Comix News & culture
in Montreal and greater Canada
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29.12.03
Tic Toc Tom: A blasts from the past!
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 Founded by Paul Marhue back in the early 90’s, Tic Toc Tom was one of the more interesting zine anthologies out of Toronto back in the day. 13 issues in mini format and 4 pamphlet sized issues, the book’s pages were filled with some great stuff to say the least. Including some of the first printed work by Jay Stephens! Those early pages by Jay along with the rest of the comix can all be read once aging, now that Paul & the gang have brought back the whole kit and kaboodle with promises of more to come on the new web comic version! Lots, I mean LOTS of stuff to see here. Current contributors include my old buddy Brett Feschuk, along with Karl Burst, Ken Gallant, Peter Macchione, Chetan Patel, & Tom Yeo.
----the official press release----
TIC TOC TOM BLASTS BACK
Toronto, Canada - December 30, 2003 – After a 7 year absence, Tic Toc Tom resumes production in a free, web based format. Fans of the popular Toronto based comic zine, and internationally distributed comic book, can now look forward to the ongoing adventures of Tic Toc Tom and his partners in crime at www.tictoctom.com. And the Tic Toc Tom web site sticks close to its roots by providing a space for artists world wide, to contribute to the Tic Toc Tom universe.
In the 1990s, a Toronto based comic zine hit the stands. It immediately became an underground hit and pioneered the use of guerilla artists to develop the Tic Toc Tom character and universe. Over time, what started as a chronicle of the guy who ‘blew things up’ quickly developed into much more as artists were given free reign over their personal interpretations of the character.
The tradition continues with the unveiling of the new Tic Toc Tom web site. Not only will fans be able to access new material by the original creators, they can also enjoy vintage stories from the original twelve issue comic zines and the entire breadth of the three issue internationally distributed comic version. In addition, fans will also be able to read stories from the unpublished issue four.
Contact: Paul Marhue – paul@tictoctom.com
http://www.tictoctom.com
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max@Sequential : 9:54:47 AM
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Marc Bell shows The Stacks in NY February 5th
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 A series of mixed media paintings and sculptures buy comix creator Marc Bell will be going on display at the Adam Baumgold Gallery this coming February. There are several samples of the work that can be seen at the gallery’s home web site here. I’ll have to ask him next time I see Marc but one would guess that this show is an extension of the zine by the same name he published a little while ago.
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max@Sequential : 9:33:20 AM
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28.12.03
artbomb.net reviews the Fixer
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max@Sequential : 1:32:47 PM
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Call for papers on comics for McGill University's 10th Annual Graduate Symposium on Language and Literature
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 Found on EGON
Gene Kannenburg on the Comics Scholars' Discussion List shares notification of a comics-themed panel at McGill University's 10th Annual Graduate Symposium on Language and Literature.
"Comics and the reproduction of history" will examine "topics surrounding the representation of history in comics" at the symposium, taking place March 20 - 21, 2004.
"The vocabulary of film is often imported into discussions of comics because they are both forms of visual storytelling," writes panel co-ordinator Stephanie Boluk.
"However, to conceive of comics exclusively on the same terms as film ultimately renders the '9th art' a silent, frozen adjunct of the cinema. Having stated this caveat, paper proposals centred on film studies need not immediately be rejected on the fact that they are not comics. There may be a convergence with the themes and topics I have proposed."
Three-hundred word paper abstracts are due January 26 and can be submitted to Boluk via e-mail
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max@Sequential : 1:07:38 PM
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27.12.03
DAVE SIM BIDS FAREWELL TO CEREBUS
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This text came from David L. LeBlanc & THE COMIC BOOK NETWORK ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE issue 452
"Way back in December 1977, Canadian writer and artist Dave Sim published his comic Cerebus. Having printed about 300 copies, Sim sold them at a few comic shops in the Toronto area, and was delighted to find that the book was well-received.
Yes, it was an obvious parody of Conan, but that didn't mean Sim wouldn't allow the title to grow into something more as the years progressed.
And it did.
Now, 14 trade paperbacks later, we have come to the end of a long journey that ends with Cerebus #300. For the faithful, we have seen the adventures of Sim's aardvark evolve from sight gags and cute one-liners to more elaborate storytelling with underlying statements on religion, politics, and humanity.
