Midnight Fiction

Stovepipe by Joe Wehrle, Jr. Page 17

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:33:00 EDT

Previously: Stovey keeps a late night rendezvous with Felicia, who's being held captive by her spiteful stepfather in his cellar.

Continues on Dec. 18 Pencil Portrait Gallery What A Find-Antiques-Collectibles

Start reading Stovepipe here Homepage Comix Index

Review: Outbound #1 &2 edited by Roho

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 09:35:00 EDT

#1 (May 2009), #2 (April 2010) River Bird Studios & Boston Comics Roundtable
#1 72 b&w pages, plus cover, saddle stitch binding, w/trim, $6.99 plus shipping
#2 120 b&w pages, plus cover, perfect binding, w/trim, $9.99 plus shipping
Both issues are 5.5" x 8.5"
Outbound Magazine
Outbound Store
Boston Comics Roundtable

Outbound, the science fiction comics anthology, makes a powerful first impression. The subject matter, the size, the production values, the cover design, and the cover artwork are all top notch. And when you crack the covers, the contents inside generally manage to fulfill those high expectations. The first issue is printed on a slightly heavier, whiter paper than the second. And as much as I enjoyed the look and feel of the first issue, the second one actually manages to surpass it. These are gorgeous books.

Most of the stories in issue one continue in issue two and will continue in issue three. That fact makes supporting the title a little more challenging, but so far their publishing record is on track. Many of the story chapters begin with a page that would be a cover except for the fact that they're b&w and appear inside. I love this editorial device. They serve as distinct dividers between the stories and add an unexpected full page treatment to enjoy.

The first two volumes Outbound are 95% comics, but each has a few short prose pages as well. In issue one they're all grouped together near the back. I prefer the approach of spacing them out between the comic stories as editor Roho did in issue two.

Following is a short preview of the contents of the issues. Most of the artwork is from issue one, because its saddle stitch bindery made it easier to scan.

Both issues feature front covers by Marcelo Buchelli. Issue one begins with The Caerulean Dream (8 pages) by Brett Barkley and Roho. A family prepares for a long space flight to begin a colony on a tiny dot of light nearly a year away. The first installment relies heavily on narration as we learn the background and orient ourselves to the story. In issue two Roho is joined by Kevin Zimmerman and they deliver the second chapter (9 pages) with a nearly wordless approach as the family crash lands on the desolate landscape of Mars. Issue two includes a chapter cover by Randy Valiente.

Space and Time (8 pages) by Josh Mills and Mike Paoloni, with a chapter cover by David Newbold. A man and his daughter book passage on a spacecraft to his new job. But the ship's captain is hauling more than passengers. And a mysterious cyborg has taken a keen interest in their flight. The story continues in issue two (8 pages) with lettering by David Marshall and effects by Roho.

The Null Device (11 pages) by David Marshall. The Director selects Agent D for a suicide mission to rescue Agent K, far behind enemy lines. The mind-bending story continues in issue two (9 pages).

Flek (9 pages) by Erik Heumiller. Flek is a flea, but a very special one. He's different than all the others on his alien world and he's just about to find out why. After a two page setup, this fanciful adventure story really takes off. It's told almost entirely with dialogue, which keeps the story moving and captivating. Flek returns in issue two (12 pages) for another well told installment.

Scientist Gone Wild (4 pages) by Eric Boeker. After so many continued sagas this self-contained mad scientist send-up creates a welcome pause in the space/time continuum. The feature returns in issue two (5 pages).

Marcel Sirer provides a paper model (designed by Roho) of the Soviet Mars probe Marsnik VI , which successfully reached Mars on March 12, 1974. The model is printed in issue one, but you'll have to photocopy it if you want to avoid cutting up your book.

The title of Mark and the Aliens (6 pages) by Aya Rothwell sums it up pretty well what the story is all about. Mark is a human who finds myself among a planet full of alien bugs. Their adventure has a distinct ending but it's also possible Rothwell will continue the story in a future issue.

