Comix News & culture
in Montreal and greater Canada
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31.1.04
Le Devoir does their version of 'comics aren't for kids anymore'
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 La BD québécoise à l'âge adulte, dîtes-vous?
Mais ouvrez les yeux, cher ami: les faits sont là!
loosly, "québécoise BD for the adult market, did you say? Open your eyes, dear friend: the facts are there!"
Fabien Deglise talks with Frederic Gauthier, Martin Brault, Michel Viau, Jimmy Beaulieu, Jean-Paul Eid, and Yves Millet about the state of Quebecs comic industry and it's future promise. The original text in French is here and you can read the googled version ici
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max@Sequential : 7:30:45 PM
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D+Q Newsletter Volume.1 2004
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The headlines [for the complete text go here]
I. D+Q announces Spring '04 graphic novel and comic book releases from Adrian Tomine, Archer Prewitt, Dupuy & Berberian, Frank King, Jason Lutes, Harry Mayerovitch, Jeffrey Brown, Pentti Otsamo, Seth, and Sue Coe.
II. D+Q announces Fall '04 releases from David Collier, Gary Panter, Harvey Kurtzman, Jerry Moriarty, Michel Rabagliati, R. Crumb, Steve Mumford, and Yoshihiro Tatsumi.
III. D+Q 5 in stores!
IV. North American appearances: Adrian Tomine at NYC’s Housing Works & Berkeley’s Signal Books, Seth's Toronto book launch with Chester Brown presented by Pages Books & Magazine, Now Magazine and co-sponsored by The Beguiling!
V. Joe Sacco’s THE FIXER tops several best of 2003 lists and currently featured in Rolling Stone.
VI. Chester Brown’s LOUIS RIEL rules Canada, lands on Canadian Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller list for two weeks in a row.
VII. D+Q cartoonists in the news.
VIII. McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern.
IX. Back to press: ACME NOVELTY DATE BOOK & LOUIS RIEL sell out of print runs and are back in print along with PEEPSHOW, new printings of MY NEW YORK DIARY and BERLIN: BOOK ONE
[for the complete text go here]
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max@Sequential : 11:55:00 AM
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Mécanique Générale presents 'Autodrome' l'écurie mécanique générale s'expose
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translated from the OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE : Montréal, 29 jan 2004
The Mécanique Générale is a sextet of québécois comix creators. Each one with their own manner (the aesthetic differences can be enormous), the members of this group seek new ways of telling stories in comic strip form. They minimize the "manufacturing" side of comics to support the proximity between their work and the reader, and they do not hesitate to avoid the pretty and alluring when the subjects require it.
The exposition Autodrome proposes un rapide tour de piste de leur univers, 'a rapid tour of their universe'. The exhibit consists of: some original pages (several are new complete stories) and examples of work made in periphery of the comics. For example: abstracted illustrations, sketches, paintings or collages, which show the desire to explore that which animates these authors.
Also a series of video interviews with the MG crew will be displayed on the premises, offering to the visitors a short discussion with each member and virtual tours of their workshops. And of course the publications of the MG stable will be available on site.
Autodrome
l'écurie mécanique générale s'expose
From the 3rd - 28th febuary 2004
At la GALERIE.UQO
exploration en art contemporain
École multidisciplinaire de l'image :
595-3900 ext. 1880
Université du Québec en Outaouais
Pavillon Lucien-Brault (Local A0112)
101, rue Saint-Jean-Bosco
Gatineau (Québec)
J8Y 3G5
Gallery hours
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 7pm
Sunday de 1pm to 5pm
Vernissage on Wen 3 Feb from 5pm to 9pm
Musical performance by Fakir légo
with projections of animated drawings, at 7pm.
Jimmy Beaulieu of general mechanics will hold a conference on the day of the vernissage [opening], Tuesday on February 3 at 2pm in room b-1018 of the Lucien-Brault house of the UQO.
Information :
Monique Pilon, directrice de la galerie.UQO
(819) 827-0697
ou : Jimmy Beaulieu mg@pastis.org
Site internet : www.pastis.org/mg
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max@Sequential : 10:20:48 AM
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Washington Times : Surreal fits just fine in creepy old 'Belleville' - 3 out of 4 stars [and a few errors]
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A 3 out of 4 rating from the Washington Times, nice, but I suspect someone flash-read the press release for the film, zipping through the bit where Sylvain Chomet identifies his influences…
"My influences are 101 Dalmatians, The Aristocats, The Jungle Book...(the) Golden age of the Disney studio. Also Betty Boop for the surealistic kind of animation, and finally Winsor MacKay for his beautiful animations, done a century ago but yet so modern."
