Links to news and reviews of Canadian comics and graphic novels.
Tom Spurgeon reports on U.S. publisher Fantagraphics signing an exclusivity deal with Diamond Books to distribute their books and comics to "direct market" comic shops in Canada and the U.S. The deal means that Fantagraphics will no longer be distributed by Raincoast in Canada (Fantagraphics is distributed to bookstores in the U.S. by WW Norton). One tidbit from the article is the information that Canada accounts for only about 5% of Fantagraphics' business. Beguiling employee Chris Butcher, whose store probably accounts for a sizable chunk of that 5%, is quoted extensively in the article and bemoans the end of his direct relationship with the publisher of Love and Rockets, Dan Clowes and The Complete Peanuts.
Speaking of Chris Butcher, a recent blog post reveals he would like to see a well-funded online magazine devoted to graphic novels. Speaking as someone who helps maintain a totally-unfunded blog and only occasionally finds time to write the odd review, I can echo those sentiments. The Comics Journal is still the bible of print-coverage of comics, as far as I'm concerned, with Publisher's Weekly earnestly trying to carve out an online niche, but it is the two bloggers with the closest ties to the Journal, Tom Spurgeon and Dirk Deppey, who seem to cover best what, for lack of a better term, I'll call the "graphic novel market". But even these two sites woefully lack the resources to do more than the occasional "pro" reporting piece and only Spurgeon manages regular reviews and interviews. There are tons of other English-language sites, many of which actually pay contributors, but most of them are genre-specific, focusing on U.S. superhero and adventure comics or translated Japanese manga for teens almost exclusively.
Interview: Busy Jessica Smith from my own hometown paper, the Guelph Mercury, interviews webcomics phenom Ryan North, with a few comments from paper comics giant Seth.
Interview: ( interview with cartoonist Denis Rodier at Comic Book Bin about his two new albums being published in France.
Jillian and Mariko Tamaki collaborated on a Mother's Day-themed strip for the New York Times.
The summer schedule for the Inkstuds podcast is up.
Toronto webcomicers Ryan North and Joey Comeau are profiled by Eye Weekly on the occasion of their participation of a "Famous on the Internet"-style conference at MIT.
The Comic Book Bin has the announcement for Ray Fenwick's Hall of Best Knowledge booklaunch.
Today's comic book, art book, and graphic novel releases, courtesy the blog of Toronto bookstore The Labyrinth.
In Quebec City tonite, Michel Giguere hosts a talk on bd album cover art at the Gabriel-Roy Library, 350, rue Saint-Joseph Est. 7pm. Free admission.
Another obit for Robert Bierman, the political cartoonist who passed away April 16.
The Comic Book Bin chronicles the move from print to web by cartoonist Karl Kerschl.
Ivan Anchukov of Voronezh, Russia, won the 8th Annual International Competition for Editorial Cartoonists from among 700 cartoons submitted from 40 countries, in an award handed out in Ottawa May 2nd in honour of International Press Freedom day (May 3).
The comics critics: "Jog" tackles Dave Sim's Glamourpuss comic while Tom Spurgeon casts a wide net over Michel Rabagliati's graphic novel Paul Goes Fishing.
Chris Butcher wants your help in i.d.-ing the hottest obscure manga.
The second volume in the Cosmos Cafe album series by Quebec bedeist Tristan Demers in now out.
Zeros 2 Heroes' latest endeavour involves recruiting a writer for an internship at big video game company BioWare. According to the Z2H press release, the contest is being co-sponsored by the National Screen Institute, a tradeschool with 60% of its funding coming from government sources: "As part of increasing their capacity, BioWare has joined the NSI playWRITE competition --a Telefilm-funded collaboration between the National Screen Institute and Zeros 2 Heroes --as a partner who will provide an internship to a winner announced in August 2008. To find out how to pitch, go here.
Vancouver cartoonist Jonathan Dalton was the hit of the Portland, Oregon comics convention, Stumptown, according to Tom Spurgeon.
Related: Tom Spurgeon has some nice things to say about Canadian resident Hope Larson's Chiggers graphic novel.
Want updates? Cartoonist Jason Copland (Mortal Coils, Digital Webbing Presents) has just created a monthly newsletter with the promise of free art.
Law student and D+Q cartoonist talks to the National Post about his collection, All We Ever Do Is Talk About Wood.
The son of political cartoonist Yardley Jones, Spyder Yardley-Jones, is an artist in his own right.