Black Fuska (8 pages) by Roho, with a chapter cover by Richard Jenkins. A young Brazilian runs off the road during a blinding rain storm one evening and losses consciousness. When he wakes, he tries to sort out what happened through his disoriented mind. The adventure continues in issue two (9 pages) with artwork by Dave Myers and Steve Willhite and a chapter cover by Paul Marquis. In the second chapter the reader can no longer be sure which version of the young man's reality is actually happening.

Issue one's prose features are Breezes of Heaven (2 pages) by Joe Cannon with artwork by Paul Marquis; How I Learned to Tolerate Vegemite by Aya Rothwell; and an interview with the director of Hunter Prey, Sandy Collora, by Darren Albert, with artwork by Chris Ring.

The New Kid by Dan Mazur is previewed in issue one (4 pages) and begins in issue two (13 pages), with a cover remix by Roho. Ellen moves a lot due to her job, which means her son Jamie is always the new kid on the block. Their latest move involves a flying saucer—and perhaps more adjustment than usual!

The production team for issue one includes Linsay More (who edited the Reader Mail), Jamie Garmendia, Aya Rothwell, and Richard Jenkins. In addition to the stories already mentioned, issue two includes several more:

The Fallout Parade (8 pages) by Jesse Lonergan opens its first chapter with Jack and girl friend Bugsy motorcycling through a post apocalyptic world in which somehow TV still seems to reign supreme.

Tin Cans and a String, a prose story (6 pages) by Patrick J. Flaherty, with artwork by Furman appears in three chapters interspersed throughout issue two. The next chapter(s) will run in issue three.

Driftwood (8 page) by Morgan Pielli is a disturbing fantasy world where nature rules and the nature of things is not what it seems.

Frequency (7 pages) by David Alluisi and Brian Boyles, with a chapter cover by Jason Baroody. Seth Stevens, Physics Officer is a by-the-book kind of enforcer. But for some reason he's on a different sort of frequency today. And the woman observing him wants a closer look.

Robot 11-Three (6 pages) by Kevin Kilgore, with a chapter cover by Chris Ring. In this self-contained escapade two robots plan their escape from the recycle bin.

Issue two closes with Alkehine's Gun (12 pages) by Joe Gill is a classic science fiction chess match.

Outbound is an impressive science fiction comics anthology. With all the continued stories you're either in for the long flight or you're grounded. I'm in. The two volumes easily earn their Midnight Fiction Favorite ranking.

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Midnight Ramblings December 11, 2010 Edition

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 09:25:00 EDT

Weird Muse Minis
Dan W. Taylor has been busy this quarter. He's recently published a whole new crop of mini comics including Porky Belly #6, Pork Belly #7, Brutal Girlfriend #1, Pork Belly #8, Demon Lord Komix #1, and Pork Belly Holiday Special 2010. Check the links for details and order them all as a holiday gift for yourself!

Submissions Wanted Central
Want to find out who's soliciting submissions for mini comics and anthologies? Check out the new section for same at Poopsheet Foundation—the place to eat, sleep, and breathe minis. And while you're browsing PF, be sure to check out Dan Taylor's photos. He's posted severals years worth of pics from shows like SPACE, Mid-Ohio Con, Gem City, etc.

More TeeMee
Windy City punster Jim Siergey has added more cartoon designs to his TeeMee Cafe Press Shop. For a moment including his Othello Kitty design from Nart ...Again. But it seems the Cafe Cops take satire too seriously and the offering disappeared shortly after it was added. Mr. Siergey's response, "Me...OW!"

Latta Newsletter
The illustrious father of Avatards and Rashy Rabbit, Josh Latta, has started an email newsletter highlighting the hijinx inside the walls of Lattaland. Sign up for your copy if you dare.

EC for Me, See? #1
Jim Main, along with Dan W. Taylor, published a new 20-page mini comic this week. EC for Me, See? #1 features EC-inspired artwork by Jeff Mason, JTW, Floydman, Barry Southworth, Jeff Austin, Scott Shriver, Terry Pavlet, Dave Farley, Jim Siergey, and Troy Boyle. It's $2.50 postage paid from Main Enterprises.