There is a reason why Cerebus is the longest running independent black- and-white comic ever published. Sim realized that self-publishing allowed him to take his pencil and ideas as far as they could go. Cerebus #300 serves as an inspiration to every aspiring writer/artist who dares to dream!
Look for it from Aardvark Vanaheim in the Comics section of Previews!"
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max@Sequential : 9:06:02 PM
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Comic books have grown up: Authors look at wars & hardships
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max@Sequential : 8:53:00 PM
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Comics for the literati: TRENDS I The graphic novel is a genre to watch
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max@Sequential : 8:47:47 PM
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4 local French radio shows on BD...
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"Au Pays des bulles "
Devoted to all the facets of the data base, hosted by Marc de Roussan and Robert Laplante.
Mondays at 13:00 (GMT+5)) on the air waves: CINQ-FM - Radio Centre-ville - 102,3 MHz
On Internet: http://www.radiocentreville.com
click on the small loudspeaker ( Real Audio ).
Contact: deroussan@videotron.ca "Bédés of data base
" Bédés de BD "
Devoted to the authors, albums, biographies, and artistic approaches. “plays all the styles of music”.
Hosted by Bertrand Dugas
Sundays at 16:00 standard time (21:00 GMT) ) on the air waves: CKIA - FM sur 88,3 MHz, et captée au centre-ville de Québec.
Internet : http://www.meduse.org/ckiafm/default.html ( Windows Media )
Contact : Bertrand Dugas dugasbe@iquebec.com
" Parataxe "
Literary show hosted by Robert Laplante that makes BD a big part of it’s programming.
Thursdays at 09:00 (GMT+5). On air : CISM - FM, sur 89,3 MHz
Online : http://www.cismfm.qc.ca ( Real Audio )
Contact : Robert Laplante bobie@colba.net
" Coup d'Bulle "
A daily show, new albums, authors and the latest info of the world of BD.
Monday to Friday at 20h30 (GMT) and Weekends at 13h05 GMT (repeat broadcasts of the week):
On air: WIT-FM, 1ère radio locale en Gironde
Online: http://www.witfm.com
Contact : philippe.domenc@free.fr
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max@Sequential : 8:08:34 AM
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Rumours co: bedenaute@videotron.ca of authors slated to appear at the Festival of BD de Québec XVII
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In four months the 17th edition of the Festival of BD de Québec goes down (April 22 - 25, 2004). Names being mentioned as attendees for the event are Albert Weinberg (Dan Cooper), Batem (Marsupilami) and Meynet (Double M).
Also according to the BéDénaute negotiations are ongoing with ‘a Suisse author whose small hero is very popular, a Spanish author who recently made the BD scene, and two young very productive Suisse and French authors who seem well to like themselves in the South'
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max@Sequential : 7:37:12 AM
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Censored 2004: The Top 25 Censored Media Stories of 2002-2003
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max@Sequential : 7:24:53 AM
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24.12.03
Colby Cosh documents the clash of Twist v. McFarlane in The National Post
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max@Sequential : 11:28:57 AM
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La Pastèque at Angouleme
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 La Pastèque will take part in the Festival of Angouleme from the 22 to January 25, 2004.
Their kiosk will be integrated in le groupe de Comptoir des indépendants.
Nicolas Mahler and Nicolas Robel will be on hand for signings
 Titles to be launched in the first quarter of 2004 by La Pastèque:
- Col Dee by Jordan Crane
- Spoutnik 5
- Spécial cuisine
- Bubby l'ourson by Mélanie Baillairgé (Collection Pamplemousse)
- Promenades by Marie-Pierre Normand (Collection Pamplemousse)
- Paul en appartement by Michel Rabagliati
Look for a new version of their web site in February of 2004
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max@Sequential : 10:58:58 AM
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Dave sim in SATURDAY NIGHT MAGAZINE this past November
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NOVEMBER 2003
Volume 118, number 6
Comic Book Anti-Hero!
"In 1979, Dave Sim gave himself a superhuman challenge: to produce the longest-running adult comic series ever, about a talking aardvark named Cerebus. Now, 25 years later, he's done it -- but not without driving himself to the very edge of insanity. >>>"
By Christopher Shulgan
 Clippings
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Editors Update: Much thanks to Neil Gaiman for linking to this post on his Journal.