The Montreal Gazette profiles Jesse Heffring's attempt to produce a sci-fi graphic novel.
The Eisner nominees: Darwyn Cooke, Pia Guerra, Jeff Lemire, Karl Kerschl, Scott Chantler, and several international volumes published by D+Q were among the nominees. It is worth noting also (if only for the purposes of vanity and self-promotion) that the category of "Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism" includes at least two nominees featuring the work of Canadians: Comic Art #9 has articles by Jeet Heer and myself; The Comics Reporter regularly features Bart Beaty's Eurocomics column. Sequential congratulates all the nominees! The winner will be announced July 25.
Tom Spurgeon previewed Montreal cartoonist Billy Mavreas' upcoming (May) graphic novel, Inside Outside Overlap (Timeless Books) a few weeks ago.
Most of these links are entirely unrelated to Earth Day:
Okay, maybe just one. Go read the latest Luz: Girl of the Knowing strip by Claudia Davila. The strip has been picked up by Briarpatch magazine!
Although I can't seem to find the article online, a report in this Saturday's Globe suggested that the graphic novel Skim was the subject of international publishing rights bidding at the recent London Book Fair.
Jeet Heer writes about one of George Herriman's final Krazy Kat strips, on the subject of race and passing.
The latest review of Jeff Lemire's Ghost Stories graphic novel.
An amazing collection of comic-strip-inspired antique toys owned by a Toronto collector.
A report from a sci-fi convention in St. John, Nfld.
Links from hither and yon about comics, not necessarily Canadian:
For The Guardian, Regina's Jeet Heer writes on the recent Siegel/Superman decision, with a history of the case and some thoughts ton capitalism and morality. Sample quote: "The battle between the cartoonists and their publisher was a cultural clash as much as an economic one. Bookish boys from the lower-middle class, Siegel and Shuster simply weren't prepared to deal with wise guys like Donenfeld."
On a related note, new court dates have been scheduled for the case, as noted by newsarama's new legal expert, Jeff Trexler.
Speaking of newsarama, one of my favourite features at the newsarama blog is the weekly "Quote/Unquote", with a round-up of the choicest utterances from the comics blogosphere.
Writing for The Montreal Gazette, John Kalbfleisch provides a look back at JW Bengough, the 19th Century cartoonist and member of the Giants of the North. Like many of his inky-fingered breed (Little Nemo's Windsor McKay, for one), Bengough had a side career as a sort of vaudeville humourist, giving "chalk talks" involving quick caricatures and jokey picture stories delivered on the lecture circuit.
Tintin becomes a target in an exhibit of hockey-themed art at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
Chris Butcher looks back at his 2006 comics industry predictions for 2007 and sees how his oracular powers worked out.
Photos from the Michel Rabagliati exhibit Paul vu par le Fanzine Bidon at the Galerie Morgan Bridge in Quebec City (see sample photo above; link via bdq)
Canada's Udon Entertainment is the new distributor of Apple, an anthology of Korean art & comics: APPLE stands for "A Place for People who Love Entertainment", and features original stories and illustrations from the best creative talent Korea has to offer. Over 40 artists from the video game world are represented in APPLE Volume 1, including the artists behind the mega-hit Lineage MMORPG series, superstar Hyung-Tae Kim (Magna Carta, War of Genesis), and dozens of other pro illustrators, animators and graphic artists.
6.(top image) Chris Butcher previews the Negative Burn complilation, Growing Up with Comics. The book launched last night. You can see a preview, including images of Waterloo's Carry-On Comics, here.
Avril Lavigne is selling another comic, according to this Canadian Press "article". Her website is offering the item for sale and it turns out it is written by U.S. superheroine Gail Simone.
Chris Butcher rounds up the links about the upcoming Toronto appearance of cartoonist Michel Rabagliati.
Speaking of Chris Butcher, Kevin Boyd does the math and comments on a Butcher's recent rant about the general crappiness of 99% of the 3000+ graphic novels published last year. Nothing is safe from Boyd's curse of "derivative", not even fan faves Scott Pilgrim and Essex County.
Speaking of Kevin Boyd, both he and Robin Bougie note the passing (at 53!) of U.S. cartoonist Dave Stevens, who created the Rocketeer in the 1980s.
Graphic art and cartoon drawing workshop with Faith Hicks, author of best selling graphic novel, Zombies Calling, takes place 1-3 p.m. at the New Glasgow Library, Nova Scotia. All materials supplied. For children ages 9 to 15. It will be followed by a book reading with Hicks 3:05 - 3:30 p.m .
