Archive - Jul 13, 2010
Comix Talk for Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on July 13, 2010 - 09:48
We haven't linked to the return of Mocktopus yet so be sure to check it out.
MILESTONES: Harvey Pekar passed away yesterday at age 70. I never met Pekar, but he was an important creator who wrote honest portrayals of life in his comics. Many pages of tribute and condolences around the web today.
CONVENTION: Intervention announced that artist and webcomic creator Molly Crabapple, the founder of the Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, will be there both on a panel as well as running a Dr. Sketchy’s event at the con (Currently scheduled to take place Friday Sept.10 from 7-10pm). Excellent!
COLLECTIVES
- It looks like the Blank Label Comics group has entered the phase of rock band stardom where one member of the original group plus newcomers = profit. Okay I tease a bit - if I'm reading the new website right David Willis is the only remaining original member but the newcomers are no slouches: Spike and Kel. I really haven't followed up on BLC for awhile so I guess I missed the rest of the original crew going their own ways.
- The SpiderForest Collective is accepting applications for new members until July 24th. SpiderForest was started in 2004 by Ran Jado and is home to over 30 comics. There are 3 requirements for members: update your comic, help vote in new members, and display the rotating SF banner above the fold on your site.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 A BLOGS
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on July 13, 2010 - 07:28
Despite the angst of the long underwear crowd bemoaning the lack of superhero comics for kids, it is such a great time in comics for kids. The old model of kids going to the drug store for a few comics for a quarter is long gone, but it doesn't matter as libraries and book stores have a healthy stream of all ages graphic novels, not to mention that you can find great age appropriate webcomics too.
The latest young adult graphic novel from publisher Scholastic is Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel (creator of the videogame character Earthwork Jim). TenNapel has created a spin on the traditional notions of purgatory, etc., by creating an afterlife way-station that functions very much like actual life with a city and different groups living together in it. This gives TenNapel lots of room to stretch his visual imagination with skeletons, mummies, goblins and zombies populating the crowds. The art is very sharp and TenNapel does a great job with the main characters -- a boy named Garth and the "supernatural immigration officer" Frank Gallows who accidentally sends Garth on into Ghostopolis. There's also Claire Voyant, Gallows' ghost girlfriend and Garth's grandfather Cecil. So much of the "world" that TenNapel built here is full of details and vibrant imagination that you're really sucked right into the book from the get-go.
Probably because it deals with death (and when the story opens, Garth is very sick) and some of the images could be a little intense for very young kids -- this one is probably better for 10 years or up. Just a guess really as my kids are younger than that and I'm not sure I'm going to let them read it... yet.