To all the many MANY visitors who find their way here via that or the spin off referrals (185+in 10hrs so far), we invite you to have a look around that site after you read the article. This site is dedicated to highlighting the lively Comix community here in Montréal and in Canada at large, across genres, from the underground to the mainstream. A growing and rich scene in part due to the efforts and example of Dave Sim himself. Lots and lots of interesting stuff to see, read and link to. Enjoy!
Happy New Year
Yours- Max Douglas
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max@Sequential : 10:40:27 AM
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23.12.03
The rise and fall of it all: First peek at the 7-page preview and an overall site up date
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 The rise and fall of it all is a cross medium collaboration between composer John O'Brien & sequential artist Salgood Sam.
Described as "a Jazz oriented new music soundtrack, a beat noir graphic novel, an experimental film, hybrid radio-play, balanced multi media" the story will be a 150ish page long B&W Trade paperback in it's print form. The first 7 pages of the story are now available for download as a free preview on the site here.
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max@Sequential : 7:30:42 AM
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NEWSARAMA: CHRONICLING THE REVOLUTIONARY; CHESTER BROWN ON LOUIS RIEL
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max@Sequential : 7:16:26 AM
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The home stretch: SBC reviews Cerebus #297 [Latter Days #32]
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max@Sequential : 7:12:37 AM
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21.12.03
le bout de la piste, et meilleurs voeux :: Happy new year and seasons greatings from Mécanique générale
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Posted in French originally ici
 Hello all
2003 is almost finished! It’s been a busy one, and 2004 is likely to be even more active for MG. One or two shows in sight, and a bundle of new beautiful books.
See our site for more details.
Speaking of the site, I added some new treats.
Firstly, when I saw famous "Bleu" of Trondheim and special "B.D. abstraite" in the latest "Bile noire", I said myself: "hang on, Benoît did that fifteen years ago!".
One day, I will stop saying that he is a large visionary, but till then, I will continue to repeat myself. I put an example of pages of this type in his section. As I do not have a title for this story, so I wrote the banal "sans-titre". sorry.
 On Benoit’s page also, there is a large page slated to appear in the large retrospective "les immobiles" which we are quietly preparing for print. It's called "London",
I am very attached to this page, because I have had a copy of it on my wall for years.
 Phlppgrrd sent along another page to me which he has done on Yann Perreau for ADISQ. Other were selected as well but this one is my favourite.
I also updated my Sketchbook for 2003
 That makes it now more than 100 pages long! I put the images in descending order, so if you have already visited you will start with the newest pages. Other additions are to be come soon.
My review of the year 2003 is on line here at "bande à part" . There you’ll find my selection of the 30 best books of the year.
For those which did not buy their gifts yet, maybe this will give you ideas.
Best wishes to you and your close relations!
So long!
Jimmy Beaulieu mechanical general
Translated with help by google
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max@Sequential : 11:42:11 PM
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20.12.03
happy holidays from Niall Eccles
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max@Sequential : 8:06:16 AM
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CHIP ZDARSKY interviewed by NEWSARAMA
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max@Sequential : 7:13:08 AM
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18.12.03
Rick Trembles' MOTION PICTURE PURGATORY comic-strip movie reviews
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max@Sequential : 10:07:24 PM
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17.12.03
the Monthly Montreal Comix Jam page of the week: 2 pages this week
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Page 1 By
Billy Mavreas
Susanne Larner
Sherwin Tjia
Jesse Bochner
Niall Eccles
Page 2 by
Sherwin Tjia
Kurt Beaulieu
Billy Mavreas
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max@Sequential : 5:55:52 AM
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Mr. Swiz & the Electrocutionerdz give their first concert on DECEMBER 28th
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Mr. Swiz & the Electrocutionerdz (Quesnel, Topon Das et SIMS) will
(finally!) give their first concert on DECEMBER 28th - @ 9PM - Pub le
Balafré, 300 Ontario est, corner Sanguinet
admission price around 5$
also playing: Twodeadsluts Onegoodfuck (USA), De Goat, and other guests.
Mr. Swiz & the Electrocutionerdz will be playing first, so come early and bring earplugs!
