Hot on the heels of its Eisner Award nomination for "Best Graphic Album – New," Mark Kalesniko's beautiful, ambitious and complex book Freeway has been named an honor book (i.e. runner-up) for the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize by a jury representing the Pennsylvania Center for the Book at Penn State University. From the judges' comments: "Kalesniko's vivid existentialist drama of the dog and his artistic dream reassuringly demonstrates that in comics, at least, creativity and originality continue to flourish and (with this honor award) receive their rightful recognition." – Susan Squier "With allusions to the history of the classic studio…
Daily OCD: 4/11/12
Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review/Plug: City Weekly's Scott Renshaw previews Kevin Avery's appearance at The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City on Friday to sign Everything Is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson, saying "Avery crafts a biography of a largely self-taught thinker who immersed himself in his passions, whether that meant classic film, the detective fiction of Ross Macdonald or folk music. The author allows his subject to develop primarily through oral history, as his friends and contemporaries recall a quirky iconoclast who disappeared into obscurity and a lonely death in 2006. But…
Monte Schulz Signing in Corte Madera!
Join author Monte Schulz for a signing and discussion of his latest work on Thursday, April 12th in Corte Madera, California! A novel of the Jazz Age, The Big Town is the story of a failed businessman whose dreams of prosperity hinge on the secret proposition of a millionaire industrialist and a dangerous relationship he finds with a poor orphan girl chasing love in the great American metropolis. The event kicks off at 7:00 PM! BookPassage is located at 51 Tamal Vista Blvd in Corte Madera.
Advancing into Spring
March/April advance shipments bring May/June books… Our shelves are starting to groan with advance copies of upcoming arrivals that have come in over the last couple of weeks. Above, the softcover edition of Stephen Dixon's short story collection What Is All This? (it's prose, folks), the softcover edition of Fredrik Strömberg's Black Images in the Comics, and (also below) Nicolas Mahler's Angelman… …our biggest trim-size book ever, the hunormous Mr. Twee Deedle – Raggedy Ann's Sprightly Cousin: The Forgotten Fantasy Masterpieces of Johnny Gruelle (big book, big title)… …the 5th volume of our beautiful, beloved, bestselling hardcover collections of Hal…
Daily OCD: 4/10/12
Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Gagne’s selections are first-rate. These stories are fiery fare. Lovers clash like storm-tossed waves on rocky shores. They battle misconceptions and social injustices…. Even stories created under the constraints of the Comics Code pack a wallop. In the skilled hands of Simon and Kirby, love is most definitely a battlefield. The book’s special features are also top-notch…. Young Romance: The Best of Simon & Kirby’s Romance Comics belongs in the personal library of all Simon and Kirby fans and all serious students of comics art and history. It’s a prime example of what…
Monte Schulz Signing in Santa Rosa!
Author Monte Schulz will be signing his captivating novel of the Jazz Age on Wednesday, April 11th in Santa Rosa, California! A novel of the Jazz Age, The Big Town is the story of a failed businessman whose dreams of prosperity hinge on the secret proposition of a millionaire industrialist and a dangerous relationship he finds with a poor orphan girl chasing love in the great American metropolis. Join Monte starting at 7:00 PM at Copperfields Books Montgomery Village [ 775 Village Court ]!
Daily OCD: 4/6-4/9/12
A few days of Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "Everything Is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson by Salt Lake City native Kevin Avery is a fitting testimonial to a man who pioneered rock 'n' roll criticism. Those familiar and unfamiliar with the culture of the '60s will appreciate this finely written tribute…. Overall, Everything Is an Afterthought will break your heart and inspire you to be a better person. It is a wonderful story of a man who deserves his chance in the spotlight." – Shelby Scoffield, Deseret News • Excerpts: On his blog, writer…
Cannibal Fuckshirts from Johnny Ryan!
Since we can't walk around covered in blood like Cannibal Fuckface (well, most of us anyway), you can at least have the man himself across your chest! It's the Prison Pit t-shirt by Johnny Ryan, from our friends at Monster Worship! Two-color design on a sinister black t-shirt. Short sleeved for your arms, or an evil worm-like creature. In an addendum to this previous FLOG post, I had no luck tracking down the highly-sought after Johnny Ryan-designed tees from H&M. But a certain someone did, and that would be Miss Bella Reid, the 13-year-old daughter of Larry, our manager and…
Monte Schulz Signing in San Francisco!
Author Monte Schulz is bringing The Big Town to the big town of San Francisco on Tuesday, April 10th! A novel of the Jazz Age, The Big Town is the story of a failed businessman whose dreams of prosperity hinge on the secret proposition of a millionaire industrialist and a dangerous relationship he finds with a poor orphan girl chasing love in the great American metropolis. Join Monte for a signing, starting at 7:00 PM at the Modern Times Bookstore Collective [ 2919 24th Street ]. And, we're pleased to announce that Modern Times invests 10% of the total sales…
T Edward Bak Talking at the Portland Central Library!
I could listen to Mome-vet T Edward Bak talk for hours, and if you live in Portland, OR, you can have the less time-intensive honor on Tuesday, April 24th! The Portland Central Library is proud to present "Cartoonists Talking," an evening event in conjunction with the Stumptown Comics Fest! Bak (or "Tebs," as I like to call him) will deliver a presentation on WILD MAN: The Strange Journey and Fantastic Account of the Naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, which was serialized in Mome. The artist has conducted his own research in Southeast Alaska and the Aleutian archipelago, as well as St….