Main Enterprises 2011
Main also announced plans for his first batch of zines for the new year. PPFSZT! #29 will probably squeak into late 2010 and it will be followed by Chase! #13, Main Enterprises Presents! #3, Shadow of Dracula #3, Sunday Phonies, Zeroes! #1E, Myths and Legends #1, and Satyr #12 (with that terrific Gary Fields cover). Main Enterprises. Watch this space for a preview of PPFSZT! #29 next week.

Comical Animal
Jim Medway, with the help of his friends, has begun an online publication called Comical Animal. It's for "comic, cartoon and kids book aficionados," with cartoons and prose features. Although at first glance it appears like a blog, it's really all about the timing of its publication. Instead of adding frequent, short posts, Medway will publish a magazine-worth of posts all at once on a bi-monthly schedule. It's a fascinating approach and the content is first rate. Check out the first issue at Comical Animal. You can read Kenny Penman's interview with Jim Medway at Forbidden Planet International (whom I thank for the tip).

Dark Valentine #3
Katherine Tomlinson (publisher), Joy Sillesen (editor), and Joanne Renaud (art director) have published the third issue of their literary magazine of dark fiction. Dark Valentine #3 includes 15 wintery tales meant to keep fear at bay by conjuring up greater horrors and giving them names. Here are cannibals, creatures and zombies. Dark fairy tales and chronicles of urban madness, yours for the asking. The 116 page free PDF file includes over a dozen full color story illustrations. Download your copy at Dark Valentine Magazine.

Morpheus Tales #11
The new issue of the magazine of horror, science fiction, and fantasy is now shipping. Morpheus Tales #11 features the work of nearly a dozen writers of macabre tales. It's available as a single issue for £3.50 plus postage, or as part of a four-issue subscription for £11.00 plus postage from Morpheus Tales.

Holiday Art Savings
Cartoonist Jeremy Eaton is holding a holiday sale online, now through Dec. 21st. All of his original art is going for up to 60% off its list price. Most of it is listed at the Comic Art Collective, but check out Jeremy Eaton's Blog and the For Sale page of the Jeremy Eaton website as well.

Comics Interview
Gerry Giovinco explores the history of character licensing in his article The Comic Company: Licensed to Thrill over at CO2 Comics. He also announces the company's first print book, Comics Interview by David Anthony Kraft.

eBook Tales
Don't want your neighbors on your bus ride to work knowing you're devouring Beyond Heaving Bosoms or its ilk? NYT writer Julie Bosman reports romance is leading the wave of the ebook movement in Lusty Tales and Hot Sales.

Ursula Le Guin
Dmae Roberts profiles veteran artists and arts organizations on Oregon Treasures. She features the work of literary science fiction and fantasy author Ursula Le Guin on the Dec. 7 encore edition of Oregon Treasures, which can be heard online.

Wildside Sites
John Betancourt is in the midst of reorganizing the Wildside websites. For his magazine titles like Weird Tales and Sherlock Holmes Mystery check out Wildside Magazines, where a site redesign in complete. For books by authors like Robert E. Howard, Leigh Brackett, Clifford Simak, and many others see Wildside Books, which will be revamped in January. And finally, the site for ebooks, Wildside Press, is schedule for redesign by March. The new issue of Sherlock Holmes Mystery (#5), with a cover by Charles Bernard, is due in January and Weird Tales #357 is headed for press.

Chuck Dixon Interview
The folks at All Pulp are generating volumes of content, mostly about the new age of pulp. They run lots of interviews, but the comments in a recent conversation with Chuck Dixon really caught my attention. Dixon defines what pulp meant originally and how that has evolved today. Although his own writing is mostly focused on stories of comics, I thought his observations on pulp nailed it. Chuck Dixon interview.

Cathy Leamy Interview
C. Ché Salazar posted the first part of his interview with Cathy Leamy this week on Production 3C. The Boston-based cartoonist's most recent work includes Greenblooded and Reggie & Brian and the Lousy Nickname.

