Il y aura comme d'habitude un Comix jam au Cafe L'Utopik, rue Ste-Catherine pres du Metro Berri jeudi prochain a 20hres. Desolee pour le retard de cette annonce.

There will be a Comix Jam at our new place, Cafe Utopik on Ste-Catherine East, near Berri Metro Next Thursday 8PM. Sorry for announcing late.

Labels: comic jams, events, Quebec

He easily breaks into a smile when he mentions the name and main character of his 2005 graphic novel, It's Monty!

"The premise of the story is it's a little boy at seven-years-old and he's as gay at seven as some people at 35," he laughs. "His mom is always wearing these 1950s clothes and is totally clueless to the fact that he's gay and she makes him mix martinis for her."

"About 13 years ago -- for reasons completely disconnected from reality -- [my mother] thought that I might be [gay] so brought it up in conversation," Boesem remembers. "It took her a couple of years to wrap her mind around it but now it's all good."

Labels: comic strips, graphic novels, Ottawa

Labels: links, political cartooning, Quebec

This is just a reminder that our second "Industry Night @ The Vic" is
scheduled for this Wednesday at The Victory Cafe (591 Markham Street) @
8PM, Second Floor. The evening's special guests will be Lianna K and Ed
The Sock, as they do a short presentation from their new comic, ED &
RED'S COMIC STRIP #2. Whether you're employed in the fields comics and
graphic novels, illustration, animation, fine arts, or just love to hang
out for a beer, we hope we'll see you out this week.

Labels: events

Labels: political cartooning, Quebec

Labels: blogosphere, cartoon reportage, real world

Onstage in his tight white T-shirt, mini-backpack, and very short shorts, Goldenboy looks like a fat cartoon of a six-year-old Japanese schoolboy. Which is appropriate since he's sexually attracted to them. "Who likes boys and shota together?" he asks. (Shota refers to sexualized boys and youths.) A young man in a rhinestone tiara and a middle-aged guy holding a huge pink satin cushion gleefully put up their hands along with the rest of the 100-strong, overwhelmingly male audience. "Who likes boys and men together?" Goldenboy asks next. This time, there is a displeased murmur. A group of drunk shirt-and-tied businessmen at the front lower their hands. So do the tiara guy, the cushion guy, and about half the crowd. "I thought so." Tonight, grown men aren’t hot. The packed house is much more interested in little boys and, astoundingly, proud of it.

Labels: international, manga

In the same way, most of the early "For Better Or For Worse" strips provide readers with "no real clue" that they are set in Canada. Typical images show the interior of the Patterson family home, where Elly does housework, enjoys a cup of coffee with a friend, or tucks her children into bed at night. Johnston explains that, "in the beginning... I only had a house, two kids, a dog, wife and husband to 'work with'" ("Responses"). When she was first offered her contract, Lynn Johnston famously held out for a Canadian setting (Tobin). But despite the fact that she was describing a Canadian family, its lifestyle was not one that often took readers beyond its neighborhood. Johnston acknowledges: "During the early years...the strip rarely advanced past the inner goings-on of the Patterson household" (Lives 6). As the characters aged, however, and their lives spread out across the country, "For Better Or For Worse" began to include allusions to more specific avenues of history and culture.

Labels: comic strips

Toronto-based webcomics collective Transmission-X begins its programming schedule at the MoCCA festival in New York, June 23-24! Featuring exclusive all-new comic strips and a daily update schedule, Transmission-X is an exciting new online comics anthology with a high-profile cast of creators covering a diverse selection of genres.

Come by table C13 at the MoCCA festival to see preview artwork and meet some of the T-X creators: Ramon Perez (Butternut Squash), Karl Kerschl (Superman, The Flash), Cameron Stewart (Eisner Nominee: The Other Side), Arthur Dela Cruz (Eisner Nominee: Kissing Chaos) Scott Hepburn and Brenden Fletcher, and tune in to www.transmission-x.com for the launch.

Labels: Ontario, publishing, Toronto, webcomics

Labels: comics retailers, comicshoptalk

Tribune cartoonist and creator of Fray's Way, Brian Fray, is releasing a new book all about what he says is the funniest vegetable in the produce section. "Yam" is his self-published book, with more than 100 cartoons featuring word play and sight gags about the orange vegetable.

The book includes cartoons including the "yamboni," a "yambush" and "silence of the yams," to name a few. It's available online at www.lulu.com/bfray or by e-mailing bfray@sympatico.ca, said a news release.

