Carl is the Awesome Volume 2 by Marcos Perez

In issues 1-4 of Carl is the Awesome, you get to know the lovable, overconfident Carl. Carl is a dinosaur. He has a beaver’s tail and wears a little black vest. The ladies love him, he loves the ladies. If you haven’t read the first four issues, you should drop the $2 and pick them up. In these first four issues, Carl rules.

Issues 5-8 are slightly less engaging, but Carl is still Carl. In issue 5, Carl is the leader of a rap super group. “Our game is tighter than a jar of dills!! Twist off the top and enjoy the taste of our willis!!!” Carl makes the perfect rapper, but of course he’s so awesome that he and his mates, DJ Bill$ Murray and Miss Ill-Toe Diva, are chased by rabid fans.

In issue 6, with the help of a mystical mirror, Carl meets L’Rac, his French twin. L’Rac is every bit as awesome as Carl. Since the world can’t handle the overwhelming awesomeness of the two together, they’re forced into a competition to eliminate the loser and restore the awesomeness balance of the globe. The competition involves the ladies. That’s all I’m saying.

In issue 7, Carl recounts his experiences in community theatre. This page pretty much sums up the silliness that is Carl in community theatre. I’ll add that he’s somewhat of an improviser on stage.

Issue 8 is probably the best of this bunch, and it’s about something near and dear to all of our hearts – the small press comics festival. Carl shows you how to behave at a show like SPX or MoCCA. Not only does he teach you the fine art of swapping comics, he shows you how to navigate the sea of ladies at these shows. You go Carl.

Perez does a fine job with Carl, and it’s a great idea for a character. The packaging, presentation, and price point are all perfect for Carl’s adventures, but the nature of the stories, a dinosaur bragging about his awesomeness in different situations, can feel less fresh after the novelty wears off. However, issues 5-8 of Carl is the Awesome are packaged together in a slipcase for the price of $2.00. It’s just $2 for a nice little set of mini-comics that you can hand to almost anyone and elicit a giggle or two. You can purchase your own at the CliffFaceComics online store.

Something Very Cool

Austin English has set up a blog full of pages from a future story in his future magazine (it's like he's a robot boy or something), Windy Corner.

Anyway, drawings by Austin English are always a good thing, and he has plenty on his new blog.

If you scroll down, you can check out these pictures from Tom Neeley at MoCCA.

Madinkbeard on the loose at MoCCA

Derik was at MoCCA and he highlighted pretty much what I would have highlighted. Picturebox? Check. Global Hobo? Check. Paping? Check. He's like my evil twin. Except both of us are probably pretty cuddly once you get to know us.

Also Derik has this review of Frank Santoro's new book.

MoCCA Photos/Reports

Here are a few early reports and pictures of MoCCA. Looks like a good time.

Here are Kevin’s Photos

Pictures from Chris at Panels and Pixels

Liz Baillie’s Report with pictures.

If you have anymore let me know and I'll post them.

MoCCA Festival Time!

This weekend is the MoCCA Festival. It’s also the second year in a row that I will miss it, but I hope that everyone who goes has a blast. From my admittedly limited con perspective MoCCA and SPX are the twin giants for quality mini-comics. I haven’t been to APE, SPACE, or STAPLE, but both MoCCA and SPX rule for mini-comics. MoCCA was my first “comics convention,” and I can’t think of a better way for a comics geek to plunge into conventions. That was also the only time that Ed Cunard and I have hung out in person. The bastard has bailed on the last two SPX shows, but he’ll be at MoCCA this weekend. Here’s his recommendations this weekend for everything not mini-comics. I do have to second his Pat Lewis suggestion. Find Lewis and buy everything on his table. He brings the funny.

Who else is going to MoCCA? Well most of the cool kids will be there selling their wares. Don’t be afraid to approach the tables with the sad artists setting behind them. Look at their books, ask them questions, buy what strikes your fancy. Nothing should set you back too much cash. Another great thing about MoCCA is that the crappy publishers don’t bother attending these, so it's almost all quality.

If anyone has the gumption to do a mini-comics centric MoCCA report, I’ll post it here and give you full credit, as well as send you the biggest box of mini-comics you can imagine for your trouble. Probably should have posted this offer sooner though…

I forgot to mention how much I love the Puck Building. Have fun kids! Buy some minis and flood the surrounding bars.

Earth Minds are Weak #5 by Justin J. Fox
This in an interesting concept, and different format, for Fox’s fifth issue of Earth Minds mini-comic. To start with, issue 5 is a trio of mini-comics packaged in a brightly colored translucent vellum envelope.