Jason M. Burns sent news of a couple of new books coming from Ape Entertainment. Pocket God #3 features two stories one written by Burns, with pencils by Rolando "Rolo" Mallada and inks & coloring by Paul Little; and one written by Jim Hankins, with artwork by Lucas Ferreyra. Cover by Mallada.

Shrek #2 includes stories written by Troy Dye & Tom Kelesides, Scott Shaw!, Jim Hankins, and (Matt) Anderson; drawn by Christine Larsen, Mikhail Drujic, Rob Reilly, and Robb Mommaerts; with color work by Tim Durning, Jay Moyano, JM Ringuet, and Rolando Mallada. Cover by Mommaerts & Mallada.

Rabid Rabbit #12
The new edition of Rabid Rabbit made its debut at the Brooklyn Comics & Graphic Arts Festival last week. With a cover by Nathan Fox, the book should be available through RR's distribution outlets in the weeks ahead—or buy it for $6 direct right now from the Rabid Rabbit Shop.

Inside Midnight Fiction
Our Rick McCollum zinography continues to fill out with the addition of nearly a dozen more covers of comics featuring his work. Dimension Z, Knights Round Table, and his Screaming Masks issue of the Tundra Sketchbook Series to name a few. You can shop for many of McCollum's back catalog at My Comic Shop. Just click on the cover image, many are linked directly to the item.

Call for News Items
Got a small, pressing news item? Send your mini comic and small press comic and pulp news to me for next week's Midnight Ramblings.

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Stovepipe by Joe Wehrle, Jr. Page 16

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 08:16:00 EDT

Previously: At 1:30 AM, Stovey sneaks out to help the girl imprisoned in his neighbor's cellar.

Continues on Dec. 11 Pencil Portrait Gallery What A Find-Antiques-Collectibles

Start reading Stovepipe here Homepage Comix Index

Review: Two Italian Guys by Chris Yura

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 10:40:00 EDT

2010, Mangia Industry
38 color pages, plus cover, hardcover with sewn binding, $12.95
9" x 7.5", Mature Readers
Mangia Industry
Mangia Industry Shop
Chris Yura's Blog

Two Italian Guys is a small press comic book that has the production values of a hardcover picture book. But the language and innuendoes inside are strictly, "Hey kids, adults only" faire.

The book's landscape orientation delivers a pleasing format for the short comical adventures inside. The stories all play off Italian stereotypes—wiseguys, pizanos, and goombas—but everything's out on the table so no offensive, capish?

The main event is Two Italian Guys, the story. A tale of two brothers, first generation Americans, growing up and finding their place in an Italian neighborhood in Scranton, PA. The opening chapter of their continuing saga takes just half of the book's 38 pages.

The rest is filled with shorter stories: A couple of wiseguys, one of whom eats, shoots, and leaves. A chef trades quips with his entourage of anthropomorphic ingredients in two different adventures. Yura also throws in a few authentic Italian recipes and some phony advertisements to round out this entertaining package.

I like Yura's cartooning. He tells his stories in a straightforward style and his pages are packed with panels. The book is always amusing and entertaining, if not outright hilarious. It's delivered in an usually upscale package, but its contents are friendly and accessible. You could say it's like a good pizza, served at a fancy table. So whad'ya waiting for? Eat already!

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Midnight Ramblings December 4, 2010 Edition

Sat, 04 Dec 2010 10:02:00 EDT

Sean Azzopardi
Our December cartoon for the free 2010 Midnight Fiction Desk Calendar was drawn by UK cartoonist Sean Azzopardi. Sean recently published a print version of his collaboration with Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, Necessary Monsters, which along with several other books is available from the Sean Azzopardi Shop. Sean was interviewed by Matt Badham in January 2010 for Forbidden Planet International and in March 2008 for Overspill. Many thanks to Sean for contributing to this year's desk calendar!

So Buttons: Holiday
(From the press release) Hot on the heels of So Buttons #3: So Horror-ble, indie comics scribe Jonathan Baylis delivers a special holiday treat, So Buttons Holiday Special #1. Featuring a T. J. Kirsch cover starring the writer's pet Boston Terrier, Mocha, in a Santa cap, this graphic mini is the ideal primer lo get everyone into the spirit of the season.

