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Three issue story arc to ship bi-monthly from Colonia Press

This summer and fall will see Colonia in full sail with a new story arc taking place in the intriguing port town of Cartier, where Jack and his companions are filled with hopes of returning to sea. A few obstacles will stand in the way however, in the form of characters both familiar and unfamiliar.

Creator Jeff Nicholson was concerned about the impact of this story being lost on a slow release schedule. Instead of working on each issue to completion one by one, Jeff wrote, thumbnailed, layed out and lettered the whole 67-page novelette as a whole, in anticipation of releasing them more rapid fire as the inking was done. This will probably be one of the more cohesive runs on the series since the first three issues were released.

In issue #9’s “Oddities,” Jack and company arrive at the Pelican Inn, where the barmaid bears a striking resemblance to Teela the mermaid from previous issues. Melmo the confounding beast has a conversation with Adarro down at the docks, and down-and-out pirates Stuart and Marco try and sell our heroes a ship. Their plans are interrupted in issue #10’s “Familiar Slumber.” There are rumors of an old man in the hills, who, like Jack and his uncles, seems 300 years out of place. His name? What else … Rip Van Winkle. They take a detour to find him with hopes he has a clue to how they arrived in the world of Colonia in the first place. Their discovery is perhaps the most surprising twist yet on this compelling tale.

They finally procure a ship in issue #11, but now the entire town of Cartier is being held hostage by the notorious pirate “Smokebeard,” unless some brave individual will deliver him a chest of medicine. Cinnabar rises to the occasion, and Teela the mermaid has a run-in with Jack. Jeff delivers a great shake-up ending on this story arc, setting up anticipation of further intrigue and new horizons to explore.

Issues 9, 10, and 11 will hit the stands July, September and November of 2004. Both 9 and 10 are $2.95 for 24 pages, 11 is $3.50 for 32 pages. All are written and illustrated by 6-time Eisner nominee Jeff Nicholson.

www.coloniapress.com

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• Dean Haspiel, R. Sikoryak, Mike Mignola and others lend their talents to the third issue of Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist coming from Dark Horse in July. More here.

• Here's an odd bit of news: Jim Valentino is bringing back his normalman character in July. Here's an interview at Newsarama.

• The Stranger loves Carol Lay's Hugh J'asseole (That line's funnier if you read it aloud.)

• Got a bone to pick with Ross Rojek? So does his ex-girlfriend. [ thanks to Rich Johnston ]

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NEW ISSUE OF STRIPBURGER OUT
The 37th issue of Stripburger is here with a fresh package of comics from all four corners of the world including a special feature on the comic scene in Russia. There are comics by Aleksandr Yegorov, Leonid Tishkov, Xixyc, Ascold Akishin, Alim Velitov, Rei, Ilya Savtchenkov, Igor Kolgaryov and German Krizhanovsky with a special report on the local scene by Jose Alaniz. Also, a revealing interview with Peter Kuper together with his comics and illustrations. Max Andersson and Lars Sjunesson present the last part of the Bosnian Flat Dog, together with comics by Alejandro Alvarez (Argentine), Rayman (Belgium), Pascal D. Bohr (Germany), Kiza (Serbia and Montenegro), Damon Belanger (USA), Bjorn Ousland (Norway) and Slovenia's own Primoz Krasna, Andrej Stular, Andreja Kladnik and Tomaz Lavric. Plus reviews, columns and much more!

Where to buy Stripburger: http://www.ljudmila.org/stripcore/distro.htm

STRIPBURGER AT THE BARCELONA COMICS FESTIVAL
The international comics festival in Barcelona that had last year over 85,000 visitors is this year for the 22nd time taking place from 6th to 9th May. Stripburger will participate with a selection of East European artists that participated in Stripburek or/and Warburger, the Stripburgers specials. Works by following artists will be exhibited: Veiko Tammjarv, Jonas Sildre (EE), Wladimir 518, Tomas Prokupek (CZ), Milorad Krstic (HU), Shpend Bengu (AL), Ascold Akishin (RU), Roman Tolici (RO), Miroslav Nemeth (HR), Danijel Zezelj (HR/US), January Misiak, Antoni Serkowski, Mateusz Skutniks (PL), Mr. Stocca, Aleksandar Zograf, Vladan Nikolic (SCG), Ciril Horjak, Koco, Andrej Stular, Matej Lavrencic, Primoz Krasna, Andreja Kladnik (SI). Besides the editorial members the special guest will be Tomas Prokupek, comics artist and editor of the Aargh! magazine.

More about the festival:
http://www.ficomic.com/saloncomic2004/general.html

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• Check out artist Noah Lyon's new album, Cheap Little Tart, for free at his site.

• Publishers Weekly has reviewed Magic Whistle: Bigger, Larger, and Bigger!. Warning: Reading the article requires subscription.

• I may have mentioned this before, but anyone interested in early comics (pre-1930) really should check out Andy Konky Kru's pages over at BugPowder. A new addition is this page that collects all of the larger-panel scans. Impressive.

• Gary Panter has been doing lots of commisioned drawings lately based on three words of the customer's choice. A bunch of them have been posted in this Comics Journal message board thread.

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The Xeric Foundation has announced its most recent grant recipients. A total of $27,765 was awarded to seven comic book creators. The Foundation has awarded in excess of $1,274,000 to comic book creators and nonprofit organizations since its first grant cycle in September 1992.

Established by Peter Laird, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Northampton, MA based foundation offers financial assistance to self-publishing comic book creators in the US and Canada and to qualified charitable and nonprofit organizations in western Massachusetts.