This article profiles the University of Alberta Library's Special Collection, including an exhibit of Ally Sloper, one of the first British comic strip characters from the 1800s.
A few reports from this past weekend's manga and anime event in Moncton, Animaritime are starting to find their way online. In the meantime, there are many links to photos and video at the Animaritime forums here and here. A video of the closing ceremonies (a charming illustrated definition of the term "amateur hour") is on youtube here.
A columnist for the Orangeville Citizen gives a brief history of cartooning in Canada (of the editorial sort) and puts out the call for a new cartoon representation of Canada. The columnist, William Bothwell, does a good job, but he might have mentioned Johnny Canuck, Captain Canuck, Jasper the Bear, or the work of contemporary iconic Canadian cartoonists like Seth (who, in case you haven't noticed, has an artisitc passion for all things Canadian). And what's wrong with the lumberjack, anyway?
Sequential is putting out the call: design a new cartoon image for Canada.
Submit your own design or a favourite from years gone by.
Tom Spurgeon offers a preview of Haligonian Ray Fenwick's Hall of Best Knowledge graphic novel at Comics Reporter.
A report on comics culture in Japan by a journalist/tourist, at the Brantford Expositor.
Toronto-based UpTrend Media is the new promoter of Platinum Studios' drunkduck.com webcomics and online community effort.
International: Marvel is hyping a midnight launch for the newest volume of its Stephen King adaptation, Dark Tower. The previous volume has been on the Canadian bestseller lists for awhile now and the second volume drops March 5 at "participating retailers". Only U.S. comic book shops are listed at Marvel's website.
Catching up with Jim Bartleman, Ontario's former lieutenant governor who taught himself to read with comic books found at the local garbage dump.
Robin Bougie has the updated censorship rules now being used by Canada Customs and also notes that the first printing of his collected Cinema Sewer book is basically sold out.
above: the opening sequence from Prisoners of Gravitym by Ty Templeton.
The Beat's Heidi MacDonald writes a long post on Dave Sim. While claiming Sim is "one of the world's greatest living cartoonists", MacDonald goes on to detail Sim's misogyny and double standards and the double standards of those who seemingly ignore his "dark side" for the sake of art or charity. Tom Spurgeon has a nice follow-up and critic Charles Hatfield has some very insightful things to say in the comments section.
(Via Tom Spurgeon) Neil Gaiman posts a Youtube clip of an old episode of Prisoners of Gravity, the once-popular TVOntario show hosted by Rick Green and produced by Mark Asquith, about comics and science fiction. Here are some other clips that pop up in a quick search.
Mark your calendars: cartoonist Michel Rabagliati will be in Toronto, Saturday, March 5, for a slideshow and Q+A. Toronto Public Library, Lillian H. Smith Building, downstairs auditorium, 239 College Street.
OCAD-grad Kosma Gatner is one of 31 international finalists in the 2nd International Manga Competition sponsored by Morning 2, a manga magazine in Japan (circulation, 500,000).
Jeet Heer writes about Middle Eastern superheroes (and even talks on a related podcast).
Jeet Heer provides a nice chrestomathy (yeah, I had to look it up) of John Updike's utterances on comics.
The Shuster Awards are calling for submissions from Canadian creators in order to "compile the list of eligible creators and their works published in 2007 for the 2008 Joe Shuster Awards, which will be presented in mid-2008 at a time and location to be announced." Details at Kevin Boyd's blog.
(image: the sort of cartoon storytelling device that fascinates John Updike, according to Jeet Heer; an example of fair use for the purposes of news reporting, parody, and criticism; and a thinly-veiled analogy of the Harper/Bush relationship, perhaps? Probably copyright Warner Bros/DC.)
Jeet Heer reviews a new collection of obscure 1960s Marvel monster comics.
Was the Danish cartoon controversy responsible for the demise of the print version of Alberta's Western Standard magazine? This blog post from the mag's website asserts that the Standard's "act of printing those Danish Cartoons –an international news story – cost them tens of thousands (and perhaps more) of dollars and helped to hasten the demise of the print edition."