The book opens with a story that returns Baylis to his autobiographical roots after his brief sojourn into macabre fiction. In So... Chalk It I Ip to Konglateral Damage the auteur and film aficionado explains why King Kong will always be synonymous with Thanksgiving. Artist, Thomas Boatwright, who masterfully depicted Baylis's only auto-bio tale in So Horror-ble, deftly captures the writer's annual frustration and ultimate triumph.

Baylis adapts a childhood tale of his wife, comedian Ophira Eisenberg—who's been featured on Comedy Central's Premium Comedy Blend and was selected as one of New York magazine's Top 10 Comics that "Funny People Find Funny"—for the mini's concluding tale. In So. . . He Mad It Out of Clay, the raconteur relates Eisenberg's problems as a young Jew during Chrisimastime growing up in the primarily gentile climes of Calgary, Canada. Baylis handles the story with sensitivity. allowing the humor to evolve naturally, making for a more poignant piece that embraces both religions in the holiday spirit. So Buttons art veteran T. J. Kirsch. whose work has been featured in every issue of the series, proves once again why his signature delicate linework and subtle humor is the perfect compliment to Baylis's thoughtful writing style.

No volume of So Buttons would be complete without a great back cover and the Holiday Special #1 delivers a knockout; a battle for the ages with a yamulke-capped, tallit-draped King Kong hauling everybody's favorite Man with the Bag. It's an inspired piece by artist Paul Salvi that cleverly teases to the stories featured therein.

So Buttons Holiday Special #1 is 8 b&w pages, plus covers. 5.5" x 8.5" with saddle stitch binding. It's available for $2 plus $1 from So Buttons.

The Enquirer Dharbin
A successful Kickstarter campaign funded the publishing of a wonderful newsprint comics section by Dustin Harbin. The Enquirer Dharbin unfurls to a massive 16" x 21" comics newspaper in glorious full color. At 8 pages, its more like the equivalent of 32 pages of funnies, for the amazing price tag of just $1, but please add another $3 for mailing. Here's the link to Harbin's Mart (but hurry they are going fast!). And if you want to keep tabs on him, check out the Dharblog.

Jim Steranko Portfolio
Ken Meyer Jr.'s Ink Stains column on ComicAttack.net hit 25 this week, and it's a doozie. Somehow I missed the Jim Steranko Portfolio in 1970. No matter, because Meyer provides a complete blow-by-blow of page after page of gorgeous design and illustration. There are many highlights here including covers from silver age fanzines like Fantastic Fanzine, promotional sheets for original character designs for Harvey, and two complete stories of some of Steranko's earliest work at age 15 and 16. The portfolio and Meyer's article really traces Steranko's career from its beginnings until about 1970, when the piece was published by Supergraphics. Ink Stains #25.

TeeMee
Pun and toon master, Jim Siergey launched an apparel response to the recent airport security procedures this week. I'd love to see the look on an airport screener's face when they get their hands on one of these.

Stark House Mystery Classics
Publisher Greg Shepard announced a new collection of classic mysteries by Peter Rabe for January 2011. The new volume includes Rabe's final manuscripts The Silent Wall and The Return of Marvin Palaver as well as a rare short story, Hard Case Redhead. See Stark House Press for more details.

Comix Debut in Brooklyn
Sparkplug Comic Books is premiering Habitat #2 along with the East Coast intro of Studygroup 12 #4 at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival this weekend (Dec. 4). Habitat #2 is Dunja Jankovic's sequel to her Department of Art. The 48 page comix is available for $9 from Sparkplug Comic Books, where you can also preview three of its pages.

Studygroup 12 #4 is a 9" x 12" perfect bound book and includes work by dozens of Pacific Northwest small press comix artists. You can read more about it and preview several pages at Secret Voice's Etsy Shop.

Sparkplug also announced their new catalog, which will available in early 2011.

