Intro
Sorry for the delay since my last newsletter. The reason? I couldn’t think of things to write about that were interesting, or at least interesting to me. I’ve also been busy with non-comics stuff, trying to not let the genocide that half the world denies get to me and just general life stuff although general life is not too bad. I also don’t get involved in the comics scuttlebutt (that’s Bleeding Cool’s job I guess) so I miss most of the outrages du jour.
Instagram Updates
I have been using Instagram more like Facebook to post quick-hit insights, maybe some general jabs and have been more willing to post some videos/content that I think are critical but not bashing. There are attempts at humor too. I have also been recording and posting short-duration video reviews because I think that most people want short-form content. I will still post long-form videos but on a less frequent basis. My goal is to get more people to watch the vids simply because I want to spread the word. I’m not monetizing this and am not looking for clout. I just want to spread the word.
SPX 2024 is Live…Sort Of…
if you go to the SPX site it tells you that SPX 2024 will be held the weekend of September 14-15, 2024 at the usual location. But everything else is from the 2023 show. The attendees, guests, exhibits, dates…everything. I don’t know why they didn’t just have a blank intro page and just say “details to be announced” or something similar. I was thinking of going, then saw the guest list and was underwhelemed, then my friend and cartoonist John Taylor, Jr. mentioned the similarity to 2023 and that’s how we figured out that the content was from 2023. Depending on the guests, there is a good chance that I will go. If I go, I’ll announce it here and on social media to see if anyone I know is going and wants to meet up. I always enjoy meeting people in person that I have gotten to know online and I get very few opportunities to do so.
Tracking Your Pull List is a Pain in the Ass
To keep track of my subscription, I use the League of Comic Geeks app but a severe limitation of it is that it does not list every publisher in the Previews catalog. Especially small press and independent publishers. I have to keep a separate list of books that I have preordered so I know what I am getting when. Why does it have to be extra work to be an independent comics fan? If you are not a regular reader of “mainstream” comics, then finding out about upcoming books of interest, letting your friends know and keeping track of when they will arrive is a bit of a hassle. I guess that’s why we share news because someone has to do it.
Anyway, I decided to go through my preorders and write them out old school. This was a good exercise because I was able to get organized with my upcoming comics purchases. It was also a good exercise because it gave me an idea for the newsletter.
Upcoming Summer Releases
Going through my upcoming books, I found some books that are not getting much publicity that I think might be of interest to some of the subscribers here, so I’m posting them with some thoughts on why I ordered them. And with the exception of the Moebius book, these are not listed on the League of Comic Geeks app. These are all available from major bookstores as well as good comics shops.
So here are some Summer 2024 releases that I am looking forward to:
The New York City Outlaws, Ken Landgraf, Floating World Comics, $29.99, June 4, 2024
Two years ago I would have said that this is not my type of comic but now that I am 13 volumes deep into Fist of the North Star, I’m going to give this a try. But for fans of “outlaw” comics, this will be up your alley.
Slice of Mallow, Adam Foreman, Andrew McMeels, $11.99, June 4, 2024
This started out as a webcomic that got I got turned on to via IG and is now a graphic novel. I find the strips funny, refreshing and needed in the current dystopian reality we are living in. I have chatted with Adam Foreman a bit and he’s a good guy from England. This is a children’s book but good comics are good comics regardless of the subject matter or the audience and I think this will be a good read.
Second Hand Love, Yamada Murasaki, Drawn & Quarterly, $24.99, June 4, 2024
The previous release of Murasaki’s work, “Talk to My Back” was absolutely wonderful. I’m glad we are getting more of her work translated into English by the amazing Ryan Holmberg. I have no doubt this will be good.
The Mango Tree, Edel Rodriguez, Abrams Books, $18.99, June 11, 2024
Edel Rodriguez created my 3rd favorite graphic novel of 2023 (the first two were “The Blood of the Virgin” by Sammy Harkham and “Monica” by Dan Clowes) and he returns with a children’s book. Rodriguez is an illustrator that you should not sleep on.