…and out the other end it comes …
"a compact, often creepy movie crammed with wonderfully grotesque characters and mechanical contraptions, and imagery that harks back to the glory days of Disney animator Winsor MacKay and the silent film era".
Er.... Near as I recall Winsor McKay, being from the the silent film era, never had too much to do with Disney, pre-dating him by a good chunk of years…so, I take it the Washington Times no longer has a fact checking dept? Woe-is-America eh? Well, while we're being 'snooty'…
"Mr. Chomet also sneaks in a few snooty polemical asides here, such as a briefly glimpsed drawing of a bloated Statue of Liberty that didn't, but may as well have, said, "Give me your rich, fat American masses." Mr. Chomet is a French expat living in Canada — a double-whammy of woe-is-America snootiness."
He's right, it didn't say. I suspect it's more likely that the visual gags were meant as satirical rather than strictly polemical. And since when does poking fun qualify as 'snooty' anyway?
Well anywho, the important bit is where the reviewer says he likes the film…
" If such a thing is possible, "The Triplets of Belleville" is a work of cutting-edge nostalgia."
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max@Sequential : 9:39:53 AM
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30.1.04
The second edition of La Boîte d'Aluminium is on it’s way. Due in shops as of the 9thof Feb/Fev 2004.
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 La Boîte d'Aluminium “The Aluminium Box” presents a panorama of an international comix art, featuring in this edition the work of Steven Weissman [usa], Boussourir (Can,Québec) & Laëtitia Cassan (Can,Québec).
A List of the Auteurs who’s work appears in Vélo 33b:
[click here for a preview on this books contents]
- Laëtitia Cassan (Québec)
- David Morichon (France) Auteur de plusieurs albums jeunesse
- TomPouce (France)
- mateusz skutnik (Pologne)
- Steven Weissman (USA)
- Boussourir (Québec)
- Tetsuro Susumo (Japon)
- Mr Stocca (Serbie)
- Virginie Martins (France)
- Fifi (Belgique) Déjà publié aux Requins Marteaux et chez Groinge
- Marko Kociper (Slovénie)
- Oskar Aspman (Suède)
- Squaz (Italie)
- LoOg (France)
- Everland (France)
- Lem et Hugo (Belgique)
- Sébastien Vassant (France)
- Seigneret (France) Dessinateur sous le nom de Bannister de "Félécité Bonaventure" à paraître en mars 2004 chez Soleil.
96 PAGES - ISBN 2-9518854-2-3
11,90 euros
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max@Sequential : 8:50:23 AM
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A tribute to Roy Peterson who's soon to receive the Order of Canada
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max@Sequential : 8:29:57 AM
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Rick Trembles' MOTION PICTURE PURGATORY comic-strip reviews
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max@Sequential : 7:54:28 AM
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Blam Blog : Toronto vs. Comix
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Co:TOJam Discussion Group
Brett Lamb takes issue with hog town’s current bias against comix, noting the lack of interest in comix art in design and the offensively piss poor representation of comix strips in the local weeklies…
"There's plenty of talent in the city and lots happening at the "grassroots" level, such as the Comic Jam and in Roscoe and DTM, two publications harnessing the best comics talent in the city, but not able to offer cash to help the artists make rent. There's also action in the neighbourhood newspapers, such as the Gleaner papers (Annex, Liberty, Village), where my comics and Dave Lapp's have a home (the exception is, of course, the Torstar-owned Metroland chain, which soaks up ad revenue while giving little, comics or otherwise, back to the communities they "serve").">>>
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max@Sequential : 7:43:53 AM
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29.1.04
A night in pictures : A Photo Essay from the 1st Montreal Comix Jam of 2004
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max@Sequential : 7:04:37 AM
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28.1.04
27.1.04
Some of the best Jam pages from the last 4 : The MMCJ is this Wen/Mac 28th @ Sala Rosa
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max@Sequential : 10:41:31 PM
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More words on the last days of Dave Sim's Cerebus
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Co: Journalista
From one Aardvark to another
Cerebus RIP : Abu gives us his thoughts on the arc of Sim's Aardvark
Not an entirely scathing review but Abu takes up more than just a few issues with the series…
"…if Cerebus had ended with issue 200 it would have been able to claim a place with the very greatest achievements in the history of comic books. The early Palnu stories, High Society, Church and State, Jaka's Story (not Melmoth - ugh), Mothers and Daughters... all brilliant on an epic scale. Cerebus was a quintessentially political book, and Sim showed a remarkable political maturity and subtlety in the first 200 issues which make his latter days that much harder to take…">>>
From Americana: The Journal of American Popular Culture
Cerebus: An Aardvark on the Edge
[A Brief History of Dave Sim and His Independent Comic Book]
By Kelly Rothenberg [Independent Scholar]
Less critical, Rothenberg takes a look at Sim's roll in the world of Independent Comic Books…