El Vocho
Steve Lafler has launched a new Kickstarter project for his latest graphic novel, El Vocho. In his own words, "After two years of ink slinging, I've completed the 104 page El Vocho graphic novel. Over the past few months I've promoted the book, with great prepublishing events in Portland, OR and San Francisco. Now I have a modest order in hand from Diamond Comic Distributors. I will print the book and ship Diamond their order, then the plan is to continue to market El Vocho to smaller distributors, independent bookstores, comic specialty retailers and individuals. The Diamond order covers part of the cost to print and ship the book, but I am looking to raise funds to cover the balance of the printing and shipping costs."

El Vocho is being posted online, one page per week at CO2 Comics. The book's namesake El Vocho even has it's own theme song, Ballad of the Bug. The Comics Journal interviewed Lafler in September about the book and his comics career.

District Comics
Matt Dembicki (Trickster: Native American Tales) announced a new online anthology this week. The stories will feature the history of Washington, D.C., from its beginnings to contemporary times. The site will be free to encourage use by schools, libraries, comic readers, and anyone else interested in the nation's capital. Dembicki has an open call for submissions, which is described in detail at District Comics.

The Great Treasury of
Christmas Comic Book Stories
Yoe! Books and publisher IDW have released The Great Treasury of Christmas Comic Book Stories, just in time for the holidays. The 176 page volume features Christmas comics from the Golden Age that will warm the hearts of children of all ages. Top cartoonists like Walt Kelly (Pogo), John Stanley (Little Lulu), and Dan Noonan penned the humorous, heartwarming comics in this beautiful collection. You'll meet elves, reindeer, talking snowmen, funny animals, and, of course, Santa Claus himself, in terrific stories that will provide a sense of wonder for the whole family. The hardcover, full color book is roughly 8.5" x 11" and is available for $34.99 from IDW publishing, Powell's Books, MyComicShop and other retailers.

Brideau's Mini 'o the Month
Neil Brideau, who's published Alpha City Comics, Who is That?, The Trugglemat and several other comics, has announced a mini comic of the month club. In a spirit of experimentation Brideau will send out a new, original mini comic each month during 2011. Subscriptions are available in 12- and 6-month increments. Previous Mini 'o the month clubs have been offered by Liz Ballie (2009) and Pat Grant (2010). Subscribe at From the Well.

Gaylord Phoenix
Edie Fake's debut graphic novel, Gaylord Phoenix follows the danger-fraught journeys of the gaylord phoenix, a creature willing to sacrifice anything for love and self-knowledge. Fake confronts the reader with violent and unexpected manifestations of sexual connection and romantic possession as the gaylord phoenix searches for his lost love, his origins and his place in the world. Culled from Edie Fake's minicomic series of the same name, Gaylord Phoenix portrays the most human, universal struggle in an epic, majestically rendered world where transformations, magic and sex are part of the everyday fabric of life. The 256 page, two-color book is available for $17.95 from publisher Secret Acres.

Inside Midnight Fiction
A couple of years ago I decided to try becoming an Amazon.com Affiliate. I setup search boxes on every page of the site to try and earn a small percentage of sales from promoting them. In a year's time the earnings were zero, so I stopped promoting them. If you go through every page on the site you can probably still find one, but for the most part they're gone. I considered joining Powell's program but never did it. Then one day I noticed that Buddy Saunders' outfit MyComicShop was offering an Affiliate program. I remembered Saunders from his ads in The Buyer's Guide, back when Alan Light was publishing it. Saunders always had great prices and accurate grading. Since I discovered his online store, I've become a customer again. He carries a terrific stock of the kind of things that appeal to me like Dog Boy, Neil the Horse, Ms. Tree, and anything by Rick McCollum. You get the idea. Anyway, now I'm an affiliate, and I'm slowly adding links to the site wherever it makes sense. This week I received my first Affiliate credit. Of course, I don't know who ordered, but THANK YOU whoever you are. I'm thrilled! Thanks for using the links on MF.com to click through and shop at MyComicShop!

Call for News Items
Got a small, pressing news item? Send your mini comic and small press comic and pulp news to me for next week's Midnight Ramblings.

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