This week's pink cotton candy goodness of Online Commentaries and Diversions:
Review: How to Be Happy by Eleanor Davis
"A mix of evocative, geometric watercolors and fluid pen-and-ink cartoons, How to Be Happy tells stories of sad people, lonely people, strong people, confident people, all trying to find a tiny bit of happiness in life…Davis’ clever and sometimes jaw-droppingly beautiful artwork makes those stories feel real." – Dan Kois, Slate Book Review
"The use of Adam and Eve’s human bodies to communicate to one another, to seek the bliss that’s coming, to lift that weight, is the image Davis wants us to leave with. No moral, no punchline, no muted epiphany — discarded along with all the other distractions, they leave only Edenic bliss behind." – Sean T. Collins, The Comics Journal
Review: Twelve Gems by Lane Milburn et al.
"A valuable gem to add to any collection focusing on independent comics and alternative storytelling with its avant-garde narrative voice, classical art style, and brilliantly paced sense of adventure" – Alger C. Newberry III, Library Journal
Review: DKW by Sergio Ponchione
"It's a lovely piece of work, and a nice introduction to these important cartoonists. You will probably like and appreciate this comic more than I did." – Jason Sacks, Comics Bulletin
Review: Witzend by Wallace Wood et al.
"Wood (1927-1981) conceived of witzend as a haven where he and his peers could publish personal work and burst the chains of mainstream comics. Though 'personal,' it must be said, often meant drawing generously endowed women flaunting bared breasts." – Dana Jennings, The New York Times
"It felt like a fan publication, but was produced by professionals. It appeared at the dawn of underground comix, but featured standard genre material, including a (great) Wood jungle hero named "Animan." And, most significantly, it had a philosophy that proved problematic, though intriguing." – Jake Austen, Chicago Tribune
Commentary: The Secret History of Marvel Comics by Blake Bell and Dr. Michael J. Vassallo won Favorite Comics-Related Book at the 2014 True Believers Comic Awards, handed out at this year's London Film and Comic Con.
- Commentary: Bay Area Hernandez fans! The Latino Comics Expo San Jose, to be held this October 11-12 at San José State University, will have Los Bros Hernandez as their Guests of Honor.
- Commentary: Moviegoers, did you catch this detail in the recent sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes? Alexander reads aloud to Maurice, an old orangutan, a few panels from Charles Burns' graphic novel Black Hole. Check out the relevant clip here.