The next deadline and review dates are July 31, 2004 and September 1, 2004, respectively.

The charitable organization grants were decided in June 2003 and announced separately.

The artists receiving grants are as follows:

Mark Britt – Full Color
James Campbell -- Krachmacher
Leland Myrick – Bright Elegy
Josh Neufeld – A Few Perfect Hours
Karl Stevens – Guilty
Ivan Velez – The Collected Tales of the Closet Vol. 1

For information, write to:

XERIC FOUNDATION
351 Pleasant Street #214
Northampton, MA 01060

www.xericfoundation.com

[ thanks to Jeff Mason ]

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From Tim Harrison:

I shot a documentary about 24 Hour Comic Day. I've got footage (3 cameras) of Austin Books (largest turnout in the nation with 41) and footage of the store in Sherman Oaks and an interview with Scott McCloud. If you taped interviews or events on the day and wish to have it included in this documentary, please contact me.

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THE SUMMER OF CRAIG THOMPSON AND JAMES KOCHALKA

Exciting news for Craig Thompson and James Kochalka fans. Both will be appearing at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, debuting four all-new books (timed to hit retail stores on the exact same day in July). All four titles are featured in the current Previews catalog, so be sure to get your local retailer to pre-order them for you today! Here's what's coming:

Carnet de Voyage by Craig Thompson
Craig Thompson – the award-winning creator of Blankets and Good-bye, Chunky Rice – spent three months traveling through Barcelona, the Alps, and France, as well as Morocco, where he was researching his next graphic novel, Habibi. Spontaneous sketches and a travelogue diary document his adventures and quiet moments, creating a raw and intimate portrait of countries, culture and the wandering artist.
-- $14.95 (US), 192 pages, Graphic Novel, ISBN 1-891830-60-0
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=404

American Elf: The Collected Sketchbook Diaries of James Kochalka
(October 26, 1998 to December 31, 2003)
by James Kochalka
With an introduction by Moby
Kochalka's diaries have utterly redefined the daily comic strip. His attempt to document the minutia of his life results in work that explores the full spectrum of human emotions. Drawn with verve and confidence by a cartoonist at the height of his powers, it is ambitious, hilarious, moving, and quite addictive! This astounding book follows the ups and downs of Kochalka's life through five (!) full years of the strip, plus also includes 32 full color pages of supplementary comics and other artwork. Quite simply, this is Kochalka's masterpiece.
-- $29.95 (US), 520 pages, Graphic Novel, ISBN 1-891830-49-X
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=393

Conversations #1 by James Kochalka & Craig Thompson
Two of our best cartoonists go head to head in this freewheeling collaboration/argument, discussing art and religion, confronting each other and playfully confronting God in one of the best comics "jams" ever set to paper. Kochalka and Thompson draw together, trading the pages back and forth, adding to each other's drawings as the conversation turns in unexpected directions. A wild energy forms as their two drawing styles merge together. It's like a comics version of My Dinner with Andre , but with a giant killer octopus.
-- $4.95, 40 pages, Comic Book
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=405

The Blankets Soundtrack
by Tracker (& Craig Thompson)
This summer, Top Shelf will co-release with FILMguerrero something we've never produced before, an official soundtrack to one of our graphic novels! Produced by John Askew and featuring the instrumental recordings of the Portland, Oregon group, Tracker, this CD will feature 9 instrumental tracks inspired by the chapters in the illustrated novel Blankets, by Craig Thompson. The package will also feature a booklet chock full of all-new Blankets illustrations, as well as a Blankets-themed CD cover, amazingly crafted by Craig Thompson.
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=410

************

TOP SHELF SIGNS MINI-COMICS MAESTRO, ANDY RUNTON
Top Shelf has just signed hot mini-comics creator, Andy Runton, and his all-ages series, Owly. This beautifully rendered and touching story will be the first actual graphic novel series from Top Shelf. Watch for the first volume this September, and pick up the last of his mini-comics at the cons this summer – or from the Top Shelf website – before they're all gone.

Owly is a kind, yet lonely, little owl who's always on the search for new friends and adventure. The first graphic novel in the series contains two enchanting novellas, "The Way Home" & "The Bittersweet Summer," wherein Owly discovers the meaning of friendship, and that saying goodbye doesn't always mean forever. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons, and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton's clean, animated, and heartwarming style makes it a perfect read for anyone who's a fan of Jeff Smith's Bone or Mike Kunkel's Herobear and the Kid. Don't miss the next big thing in comics!

To see the cover of Owly, click here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=425

************

NEW ON-LINE COMIX AT TOPSHELFCOMIX.COM

We've just added two new stories to the online comix section of the Top Shelf website:

– "Little By Small" by veteran Dean Haspiel
&
– "Broken Bicycle" by newcomer Lori Joy Smith
(This is Lori's first published comic, so come and see what all the fuss is about!)