There will also be a merch table with T-shirts, CDs, and some underground
comix!.
Regards / Bien à vous,
Luc Leclerc / Mr. SWIZ
swizcorp.com
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max@Sequential : 5:21:51 AM
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New Drawn & Quarterly Volume 5 now in stores [as of the 15th]
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co. Peggy Burns
 In stores now is The latest Drawn & Quarterly coffee table book, weighing in at almost 200 pages.
Featuring an introduction from esteemed best-selling author Alberto Manguel & an international cast of the best and brightest in comix, with a dash of lovingly restored old favourites, highlights of this edition includes -
 New Yorker magazine favourites Depuy & Berberian join a spectacular retrospective of the work of pioneer French-Canadian cartoonist Albert Chartier - one of the greatest cartoonists of the 20th century, whose work is now being published in English for the first time.
Chartier brought a European style to his witty strips about life in mid-century Quebec…
…and one can trace his legacy in a new story from D&Q fave Michel Rabagliati.
Wuthering Heights gets the classic horror comic treatment from post-modern trickster R. Sikoryak
and Harry Mayerovitch turns his funny, classy pen to the subject of death and dying.
Meanwhile, a host of artists wait to be discovered between the pages of the anthology Rain Taxi describes as the collection that "defines what’s hip for years to come"
A mix of cartooning, illustration and graphic design this anthology will appeal to comix fans, as well as lovers of art and graphic design.
PREVIEW
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max@Sequential : 5:07:31 AM
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10.12.03
the Monthly Montreal MENSUHELL : # 49 on stands now!
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 MENSUHELL is a local B&W anthology magazine published by Francis Hervieux on a Monthly basis (they have informal launched for each issue at the Monthly Jams ici in Montreal). The quality of work has really been quite good in every issue for the last year, bravo to all the contributors! You can brose the cover art of the previous issues on their site. Here is the contents for Issue 49
Cover by Michèle Laframboise
p. 2 Éditorial + annonces diverses [ editorial & adds ]
p. 3 Le palmarès des 12 phrases les plus surréalistes prononcées [ the 12 most surial sentences ]
..... par des fans de bonne volonté! (Michèle Laframboise)
p. 4 Dialogue avec le plus grand des enculés [suite] (Mathieu Benoit) [ a Dialogue with the bigest of the 'fucked up the ass'… : o !! ]
p. 6 Premier Noël (Catherine Fréchette-Grégoire) [ First Christmas ]
p.11 Claws & Fangs (Gonyea)
p.12 Histoire de la bande dessinée québécoise [suite] (Michel Viau) [History of the québécoise comic strip – an on-going feature]
p.20 J.F. et tout ce qui a rapport avec Noël (Éric Piccoli) [ J.F. and all that has relationship with Christmas ]
Just had to point out the excellent cover art on the previous issue, # 48, by Luis Neves
(Inspired by Tardi)
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p.22 Les impériales crampes de la vilaine impératrice (Jane Tremblay) [ the imperial cramps of the unpleasant impératrice : the Evil Empress ] on-going feature
p.24 Skinny Nameless Punk Presents... (Jack Ruttan & Rick Gagnon) on-going feature
p.26 Suzanne et Sabine fêtent Nöwel (Kurt Beaulieu) [ Suzanne and Sabine celebrate Christmas ] on-going feature
p.31 Miss Dynamite [suite de l'épisode 3] (Sirkowski) on-going feature
p.34 Phax & Walton: Mauvaise Mine [suite] (Karl) [ Phax & Walton: Bad Mine ] on-going feature
p.38 Super-Zouf : Origine [2e partie] (Richard Hébert) [ the Origin of Super-Zouf ]
p.41 Tonton Robert (Perre-Yves Clerson) [ Uncle Robert ]
p.42 BD Québec/USA : Marc Tessier (Marc Jetté) [ a bio of Marc Tessier ]
p.48 Les Ayoyes (Jacques Boivin) [back cover]
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max@Sequential : 5:48:12 AM
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The Contents of ZINE ZAG #14
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 ZINE ZAG is a frequently surprising local anthology magazine launched as an alternative to the ‘humour’ mags that dominate the local news stand BD market.