Now #13, Anthology, Fantagraphics, $12.99 June 18, 2024
Now is a great anthology and I always discover a new creator that I really enjoy in each issue. Per the Fantagraphics website, this issue contains work by the following:
“…cartoonist Kayla E. (USA) returns with an all-new "Precious Rubbish" strip exploring childhood trauma through her darkly humorous lens; she also contributes this issue's cover. Nathan Gelgud (USA) makes his NOW debut with two strips adapting dialogue from interviews with filmmaker Paul Schrader, while indie humor phenom Josh Pettinger (UK) also appears for the first time. Anchoring the issue is Caitlin Skaalrud's (USA) inspiring and beautiful "How to Make Comics," a 40-page poetic howl about the need to make art and the sacrifices that come with that need ("LEARN THE COPPER TASTE OF HUNGER"). Also featuring: Ross Murray (New Zealand), Roman Muradov (Armenia), Josh Simmons (USA), Cynthia Alfonso (Spain), Steven Weissman (USA), Emil Friis Ernst (Denmark), and Stacy Gougoulis (Australia).”
Untamed, Blutch, Cinebook, $12.99, July 3, 2024
I was unaware about Blutch until a couple of years ago when I read some of his boxing stories which are quite good as boxing (and fighting) in comics is hard to do well (another example of someone that does it well is M.S. Harkness in Time Under Tension). I was surprised to find that he has had a long career in comics and has drawn almost every type of subject matter. Lucky Luke is a Belgian bande dessinée that started in 1946. It looks interesting and Cinebook always publishes nice-looking, well-made books. Not my usual subject matter but Blutch and Cinebooks combined made the decision easy.
Shakespeare Manga Theater, Osamu Tezuka, Ablaze Publishing, $14.95, July 3, 2024
This is a collection of Tezuka’s various adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays into one volume and, per the Ablaze Publishing website, includes:
The Merchant of Venice (1959), Robio and Robiette (from Astro Boy, 1965), Macbeth (from Vampire "The Three Fortunetellers", 1966), Hamlet (from Rainbow Parakeet, 1981), The Taming of the Shrew (from Rainbow Parakeet, 1981), and Othello (from Rainbow Parakeet, 1982).
As Colin Blanchette told me once “Even B-level work by Tezuka is better than most people’s A-level work” and that changed my entire mindset of how to appreciate the greatness of Tezuka. Anytime any publisher decides to translate Tezuka’s previously untranslated work into English, I am here for it and it’s a good thing for comics in general.
The Nancy Show, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, Fantagraphics, $22.99, July 10, 2024
This is a companion book to the Ernie Bushmiller exhibit going on right now at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum. I wish I could go, but this will be the next best thing. After reading Bill Griffith’s Three Rocks, I have come to appreciate Nancy.
Wolverton, Basil Wolverton, PS Artbooks, $32.99, July 17, 2024
I have been hearing much about Wolverton from cartoonists whose work I greatly admire and this features his famous “Spacehawk” so I said why not? This is the “softee” (i.e., TPB) version of this book. I have heard mixed things about PS Artbooks so I’m hoping this looks clean and isn’t a ripoff.
Tomorrow the Birds, Osamu Tezuka, Ablaze Publishing, $14.99 August 6, 2024
This collects a series from 1971-1975 and it’s a story about our world where birds become the dominant species. Again, it’s Tezuka so it’s a must-buy.
The Major, Moebius, Dark Horse Comics, $39.99, July 24, 2024
This was listed in The League of Comics Geeks app but I added it here because I don’t know if that many people are aware of its upcoming release.
I became a fan of Moebius’ via the Blueberry series and, like most great artists, they want to be able to write and draw but most of them cannot write. If you notice, most of his best-known works (Blueberry, The Long Tomorrow, The Incal were written by someone else (although I am on record saying that Jodorowsky’s writing on The Incal was terrible). Arzak is visually stunning (especially in the large french hardcover editions) and World of Edena is okay, but much of his later work in which he was the writer is like a subconscious fever-dream and you have to mostly enjoy it for the art. That’s my plan for The Major anyway.
To be frank, at least Dark Horse and the Moebius estate were able to finally get this book translated into English and into American bookstores. I don’t know what the issues are in getting these books translated but I think much of it has to be on the side of the Moebius estate because Dark Horse has been pretty much on schedule with their Richard Corben books. At this point I have given up any notion of seeing the Blueberry books translated into new English volumes and, despite the writing, Moebius’ art remains in a league of its own.
Outro
That’s it. I’m looking forward to some good comics this incredibly hot summer. I wish there were decent cons here during the summer (Florida Supercon in July is mostly about guests, cosplay and very little about comics and is very expensive) so I’m looking forward to a possible SPX trip and Ultracon, both in September.
If you haven't read it yet, Blutch also did a comic about Miles Davis called Total Jazz and as I recall you're a big fan of Miles Davis.