“Good-Bye” is a stiff full color 8-page mini that most closely resembles the first four issues of Earth Minds are Weak. It’s a wordless reflection on loss presented in an unorthodox manner. Many of you have lost someone, but probably not like this.
With “I Love You!,” Fox takes a “guy loves girl, girl ignores guy until it’s too late” story and takes it to the extreme. Stick figures have never been so engrossing – or maybe just gross – in their quest to prove that love’s a bitch.

Poor Lincoln. In “Lincoln Isn’t the Awesome” he shows why he’ll never compare to his gregarious and popular stable mate Carl. Eight pages of woe and misery are more than enough to convince the reader that Lincoln will always play second fiddle to Carl. But just like it’s fun to read Carl and laugh at his overzealous chest thumping (sorry, Carl!), it’s fun to watch Lincoln mope about. Maybe he should trade that handlebar mustache for a little vest like Carl’s.

Earth Minds Are Weak #5 is available at Cliff Face Comics for $2. While I’m mentioning Cliff Face Comics, look for a review of the next volume of Carl is the Awesome! by Marcos Perez next week.

If you’re going to MoCCA this weekend, Fox and Marcos Perez will be there selling their minis.

Do You Like TV? by various artists
Here’s a TV themed mini-comic edited by Levon Jihanian of Igloo Tornado that includes pages by Scott Nobles, Souther Salazar, Dave Kiersh, Josh Frankel, Gin Stevens, Tom Neely, Rina Ayuyang, Toby Craig, and many others. Each artist gets a page (Levon and Tom Neely get two pages) to shout out to their favorite or not so favorite TV moments. A not so favorite moment. Although I’m a Pistons fan and I hate the hometown Pacers, so this one kind of made me giggle.

Inside, Scott Nobles does an awesome drawing of Mr. T. A-Team geeks need to find this mini-comic now. Actually between this drawing of Mr. T and Mark Todd’s Mr. T in Bad Ass, you could begin an all Mr. T anthology.

Souther Salazar’s page consists of people sitting at 3 round tables. A guy in what looks like a fair booth is cleaning out a glass, while another gentleman storms through the door. At that point, you’re a bit clueless until you notice the word in the very bottom right hand corner – “NORM!” Ah that’s it…

Remember “DYN-O-MITE!” from Good Times? Gin Stevens does.

Dave Kiersh likes those after school specials and made for TV movies. Chances are he remembers much more about them than you do.
Copies of Do You Like TV? cost $3. If you’re going to MoCCA this weekend, perhaps you can find a copy at the festival. You could also try emailing Levon through his website and begging to buy a copy. Begging sometimes works…

Mini-Comics Interview

There’s an interview about mini-comics with some jackass over at Simon Sandall’s ReadersVoice.com. While you’re over there, check out the past interview list, which includes interviews with Tom Gauld, Eric Reynolds, Ivan Brunetti, and artist Jeff Soto. Lots of good stuff.

While I’m thinking of interviews, I wanted to mention a newish blog named Graphic Language by good pals Kevin, Chris, and Ed. This week Graphic Language has an interview with Alex Cox of Rocketship, a must visit comics store if you are ever anywhere near their neighborhood.

Press Release from Family Style for Elfworld

Received the following from Family Style mini-comics stylist François Vigneault over the weekend:

Family Style is proud to be publishing the long-awaited "Elfworld" Vol. 1 in Fall of 2006!

"Elfworld" was the brainchild of indy-comics superstar Jeffrey Brown; an anthology of fantasy-themed comics by a wide range of alternative, independent, and self-published cartoonists. Although there was a lot of interest in the comics community and tons of submissions poured in, Brown found himself deluged by his more pressing assignments, and unfortunately "Elfworld" was put on the back burner for what promised to be an indefinite time.

At this year's Alternative Press Expo, young cartoonist (and member of the Family Style artistic collective) François Vigneault bought a copy of "The Basilisk" by Kazimir Strzepek. "He told me that he had originally drawn it for Jeffrey Brown's anthology, which was actually the first time I had heard of it," says Vigneault. "My first thought was that I wanted to contribute to it, but then Kaz told me that Jeffrey wasn't ever going to do it, so I had the audacious thought of editing and publishing it myself. I approached Jeffrey and asked him if he was planning to finish "Elfworld", and if not, if I could have it. 'What's your address?' was his response!"

The first volume of "Elfworld" will consist almost entirely of submissions created for Jeffrey Brown's original anthology and selected by François Vigneault. The 96 page, black & white book will feature fantasy-themed stories from over a dozen artists from across the indie-comics spectrum: Jeferey Brown, Martin Cendera, Erik Nebel & Jesse Reklaw, Matt Weigle & Sean Collins, Ron Regé Jr. & Souther Salazar, Grant Reynolds, Liz Prince, K. Thor Jensen, Jason Overby, Ansis, Dalton Sharp, Jason & Jody Turner, and Dave McKenna. There will also be a new, fully-painted cover by Jesse Reklaw. The book will be designed by Jonas Madden-Connor (another member of the Family Style collective).

