel and DC comics were being reformatted and reprinted for weekly comic magazines and newspapers for readers in the UK. One of the tabloid weeklies was called Pow and Wham. In addition to the reprints of the Fantastic Four and Spiderman, the title also included original comics by English cartoonists featuring wacky characters like Sammy Shrink and Georgie's Germs.

A good friend of mine took a trip across the pond one summer and brought back three issues of the title. For me, one feature made the whole comic worth buying. In fact, the first time I saw it, I was an instant fan. It was called The Cloak. Each issue included a two page segment of a longer story. Mysteriously signed MIK, I learned years later The Cloak was created by cartoonist Mike Higgs.

Over the years I've searched the web from time to time for more information about The Cloak and/or Mike Higgs. There was never really much out there until I chanced upon a fabulous post by cartoonist Lew Stringer on his blog. Cloak fans rejoice, this is golden! Stringer also includes some wonderful posts about English fanzines of the 1970s, so check out his archives.

Tranny
Indie cartoonist Steve Lafler has a new book called Tranny scheduled for release in Sept. In Tranny, Fiona Mallratte provides a $99 Drag Makeover for those times when boys will be girls. MF.com will provide a review of the new book at release, but if you're anxious for more of that transformational funny feeling right now, check out Fiona on YouTube. Probably not safe for work . . .

Daniel Merlin Goodbrey
Comics Reporter Tom Spurgeon interviewed Daniel Merlin Goodbrey last Sunday. Goodbrey is collaborating with Sean Azzopardi on Necessary Monsters, which runs online here.

Largecow Shop
I just love the cartoon Hunt Emerson did for this year's MF desk calendar. Mr. July has been busy this month expanding his website. In the news section you can preview the beautiful cartoon illustration he's just completed for the first day cover of postage stamps celebrating Air Shows. Plus he's added nearly a dozen new titles to the Largecow Shop!

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July 12, 2008 Blog Entry
Midnight Ramblings

EEK! It's in Color!
Scott Nickel added color to the online version of his fab comic strip Eek! this week. Take a look and add your comments here.

CrimeWAV
A new podcast series began this week featuring crime stories from published authors. Created and produced by Seth Harwood, Aldo Calcagno, and Jason Andrews, the first episode features Must Bite part 1 by Vicki Hendricks. Website

More Reviews on Poopsheet
Rick Bradford continues to add features and content to Poopsheet Foundation, a social networking website for mini comic creators, collectors, and readers. Rick invited me to contribute and I gladly accepted. Look for my new weekly mini comic review blog on Poopsheet beginning on Wednesday, July 16th. My first review will be for Short Notice by Susan Tardif.

Jules Verne Classic
AquaMinds makes a fun software package called NoteTaker. They released an online copy of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas this week that was created using their software. It's an interesting approach that adds some interactivity to an old classic.
Read it here.

Polly and Her Pals
The ASIFA Hollywood Animation Archive featured a wonderful post on Cliff Sterrett's Polly and Her Pals this week on their blog. Check it out here.

Cultural Jet Lag
Culture fans can check out a few choice editorial cartoons by indie cartoonist Jim Siergey on The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) website.

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July 5, 2008 Blog Entry
Midnight Ramblings

Art of Dan W. Taylor
Small press publisher and newave cartoonist Dan W. Taylor has posted a new batch of paintings on his blog. He often includes some interesting background information on the images as well, which I always find adds to the enjoyment. The site provides some interactivity and he encourages comments about the work and has made it easy to post anonymously or logged in. Check out his paintings blog and tell him what you think.

Shannon Smith's Mailcon
Your best pal ever and zinester Shannon Smith is offering a free convention style sketch—but without the convention. Just send him an email and he'll send you his street address. Then, for the bargain price of a self-addressed stamped envelope, he'll send you an original sketch, just like the ones you get at a convention. Full details here. Full zine reviews here.

Duke City Fix
DCF, the Albuquerque cultural social network interviewed 7000 BC's Bram Meeham about the comic collective and their titles like Raised by Squirrels and Hospital Stories. Read the interview here.

ThugLit #26
The hardboiled pulp fiction zine ThugLit is back for another round with a new issue of writing about wrongs. Click on the ThugLit - Issue 26 link on the homepage.

TwoMorrows Sale
For the first two weeks in July (through July 14th) TwoMorrows Publishing is offering 50% off the cover price of select "how to" titles, purchased online. Check their website for details.

Willis at Oly Con
Next week our comix feature spotlights the creator of Morty the Dog, newave comix creator and Oly blogger Steve Willis. Steve was interviewed by the Olympia Comics Fest Director Chelsea Baker at this year's event on June 7th. Next week a full recap of their conversation right here on MF.com!