'Ruego' - Art: Michèle Laframboise, Story: Jean-Louis Trudel, Brakedowns: Salvador Dallaire
'Maskarade' - Story: Réjean Paré - Art: Julien Chung
'Les aventures de Pollux & Joe Gâdeboi' - Salvador Dallaire
'Joe' - Phlpp Grrd
'L'éprouvette d'Onan' - Story: Patrick Leroux - Art: Christian Quesnel
'Un mutant de trop' - Une aventure de Rino & Ouistin - Salo & Grazo
'Passion sublime' (3e partie) - Vital Beaudin
'Jean Dupays' - Marc Pageau et André «Gag» Gagnon
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max@Sequential : 5:14:55 AM
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Quebec artist François Miville-Deschênes draws Millénaire Volume 1: Dogs of God for Humanoides associés
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The beginning of a historical thriller where the supernatural is never far off panel
In Canada the first issue was released this past Nov 17th at the premier shop locally for Euro BD, la Librairie Monet. There are some beautiful samples of François work on his site from the book. Aspiring artists take note:
| check out the
BD section of his site.
He has some great examples of his work in progress up there, and some of the best breakdowns I've seen! |  |
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max@Sequential : 5:08:18 AM
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JAN.07.04 - the LAC #2 art show at CBGBs 313 Gallery [ny-ny]
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 | The gallery show//lunch party for LAC#2 sounds like it’ll be fun. Sadly i can't make it but some of the local gang [ Eric Thériault, Rupert Bottenberg & Eric Braun ] will be there along with Toronto's Fiona Smyth. Here's a list of all the folks who've signed on to participate in the show so far - co: publisher Danny Hellman. | Eric Thériault
Rupert Bottenberg
Eric Braun
Fiona Smyth
Doug Allen
Rick Altergott
Ariel Bordeaux
Moto D'Sanko
Kim Deitch
Jenny Gonzalez
Patrick Hambrecht
Glenn Head
Danny Hellman
Sam Henderson
John Holmstrom
Sabrina Jones
Kaz
JD King
Michael Kupperman
Marguerite Van Cook
Ken Weiner/Avidor
Lauren Weinstein
Sean Taggart
Bishakh Som
Takeshi Tadatsu
John Terhorst | 
Miss Lasko Gross
Gary Leib
Elim Mak
Steve Marcus
Mats?!
Dave McKenna
Cliff Mott
Pshaw
James Romberger
Jeff Roysdon
Doug Skinner |
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max@Sequential : 1:05:13 AM
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9.12.03
the Austin Sketch Group
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max@Sequential : 1:57:57 AM
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8.12.03
The MMCJ Jam page of the week
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This week we have a colour page! Niall, the clear faced young chap who hosted the last Monthly Jam this past Nov 26th (and did I fine job of it I must say) took some time to try his hand at colouring. Below you can click on the small version to see a big version. And the original B&W version is here…
 Niall Here.
Hope you're enjoying the winter wonderland. At the last jam, I was talking to Bernie about the way he works and I became inspired to practice my own computer skills, such as colouring in Photoshop. There was a particularly stylin' page at the jam that night created by Billy, Jesse, Peter, Santos and special guest star Marc Bell, and I thought I'd see what I could do with it. The attachment below is the result and I think it's pretty neat to see a jam page all glossed up.
Indeed! Indeedie!
I just talked to Niall and the word is he’s looking for work so if you like what you see here drop him a line at
nialleccles AT hotmail.com (< you know how that works)
– He’s an experienced animation artist and not to shabby with the colours either.
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max@Sequential : 10:46:24 PM
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D&Q NEWS Roundup!