The stories range from lyrically beautiful to absurdly funny, and the each author approaches the fantasy-inspired subject matter in a unique and often unusual manner; the overall result is a book that sure to please those who love the fantasy genre outright, those for whom it's a guilty pleasure (old D&D manuals hidden away in their closets?), and anyone with an appreciation for independent comics. "It seems like the perfect time for this kind of project," says Vigneault. "Jonas [Madden-Connor] and I have been working on our own fantasy collaboration for almost a year now, and I feel like I keep seeing new work that has a sort of fantastic bent, everything from "Basewood" by Alec Longstreth to "Crickets" by Sammy Harkham. It's like everyone's on the same wavelength." The first volume of "Elfworld" is currently scheduled to come out in October/November of this year.

François Vigneault is currently soliciting submissions for "Elfworld" Vol. 2 (currently planned for 2007), and Family Style intends to publish another book annually thereafter.

Family Style is a small group of cartoonists and other artists working out of the San Francisco Bay Area. They collectively publish several small-press comics and zines, their flagship title Family Style Jamboree has recently hit issue no. 7. "Elfworld" will be their most ambitious project to date.

For more information, links to "Elfworld" contributors, and submission guidelines for future volumes of "Elfworld" please visit: www.family-style.com/elfworld.html

J. Chris Campbell - He makes a lot of mini-comics
Last year at SPX, J. Chris Campbell handed me what he calls his "Fat Pack." No, the term “Fat Pack” is not a euphemism for something dirty, it’s a plain brown envelope stuffed with mini-comics - a lot of mini-comics. It’s kind of a daunting package, really, but I sat down with it last night and picked out a few minis of his that stood out. The first thing that strikes you about Campbell’s minis, is that they all have nice color covers. Most of them are quarter paper sized, cut in half on the vertical line so they are wider than they are tall. A couple of them are quarter page sized, and one is an eighth of a page size. Once you open them, another thing jumps out at you. Campbell focuses on the figures and their speech; there’s very little background and almost no shading. It’s comic making stripped down to lines, shapes, and word balloons. His comics are short, sweet, and usually absurd.

In Save Me a man is stranded on the top of a tall rock in the middle of the ocean. A pirate ship pulls up and offers to rescue him, but the man has no money. The conversation is very dry and polite between the two parties, but the pirate ship begins to pull away saying, “Good day then,” once it’s apparent the man has no way to pay for his passage. As the ship pulls away, the desperate man screams, “I’ll give you 5,000 for safe passage to Alderaan.” Well, everyone knows that Alderaan is no more. But then again, this is a tale about pirates, maybe they mean a different Alderaan. No, it’s the same Alderaan, and the pirate politely explains that Alderaan is no more, “I’m afraid I have bad news…”

So is a wordless mini that has a different feel to it. Much of Campbell’s work is done with the aid of a computer, but this one is totally freehand. The lines have a bit more life to them, although maybe it’s the story that involves a ladybug, an aphid, a rabbit, a bird, a lizard, an alien, and a top. The bunny is watching the ladybug as it struggles on its back. The top has landed on a see saw and knocked the ladybug off. All the characters get involved in this drama, but the bird is upset that the alien disturbed its newly hatched chicks.

I liked Mail Stop the best out of all the mini-comics in the “Fat Pack.” It matches Campbell’s subtle sense of humor in his comics, which often takes several pages to be revealed. A guy is standing at a mailbox, we assume it’s his own mailbox, opening and reading the mail. He laughs at a funny card, and then whines about TV Guide’s take on the upcoming fall season. But it’s not his mailbox. It’s not his mail. It’s his ex-wife’s, or ex-girlfriend’s, mailbox and she discovers him reading through her mail. I read this at Barnes & Noble last night and almost spit coffee out of my nose.

Another thing I enjoy about Campbell’s mini-comics is the little notes in the indices. After the copyright statement and all the legal yap, he sometimes puts in a little message; maybe it’s about where to get the best sweet tea or a problem he’s having with his back. In Mail Stop it’s a little message about our hero Lewis and what happens to him after he’s busted going through someone else’s mail. You can get a copy of Mail Stop at the Wide Awake Press website for $2. You should go do that now, it’s 40 pages of fun.

You can also still get the “Fat Pack” from Campbell’s website for only $25. That’s about a dozen mini-comics and a now a copy of Zig Zag # 1 from AdHouse Books.