"But this is supposed to be a funny comic book, right? About a guy who looks like he is dressed up in a rabbit's outfit, right? Right? Right… and wrong. Cerebus did appear at first to be a funny-man's comic book, taking everyone along for the ride for the first year and a half. The fact that Cerebus is an aardvark and everybody else is human, although never mentioned, is just one small thing (although Cerebus is described from time to time as anything from a short midget to a guy wearing a bunny's costume). The early stories were populated with parodies of famous fictional characters and figures from Marvel Comics. These lampoons of standard comic book clichés made Cerebus stand out in the early days from the rest of the pack; Sim was thumbing his nose at the corporate comic book machine…">>>
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max@Sequential : 9:24:59 PM
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New stuff up @ tictoctom.com
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01/20/04 - 01/27/04
 My Hero - 1991/1992: one year before tic toc tom, came my hero. An 11 page Jam story conceived by chetan patel, this features work by many of the artists [look for credits on the top of the pages] who would one day define tic toc tom. There are even a few panels by artists who eventually made a name for them selves in the mainstream comic industry.--->>>
 Choose Life; 11 pages by chetan patel and tom yeo: Who says business and pleasure don't mix? Well, not me. But someone once did. And when industrial girl is involved, boy-howdy!--->>>
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max@Sequential : 9:04:31 PM
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News From Eric Theriault: Terra Obscura & Candy Apple Black
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Eric calls our attention to Terra Obscura #6 with art by Yanick Paquette and Karl Story as well as assists from many of Eric and Yanick’s studio mates. (on stands in Dec 2003)
Eric has a one page flashback sequence he penciled in a 1940s style for the book. Below is a panel from that, inked by Jimmy Palmiotti
[SBC gave Terra Obscura #6 a glowing 5 bullet review here]
Also he announces that on Candy Apple Black, which he's been inking for the last year or so, George Freeman - the second Penciler so far on the book - will be leaving the project [1-3 were penciled by Djezer]. No word yet on who the new artist will be. He does let us know who the elf he has locked up in his studio helping him is though, Grégoire Bouchard, author of Planet Twist. More info on Eric’s site here->>>
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max@Sequential : 8:32:34 PM
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Top That: LOUIS RIEL makes TOP 5 for non-fiction books of 2003
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 Canadian book publishing broadsheet Quill & Quire listed Chester Brown's Louis Riel as one of the top 5 non-fiction titles of 2003!
The selection comes on the heels of QQ's Canadian best-seller lists in early January, were Louis Riel ranked at #7 on the non-fiction list, right behind Michael Moore.
According to Quill & Quire, this is probably the first time a graphic novel has made it to a best-seller list in Canada. Congrats Chester my man!
read a PDF of the QQ review on D&Q's site here
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max@Sequential : 4:56:58 AM
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Tandem on Töpffer in Toronto
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max@Sequential : 4:36:16 AM
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26.1.04
Jan. 27 is Family Literacy Day in Canada
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 In an article to mark the day Canada's best selling children’s author Robert Munsch tells us how Calvin And Hobbes comic books help him to get his son involved in and enjoying reading…
"My son Andrew is living proof that this works. When he was learning to read he had some difficulty. It wasn't until he discovered the Calvin And Hobbes comic books that his reading took off. This is a comic strip about the smallest kid in the class, who is a bit of an outcast. My son Andrew, the smallest kid in his class, could relate to this. So when he found these books he said, "I have to learn how to read this," and he did. These books were not "easy readers," but he learned to read them anyway because he wanted to.">>>
Follow this link to visit the official ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation site to learn more about Family Literacy Day.
A personal not on the topic of literacy: If your child or someone you know is having problems reading due to 'dyslexia' then may I suggest, as a dyslexic, you check out Rod Davis’s work in the area. I can’t guarantee the man is 100% right. But, he has a remarkable success record, and having recently read one of his books on the subject I’d venture to say he’s right on the money about the nature and mechanics of the so called disorder.
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max@Sequential : 12:52:00 AM
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24.1.04
'LOUIS RIEL' TOPS CANADIAN BESTSELLER LIST
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 From D&Q's Official Press Release
Montreal, QC Chester Brown's critically acclaimed graphic novel LOUIS RIEL; A COMIC-STRIP BIOGRAPHY has landed at #7 on the hardcover non-fiction bestseller list of the Canadian publishing trade Quill & Quire.