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co : Peggy Burns at D&Q
 Dec.5.03 : Safe area America
Salon interviews Joe Sacco for The Fixer
by Christopher Farah
"Sacco's meticulous drawings, combined with detailed, personal accounts of his "subjects" (the word feels too sterile to describe his three-dimensional renderings), provide the kind of human, emotional context so lacking in traditional media reports. Newspaper articles and even television broadcasts may excel at describing the bare facts of a situation -- the number of people killed and wounded, the number of houses burned -- but they tend to fail at conveying atmosphere, nuance, meaning.">>>
 Dec.4.03 : the Montreal Hour Loves D+Q Graphic Novels
Dimitri Katadotis of The Montreal Weekly THE HOUR spotlights D+Q as one of the "finest publishers around" and states that everyone of their titles is an "extremely worthy" purchase. A PDF of the article is available on D&Q’s site here->>
 Dec.4.03 : Comics From the Front - How Joe Sacco learned to stop worrying and love war
the Dallas Observer Features Joe Sacco & The Fixer
BY ROBERT WILONSKY
"Maybe you know the feeling. Maybe it struck you one morning as you stared in the mirror before trundling off to the job you hate, or maybe it hit you so hard one night it woke you from your sleep like a prowler in the bedroom. It's that feeling of: I am useless. I contribute nothing. My life has no meaning. And what do you do about it? Probably nothing, because you're frightened of quitting the paycheck, of uprooting the life that's taken root deep in the soil, of stepping into the void where comfort is as foreign an object as a moon rock. So you live the life of resigned discontentment and pray for the opportunity that knocks on the door of your neighbor.">>>
Dec.4, 2003 : Eastbay Express Spotlights Joe Sacco's Bay Area Fixer Signing
Sarajevo Joe : Reporter Sacco visits Cody's
"With his thinning blond hair and his paunch, Neven looks like an ordinary Joe Six-Pack from anywhere in Europe or America. Hard to believe that in the Bosnian civil war of 1992-93, he went into bars, pulled a revolver, and rounded up every man he saw for trench-digging duty on behalf of a Muslim warlord named Caco. Or that he hustled foreign journalists for cigarettes, drinks, and serious money as a guide to the anarchic chaos that was Sarajevo.But that's the point of Joe Sacco's remarkable memoir, The Fixer">>>
Drawn & Quarterly
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max@Sequential : 8:22:20 PM
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7.12.03
Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas challenges native stereotypes through illustrative story-telling in 'Tales of Raven'
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max@Sequential : 1:19:54 AM
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6.12.03
New anthology :: WARBURGER
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 WARBURGER, an anthology of stories against war published by Stripburger out of Eastern Europe.
On stands as of Oct 17 2003.
The book includes work by locals Éric Thériault and Éric Braun.
WARBURGER will also tour Europe as a gallery show.
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max@Sequential : 11:33:28 PM
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Some samples of the art from the new Thundercats Origins book by Grafiksismik
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max@Sequential : 4:01:55 PM
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5.12.03
St. John's Newfoundland Comix Jam '100 Proof' launches their website
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co: the Toronto Comic Jam Discussion Group
 The 100 Proof Comix Jam was started in 2002 by Darrell Edwards and Wallace Ryan to help breath some more life into the St. John’s scene. Since then the jams have been going strong and have become [as they usually do] regular gather places for the local scene. The site is still under construction but you can read a few pages and the bios of some of the regulars. Hopefully this keeps growing and helps give the local community a voice.
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max@Sequential : 7:31:55 PM
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INDEPTH: Matt Blackett [M@B] on the CBC
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max@Sequential : 7:21:10 PM
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4.12.03
LowBrow Leaning
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The annual Electric Art Derby rock art show at Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent).
Opening Saturday night may 1st.
From the arts week section of this weeks Mirror [ future archive link ]
Lowbrow Leanings
by Matthew Woodley
Rock 'n' roll art deserves a rock 'n' roll opening, and it will get one at the Electric Art Derby Lowbrow Art Show, this Saturday, May 1, at the Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent). "This isn't a vernissage," says MarieLyne Tarabulsy matter-of-factly. "You come, you look at the art, you stay, and you party all night."
This is the fourth year that Tarabulsy - the self-described "least nice of all the bartenders at the Casa" (who all seem very nice) - has put on the Derby, which bands 22 artists from Montreal and a bit beyond. Moonlighting musicians like Tricky Woo's Andrew Dickson and Voivod drummer Away share the walls with Alexis O'Hara, Kristi Ropeleski, Leyla Majeri and many more. "I try to make it different every year," Tarabulsy says. "The line-up is always changing and this year there's a bit less tattoo art, less bigdaddy rock stuff, but still the same raunchy feel." (Tarabulsy is already looking for submissions for next year too, she wants you to know, and can be contacted through www.yukon9rocks.com.) With rock DJs Johnson and Fleck, 8 p.m., free. »
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max@Sequential : 8:11:17 PM
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"A man upright" François Bourgeon fights the Americanization of Europe's Copyright laws
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Translated from this text @ bdselection.com - link co ¡Journalista!