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/comix.php

************

TOP SHELF AWARD NOMINATIONS
Top Shelf would like to congratulate Craig Thompson, Jon B. Cooke, Brett Warnock, Jeffrey Brown, and Derek Kirk Kim for their 2004 Eisner, Harvey, and ForeWord Magazine Award Nominations:

2004 Eisner Award Nominees:
-- Best Graphic Album-New: Blankets (Craig Thompson)
-- Best Writer/Artist: Craig Thompson (Blankets)
-- Best Comics-Related Periodical: Comic Book Artist (Jon B. Cooke)
-- Best Publication Design: Top Shelf Asks the Big Questions (Brett Warnock)
-- Talent Deserving Wider Recognition: Derek Kirk Kim (Same Difference)
-- Best Short Story: "Same Difference" (Derek Kirk Kim)

2004 Harvey Award Nominees:
-- Best Artist: Craig Thompson (Blankets)
-- Best Cartoonist: Craig Thompson (Blankets)
-- Best Graphic Album of Original Work: Blankets (Craig Thompson)
-- Best Journalistic Presentation: Comic Book Artist (Jon B. Cooke)
-- Best New Talent: Jeffrey Brown (Unlikely)
-- Best New Talent: Derek Kirk-Kim (Same Difference)

2004 ForeWord Magazine Book Awards Nominee:
-- Graphic Novel Finalist: Blankets (Craig Thompson)

************

www.topshelfcomix.com


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From Franco Ortega:

The 4th annual Portland Zine Symposium is only two months away, so get ready to venture into the northwest for three days of zine summer fun! This year it will be held on June 25-27, and the theme is "In Zines We Trust." The website has finally been updated and all info (more details, workshops, extra-curricular activities, etc) will be posted there as it becomes available. Currently, you can download a table registration form. Also, a new messageboard is up and includes categories to coordinate rideshares & housing.

http://pdxzines.com


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From Bill Kartalopoulos:

I have just posted a new issue of Indy Magazine, the online quarterly published by Jeff Mason and edited by myself. This issue is a City of Glass special, marking that book's upcoming republication by Picador USA. The issue includes a lengthy essay on the book by Martha Kuhlman, a long interview with Paul Karasik, a shorter (but snappy) interview with David Mazzucchelli, and art spiegelman's new intro to the book.

The issue also includes a long interview with Francoise Mouly on Little Lit, a visual slideshow with photographs and artwork from Ben Katchor's recent musical, "The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, or the Friends of Dr. Rushower," and a Kramers Ergot 5 preview, featuring eight interior pages and C.F.'s full-color cover.

Books reviewed in this issue are: Balthazar Part 1, L'Homme Sans Talent, and War Time and Play Time.

We have also re-instituted the previous online version of Indy Magazine. A browse through the archives will reveal many reviews and interviews with such luminaries as Chris Ware and Dan Clowes. See the link under "Archives" on the right-hand side of the front page.

http://www.indyworld.com/indy/
http://www.egonlabs.com

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LA ZINE FIESTA 2004

Saturday, July 10th
11am - 5pm

at

ARTS IN ACTION
1919 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA

More information will be coming, but if you have specific questions you can email Jay or if you'd like to join the Yahoo group and get updates automatically, send an email here.

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• Ezra Claytan Daniels (Changers) kicks off a nine-city book tour this Sunday at Reading Frenzy in Portland. Here's the schedule.

• Sophie Crumb's been interviewed over at Suicide Girls. [ thanks to James Kozak ]

• Onsmith drew the cover to this week's Portland Mercury. Check it out.

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AdHouse Books is proud to introduce its new limited mini-sketchbook series PINK.

Pink will strive to straddle the border of "Low" and "High" art with each artist featured.

Pink's limited nature will have the print run set to the number of orders received (plus copies for the creator and publisher) and will not go back to press.

Each issue of Pink will come encased within a pink plastic envelope and contain an added bonus, such as a sticker, coaster, and maybe (gasp) a piece of gum.

The first issue debuts with the prolific Scott Morse, who has decided to share his love of monsters. From Bigfoot to evil scientists, you will find all types of creatures within these pages – and some in color! Also includes a sticker!

# # #

The Pink Sketchbook: GRRR!
Volume 1 by Scott Morse
1-color cover with endflaps
32 pages, 8 of which will be digital color
5.5" x 8.5" saddle stitched
$10 US funds
Shipping in August

www.adhousebooks.com

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Matt Holdaway sent along the following:

A Multitude of Voices is excited to be participating in the Fifth Annual Expo for the Artist & Musician, coming up May 2 at Cellspace, 2050 Bryant St, in San Francisco. Come meet us amid
the 90+ arts groups in attendance, and mingle with hundreds of like-minded people.

Details here: http://artsandmedia.net/expo/

We're also participating in a FREE self-publisher's workshop this Monday, April 26, from 6:00-8:00pm at Intersection for the Arts. Here are the details on how to get your words in print:

INDIE PUBLISHING SUPPORT GROUP
Feedback, ideas, methods and true tales of self-publishing.
Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia (@ 15th St.)
6:00-8:00 pm
Antonia Blue/Kitchen Sink magazine
Matt Holdaway/A Multitude of Voices
Jennifer Joseph/Manic D Press
Liz Lisle/Watchword Press
Juliette Torrez/Kapow! Press, Last Gasp Press
Ian Phillips, Greg Wharton/Suspect Thoughts Press
V. Vale/Re/Search Publications

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• Over at Broken Frontiers Shawn Hoke talks about his visit to the Little Cakes gallery in NYC and their current show, "Lanky Weird Dudes".

• NOW Comics is reporting that the new Ralph Snart trade paperback by Marc Hansen has sold out of its first printing. A second printing ships in May and this fall will see a second Ralph Snart trade, this time collecting Hansen's online comics. More info at their site.

• The 2004 Harvey Awards nominees have been announced. [ thanks to Jeff Mason ]

• I somehow missed it last week, but check out this Ivan Brunetti comic in The Stranger (Seattle). And this week it's Smell of Steve!