The list is compiled from sales results of more than 170 independent booksellers across Canada.
Regionally, LOUIS RIEL has also appeared on the bestseller lists of The Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal.
The book also was the cover review of the national newspaper The Globe & Mail and included in the newspaper's "Globe 100" list. G&M reviewer Bernice Eisenstein stated "if you love to read a gripping story, if you are awed by the talent of an artist, then look no further: Chester Brown's LOUIS RIEL is comix history in the making, and with it, history never looked so good.".
LOUIS RIEL also made "the best of 2003" lists for Time.com and Quill & Quire and has been the subject of a staggering number of feature stories and reviews across North America, espechialy in Canada, including ones appearing in The National Post, The Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Calgary Herald, Vancouver Sun, The Onion, Boston Phoenix, Montreal Hour, Montreal Review of Books, The Coast, Halifax Chronicle Herald, The Vue Weekly, Exclaim!, Prairie Dog, The Manitoban, Montreal Mirror, Fast Forward Weekly and The Georgia Straight. Not to mention the previously noted Globe & Mail and Quill & Quire!
Chester has been interviewed on several CBC radio shows recently, including The Arts Today, Brave New Waves, Definitely Not The Opera and Richardson's Roundup, as well as the television show Imprint. In addition to numerous store signings and library events, Brown was the guest of several literary festivals this past Fall including the Winnipeg Writers Festival, Toronto's Word on the Street, Ottawa International Writers Festival and the Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival.
Brown's next appearance for LOUIS RIEL will be at "This Is Not A Reading Series" presented by Pages Books and Magazines & Now Magazine. (Rivoli, 332 Queen St W, 3/31/04, 6:30-8:30 PM)
Chester Brown is one of the pioneers of the 1980s comix renaissance. He is the author of the literary graphic novel classics I NEVER LIKED YOU in which he documented his adolescence and his mother's schizophrenia, THE PLAYBOY, THE LITTLE MAN and ED THE HAPPY CLOWN as well as the comic book series YUMMY FUR and UNDERWATER. Brown was born in 1960 in Montreal and lives in Toronto.
About the book: Martyr or Madman? LOUIS RIEL is the passionate rebel history can't close the book on. Legendary cartoonist Chester Brown reveals in this dusty closet of Canadian history that there are some skeletons that won't stop rattling. To some Louis Riel was one of the founding fathers of a nation but to others he was a murderer who nearly tore a country apart. A man so charismatic he was elected to government twice while exiled with a prize on his head. A man so impassioned his dramatic behaviour cast serious doubts on his sanity. Riel took on the army, the government, the Queen, and even the Church in the name of freedom. Will Riel's visionary democracy ever be enough to defend him from the verdict of history?
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max@Sequential : 10:04:30 PM
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CBR LOOKING FORWARD : Martin Redmond, Grafiksismik Studio, & Azad all have new work in the pipe
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 Co:CBR
"Remember Martin Redmond? Well he's providing the cover artwork for "The Magic If" which is set to debut at APE next month from Headless Shakespeare Press."
Also anounced, B. Clay Moore, writer of the critically acclaimed "Hawaiian Dick" is working on "Vampi: Vicious Circle" scheduled for an April debut from Harris Comics. The story is set in the dystopian Vampirella futureverse and has Vampi rescuing an underground society of "disenfranchised corporate castoffs" from the evil clutches of "mutated toxic raiders."
Two artists are working on the three-part miniseries. Gabriel Rearte will be drawing the action that takes place "above ground" and Dub from Grafiksismik Studio will be illustrating the action that takes place underground.
 Also from Moore this summer is "Clean Living" an OGN to be drawn by Azad ("Sammy the Tourist") and published by Image Comics. Moore describes it as "a coming of age story that jumps from the 60s to the present as we follow a father and son at the same age."
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max@Sequential : 5:13:12 PM
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MensuHell # 50
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 On January 10 the official launching of MensuHell # 50 took place at the Millenium bookshop. Present were authors Sirkowski, Éric Piccoli, Mathieu Benoit, Kurt Beaulieu, Jacques Boivin, Rick Gagnon, Ruttan Jack, Marc Jetté, Jane Trembled, and Éric Thériault (who made the superb color cover).
This first BD event also made it possible to reveal the prize winners of the MensuHell purses, aimed at thanking participants for work completed in 2003.