 François Bourgeon held a conference moderated by Marie-Pierre Larrivé (AFP) at the festival of Blois.
The author of "Passengers of the wind" discussed his lawsuit with his publisher Casterman and explained why he thinks the rights of creators are in danger.
 Casterman was François publisher for the series "La Source et la sonde".
According to him, this Lawsuit was justified by the fact that when he signed on with Casterman, it ran its own printing operation. This allowed him to be contractually assured control over the manufacturing of his books.
This arrangement was inspired by the fact that Bourgeon was less than satisfied with the Printing of books by his preceding publisher. So in his contract with Casterman, Bourgeon included a clause that gave him the authority to personally assure the quality of the Book manufacturing. The same contract also included a third book for the series, though without a deadline stipulated.
When Casterman was later bought out [2000] by the Flammarion Group, a French publishing conglomerate, the company was divided into three, separating the print operations from the Publishing house.
With this change in the division of labour, the authors felt that their contract was null and void.
The Case has been before the court, and so far the authors were ordered to Produce a book as fast as possible for Casterman, with an incentive of 1000 Euros per day, that they would pay the publisher!. Basically they lost big time.
The creators have appealed the decision, François Bourgeon affirming he would not create "with a rifle in the back". The judgement on the appeal should be given this week.
François Bourgeon explained that his legal battle aimed at protecting the rights of creators in the context of the homogenization of the Publishing industry (Flammarion was bought out by an Italian group).
He announced that creators in businesses similar to his are in peril if they do not mobilize themselves, that European creators rights are eroding in the course of becoming more ‘compatible’ with American copy right laws.
The uvres of creation and their spirit could become reduced to simple goods that the author loses all rights or control over after sold once {ala the marvel system} " The auteur ‘entrusts’ his rights to an publisher but they do not belong to the publisher ".
The author's catalogue cannot be sold pointed out François Bourgeon. {?}
François, weathering the conflict but obviously very affected, has not published in 6 years. He concluded that if he was to lose this lawsuit he will give up drawing BD as a trade.
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max@Sequential : 12:46:02 PM
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3.12.03
Matt Blackett [M@B] in the star speaking as a member of the Toronto Public Space Committee about the commercialization of our communities
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 Cartoonist Matt Blackett, who's strip M@B apears weekly in print and online in Toronto's Eye Weekly, has joined forces with a band of a local grassroots organization called the Toronto Public Space Committee. Together they seek to take back public spaces for the people, all the people, regardless of mode of transport, and questions the roll or privet corporate control over our city streets.
From their web site
“The Toronto Public Space Committee strives to democratize our public spaces which have become dominated by private interest, automobiles and outdoor advertising. Freedom of expression cannot  be extended only to those who can afford billboards. We need to level the playing field by reducing corporate visual pollution and increasing independent expression on our streets. And freedom of mobility should not rest only in the hands of drivers. For our collective health and safety, Toronto must reduce its dependence on the private automobile by creating a safer environment for pedestrians and increasing funding for cycling infrastructure and public transit.”
To promote their ideas and campaigns the Toronto Public Space Committee is launching a magazine called Sapcing in the Dundas Square , which has in the last 6 years been transformed from a spontaneous and unplanned meeting space for people to a time square style bonanza of billboards and commercial orgy of capitalist craziness, where now you can be BANNED from the street for dawning a peace symbol on the sidewalk! I kid you not. The Toronto Star intervied Matt about the Committee and Sapcing Dec 3rd...
When Blackett was at the square for a photo session for this article, he was told by a guard that he needed a permit to take photos there. "I said we wouldn't need to get a permit to take a photo at City Hall," Blackett said. "He said, `I guess you're right.'">>>
Digging for dirt the Star asked about their own relationship to future sponsors…
When activists who belong to the Toronto Public Space Committee gathered to brainstorm ideas for spacing, their new bi-annual magazine, some rules were so obvious as to go unmentioned.
