notes from the gutters…

Another page I'm working on. On the left is the page as I scanned it, on the right I've increased the margins a bit. The biggest complaint about my “artwork” is how claustrophobic it is, seriously, every review ever, after they describe vividly how scratchy and shitty my drawing is, they mention this word claustrophobic. Could it be as simple as adding wider gutters?? Or keep it real/claustrophobic? What do people think of this?

 

R.I.P. Seabrook

So, today is the anniversary of the death of William Buehler Seabrook by suicide in 1945, 68 years ago. Seabrook was an explorer and adventure writer who is credited with introducing the word zombie to the english language. He was a complicated, twisted individual who is most often reduced to the short bio of, “alcoholic, sadist, cannibal, suicide.” All of which he was, but it's definitely not all of his story. He was close friends with a plethora of the royalty of American and European arts and letters in the 30s and 40s from Man Ray and Gertude Stein to Aleister Crowley and Jean Cocteau, yet he died in relative obscurity and none of his books remain in print today.

That's his photo and that stack of papers is the rough layouts for a biography in comic book form that I've spent the last 7 years researching. It's the next project I'll be starting on.  I just have to sit down and draw and do justice to this guy's life. Check back in several years… Anyway, rest in peace, old Bill Seabrook. 

Inking!

Here's page 14 of a 26 page story called: Shut Your Piehole, Johnny Pinetop. I hope to have this in a shittily-printed, slapped together edition for sale at the Comic Art Brooklyn show on November 9, where I'll be hanging out with old Andy Brown of conundrum and his new releases.
That's my new Hamilton studio in the background. I know, it's the same as the Montreal studio. Also, no panel borders!!

Kiitos means thank you…

Hey Everyone, just got back from the Helsinki Comics Festival where Conundrum Press was a guest. It was a fantastic festival, good in terms of sales and also just a wonderful group of organizers and events and I spent the weekend hanging around with a bunch of great friends, new and old; Andy Brown, Howard Chackowicz, Philippe Girard, John Martz, Michael Deforge, Lilli Carré and Alexander Stewart, Bill Kartalopoulos and Julie Delporte. When Howard learned the Finnish word for thank you, he NEVER stopped using it, charming the hell outta the locals.





Howard! Doin' his thang.

A quote from Alexander about the sauna, which we Conundrum guys missed. I'm okay missing out being naked with a bunch of other cartoonists (been there, done that…) but I am sad to have missed the sour cream and onion chips and beer.

Spoke with Ulli Lust again, her book, The Last Day of The Rest of Your Life is fantastic and should be read by everyone. I met Jooste Swarte and spoke briefly to him, then he bought a couple of Conundrum books. Filled up an entire sketchbook over the weekend keeping up with Martz and Deforge, who NEVER stop drawing. Kids, the secret to comics, as with everything, is always HARD WORK.

Here is the damage we did to the table cloth.

In that same bar, Howard Chackowicz–one of the best the best cartoonist travelling companions in the world– made friends with a seriously drunk Finn named Pikka, who was filled with a love for Howard that bordered on homicidal. “I come back and smash your face” is an actual quote, though he never returned.

And here's a bunch of cartoonist's drawing good ol' Andy Brown. (Look out Annie Koyama, Andy's a close runner for the most beloved comics publisher though no one could hope to beat him in terms of hirsuteness.) Andy's giant, picture-filled report is  HERE!

Thanks to The festival organizers, especially Otto, Maura and Kalle and all the volunteers, they all made us feel so welcome. This really was a wonderful festival, if you can attend next year, you should!
Okay, back to work.

another page

new page

This is a short 30 page comic I'm working on.

he's only happy when it rains.

more shite about MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Here's a bunch of new reviews of my book Science Fiction.
(click the links below to read 'em, old timer.)

Scroll down to read this one by Brian Heater (I didn't realize he was reviewing comics on BB.) in :Boing Boing.
A review in Quill and Quire always makes me feel like I'm Margaret Atwood or something. How nice. Quill and Quire.
A Nice review from John Seven, co-author of the great kid's book, Happy Punks 123. Reverse Direction.
A great, in-depth review by Rob Clough, who makes a few good critical points about my last book too. High Low Comics.
This one's from NY writer, Dominic Umile.
And this was in yesterday's Globe and Mail, by Sean Rogers. In Canada, a review in the Globe means you are special. I will sleep easy tonight.