- Mathieu Benoit: 50$ (creation of a cover page)
-Éric Piccoli: 50$ (participation of at least 2 pages in the current of the year)
- Kurt Beaulieu: 100$ (participation in 8 numbers and more)
Beginning in 2004, MensuHell is committed redistributing 300$ for the collaborators of the year (the details will be specified in the next issue). If you would like to submit contact Francis Hervieux for details @ francis_hervieuxNO_SPAM@yahoo.fr
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max@Sequential : 4:59:19 PM
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Universe BD covers a panel discussion with Seth, Dupuy & Berberian, Charles Berbérian, & Chris Ware.
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Link Co:Bryan Munn in Guelph
 An initiative of the Festival of Angouleme, attendance was good though some were kept away by rain and transit strikes. The articles author was struck by Seth’s attire describing him as un élégant dandy.
 The panel was steered towards discussions of the "air of family" which links these authors from either side of the Atlantic - Sighting the influence of Hergé [Tin Tin] on their work while also acknowledging the contrary effect of Crumb’s influence as well. Seth also talked about Schulz’s impact on his work, and Osamu Tezuka was cited as a peer by all. There was also talk about the roll independent publishing plays in Europe and here in North America.
French text here – google translation here
Edited jan28-04 thanks to amusing taunts at my own expense
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max@Sequential : 4:28:47 PM
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Alter Ego #36 Features Canada’s GOLDEN AGE superheroes
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Alter Ego, a 'zine focusing on Golden and Silver Age comics and creators with articles, interviews and unseen art. #36 Includes previously unpublished full colour covers by JOE SIMON, MICHAEL T. GILBERT and RONN SUTTON.
MICHAEL T. GILBERT explores the Canadian origins of MR. MONSTER!
And Editor of Canuck Comics JOHN BELL discusses “The Great Canadian Super-heroes of World War II! Commander Steel, Nelvana of the Northern Lights, The Penguin, Doc Stearne (a.k.a. Mr. Monster), Thunderfist, and more.
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max@Sequential : 3:24:22 PM
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Tiverton Ontario: NEW FORMAT ANNOUNCED FOR THE INDEPENDENT GLIMPSE
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Co: CBEM
 Lightningstrike Publishing has announced that the delayed Independent Glimpse will be launched in a new format with a two pronged approach. The magazine was originally slated to be released in mid-January as a bi monthly, 56- page, newspaper style, and entertainment magazine.
The magazine will still focus on arts and entertainment news and interviews from the world of indie comics, as well as film and music from time-to-time.
The new format will see an e-version of the magazine launched February 2nd 2004. The online version of Independent Glimpse will be located on the Lightningstrike website. It will contain the full distribution catalogue which retailers can use to place orders and fans can download forms from to bring to their local comic store.
The second prong of the mag's new print format will be smaller & monthly. It will contain 24 pages, consisting of one feature article and interview per issue and an abbreviated version of the catalogue. This version will be black and white and mini-comic sized [5.5"x8.5"]. It will be sent to retailers to be made available for free to readers in stores.
"We hope to work back up to the larger format once this proves successful" Says publisher Mike Gagnon. "We've had a good magazine ready to print for a long time now. We can't be delayed by sponsors who don't keep to their word any longer."
The new Independent Glimpse format should hit stores in early February. For future updates check www.lightningstrike.ca
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max@Sequential : 3:01:34 PM
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Indy Magazine is back online
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Publisher Jeff Mason has enlisted Egon's Bill Kartalopoulos to Edit a revived quarterly incarnation of this great artcomics magazine turned webzine. This first addition incudes...
-An Editorial from Bill Kartalopoulos
-An Angoulême Travelogue, 2003 by Jason Little
-Changes: Angoulême 2004 by Bill Kartalopoulos
-The Jew of New York: Sound, Sense, and Nonsense by Michael Wenthe.
Previews
Li'l Beginnings
by Charles M. Schulz, edited by Derrick Bang
Dragonfly
by Souther Salazar
Reviewes
The Voice of the Fire
by Alan Moore
reviewed by Adam White
Stuff and Nonsense
by A. B. Frost
reviewed by B. Kartalopoulos
Blankets
by Craig Thompson
reviewed by B. Kartalopoulos
A good, strong first showing, worth a read.
Indy Magazine
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max@Sequential : 2:54:04 AM
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23.1.04
Drawn and Quarterly formally announces additions to their 2004 line up not listed in the spring catalogue.
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Co Egon
Archer Prewitt's "Sof' Boy" #3 will appear in late spring.
Gary Panter's "Satiro-Plastic" sketchbook.
A new edition of Harvey Kurtzman's "Jungle Book".