Fray had a syndicated cartoon called Le Grand Chef Pierre in the 1980s, and he currently draws the Trib's editorial cartoon, has illustrated two children's books, draws Fray's Way and has created many characters and cartoons for various trade magazines.

Labels: publishing

The tragic death of a father who left seven children and a wife behind is still affecting many lives months later.

Said Shiraga Rahimi, a talented political cartoonist, was driving home one night in late January, when a train struck his van. Mr. Rahimi was killed instantly. He was delivering pizza to help support his family.

As the main source of income for his family, Mr. Rahimi's death has left his children and wife struggling to get by.

The community has reached out to this family with fundraisers to benefit his children and wife.

On June 23, Hamilton art gallery The Pearl Company is holding Cartoon Speak from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. where 40 of Mr. Rahimi's political cartoons will be on display.

CBC radio host Jeff Goodes will host the event.

Three renowned political cartoonists have been invited to speak to the crowd.

Terry Mosher from the Montreal Gazette, Brian Gable from the Globe and Mail and Graeme MacKay from the Hamilton Spectator will make a public address at 8 p.m. that evening.



Tickets are $30 and can be bought at The Hamilton Spectator, Bryan Prince Bookseller, Arts Hamilton Jackson Square, The Carnegie Gallery, La Jardinere Locke Street, OPIRG McMaster University, and The Immigrant Cultural & Art Association.

The Pearl Company is located at 16 Steven St.

For more information, email cartoonsspeak@gmail.com or call (905) 524-0606.

Labels: charities, events, political cartooning, Quebec

Labels: British Columbia, links, misc, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Vancouver

FW: How far back does your interest in comics and manga extend? When did you first start drawing comics?


I've always drawn comics in some form, I just didn't realize it. I drew illustrations for the notes our family would leave for each other; I made up my own stories and drew illustrations for those, sometimes even in sequence. The book that really crystallized my yearning to make comics was ElfQuest, by Richard and Wendy Pini. I found the first issue (Russian translation) on a trip to Moscow, by chance, really. I read it until it started falling apart, I was so taken with it.

Labels: blogosphere, interviews, links, manga

White Rapids
Trade paperback/ 156 pages/ 2 colors/ 7 x 8.75 inches.
$19.95
978-1-897299-24-1
Pascal Blanchet

Winner of the Best Book prize for the Quebec comic industry awards, Pascal Blanchet's graphic novel is a compelling account of the rise and fall of the small northern town of White Rapids. In the first English translation of his work, Blanchet seamlessly blends fact and fiction as he weaves together the official history of the town and snapshots of the quotidian life of its residents. Founded in 1928 in an isolated region of Quebec forest, the town was conceived and constructed by the Shawinigan Water & Power Company to function as a fully-equipped, self-contained living community for workers at the nearby dam and their families. Intended as an incentive to lure workers to the remote and inaccessible region, White Rapids provided its residents with all the luxuries of middle-class modern life in a pastoral setting—until the town was abruptly shut down in 1971, when the company changed hands. Blanchet's unique, streamlined, retro-inspired aesthetic draws on Art Deco and fifties Modernist design to vividly conjure up idyllic scenes of lazy summer days and crisp winter nights in White Rapids, transporting the reader back to a more innocent time.

Labels: bd, graphic novels, publishing, Quebec

Labels: events, paradise comicon

Labels: cultural imperialism, floppies, international, links, U.S. superhero franchises

There were tons of artists I would've loved to see and talk to, but a Comicon's like a candy shop: there's some good candy and some bad candy, but there's always too much to have before closing time.

Labels: events, paradise comicon, webcomics

Labels: blogosphere, let's get technical, Sequential

NOUVELLE RESIDENCE DE CREATION
EN BANDE DESSINEE


APPEL DE CANDIDATURES

La Ville de Quebec et L'Institut Canadien de Quebec invitent les createurs en bande dessinee de la ville de Quebec a soumettre leur candidature pour l'obtention d'une bourse permettant une residence de creation a Bordeaux (France). Cette bourse est offerte par l'Agence regionale pour l'ecrit et le livre en Aquitaine (http://arpel.aquitaine.fr/).

Labels: help wanted, Quebec

Labels: comics in libraries, graphic novels, links, Ontario, publishing, Toronto

Labels: links, misc, Ontario, Quebec, Toronto

Labels: events, graphic novels, international, publishing

Labels: graphic novels, reviews

Labels: comics history

Labels: blogosphere, events, international, links, Ontario, paradise comicon, Toronto

This new collection is a 25-year retrospective of Valium's work, and probably the best overview of his career that we are ever likely to see. The book itself, oversized and weighty, is marvelously produced on glossy paper that does wonders for the subtleties (yes!) of the color work. If you're a Valium fan, this book will nicely replace all your previous versions of his work -- this is the definitive object.

