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Friday, September 3, 2010
Sometimes, You Just Need an Alternative
A quick look at I/SP publisher Alternative Comics
Sometimes, I can be pretty oblivious to what’s going on around me. I can admit it – I’m egocentric, self-absorbed and don’t always understand that everyone doesn’t always agree with me, share my tastes or my frame of reference. It hadn’t even occurred to me that there might be people out there who not only were not aware of some of the smaller publishers out there, but who were desperate to find something outside the “Big Two” (or three, four or five; how you delineate it is entirely up to you). Lately, though, I’ve seen lots of people looking for I/SP recommendations. So, over the next few months, I’ll be looking at I/SP publishers from time to time. This week, Alternative Comics is the focus. As I’ve said before, I’m not a big supporter of hype. At least, not the constant barrage of hype that you’ll sometimes find on the internet. Now, publisher Alternative Comics Jeff Mason does a lot of hyping. What separates Mason from other hypesters and hucksters is that he’s not just selling himself – he’s selling comics. Not just his own, either. The Alternative Comics Forum is one of the first places I find links to comics-related articles from web sites, blogs and the mainstream press. Mason also puts his money where his mouth is. My Uncle Jeff started out as a self-published comic, until Mason gave Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello’s book an opportunity to reach a wider audience. I’m not sure how many copies of Salmon Doubts Adam Sacks brought to SPX (I want to say it was around five, give or take), but Mason’s decision to print the book means many more people will get to sample its charms. One of the great things about Alternative Comics (and, really, most of the publishers listed in the back of the Previews catalogue) is that there is no house style. Each book really stands on its own, with the Alternative Comics logo as the only unifying characteristic. The creative freedom allows for more personal work, and really cuts the boundaries between the reader, the artist and the work. A while ago, over at the forum for Shawn Hoke’s The Wall (an exceptional weekly column, and I don’t just say that because Shawn’s a friend), some folks were discussing whether or not comics backed by a publisher could have the same intimacy as self-produced minicomics, and many of the books from Alternative Comics prove that it can – and does – happen. While I can’t profess to have read everything put out by Alternative Comics, I can say that my enjoyment of the ones I have read usually falls between a seven or a nine on a ten point scale. That’s not speaking as a reviewer, but as a reader. Still, now would be a good time to briefly go over a few of the books currently available from the publisher. Peanutbutter & Jeremy’s Best Book Ever
by James Kochalka Simply put, Peanutbutter & Jeremy’s Best Book Ever is the story of a friendship, of sorts, between a cat and a crow. It’s also the first work I’ve read by Kochalka that could be considered an all-ages read. What’s wonderful about this book is that not only is it a book that could appeal to both children and adults, but it can have that appeal without resorting to double entendre as a technique to keep the grown ups interested. Peanutbutter and Jeremy have a great Odd Couple relationship, with Peanutbutter as a feline Felix and Jeremy as the avian Oscar. As foils, the characters play well against each other. Peanutbutter and Jeremy’s Best Book Ever doesn’t fall into the trap of being a “character type A plus character type B” situation book, though; both cat and crow are fully actualized, and Jeremy displays significant (if subtle) character growth in the collection. Magic Whistle #9
by Sam Henderson Chaos and disorder, but brilliant chaos and disorder. In this “graphic novel” (a term he himself has no use for, as indicated in the introduction), the Emmy-nominated former Spongebob Squarepants storyboard director and Harvey-nominated cartoonist delivers one of the funniest books I’ve read this year. Its irreverent, adult-oriented humor is somehow charming in its crudeness. I wish I could share at least one sample image from this book, but generally, the cruder the piece, the funnier, and I’m not sure how well that would go over… If you happen to enjoy that sort of thing, this book would likely to appeal to you. Hi-Horse Omnibus Volume One
by Howard John Arey, Andrice Arp, Gabrielle Bell, Hob, Martin Cendreda, Damien Jay, Cole Johnson, J Bradley Johnson, Ellen Lindner, Chris Onstad, Lark Pien, Joan Reilly, Jesse Reklaw and Thien Pham, Jeff Roysdon, Olivia Schanzer, Karen Sneider, Bishakh Som, Zack Soto, Hsiao-chen Tsai, and Dan Zettwoch As it is often noted, anthologies can be hit or miss. It’s exceedingly difficult to find an anthology where each and every work is simply fabulous. Hi-Horse Omnibus is no exception to the rule. I imagine each person that reads it will adore certain sections and dislike others. Overall, I enjoyed the collection, and while I didn’t love every bit, there were no segments that I truly hated. Personal favorites include: • “Little Frankie the Pug Dog” by Damien Jay: I hadn’t heard of Jay before reading the Omnibus. As much as I enjoyed the whimsy and imagination of the story, what really attracted me to Jay’s work was the art (a sample page from “Little Frankie The Pug Dog” can be found here), especially his contrast between the overt cuteness of the dog, and the disconcerting appearance of the man. • “Sadie” by Gabrielle Bell: A more subdued piece than “Little Frankie,” “Sadie” captures friendship better in two pages than many novels, without falling into cutesy territory. Bell sets a mood through art and story, the gray tone of the panels matching perfectly with the feel of the story. Visually, the pairing of watercolor images with line art images is striking. • “Bathroom Humor” by Howard John Arey: There’s nothing overtly scatological about “Bathroom Humor,” other than the focus on a clogged toilet. Visually reminiscent of some of Crumb’s work, Arey’s art in “Bathroom Humor” may not have a universal appeal. The story content, though, should be familiar; I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had some difficulty with public bathrooms at some point in his or her life. +++++ If you’re still on the fence about trying something from Alternative Comics, consider giving them a thought on Free Comic Book Day. This year, Alternative Comics is releasing another sampler for mature readers:  ALTERNATIVE COMICS #2
A spectacular anthology of all-new material crafted by a stellar cast of award-winning cartoonists including Jed Alexander, Graham Annable, Gabrielle Bell, Nick Bertozzi, Leela Corman, Tom Devlin, Dean Haspiel, Sam Henderson, Thomas Herpich, Walt Holcombe, James Kochalka, David Lasky, Josh Neufeld, Matt Madden, Harvey Pekar, Greg Stump, Rich Tommaso, Robert Ullman, and more. Last year’s collection was one of my favorites, and I don’t think this year’s will disappoint either. -- Ed Cunard
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April 22, 2008:
February 4, 2008:
November 20, 2006:
A Comic-Con without the Captain