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• If you happen to be near the Glen Ellyn, Illinois area you may want to pop into the College of DuPage Library (in the Student Resource Center). On the third floor, near the science exhibits, are displayed several etchings and Tepid comic book pages by John Hankiewicz. For more info, e-mail John.

• In the New York Times, Mickey Mouse has been reimagined by Gary Baseman, Laylah Ali and others. Never mind that the first is the Marvel Comics version. Also: requires registration. [ thanks to Mark Daly ]

• Roger Langridge's new daily strip, "The Hotel Fred" begins today at both the creator's site and Modern Tales.

• Here's a new Peter Bagge interview over at UGO.

• Mary Worth gets the Johnny Ryan treatment.

• The Italian website Comics Code has posted an interview with Will Eisner (in English). [ thanks to EGON ]

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As part of the kick-off year of the Ann Arbor Book Festival, Vault of Midnight Books of Ann Arbor is sponsoring a host of great comics events this Saturday, April 24.

GUESTS include Pete Sickman-Garner (Hey, Mister), Jim Ottaviani (Two-Fisted Science), Mark Crilley (Akiko), Paul Sizer (Little White Mouse), Jane Irwin (Vogelein), Matt Feazell (The Amazing Adventures of Cynicalman), and Phoebe Gloeckner (A Child's Life, Diary of a Teenage Girl), and many more!

SCHEDULES:
Getting Published: A Comic and Writer's Stage
Comics are Sequential Art, Comic Pavillion
Street Festival

[ thanks to Phoebe Gloeckner ]

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Tupelo Trade Paperback with Music by the Famous Monsters from SLG in June!

Who is Captain Tupelo?

PUNK ROCK LEGEND
In 1977 NYC’s Famous Monsters burned up Greenwich Village with their own dangerous brand of rock ‘n roll. Hammering out caustic three-chord anthems in dives across the city, the band gave voice to a sonic revolution. Their guitarist/songwriter, punk rock's Golden Boy, went by the name of Captain Tupelo.

URBAN MYTH
Punk rock fell. The Monsters broke up. Soon rumors spread among the city’s homeless- underground whispers of a strange street avenger dressed in a pea coat and captain’s hat. They called him their protector and savior. They said his name was Captain Tupelo.

SUPER HERO
No longer are tales told of the good Captain cruising the streets in a battered taxi cab, seeking out crime with his former band mate, the 11 O’Clock Man. No one can recall if the drug he was injected with actually gave him “special” powers. Today, hardly anyone remembers the story of Tupelo.

Until one night… and one murder… will make certain that no one will ever again forget his name.

Captain Tupelo and the 11 O'Clock Man battle the Lullaby Squad, a secret organization devoted to maintaining the status quo in the four-issue SLG Publishing miniseries, Tupelo by Matt De Gennaro and Phil Elliott. The miniseries is now collected into one 144-page graphic novel that includes a CD of rare Famous Monsters tracks. The myth and the music will be in stores in June 2004. A preview of issue one of Tupelo is available at SLG Publishing's website.

www.slavelabor.com

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• Word on the street is that Ian Carney (Pants Ant) is currently at work writing 200 live-action "links" for Nickelodeon UK that will star actor Rik Mayall.

• Harris O'Malley (Between the Cracks) is profiled at Ninth Art.

• Reminder: The Providence Zine Fest is this Saturday, April 24th, at AS220. More info at the Fest site.

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Apr 27, 6 p.m.
at Hugo House

Zine Archives & Publishing Project Workshop & Show: "MamaZines." Readings from creators of zines about radical parenting, related subjects! Donations requested to benefit ZAPP. Contact.

Richard Hugo House is a nonprofit literary arts center located at 1634 Eleventh Ave., between Olive and Pine streets on Seattle's Capitol Hill. For more info about us, or how to get here, visit www.hugohouse.org.

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Earth is under attack! Aliens invade! Robots fight in the streets, battling over the most desirable piece of real estate just discovered in the suburban outskirts of the Cosmos. Emily is eleven. She has a giant robot, a lemonade stand, and would kill for a pony. Somehow she is Earth's savior.

Emily already had enough to worry about – besides competing with her arch-nemesis Daisy, dodging her smitten admirer Jace, she also was trying to scrape together enough money to buy the pony of her dreams, Marcus. But when she becomes the hope of humankind... well, she still has to outdo Daisy and deal with Jace, but she also has to decide the fate of her loyal robot business partner Juicer. Meanwhile, Emily's new pet, the adorable little pink creature named Pheef, who just happens to be a fierce warrior, must learn to live in servitude, awaiting the day when he will reveal his true capabilities.

From the creators of Oddjob, Ian and Tyson Smith, comes the new, all-ages full-color 104-page graphic novel, Emily and the Intergalactic Lemonade Stand, scheduled for release in June 2004. It will be published under SLG Publishing's all-ages imprint, AmazeInk.

Brothers Ian and Tyson created Emily out of love for the fun, action-packed and light-hearted stories they grew up with in Saturday morning cartoons. "My whole idea for the book was to create something that was simple and breezy," said writer Ian. "If you consider writing therapy, Emily is my attempt to sublimate world domination and my desires for giant-robot-building into a friendly, perky graphic novel."

The brothers are quick to point out that Emily has something for everyone. "Ty did a great job with the cute part," Ian said of the artwork, "but a word to the guys out there -- it's filled with gigantic battling robot action. And that's cool, no matter how old you are."

Tyson agrees. "It was important to us that our book with kids as the main characters not be dumbed down. Ian and I wanted to make a comic that we would enjoy reading as adults and a comic we would have loved to read when we were kids," he said. "I wanted to have fun with the art and bring Ian's characters to life."