If you're not a Valium fan, there is probably nothing that I can say about him to make you interested. His work, though smart and funny, is highly visceral. Your reaction to him will be felt in your gut -- lust or revulsion. There is little middle ground with an artist working in this style. You take Valium on his own terms, or not at all.

Labels: reviews

Labels: blogosphere, events, international, links, Ontario, paradise comicon, Toronto

Labels: blogosphere, events, international, links, Ontario, paradise comicon, Toronto

Labels: awards, events, floppies, international, Ontario, paradise comicon, Toronto, U.S. superhero franchises

Labels: awards, comics history, paradise comicon

Labels: graphic novels, international, reviews

Labels: blogosphere, events, international, links, Ontario, Toronto

There is another reason Rousseau says he didn't protest the seizure. "We didn't protest because it was mostly about younger boys and incest," he says. "We have protested before, but we decided that after looking into the matter it is too much."

"They were determined to be obscene," says CBSA spokesperson Chris Williams. "The indicators ranged from depictions of incest to sex with pain and sexual mutilation, defecation and vomiting."

While Xtra has so far been unable to examine all the seized material, the Justin books are available on-line in English at the artist's website.

"Does that mean that only certain people who are Internet savvy can access pornography?" asks Jim Deva, co-owner of Vancouver's Little Sister's Bookstore. "That it's available on-line raises the question of how are we protecting Canadians from it."

The on-line versions of the Justin books tell the story of a gay man who is reunited with his 18-year-old son, Justin, after several years. Justin moves in with his father and soon confesses his sexual attraction to him. In the two books, the two are depicted having oral and anal sex and, in one scene, Justin's father urinates on him.

Priape purchaser Denis Leblanc says he didn't know the storylines of the books when the store ordered them.

"I knew it wasn't a church book. I knew it was erotic stories and that it was comics, but I didn't know specifically what it was about," says Leblanc.

Tourtois maintains that as adult fantasy comics, obscenity is H&O's raison d'etre, and that they are not harmful and no actors are harmed or exploited in their production. He also says that no other country has stopped shipment of the books.

Labels: bd, censorship, international, links, Ontario, Quebec, Toronto

Labels: awards, bd, events, graphic novels, international, manga, Ontario, paradise comicon, Toronto, U.S. superhero franchises, webcomics

Labels: events, Ontario, publishing, Toronto

USINE 106U is pleased to invite you to the opening of the monumental
exhibition CINETIX presenting the artworks of 23 visual artists: Mark
Prent, Eric Braun, La puce a l'agonie, Mimi Traillette, Jean-Michel
Cholette, Florent Veilleux, Yves Milet-Desfougeres, Daniel Erban ,
Jean Pronovost, Arthur Desmarteaux, Allison Moore, Hollie Dzama ,
Lilitu Travaglini, Sam Kerson, Serene Daoud, Pedro Espinel-Ruiz,
Edwardspider, Iris, Marc-André Nassar, Stuart Rae, Joe Bebel, Louise
Markus et Guy Boutin. Photosensible paintings, machiavelical and
kinetic sculptures, etchings, watercolors, modified plush toys,
silkscreens, collages, oversized drawings and other stupefying
figurative pieces shall multiply on all surfaces of the space. The
exhibition takes place at USINE 106U, 111 Roy E. from June 3rd to
June 30th 2007, and the opening will be held on Thursday June 7th from
5hPM to 11hPM. Opening hours are Saturday to Wednesday noon to 6hPM ,
Thursday & Friday from noon to 9hPM.

Labels: bd, events, exhibits, Quebec

Labels: bd, events, Quebec

Labels: events, graphic novels, Ontario, Toronto

A few years ago, when I worked at another comic book store, a mom and her son came in wanting to know what would be a good investment for her son comic wise. I gave her the advice I mentioned earlier. Her son took my suggestion and picked up Ultimate Spider-man #1 (the white variant cover). I hope he took care of it.

Also, last year, a semi-regular came in and asked me how much Detective Comics #2 was worth. His friend's dad had given his friend a copy to read. For the record, he was maybe 14 and he, his friend, and his friend's dad had no idea how much it was worth. From his description, it was mint. I was honest and told him it was worth about 20 grand. He later told me they sold it on eBay for about 20 grand.