Super-Momo dans Piege de fromage, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel (Les 400 coups, 24 pages, $9.95) is about a superhero who can change water into cheese. He's a little defensive about his power until he is called upon to save a drowning child. Once Super-Momo turns the lake into cheese, the child's parents simply have to eat their way to him. Super-Dudu dans Full Total Brocoli (same format, same price) is the story of a superhero who can make broccoli explode, a seemingly minor power unless you are a small child being forced to eat broccoli. And Super-Titi dans Les Cereales se mangent froides brings us the story of a superhero who can see right through cereal boxes. These are among the silliest comic books you will encounter. They have only one frame per page, so they make an easy read for new readers or a fun bed-time read-aloud for the smaller ones.
Sequential was a bit busy this morning, so many of these links have already been rounded up over at The Comics Reporter and Journalista. For the record:
Toronto comic book launch, Saturday, December 1. From the Beguiling mailing list:
"Hey there folks, our friend and favourite bartender Cisco is launching his new comic, a graphic novella, on Saturday December 1st upstairs at The Victory Cafe. I have to apologise because I can't remember what it's named, but I have seen a bunch of the art for it and it's really cool, unique stuff. Show up at The Vic, second floor, around nine or ten to start partaking of the festivities. The Victory Cafe is just down the street from The Beguiling, at 581 Markham."
Apparently, the new graphic novel by Alan Moore, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier, is not for sale in Canada, a fact asserted in the recent Beguiling mailing. The mailing also asserts that the Beguiling does have copies of the book in stock.
The Globe reports that Quebecor World, the giant printer (comics and everything else), continues to have money problems, including a refinancing scheme and a tumbling stock. Discussion here. Stock talk. CBC. Quebecor World is owned by Quebecor, a multimedia empire that owns Videotron cable, Sun newspapers, the Montreal Mirror, and everything else. The printing arm has been losing money due to price wars (the dollar and China), less business, and general, good old-fashioned Canadian "operating inefficiencies". (via Journalista!)
The first of Jeet Heer's 2 articles on David Michaelis's Schulz bio prompts a response from Schulz's widow Jeannie.
Strange Adventures in Halifax hosted a signing for Faith Erin Hicks and her new graphic novel, Zombies Calling, over the weekend. The publisher's blog has a wrap-up of links about the event.
Wright Award winner Lorenz Peter is launching his new book this Wednesday: Side-Effects is a collection of short works and will be launched at the Katharine Mulherine Contemporary Art Projects, 1080 Queen Street W at 6:30 PM
a little late, but here are some photos from the Halloween costume party hosted by Strange Adventures, the Halifax comic shop
for good measure, here are the pics from the Silver Snail's Toronto costume party
Please send Sequential your news about cartooning, comics and graphic novels in Canada so we do not have to post links to stories tangentially related to Alpha Flight and pictures of people dressed as superheroes!
Looking over the links to news and reviews about people who create sequential cartoon images and/or static caricatures reveals a short list of interest to loyal Sequential readers. Seemingly no-one published the great Canadian graphic novel over the weekend. But then again, nobody ever does.
1. Halifax policart Michael deAdder has a new book of cartoons out, according to this Daily News profile. de Book is published by the Daily News and features 88 pages culled from the artists distinctive brand of daily craft and bile:
his finest work, including a depiction of Bert and Ernie heading to Canada for a gay marriage, and Premier Rodney MacDonald living rent-free and playing video games in his parents' house - after getting a substantial raise.
2. Cartoonist Norm Muffit remembers daredevil pilot, Flying Bandit "Willy" Laserich, and a time when crawing a cartoon could jeopardize a plum government job:
Northern News Services cartoonist Norm Muffitt, a former RCMP officer, pilot and Transport Canada official, remembers the controversy well. He drew many a cartoon in support of Laserich, which made for an uncomfortable moment when applying for an enforcement job with Transport Canada.
"I had done a cartoon of a Transport Canada guy behind a desk, and on the desk was a nail with a cord attached to it. The other end was fastened to Willy's licence," said Muffitt.
"When I went in for my interview, the first thing that happened was the guy sat down with this cartoon in front of me and said, 'before we start, maybe you'd like to explain this.'"
3. Writing for the Vancouver Courier, Shawn Conner reviews a trio of the latest contenders for great Canadian graphic novel status: White Rapids, Southern Cross, and Therefore Repent, by Sequential's own Salgood Sam. (link via BDQ)
4. Pierre-Luc Gagnon reviews two new French-language graphic novels by Leif Tande that had their debut at this past weekend's Salon du livre de Montreal. Great Canadian Graphic Novels (GCGN)? Time, and translation, will tell.