Part of bringing the characters to life was adding color. SLG primarily publishes black-and-white comics, but after seeing the artwork, SLG's president and publisher Dan Vado decided to make Emily the company's first full-color graphic novel. "We all agreed it was screaming out for color," Tyson said.

An eight-page preview of Emily and the Intergalactic Lemonade Stand is available at SLG Publishing's website, www.slavelabor.com.

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Fourth Annual Texas Comics Creators' Forum

May 28, 7 pm

at Borders (9025 Kirby @ W. Alabama)

This year's forum will focus on minicomics and self-publishing. If you publish a mini-comic, zine or comic bring copies (and if you haven't published one yet, there is still time). There will also be a comics jam.

For more info, e-mail Shane Boyle.

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While We're Young

April 16 | Reception | 6pm - 10pm
April 17 | Gallery hours: 10am - 5pm

Blue Genie Art
916 Springdale
Austin, Texas
MAP

About the artists:
The lineup is set for the big April painting show to be held at Blue Genie Art Industries on April 16-17. The show features a strong and diverse mix of painters from the Austin area. Chris Chappell continues his explorations of space and color using slightly skewed cityscapes to portray the beauty his eye sees in the architecture laying waste to this proud city. Tim Doyle's pop inspired paintings show the influence of his comics and zines. Holly Fisher, who also has a strong animation background working in Bob Sabiston's studio, creates lushly painted canvases in an intimate painterly style. Jeanne Hospod's figurative work concentrates on vibrant colors and an uncanny knack for representing the figure. Meg Renwick teaches at Laguna Gloria and has been concentrating on painting her somewhat surreal visions for over a decade. San Marcos' resident painter Grady Roper combines the illustrative nature of his cartoon work with carefully crafted painting techniques. The slyly tongue-in-cheek figures that live in Michael Schliefke's paintings often revel in the seedier side of the alley, making nods to various painters through history along the way.

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Oni Press is pleased to announce the August release of the second original graphic novel by the Days Like This team of J. Torres and Scott Chantler. Scandalous is an all-new, 96-page story, once more delving into a specific timeframe within the entertainment industry.

Hollywood in the 1950s is a place of big glamour, small talk, and medium cool. The studios control everything, managing their actors’ careers and massaging the image they present to the public. To do this, they need the press onboard, and the one aspect they can’t control – gossip! This means the most powerful woman in Hollywood is Paige Turner, the celebrity columnist for one of America’s most-read papers. Known for her outrageous headgear, Paige is often called “The Mad Hatter” – a nickname with a double meaning, since everyone wants to be invited to her publicity party. When a spicier tabloid mentality creeps into the newsstands, though, Paige sees some of her ground being threatened. And the studios see a roguish new element that might not want to play ball. At the top of this salacious new art form is Harry Richards, “The Tabloid Dick,” the guy with the snooping peepers who keeps getting the scoop. What begins as a war of words ends up being a knock-down, drag-out fight for the number one slot as the biggest rumor monger in entertainment!

“Scott and J. are practically setting up their own cottage industry,” Oni publisher Joe Nozemack said, “digging into significant time periods much like a comic book version of the Merchant Ivory team. J.’s scripts capture the feel and dialogue of the subject, while Scott’s classic illustration style brings everything to life in a way that looks authentic.”

“The fun part of Scandalous was the research into the colorful characters,” Torres said. “The real-life players at the time were far more outlandish than most heroes in the films they wrote about. By creating my own versions, rather than dealing with historical figures, I can smoosh a lot of the different anecdotes together, create an amalgamation. It gives me freedom to move through the many stories that took place in that era.”

“I like to match J.’s research line by line, and then raise the ante,” Chantler added. “It’s not enough to just get the clothes and hair right. In one scene, we feature a lot of books, and I wanted to make sure I got the cover to the Howard Pyle version of Robin Hood just right. I'm a history buff, so while the story is fiction, it's important to me that the settings and situations seem as accurate as possible. It's not just window dressing – all of those background details eventually come together into a bigger picture that rings true.”

Scandalous is a 96-page trade paperback, featuring black-and-white story and art, printed at digest size. It ships to comic book stores on August 25, 2004, and retails for $9.95. The ISBN for the graphic novel is 1-929998-98-8.

Oni Press

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• There's a new interview with Boy Trouble's David Kelly at Ninth Art.

• Reminder: The New Jersey Zinefest is this Sunday, April 18th. More info.

• Scram's now got a CafePress shop through which you can buy merchandise featuring art by Peter Bagge, Andrice Arp, Steven Weissman, Daniel Clowes and more.

• Here's the second part of JT Steiny's "The Foam" in the LA Weekly.

• If you know who Ross Rojek is then you may be amused to hear he was arrested on charges of fraud. I know I am. Wonder if I'll ever get that check? [ thanks to the Pulse ]

• Also at the Pulse is a profile of Adrian Tomine by Jennifer Contino.

• Carol Lay is having a Divorce Sale at her site. Due to the unpleasant details (which I don't think you'll find at her site) I encourage you to buy something.

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Dark Horse Comics and Compound Gallery present Katsuya Terada in his first U.S. art show!

Japanese artist Katsuya Terada will be appearing at the Compound Gallery reception May 6 in Portland, Oregon from 7-10 p.m. Compound Gallery will have on exhibit and for sale 30-40 hand drawn sketches and a small amount of hand drawn art. This is a unique purchasing opportunity as Mr. Terada has never sold his hand-drawn sketches and has no plans to do so again in the future! Additionally, limited silkscreen prints and a special edition of the upcoming Terada portfolio from Dark Horse will be available for sale at the gallery. Both items are signed and numbered by the artist. The show will run May 6-31.

