Charity Book for Japan

I'm posting this on behalf of Adam Pasion, Sundogs Comics http://sundogscomix.blogspot.com/, via Stuart Stratu. Please check out the website: http://aftershockcomic.blogspot.com/ and if you have questions email Adam at biguglyrobot@gmail.com

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Fellow cartoonists,
As most of you know, I am a cartoonist living and writing about life in Japan. Living in Japan and watching this disaster unfold first hand, I have never felt more helpless in my entire life. Everyday seems to be getting worse, and at times it seems nearly hopeless. My area has not been affected by this disaster, and yet I feel compelled to do anything I can to help. But what can I do? The news and relief agencies give priority to those with experience in search and rescue, medical professionals and logistical experts. What skills do I have to offer? What is the role of an artist in the face of such disaster? I have donated some money, but compared to the overwhelming need it seems like nothing. I have been racking my brain to come up with something more sustainable that will be able to generate support into the foreseeable future, when the spotlight is off Japan. What can we do that will extend beyond when the next disaster strikes somewhere else in the world, when the attention fades and the media coverage dies off? Then an idea struck me.

Arguably one of Japan's greatest gifts to the rest of the world are comic books. How fitting then if cartoonists from around the world can show support for Japan by making a comic book. I want to make a book where various artists make anywhere from a page to a few pages explaining their interactions with Japan, their feelings, their experiences and memories, anything on their heart, and share it with the world. Then a portion of the proceeds, as much as possible, will be donated to continuing relief efforts in Japan. It will take years and years to rebuild things up there and any support we can continue to generate will make all the difference. My planning is still in the infant stages - I literally rushed out of bed when the idea came to me, and am now sending this off to any and all cartoonists I know. If I can rally up enough people to join in, I will start looking for somebody who may be interested in publishing it as well.

Please consider this seriously. The more people we can get on board the better the chance of it materializing into something. Also, my network is quite small, so please consider forwarding this to as many other cartoonists you know. I really hope we can make this happen, at present it seems like the best we can possibly do to help out. Please respond to this mail if this sounds like something you can commit to.

sincerely,
- Adam Pasion
biguglyrobot@gmail.com

THREE #1

THREE #1 (July 2010)
Rob Kirby
curbside2@earthlink.net
www.robkirbycomics.com (orders via paypal)
$6.25 US / ? Can/Mex / ? World / ? trades
Half-legal/ 32 pages / color!

So, before I get to the gushing about how much I dug this collection, let me give you the basics: THREE is a limited-run anthology (I don’t know how limited or how many issues) by queer comic artists edited by Robert Kirby. I haven’t seen #2 yet but I know I’m going to love it if this first issue (clever cover and all) is any indication of the series to come. The plan is for each issue to have three stories by three creators or teams of creators, and the first issue is a standout. Joey Alison Sayers contributes a funny full-color piece called “Number One” (yeah, it’s about what you think) and Robert Kirby’s beautifully done story “Freedom Flight” follows a character called Drew on part of a trip through New York City (it has this soft blue background that gives it a little bit of a dreamlike, contemplative quality). But I found myself returning to the first piece in the collection, Eric Orner’s “Weekends Abroad.” It’s an atmospheric story set in Tel Aviv; the narrative follows a man and a lovely little piece of graffiti (which I now kind of want to put all over the place), and it is superbly done. All three of the stories are well-done and they’re a nice kind of sampling of three different artists. Overall, this title’s a standout; don’t wait to get your hands on it. (I can’t wait for the next issue.)

two reviews!

NINJA SUSHI #2 (Nov 2010)
Yves Albrechts
Postbus 100
2000 Antwerpen 1
Belgium
kapreles@gmail.com
http://talkingarmpit.blogspot.com
? US / ? Can/Mex / ? World / ? trades
Half-size/ 20 pages / bright yellow cover

Lots of bold line work, mostly single images rather than sequential storytelling. The drawing style reminds me a little bit of Kaz (kinda surreal) but with heavier line work. Also, if you’re into mail art it might be worth checking out (the back cover reads “mail art matters –DIY zine – comic art—global communication”); if you’re into kind of weird, surreal art you will most likely enjoy this zine.

“Herbal Healing for Piercings and Tattoos: Organic Aftercare for Everyone”Stacy
4712 Elbow Drive SW
Calgary AB T2S 2K8
weedsmith@live.com
blog is at anastasiaweedsmith.wordpress.com
$3 US / $3 Can/Mex / ? World / ? trades (email and ask?)
Half-size/ 36 pages

From Stacy: “My zine is a thorough body art aftercare zine that includes vegan and non-vegan recipes on how to properly care for and heal your new piercings and tattoos.” It also “includes information such as how the skin heals, herbs to use, ingredients to avoid in aftercare, recipes on making your own aftercare products, and organic jewelry.”

It is very clear that the zine is intended for aftercare only and only for educational purposes. (She’s upfront that she is not a professional piercer or tattoo artist, or a physician or a naturopath, so she is not giving medical advice.) My favorite piece of this zine was an explanation of the LITHA method for healing (which stands for LEAVE IT THE HELL ALONE). Pretty simply to follow, she says: Don’t touch it! There’s good information in here about hygiene (common mistake with new body art? Not washing your hands before administering to your new tattoo or piercing) and recipes involving herbs. Overall, a number of good things to consider—especially for someone who has not yet gotten that new tattoo or piercing!

It’s a Whit Taylor two-fer!

Field Guide to Official State Haircuts #1 (2010) 9.5 x 7.25, 14 pages, color cover
$4 US, $5 Can/Mex, $5 world, yes to trades!
Whit Taylor
WhitLTaylor@gmail.com
http://whimsicalnobodycomics.blogspot.com

Attic #1 (2010) 5 x 7.5, 20 pages, B&W
$3 US, $4 Can/Mex, $4 world, yes to trades!
(same info as above)

FIELD GUIDE is billed as the definitive guide to “official” state haircuts (and can be used as a coloring book; the shapes of the states as well as the state flower are represented), and it’s pretty funny. Maryland! Your state haircut is the BUZZCUT! It’s okay; we up here in Massachusetts got some prim lookin’ thing called the “Ivy League” while Delaware got the “Devilock” (note: not once in the seven years I spent living in Delaware did I see that haircut.)There’s also a Bonus Section for the US Territories (poor Guam is all I’ve got to say about that.) I can’t wait to see what Issue #2 is going to be about. ATTIC is a collection of online slice-of-life comics from Summer 2010; humongous hickey coverage, Facebook, commercials, ebay, and what happens to old soda are just a few of the topics that appear. Fun read for sure.

review from Anne: BROOKLYN #71

BROOKLYN! #71
24 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 $10 for a 4 issue subscription
(PAYMENT IN CASH!)
Fred Argoff
Penthouse L
1170 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn NY 11230

Another Brooklyn review! Say it with me, people: “The name of this zine is BROOKLYN and that's also what the zine is about, Fred's beloved borough of Brooklyn." History, photography, you name it and it’s in here provided it’s got something to do with Brooklyn (even if that Brooklyn is a section of Wellington in New Zealand). My favorite thing in this issue was the (ahem) Idiotarod, an annual race through the streets of Brooklyn in crazy costumes with shopping carts. Who doesn’t love that? Here’s what I learned this issue: what “cancellation shoes” are and that the first bike bath in the United States is in Brooklyn and runs along Ocean Parkway! (And now I wanna bike it!). Get yourself some BROOKLYN already!