For one thing, advertisers: "Absolut public space? No, I don't think so," said the art director Matt Blackett, laughing at the notion of the lifestyle-skewed vodka brand supporting the efforts of a civic-minded, grassroots organization. "It's more about (sponsors) that jive with our philosophy.">>>
I recognise quite a few names brought up as being connected to the project, this is a serious bunch of folks! Glad to see the comminute spirit of Toronto has not been totally squashed. I grew up in Hog Town and I had to leave when the city went insane in the mid/late 90s. I hope that groups like this and the results of the recent Mayoral election indicate a change in direction for the better for my old home town.
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max@Sequential : 9:43:01 PM
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Con-Version XX Comics Jam in Calgary
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Andrew Foley Organized a Jam this past august with 8 other fellow artists at the Con-Version XX Comics convention in Calgary. Fellow Jammer Derek Mah has erected a site for the occasion, featuring the Pages they completed and information about the contributors. A nice site, I especially like the way they listed the credits on the art with the roll over feature. Been thinking about doing something like that for the Jam site for Montréal and seeing it done there confirms it’s a good idea I think.
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max@Sequential : 8:52:05 AM
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A Reader's Book Review of The Collected Goat Comic by Jack Ruttan
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 Jack posted this to the group the other day, it was originally posted in the "reader reviews section" of the Broken Pencil site by by Christine Douville on 11.30.03
::You can see samples of Jack's work including some Rabbit and Goat pages here::
The Collected Goat Comic
$4.00cnd plus postage
28 pages, by Jack Ruttan
to order write to jackrATaxess.com (replace AT with @)
A collection of cartoons dealing with the literary world and two struggling and frustrated writers, the Rabbit and the Goat.
 Each page is a self-contained story. If by any chance there are authors in your circle of friends, you will find Jack Ruttan's stories even more amusing as you recognize some typical writer behaviours…
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max@Sequential : 4:15:44 AM
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In the Press
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THE PANELIST
[Biweekly in the Toronto Eye]
By Guy Leshinski
 11.13.03 :: A show of hands: Guy, an artist himself and thus familiar with this subject, gesticulates in prose on the problems and challenges of drawing hands and the roll they play in characterization and expression. An odd subject for a basically mainstream weekly like the EYE but I’m not complaining.
"Comics have always shared conjugal quarters with animation. Our opposable thumbs may be credit at the food-chain supermarket, but in the cartoon wilderness Charlie Brown's hands can look like Snoopy's (three fingers or four, depending on the task), and neither is any less dexterous.">>>
 11.27.03 :: Seuss lets loose : Guy writes about the man behind the nonsense, Mr Dr Seuss himself [pronounced "Soyce" by the way].
In 1941, fuming at the path Hitler was scorching through Europe, Seuss joined the masthead of New York's PM magazine, the sort of lefty rag you might have found at Berkeley in the '60s (or Starbucks today). As its political cartoonist, Geisel (who even then signed his work Dr. Seuss) proved himself a strapping propagandist. He nimbly itemized current events and fashioned a charming, often hilarious, body of cartoons that captured the fervour of the times.>>>>
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co: ¡Journalista!
By Sarrah Young
running in the current Exclaim [Canada's nationally distributed music and culture tabloid]
12.01.03 :: Propaganda Hero? G.I. Joe Returns When America Needs Him Most
Sarrah takes issue with our childhood war toys being used to promote international social-political agendas. Never got to play with them myself so I’ll take her word for it that the original G.I. Joe was less of a propaganda machine for the US army in his past incarnations…
"Author Larry Hama was brilliant in creating his characters for G.I. Joe. He shaped their personalities and gave them individual characteristics that have become archetypes in the comic world. They were ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They were superheroes without special powers and as the story progres |
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"Dave Sim is only a few steps away from making unparalleled comics history…no, wait…he’s already made comics history, he’s just on the verge of completing the tremendous accomplishment of self-publishing, writing, and illustrating the same comics title, CEREBUS, for 300 issues, spanning a period of over twenty-five years ->>>
LES TRIPLETTES DE BELLEVILLE: : "A frog-kabobful of skewered stereotypes!"
LEECHES!:: "Horror & hunk hamminess hybridized!"
BAD SANTA:: "There ain't no Sanity Clause!"
A brand new Jam out of Austin Tx has launched their web site
Originally appeared In the Vancouver Sun Oct 2003