Crumb: The Definitive Record Cover Collection
A collection of work by Yoshihiro Tatsumi designed and edited by Adrian Tomine.
Steve Mumford's Baghdad Journal: An Artist in Occupied Iraq.
Michel Rabagliati's Paul Moves Out
An untitled Jerry Moriarty retrospective
An untitled graphic novel by David Collier.
More detailed info has been posted on Alan David Doane's site here
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max@Sequential : 7:37:47 PM
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Dirk at Journalista catches a gaff in the Thunder Bay Post.
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In this short blurb the local Spokeswoman and writer both demonstrate an embarrassing lack of understanding on the topic.
"Comic Book Pilot Project A Success With TBPL
Posted: 1/21/2004 5:39:52 PM
A Pilot Project by the Thunder Bay Public Library to encourage young people to read more books has taken off.
The Waverley Branch is currently offering Comic Books or Graphic Novels, and according to the Library's Child and Youth Services, the response has been overwhelming.
Spokeswoman Angela Meady says a novel called Manguh is huge among Thunder Bay teens. Because the response has been so good officials are looking to expand it to at least one other branch in the city. "
Well, for one thing it's Manga....
Still, good news to hear they are doing something about it.
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max@Sequential : 3:37:02 AM
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Movie Poop Shoot’s Chris Allen gives D&Q a mixed grade
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While approving of much of the line up from D&Q in 2003, Chris questions the handling of DRAWN & QUARTERLY 5 & the new D&Q SHOWCASE anthology books. [LINK - scroll about half way down to read the report on D&Q]
A few good points are made about the navigation on their site - I have to agree; While lovely to look at, the hide and seek thing is a bit annoying and not going to help publisher or the books much: It would not kill to put a direct text menu at the bottom or something.
He also has wavering praise for the public face of D&Q, though I’m not sure I can agree with him on that. There has been quite a lot of copy written in the last part of 2003 on D&Q's books, not that their couldn’t have been more. That they are absent from the U.S. comics market's media, I suspect is due to D&Q's lack of faith in its actual 'Mainstream' status. Their Actual public face has, in fact, been pretty considerable out side the U.S. comics market, which is better than a lot of the U.S. comics market can claim. While more will be needed, D&Q has been getting about as much attention, if not more, as the rest of the field of 'Literary' & 'Art's' Graphic Novel publishers, some even front page coverage. Oliveros himself has been playing a major roll in getting books into new shops and libraries across the content. So I suspect that truthfully, Allen is way off the mark here. Likely due to the following…
Allen spends the most text griping about D&Qs Review Copy Policy, specifically as it pertains to him and his attempts to foster a relationship with the publisher as a reviewer. While Chris Allen come of as a wee bit of a big girl’s blouse on this, I have to wonder what Chris Oliveros can be thinking, copping a down the nose attitude to a potential reviewer. Surly he could have found a better way to handle that? He may not represent a 'typical' reader, but he does represent many potential readers. Personally I’d be wary not to overly narrow cast your PR, you might turn away new readers before they even know you exist! A mistake Marvel has made for years. As for not wanting to over run your comp budget…well fair enough…that’s what PDF review copies are good for guys! It totally makes sense to tailor your efforts to the most likely audience of readers, communicate with them primarily. But the web is an excellent cross-pollinating ground, it’s very narrow-minded not make use of the low cost resources it provides to get a few more seats filled in the house. Certainly you can’t send out a book to everyone who wants one, but that only represents a problem begging for a solution, not a reason to avoid a rout entirely.
Update Fri 23/01/2004: Chris responds
"While Chris Allen come of as a wee bit of a big girl's blouse on this"
Very funny, and you may be right. To be honest, that was a tough column to do, trying to balance my own ego and my role as a comics commentator, and I think I acknowledged the conflict right in that D&Q section. In talking with some other industry people yesterday, some had very nice things to say about Peggy Burns, and I'll certainly give her a try for books in the future (my fault if I burnt that particular bridge). As you seemed to get, my point was that in getting more attention in the mainstream for the books, which is very good, D&Q shouldn't abandon the direct market entirely, nor ignore critics who are reaching a good chunk of that direct market. I'll try to clarify that better for the next column, though I realize I also missed another point against D&Q--all this attention and you can't even get LOUIS RIEL these days, as they didn't print enough. [ED:the book has sold out in most locations and reprints are on their way from Hong Kong] Thanks for the thoughtful comments; always good to get another perspective. Feel free to print this if you want.