Across the country, you can't avoid the comics news. In Toronto, police find a mysterious Batman graphic novel at the scene of an arson where a homeless man was killed --I wonder if the book in question is Miller and Mazzuchelli's Batman: Year One? As I recall, the book contains a scene in which as abandoned tenement is burned down, killing a homeless man. Also in Toronto, National Post cartoonist and Governor-General-Award-winning kid's book illustrator Gary Clement has won a leadership award from the Ontario History and Social Sciences Teachers Association "for his contribution to the study of history and social sciences". In Windsor, Jeff Lemire's Essex County trilogy is profiled by the Windsor Star's Trevor Wilhelm: "It's not unhealthy. I'm married, I have friends," said Lemire, 31. "But I love being alone, writing, drawing and reading. The thing I love is I don't have to work with anyone else. I can sit down and tell a story all by myself, the way I want to do it." And finally, Tom Spurgeon reviews the D+Q re-issue of what may be the first Canadian graphic novel, Lawrence Hyde's Southern Cross. Spurge's verdict? "...a pretty, immaculately presented disappointment."
Well, maybe not a cross-country overview. Would you believe, cross-Ontario?
1. Andy Brast, owner of Carry On Comics in Waterloo, Ontario, is one of the local reatilers profiled in this K-W Record feature about the strong loonie and its effect on prices. Despite losing out on the gap between U.S. and Canadian comics cover prices due to the ordering system for comics, Brast is having a record year, apparently.
2. Pascal Blanchet's White Rapids is reviewed in the Walrus. Reviewer Jared Bland says that the book is "a beautiful and intelligent account of the rise and fall of a small Quebec town."
3. The Globe and Mail's Susan Perrin suffers from some gender confusion in reviewing a kids book by the recently deceased Alootook Ipellie.
4. Toronto's Chris Butcher is one of several comics bloggers crying foul over the burgeoning fortunes of U.S. comics non-publisher Platinum Studios, in this New York Times magazine article.
5. Cartoonist and animator Karine Charlebois is interviewed by Jennifer Contino for Comicon.com. (via BDQ)
6. New Canadian Books from the U.S.: Comicopia publisher and blogger Mike Aragona has just published his first novel, The Antibodies: Heaven Can Wait; Blake Bell's book about reclusive U.S. cartoonist and Spider-Man creator Steve Ditko, Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko, is finally almost ready to appear; Scott Pilgrim 4: Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together, by Bryan Lee O'Malley, is out this week; Zombies Calling, the first graphic novel by Faith Erin Hicks, is getting some nice buzz from the aforementioned Mr. Butcher and Mr. O'Malley.
7. Canadian Reviews of U.S. Books: the gigantic intellect of Jeet Heer wrestles with the New Schulz bio by David Michaelis.
Toronto Sun policart Andy Donato is part of a group show at the Kipling Gallery. Mondo Italiano showcases the paintings of local Italian-Canadian artists.
Roxboro Library (110 Cartier St., Montreal) exhibits Benoit Laverdiere, illustrator and cartoonist --until Nov. 30. For more information, call 514 684-8247.
Also in Montreal, beginning Monday November 12, original art exhibit at Studio 9, from the collection of Martin Desroches comes work by Milton Caniff, Berke Breathed, Gene Colan, Dan Decarlo, Tony Millionaire, Raymond Poivet, Bill Ward, and more. 5835 Saint-Hubert. (info@studio9cs.com 514-272-6043. 7pm.
Jody Haucke and Chris Maxwell, owners of Ottawa's The Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street, are hosting an art gala for local artists to exhibit their comic art and genre-themed work.
via Drawn, the exquisite illustration and toys of Gary Taxali are on display in Chicago.
Reviews
Pascal Blanchet's White Rapidsreviewed in the National Post.
Interviews/New Books
Megan Stewart interviews graphic memoirist Sarah Leavitt about her new book, My Mom Got Sick and Died, the story of her mother's experience of Alzheimer's.
Jennifer Contino interviews Jay Stephens, who has travelled back in time to work with the legendary U.S. superhero scribe Bob Haney on Teen Titans: The Lost Annual.
CBC Arts profiles Ann Marie Fleming, who has created a collage graphic novel about the life of her great-grandfather, Vaudeville magician Long Tac Sam, based on her award-winning 2003 film.
Retailing
Quillblog's Derek Weiler roundsup recent news about how booksellers are dealing with the strong loonie. One reaction involves "variable discounting," which sounds like a way of averaging out wild price differences at the wholesale end of things.
Related: a Canadian blogger reflects on recent changes to the cover prices of Marvel and DC comic books
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