Illustrator and talented character designer Katsuya Terada was born on December 7, 1963, in the town of Tamano (Okayama). His amazing art style has garnered him an international following that has led to work on such high profile projects such as Nike's White Dunk campaign, the anime film Blood the Last Vampire, and Dark Horse's upcoming BMW comic series, The Hire. Additionally Terada's rendering of Mike Mignola's Hellboy was used to make the popular soft vinyl figure produced by Dark Horse.

Terada cites several influences on his unique style, in particular European artists such as Moebius. He defines himself as an artist rakugaki, a practice of drawing anywhere, anytime without reflecting too much. This style of drawing can be seen in his 1,000 page collection of sketches Rakugaking.

For the latest news on Terada products and projects coming soon from Dark Horse Comics visit Darkhorse.com.

Compound Gallery is located at 107 NW 5th, Portland, Oregon 97209. Visit their website at justbedesign.com.

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• Lynne Lowe's Cafeisme Distro is about to re-open and is looking for zines and comics to carry. More info here.

• If you enjoy publications like Stripburger and Eastern European artists in general, then you owe it to yourself to check out the newest online edition of Komikaze. There's an amazing amount of work on this site. Just try to click on the "hof" link (for Igor Hofbauer) without being won over.

• Andrew Arnold interviews Chester Brown at Time.comix. [ thanks to EGON ]

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André Lemos [O fabuloso guia das capacidades inexploradas] and Pedro Moura with Marcos Farrajota [Supermen] comix published in CanibalCriCa Ilustrada 1/3 (a comix & wild literature prozine edited by Chili Com Carne Association) will showed in Kunstraum via 113 gallery in Hildesheim, Germany.

Organized by Lampe fanzine, this begins an exhibition cycle entitled "Comic School" with the main goal to show alternative comics.

This first exhibition will open 16th April, with "Ägypten" (Egypt) as the main theme. The second exhibition will be 30th April entitled "Willi, George & Busch" also (and again) with Portuguese author, André Lemos, this time with the silkscreen Super Fight II edition - a 10 boxing-illustration rounds work between George Grosz and André Lemos.

Copies of Canibal CriCa Ilustrada 1/3 and Super Fight II will be available in the gallery.



If you're from Germany you can also buy Super Fight II at www.dassortiment.de and other Chili Com Carne editions in the Neurotitan, a b00k’n’d1g1talmuz1k store in Berlin.

Chili Com Carne

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• Allison Cole's Never Ending Summer will be in stores this Wednesday from Alternative. Look for a preview here.

• If you live in the Bay Area and dig animation, don't forget to check out the I Hate Cartoons Animation Festival this Saturday, April 17th.

• Comic World News has an interview with David Yurkovich of Less Than Heroes (Top Shelf) is and a look at Alternative Comics' recent output.

• The nominees for the 2004 Eisner Awards have been announced. Here's the full list at Newsarama.

• Here's a preview for Jail Bait, a graphic novel by Ben Sainsbury and Dean Haspiel, who are currently seeking a publisher for the story. [ thanks to Artbomb ]

• David Youngblood talks at the Pulse about the new issue of his Typewriter anthology. [ thanks to Tim O'Neil ]

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Noah Lyon - "chopped off heads of dudes"

Opened Saturday, April 10th

Videos by Paper Rad, performances by Cock E.S.P., Occasional Detroit, Irene Moon, Noumena and more!

@ The BLD Warehouse
400 E.2nd Ave., Columbus, OH 43201
phone: (614) 299-3766
by appointment call Mark (330) 207- 2834

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From Scott Hsu-Storaker:

I would like to thank everyone for all the great comments and encouragement since I launched my new online store for self published comics last month. As a way of saying thanks, I am offering to send you a copy of my own personal new comic, Wippen Flange #5, for free. Just stop by my store and sign up by April 30, 2004 using the link at the top of the page and I will send it to you. You don't even have to buy anything, but if you want to I'm excited to say that there are now twice as many comics available on the site as there were a month ago and a bunch more on the way. Come and check it out:

www.bowzizzer.com

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Reel Big Deal

Fifteen short films.
One late night.

Friday April 16, 2004
12:00 Midnight
Majestic Bay Theatres
2044 NW Market St, Ballard

We'll be showing "Thought City" by Stefan Gruber, "Boullibaise" by Pat Moriarity and "Fossil Follies" by Jim Woodring, as well as a preview of the in-progress "Pickup" based on the story by Mary Fleener and Pat Moriarity from Big Mouth #3.

There will also be shorts by Iole Alessandrini, Aaron Bourget, Beth Harrington, John Helde, Wes Kim, Danielle Morgan, Heather Dew Oaksen, Mark O’Connell, Ken Rowe, and Matt Wilkins. Previews of works in progress by Beth Harrington (“Don’t Forget This Song - The Story of the Original Carter Family”, featuring one of the last interviews with music legend Johnny Cash) and Matt Wilkins (“Buffalo Bill’s Defunct”).

$10 General Admission • $25 Reserved Seating • $50 Patron

For advance tickets (strongly recommended) contact Artist Trust by e-mail or (206) 467-8734 x 16

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• The only thing better than a goofy Q&A with Johnny Ryan is one that comes in your choice of Spanish or English.