Best,
Chris Allen
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max@Sequential : 2:42:28 AM
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22.1.04
Rocking Raven in BC & DC
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 News from Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas: Washington DC will soon be sporting a new weekly newspaper, 'the Washington Spark'. They?re expecting a print run of 10,000 copies and will publish Rocking Raven amongst their first strips. 'CRANK' magazine (Vancouver) just printed another Rocking Raven story. This was the piece was on display at the recent Tokyo Design Week. And Vancouver?s 'The Street' is just concluding Rocking raven Strong Silent Type and are beginning negotiations with Michael about doing another.
The next Rocking Raven story, [A Lousy Tale : 15 pages] is now fully inked and just waiting for the final text.
www.rockingraven.com
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max@Sequential : 9:42:14 PM
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The Monthly Montreal Comix Jam
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The MMCJ : Wen/Mec the 28th starting at 8pm
Location : la Sala Rosa [downstairs in the restaurant]
4848 boul. St-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1R5
Bring your pens, friends and imagination!
For more about the Jams click here
The Jam is a monthly* creative and social gathering. Feel free to show your own work, bring zines and put them out to sale, or just hang out and shoot the shit! Anyone can participate - or if they rather, just socialize.
*[the last wen/mec of the month]
Happy new year all!
max @ the mmcj
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max@Sequential : 11:21:01 AM
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Katie Merritt from Friends of Lulu interviewed on SBC: announces the creation of a new Canadian Chapter.
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max@Sequential : 11:12:34 AM
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Smile! You're on candid camera.
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 CBC: Reporter's home searched by RCMP as part of Arar investigation
Wed, 21 Jan 2004 22:07:57 [VIDEO]
In Ottawa on Wednesday RCMP officers raided the home and offices of Ottawa Citizen journalist Juliet O'Neill, sighting leaks in the case of Maher Arar. The search warrants were executed sealed. Ottawa Citizen editor-in-chief Scott Anderson points to a Nov. 8 story O'Neill wrote on the Arar case, [ED:This was one that in fact was favourable to the RCMP]. Police took spiral notebooks, computer hard drives, address books and documents, He said any seized documents will remain in a sealed evidence bag while lawyers for the newspaper challenge the search warrants.
"We believe charges are pending although Julie hasn't been charged yet," said Anderson. "I think this is a black, black day for freedom in this country. I am outraged."
Stunningly bad day for Canadian free speech. And I must commend the Mounties doing the home raid, as seen here and on the CBC tape, for their excellent choice of fine leather goods. Safe Homes and Safe Communities indeed!
INDEPTH: MAHER ARAR
Meanwhile over on the left, Sheala cops, self-proclaimed last of the Liberal centre-left, gets squeezed by the new gang leaders.
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max@Sequential : 10:41:34 AM
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21.1.04
Doodling from my Holiday Vacation
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max@Sequential : 7:41:36 PM
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Steven Wintle has brought Flat Earth! back.
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max@Sequential : 7:17:19 PM
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Colby Cosh reviews Chester Brown's Louis Riel
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max@Sequential : 5:53:08 PM
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Cerebus #300 Links
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 SBC?s Craig Lemon asks the Panel: Cerebus #300. March 2004. A testament to one man's vision? A landmark for comics? Just another book?
" I took it upon myself to email a number of other people within the industry, to see if anyone else out there had comments on this one-off event the final word belongs - as maybe it should - to Dave's long-time collaborator, business partner and friend, Gerhard. " >>>
Diamondcomics.com runs a letter from Dave Sim to his readers : Cerebus 1977 - 2004 : Hail & Farewell
" In closing, let me say that over the last quarter century-plus, whatever my too-human failings (and, like anyone else, I have no shortage of those) I strove always to be an individual who did his duty—as another much-criticized and controversial figure, General Douglas MacArthur, said in his farewell address to a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress in April of 1951—"as God gave him the light to see that duty." I make no apology for the free-will choices I have made but only for any entirely inadvertent harm, real or perceived, that those choices may have caused to others.
Farewell, thank you, and may God continue to bless our worldwide comic-book nation. " >>>
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max@Sequential : 5:44:10 PM
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20.1.04
New Canadian Children's Magazine looking for submissions...
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This from the the MCC Public Bulletin Board - Le MCC Tableau d'affichage Public
date: 12:06 am - Wednesday,January 14, 2004
message:
Attention COMIX JAM members! We are in the process of launching a new Canadian Children's Magazine for ages 9-12. It is important to us to have contributions from young and previously unpublished Canadian artists, as well as high quality material from people established in the field. Currently we are in need of French comics and cartoons by bilingual artists. Anyone sending us their material with a translation or at least an English summary, would make our life easier. If you are interested please contact me at jmec@playground.net. Please include some information about yourself, your work and your experience. Best Regards, Jacqui Ehninger
Ottawa, (613) 832-0649
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max@Sequential : 2:01:40 AM
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The first annual Supersized Awards!