Now, I know there are a bunch of collectors who are about to jump out of a building after reading this but before you do, remember the moral of these two stories. Both of these individuals weren't concerned about the monetary value of the comic. They both were interested in the reading value of the comic. Okay, somebody should probably have smacked the dad for letting his son read a first edition copy of Detective Comics #2, but no harm was done so...

Labels: comics retailers, comicshoptalk, Ontario, Toronto

In a Tuesday interview from his home in Cambridge, Ont., Captain Canuck creator Richard Comely chuckles when asked how the latest edition of the all-Canadian comic book, Captain Canuck: Unholy War #4, works with other editions of the series.

"Without giving too much away, it gets a little complicated," says Comely. "I think Captain Canuck might be the most complicated superhero series ever to be constructed."

Labels: British Columbia, floppies, Vancouver

Labels: blogosphere, censorship, fanfic

Labels: comics retailers

Labels: awards, comics history, comics retailers, publishing

by Chris Ware (including a second volume of his Acme Novelty Datebook sketchbook series), an 800-page autobiographical graphic novel by renowned manga-ka Yoshihiro Tatsumi and a reprint of British comics artist Raymond Briggs's early graphic novel, Gentleman Jim.

Labels: graphic novels, international, manga, publishing

Labels: awards, graphic novels, international

Labels: awards, international

Labels: interviews, U.S. superhero franchises, webcomics

To my son, and to a lot of grown-ups drawn to the area, Main Street is a model of what I'd call "permeable capitalism." Its nooks and crannies hold people who will happily explain how they gather, sift or hand-make what they sell. My son, at 7, learns from his visits, and is able to imagine himself a creative entrepreneur.

Contrast this with how Vancouver and many other places are smoothing themselves over, ratcheting up rents, preparing the ground for global franchises. Slick. Efficient. Impermeable. Perhaps now you understand the fear.

Labels: British Columbia, comics retailers, comicshoptalk, Vancouver

I honestly think that as graphic novels (not even as a category (although that’s nice), but individual gn’s) continue to hit with solid sales and critical acclaim, more agents, editorial staff, and publishers will become educated enough to really understand the medium, its unique creative and fiscal concerns, and things will settle in (upwards) accordingly. I wouldn’t trust a publisher, entrenched in either the direct market or out in ‘the real world’, who tells you there’s no money to be made in the publishing side, that it’s all in getting the work optioned for other-media exploitation. If the work hits (and if the publisher does the work so that it has the potential to hit) then creators should get paid for the sales of the book, it’s that simple.

Labels: blogosphere, creator's rights, graphic novels, publishing

Labels: blogosphere, British Columbia, events, reviews, Vancouver

Reluctantly Bell concludes that the dream of a Canadian national superhero might have to be abandoned and that the future of comics lies in the more mature graphic novels created by contemporary graphic novelists like Chester Brown and Seth (the pen name of cartoonist Gregory Gallant). Brown’s graphic novel about Louis Riel sold more than 20,000 copies in hardcover and is now used in many university courses. Perhaps the best chapter of Bell ’s book is the one arguing for the centrality of Brown’s work in contemporary comics. Seth’s wistful nostalgia-laden mediations (published in such magazines as Toro, The New Yorker, and the New York Times Magazine) also have an enthusiastic (and international) audience. Certainly both artists have produced a body of work that is more successful, aesthetically and commercially, than Captain Canada or Nelvana.

....

The long-delayed adulthood of Canadian comics came in the early 1990s, when a cohort of artists used the form for personal expression. Aside from Seth and Chester Brown, the important figures were Julie Doucet (an artist with a remarkable ability to plop her subconscious right on the printed page with dreams strips about cities drowning in menstrual blood and lewd beer bottles hitting on young women), Ho Che Anderson (whose comic strip biography of Martin Luther King was notable for its unvarnished honesty in dealing with race and sex), and David Collier (an artist who has recreated in comic book form the old Canadian persona of the backwoods yarn spinner).

Labels: comics history, reviews

Robinson also looks at other important comic book characters, such as Mary Marvel, whom she describes as a marketing ploy for teenage girls, the Black Cat, once of the first costumed femme fatale, and several Marvel Comics strong ladies. Of all She-Hulk fares the best, according to Robinson, because she is both sexy, self aware and even post feminist. She represents everything adolescent males want, while being independent.

Labels: comics scholarship, Quebec, reviews, U.S. superhero franchises