Minicomics: EX-es and OK Cupids

This Isn’t Working: Comics About Ex-Boyfriends
Short compilation minicomic featuring six talented ladies on breakups and ex-boyfriends and (as Liz Prince puts it) EX-BOYFRIENDS. Marinaomi learns not to pick up a guy on the rebound. Liz Prince writes about her EX who had been featured in her comics. Jen Vaughn is a victim of hotwinglingus. Cara BeanRobyn Chapman has a sweater story. wonders why she still cares. Caitlin Plovnick is haunted by recurring nightmares of her ex. High quality sampler with wraparound two-color screenprinted cover drawn by Cara Bean and hand-stenciled opening page. Warning: reading this may cause you to feel either (a) nostalgic or (b) stabby toward your own Ex(es). (This Isn’t Working is available through the Paper Rocket Comics shop.)

Robyn Chapman wonders why she still cares.

______________________________________________________

so, this is what it’s come to: a comic zine about the trials and ok cupid
Four comic artists (Liz Prince, Ramsey “everydaypants” Beyer, Leslie Perrine, and Kettner) share their experiences on the dating service OK Cupid, from the slightly uncomfortable and cheesy (Liz Prince) to downright terrifying (Kettner). Kettner’s story was of particular interest, since it happens in Philadelphia, and I recognized a lot of the locations, and unfortunately, the type of woman he went out with. Quick fun read that’s also a good introduction to these talented cartoonists. (Available through Liz Prince’s webstore and also Ramesy Beyer’s Etsy store.)

Clockwise from upper left: Liz Prince, Ramsey Beyer, Kettner, Leslie Perrine

Minicomics: Cleansing and Pretending

The Master Cleanse: 10 Days of Lemons and Maple Syrup Ingested / Stephanie Yue
Stephanie is completely honest about the Master Cleanse experience - the hunger pains, the gross white tongue, and especially the extreme tiredness. In the conclusion, she admits that the Cleanse served as more of a mental “reset” button than anything else: “Intellectually, I maintain my doubts as to the actual, physical, measurable, ‘cleansing’ qualities that set the program apart from a simple starvation diet.” A quick read on a health trend. (Find Stephanie Yue at JellyCity or via email at quezzie@gmail.com)

_________________________________________________________

The Great Pretenders and Other Stories / Julia Wertz
Short collection of older comics from the Fart Party years, and previews of longer works in progress. Julia is developing her storytelling skills, drawing many stories of her childhood and teenage years in a small northern California town, featuring local legends, family trauma, and religious guilt. If this sampler is any indication, the end results will be different from her previous work, much darker and honest. Although when she draws herself as a little girl, it’s still the cutest fucking thing ever. (Available from her web store.)

Comic: Ike the Cat in WALL STREET CAT: Money Takes Naps

I’m envious of workplaces that allow employees to bring their dogs to work. There are days where I want my cat to help keep me sane while in Shiny Cubicle Hell. He’d have great view out the window, could sleep on the warm copier, and wander around collecting pats and scratches from co-workers, calming them down and giving them warm fuzzies. Unfortunately, I have to settle for a photo of him.

Not so for Ike The Cat, who hops the PATH train from Jersey City to his Wall Street job every day. Ike has his own office, where he quietly listens to worker’s problems, dispenses purrs and snuggles, plays with toys and takes many naps.

Sara Lindo has created a charming comic with much of the action occurring wordlessly. I admire how she captures the simple actions of Ike, such as his morning walk to the PATH train. Look at Ike strolling along, owning the morning:

He also makes friends everywhere, even on the train:

After his long day at work, Ike’s a little worried walking home after dark:

But he arrives home safely, gets out of his work clothes, and relaxes in front of the television, just like most office workers in the U.S.A.

This is a very strong minicomic. Sara knows how to script out a story well, which can be difficult with little dialogue. Can we have more Ike adventures?

Check out Sarah’s work at www.thelindo.com. She’ll also be tabling at Pete’s Mini Zine Fest at the end of May (as will I).

Ceci n'est pas un toilette.

Comic/Zine: Drop Target #2

The enthusiasm that Alec Longstreth and Jon Chad have for pinball jumps off every page of this zine, which makes it a great, fun read, even if you’re not into pinball even the slightest bit (like me). This issue is crammed full of comics, interviews, and creative pinball pursuits. Alec continues the comic tale of how he came to own a Medieval Madness machine, and the scholarship fund at Center for Cartoon Studies he set up with it. There’s interviews with Tim Arnold, the curator of the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas (a must-visit for me next time I’m there - who knew there was a physical difference between black and red rubber on bumpers), and a review of the pinball repair series “This Old Pinball” on DVD. Alec contributes a prototype machine of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Jon for Avatar: The Last Airbender (based on the anime, not the live-action movie). Alec also does a step-by-step “walk through” of Medieval Madness, similar to those written for video games. The creators have five more issues planned out (!!), and hopefully their interest holds long enough to publish them all.

DROP TARGET #2 features a limited edition screenprinted cover and is available for $5 plus shipping from the Drop Target Store. Be sure to also subscribe to the Drop Target Blog for lots of pinball news and pretty pictures!

Previously: Review of Drop Target #1