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max@Sequential : 1:57:00 AM
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The TORONTO COMIC JAM presents a participatory interactive drawing exhibit
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 A participatory, interactive drawing exhibit @ offthemapgallery Curated by Dave Howard
JAM PARTY/Opening, Saturday January 24, 2-5pm
Show runs from January 24 - February 28, 2004
 Location - 80 Spadina Avenue, 5th floor, Toronto, Canada M5V 2J4
Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm
JAMS HELD EACH SATURDAY from 2-5pm from Jan.24-Feb.28,2004.
This is a participatory, interactive exhibition so drop in at the jams and during the exhibition hours, have fun, and draw something. EVERYONE IS INVITED
offthemapgallery presents the Toronto Comic Jam. Within the mandate of the gallery, this comic jam will be experimenting with differences in the comic jam art practice. They are using the gallery venue to explore scale, colour, and the impact of a different mix of participators on comic making. It is the active narrative process of comics that is being exhibited.
Dave Howard founded The Toronto Comic Jam in November 1996 as a safe haven for the alternative comics community -- a place where artists could meet, exchange ideas, and find moral support, using comics as a basis for social interaction. Inspired by Rupert Bottenberg’s comic jams in Montreal, regularly-held monthly comic jams in Toronto have helped to build a sense of community and local history around this often underappreciated art form.
A ‘comic jam’ is a constraint-based exercise reminiscent of Raymond Queneau’ s Oulipo (Workshop for Potential Literature) and its ubsequent comics arm, Oubapo (Workshop for Potential Comics). Participants take turns drawing consecutive panels, composing spontaneous, collaborative stories. In the process, comics become a vehicle to explore narrative, a template for self-expression, and a form of social exchange – and participants get caught up in the sheer joy of drawing. Finished pages are put on the wall for all to see.
“In social situations, many artists find themselves doodling in notebooks and drawing on napkins,” says Howard. "These people find the comic jam to be a wonderful inversion – everybody's drawing. In fact, to not draw is an anomaly."
Toronto artist and illustrator Ruth Tait says of the jam process, “I believe that we understand each other best through the stories we are able to exchange with each other. If we can record these stories in an inventive and engaging way, then we may be able to connect to others and impart our views, our knowledge and experience."
Howard feels the comic is a medium in which anyone and everyone can participate, and that this is part of its power. At the comic jam, experienced artists are challenged to expand themselves, given the different requirements of each jam page, while people new to the medium can discover the wealth of graphic language they may not realize they already possess.
Tables, chairs and art supplies will be set up in the gallery. Everyone is invited to participate in producing comic pages. Works created will be displayed on the wall, and may be taken down by anyone at any time during the show for new, spontaneous additions. As well, Howard’s seven-year collection of monthly Toronto Comic Jam zines will be available for the public's perusal.
For further information about the exhibit contact Antonia at:
Tel: 416 642 2113 or 1877 860 0019
email: info@offthemapgallery.com
web: www.offthemapgallery.com
The Toronto Comic Jam meets on the last Tuesday of every month in the Cameron House on Queen Street, just west of Spadina.
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max@Sequential : 1:51:32 AM
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12.1.04
Away on holidays summery o' stuff
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Ego/D&Q: Rolling Stone Features Sacco's THE FIXER
Joe Sacco is the subject of a two-page feature in the 1/22/04 issue of Rolling Stone which is timed to the release of his new Drawn & Quarterly graphic novel . THE FIXER. The legendary pop culture magazine states that Sacco is "America's best comic-book artist" and also "one of today's sharpest war correspondents." Contributing writer Mark Binelli traveled to Portland to interview Sacco for the in-depth career overview. Harvey Pekar, who is interviewed for the profile, commented that ".Joe is top-notch and his books are really important for the medium." LINK-->>>>
Ego: DAZED & CONFUSED ON COMICS
Dazed & Confused magazine's ninth issue, subtitled "the Illustration Issue," includes short pieces on Le Dernier Cri and Skin Graft Records. Paul Gravet |
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Co:
THUNDERCRACK! (1975): "Realism only comes to the screen when the film jams in the projector & the image begins to bubble" -George Kuchar
BIG FISH: 
INFRAMAN (1975): 
MONTREAL MIRROR NOISEMAKERS 2004:showcasing FRANÇOIS MIRON: 
Co:
Following up to our post of 
F.O.L.