• In this week's Stranger (Seattle) Alison Bechdel does the autobio thing and Rick Altergott illustrates this article.

• Here are this week's zine reviews by Guy Leshinski in Toronto's Eye.

• An interview with Nick Bertozzi at There's Nothing to Do Here!. [ thanks to Tim O'Neil ]

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This Sunday, April 11 (that's Easter evening, for those of you into that sort of thing), at 7pm, stories from the comics anthology New Thing Vol. 2: Secrets will be read as part of the KGB Bar's long-running and esteemed Fiction Series.

The stories to be read are: "b-612" by June K., about two women friends trying very hard not to say good-bye, "Will You Forget Me?" by Jim Higgins and Jim Campbell, about missing persons and found emotions, and "Wino Forever" by Dash Shaw, about love, finding out what's real, and a celebrity actress's woes.

Also included will be readings from Lucky 1, a journal-style comic book about anxiety, finding apartments, and living the freelance life in Williamsburg, Brooklyn by Gabrielle Bell.

It's an honor to be asked to be involved in a series that has included such writers as Paul Auster, Jonathan Lethem, Mary Gaitskill, Jonathan Ames, and Joyce Carol Oates.

Please come down and indulge in an evening of art and literature.

KGB Bar is at 85 East 4th Street in the East Village. 212-505-3360.

http://kgbbar.com/calendar.shtml

New Thing Vol. 1: Identity, New Thing Vol. 2: Secrets, and Lucky 1 will be available at the reading and the authors will sign copies.

[ thanks to Jeff Mason ]

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• Photos from Saturday's SPACE show in Columbus, courtesy of Larned Justin

• Here's a preview of Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca's Street Angel #2.

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• Issue 16 of Gary Spencer Millidge's Strangehaven is scheduled to ship in June. More info.

• Joe Meyer's got a new online home for his projects, including the "365Joe" diary strips.

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Bwana Spoons gives up the poop on three new shows this spring:

MOONPOP

New works by Bwana Spoons & Flower Frankenstein
April 1 - May 1, 2004
Moonpop delivers an exhilarating and optimistic exhibition... just in time for spring! Moonpop confuses our assumptions of normalcy, reality and possibility, ultimately directing a very subtle but critical eye to the unpleasantries endemic to the adult world we inhabit today. However, as the viewer continues to look deeper into the amusing and nonsensical vignettes s/he is supplied with the antidote to these heavy questions. That is, to imagine and build a new reality, leaving the boundaries of convention behind.

I will have all new paintings, piles of acrylic and spray-paint and pencil layered onto wood and other found niblets of paper and etc., and... an installation made of my new wooden birdies "Peeps" to boot.

Flower Frankenstein is a self-taught artist who resides in sunny San Francisco. There she spends her time whipping up novels and paintings of BikiniKat, a gigantic pink cat who travels the world on her super trick motorcycle, Trixie. She is nearing completion on her latest work, BikiniKat Vs. the Super Ugly Beautifuls. For more information, see www.bikinikat.com.

Reception Thursday, April 1, 7-10 pm
Tunes by Puffin
Flower and I will both be there

Motel
19 NW 5th Avenue, Suite C
Portland, OR 97209
{located on NW Couch, between 5th & 6th}
tel. 503.222.6699
www.motelgallery.com
www.grasshutcorp.com


* * * * * * *


"Things Jus Keep Getting Messier"

My first solo adventure in Seattle. There will be new and old works of mystical value. Including Manatees, Pups, Peeps, which are these little wooden birdies that I jus started making, and a small wooden installation to boot. Hope you can make it, and tell all your peeps to come see my peeps.

when: opens Saturday April 3rd from 6pm – 8pm and runs till the end of the month
where: Fancy
1932 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
tel. 206.443.4621
www.fancyjewels.com

* * * * * * *

Three Minutes of Happiness

A bigtastical group show in San Diego. All the top ams and pros will be totally shredding with pieces on the theme of 3 Minutes of Happiness. Every artwork is a square, no larger than 10" x 10" and all pieces are $150 even steven. Winner takes all, and gets the cover to the next RE:UP.

4/10/04 - 5/10/04, reception on 4/17
RE:UP Magazine + Selective Hearing Gallery
828 G Street San Diego Ca 92101-6421
tel. 619-236-8007

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Usagi Yojimbo: Travels with Jotaro

Throughout his journeys across feudal Japan, rabbit ronin Usagi has faced many dangers, crossed paths with some who have become his sworn enemies, and forged bonds of friendship stronger than any threat that might cross his path – but now he does it with young Jotaro at his side! This volume of the internationally acclaimed Usagi Yojimbo collects issues #61-68 of the multi-award winning ongoing series, and continues the adventures as "Uncle" Usagi struggles with keeping a secret from Jotaro that everyone else seems to know. Not only do their travels bring the perils of the Neko Ninja (in hot pursuit of Chizu, ex-leader of their clan and friend to Usagi), they also have a close encounter with a new and deadly organization – the Koroshi League of Assassins. The beautiful thief Kitsune is up to her old tricks, and Usagi relates a story from his youth about a goblin swordmaster. Finally, an evil artist targets Jotaro with a possessed ink set in the three-part "Sumi-E" story, which features the return of Sasuké the Demon Queller!

• Parents' Choice Award winner.
• National Cartoonists Society Award winner.

Usagi Yojimbo: Travels with Jotaro features story and art by Stan Sakai. The softcover trade arrives June 9, with a retail price of $15.95. The limited edition hard cover featuring a signed and numbered tip-in-plate arrives in stores June 30 with a retail price of $59.95.

The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft

Following the success of The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, Dark Horse returns with another collection of bizarre tales by Eisner Award-winning artists Mike Mignola, Gary Gianni, Evan Dorkin, Jill Thompson, and Scott Morse. Mignola returns with another Hellboy story, and Thompson (Scary Godmother) and Dorkin (The Thing, Dork) return to the characters in their stunning "Stray" story, the surprise hit of the first volume in this series. Morse (Ancient Joe, Sam and Twitch) presents a haunting tale of old Salem, digging into the madness of the accusations leveled there, which ended more than thirty lives in a few short months. Filled with other stellar comics offerings, as well as a classic witch tale by Clark Ashton Smith and illustrated by cover artist Gianni, The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft conjures up weird tales of horror and magic the likes of which one seldom sees in the comics medium.

The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft features the talents of Mike Mignola (W/A), Gary Gianni (A), Evan Dorkin (W), Jill Thompson (A), Scott Morse (W/A), and others! It arrives on sale June 23 with a retail price of $14.95.


For more information on these and other releases visit:
Dark Horse Comics

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The 432-page, 7” x 10” case bound volume is limited to 300 copies, the first 150 of which receive an original Ralph Snart sketch by Marc Hansen. Each edition sports a full-color wraparound slip cover and a dust jacket; the volume will ship shrink-wrapped and carry a $59.95 retail price.

“We apologize that the signed, limited hardcover edition of Ralph Snart Adventures won’t ship on time, but we’re very confident it will be worth the wait,” said NOW Comics’ Publisher Tony Caputo. “We’re initiating something revolutionary to comics by adding a “beta” stage to production.”

As in software development, the beta stage is a release that’s available to tweak out the bugs in the system. Caputo said it’s another step in testing to improve and assure the highest possible quality. Up to ten select “beta testers” will review the 432-page custom perfect-bound “Beta Book,” with the clear understanding of their responsibility. Their comments, suggestions and report will further develop the final product to the highest possible quality.

"This will be a pretty awesome package with the bound hardcover and sketch," said Hansen. "I'm sure there will be Snart fans drooling like maniacs over this one. It's nice and heavy, too, so when you throw it at someone, they'll know it."

Originally scheduled to ship in March 2004, Now Comics anticipates this edition to reach consumers around May 2004. Preview of the Ralph Snart Adventures Limited Edition Hardcover is available at: http://www.nowcomics.net/images/previews/rsa_hc/RSA.htm

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• The Neil Jam daily comic strip celebrates its one-year anniversary this week with a handful of guest cartoonists. James Kochalka's there today and will be followed by Justin Madson, Tony Brandl, Jesse McManus and Kurt Wolfgang.

• Scott Morse has painted the cover for Tom Beland's True Story, Swear to God #12. Here's a sneak peek.

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• Check out the new online comix at Top Shelf by Farel Dalrymple, Martin Cendreda, Rob Goodin, Nathan Beaty and others.

• The Providence (RI) Zine Fest takes place on April 24th. More info here.

• Michael Dougan's got a strip in this week's LA Weekly.

• Man, how could anyone not love Jim Woodring's work? Here's the cover to this week's Stranger (Seattle). Also in this issue is a one-page comic by Hawk Krall.

• Michel Gagne (Parables: An Anthology) is interviewed over at Newsarama.

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The 2004 San Francisco Zine Fest will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 4th and 5th from 10-4

at Cellspace
2050 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA

The space will be open to exhibitors from 9:30-4:30,
with free admission to the general public from 10:00-4:00

This year's registration form is not up yet, but will be soon - go to the website for updates and workshop information.

sfzinefest.com

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Editors Gary Spencer Millidge, Smoky Man, and Omar Martini are proud to announce that the charity tribute book, Alan Moore: Portrait of an Extraordinary Gentleman, has raised a figure approaching $37,000.00 (US) for Alzheimer's charities.

Alan Moore: Portrait of an Extraordinary Gentleman is a massive 352-page trade paperback featuring mostly all-new contributions in celebration of British comics-writing legend, Alan Moore's 50th birthday. From the world of comics and beyond, the collection features strips, stories, essays, and illustrations by luminaries such as Terry Gilliam, Michael Moorcock, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons and Will Eisner.

The English language edition of the book was published by Abiogenesis Press in May 2003 and raised $24,112.46. The Italian edition, published by Black Velvet in November 2003, raised $10,521.87. A further sum of $4,101.79 was raised by the auction of a number of pieces of original art and other items created especially for the book on eBay during October 2003.

All publisher profits and artist royalties from both editions have been donated to two the following Alzheimer charities, with pre-tax profits to date totalling the equivalent of $36,854.45 (US):

ADI - Alzheimer's Disease International / AIMA - the Italian Association for Alzheimer's disease

The Abiogenesis version of the book sold out of its first printing in just a few weeks and a limited second printing (with a number of minor text corrections) was produced in November 2003. While supplies are now limited, copies are still available through Diamond Comics, Abiogenesis and Top Shelf. There are no plans for any further reprints.

The Black Velvet edition is likewise almost sold out, and was nominated for the "Best Publishing Event of 2003" award at the Cartoomics Con in Milan, Italy this March.

There are also tentative plans for a Spanish language edition of the book to be published later this year.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to the many who contributed to or helped promote the book and of course, to all who purchased a copy.

Gary Spencer Millidge, Abiogenesis Press

Smoky Man, Ultrazine

Omar Martini, Black Velvet Editrice

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