indie box: Fran

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big box of comics, black and white, Fantagraphics, fran, Frank, indie box, Indie Comics, Jim Woodring

Fran is the female counterpart to Jim Woodring’s Frank, a somewhat traditional “funny animal” cartoon character who lives in a completely untraditional world of mayhem, magical beings, mysterious objects, and massive acid trips. It’s a world where even when Woodring shows you exactly what is happening, you still wonder what the hell is happening! Frank stories are unpredictable and open to interpretation, and the Fran graphic novel is no exception.

Things start out simply enough. Fran and Frank are living in apparent marital bliss, where a morning of play fighting and teasing is just an expression of their mutual affection.

But when Frank and his pet chase down a creep who stole Frank’s sketchbook, they unearth a hole that leads to a subterranean cavern filled with presumably stolen wonders. Frank, being amoral or at least morally ambiguous, loots the cave and takes home the booty.

One of the treasures is a projector that, when worn on the head, projects the wearer’s memories like a movie. When Fran refuses to put it on her head, Frank loses his temper and screams at her.

As a result, she leaves him. When Frank realizes she’s gone, he is heartbroken, and beats himself up for being such a jerk.

The rest of the story primarily concerns Frank’s quest to follow Fran’s trail into the psychedelic wilderness and reunite with her. But there is more to Fran than meets the eye, and we discover several things about her that suggest she had good reason to not want her memories exposed to Frank via the projector. She violently slaughters some creeps who assault her, shacks up with a guy with a freaky face, and ultimately uses a shape-shifting deception to ditch Frank once again.

Frank doesn’t take it well. He lets loose a howl that brings down the heavens… or something!

From there, things get really weird. Frank’s journey takes unexpected twists and turns through a deranged cosmos loosely governed by cartoon physics and hallucinatory horror. Like the previous novel-length Frank adventures in Weathercraft and Congress of the Animals, Fran will keep you guessing about what could possibly happen next, and leave you pondering what it all means at the end.

Collector’s Guide: The 2013 hardcover edition of Fran is usually available at MyComicShop and on Amazon for about $20, and comes in a Kindle/Comixology version, too.

indie box: Patience

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daniel clowes, Fantagraphics, indie box, Indie Comics, patience, science fiction, time travel

Patience is my favorite work by Daniel Clowes. It tells a relatively (for Clowes) straight-forward yet suspenseful science-fiction tale. Having deconstructed the superhero genre in his previous work, The Death-Ray, which was a pastiche of multiple comic-strip conventions, Clowes gave us Patience in a more traditional narrative style. Despite that, this book subverted my expectations many times, and I love that about it.

The story begins with the quiet slice-of-life drama you might expect if you’ve read Clowes’ Ghost World or Adrian Tomine’s Optic Nerve. Humdrum everyman characters encounter mostly typical problems while filled with a persistent existential malaise. I usually find stories about average people to be quite tedious. Real life is average enough for me, thanks. So, I began to wonder what all the hype was with Patience, because there are about twenty pages of this stuff before the story really kicks off.

But after an unexpected tragedy, the story shifts tone and becomes a mystery, and I began to wonder just what kind of book I was reading. Then the story jumps into the year 2029, which has been one of my favorite years for science-fiction tales since the first Terminator movie came out, and the tone radically shifts again. About forty pages in, our humdrum everyman has undergone a dramatic emotional change as he sets eyes on the catalyst for the rest of the tale.

Okay, now we’re into exciting territory! A force of nature! But the problem for the protagonist is that despite his delusions of grandeur, he is still a bumbling, incompetent lunkhead. Full of raging desire to set the world straight by exacting his revenge, he only makes more of a mess of everything. His bungling ineptitude reminds me of the 2007 film Timecrimes which, if you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend watching without reading about it or seeing the trailer first.

The visual style of this book feels like an homage to the brightly colored pulp comic books of a bygone age, the kind of books Clowes also paid tribute to in David Boring, which included excerpts from an imaginary superhero comic about The Yellow Streak. But there’s one convention he repeatedly messes with: He places all or most of many speech balloons outside the panel borders, cutting off their edges so the dialogue is incomplete. The result is a sense that the dialogue is less important than the protagonist’s relentless interior monologue as he narrates the story in captions which are never cut off.

Throughout the adventure, the hero becomes increasingly deranged, experiencing wild moods swings and psychedelic visions. These are shown in a style that feels more like the trippy underground comix of the 1970s than their pulp predecessors.

While Patience employed some common science-fiction tropes, it excelled at keeping me guessing about what would come next and how it would all play out. Several times I thought I might have it all figured out, only to be proven wrong. And that’s the fun. With all the plot twists and turns, gradual character reveals, and the tonal and stylistic shifts, Patience kept me riveted to the page.

Collector’s Guide: Patience is usually out of stock at MyComicShop, but you can get it on Amazon for about $22.    

indie box: Alexis

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adam kelly, Alexis, black and white, Eros Comics, Fantagraphics, indie box, Indie Comics, tentacles

This week, the indie short-box holds the only issue of Alexis I’ve ever seen. This book is so small-press that it might as well be extinct — which is a shame for a book with bold and exciting black-and-white artwork, boobs, and tentacles.

Individual issues appear sometimes on eBay and Amazon, but with little agreement on the market value. I’ve never seen a listing for a full set of either Volume 1 or Volume 2, and certainly not both together. [This is no longer true! See my update in the Collector’s Guide below.] Each volume was five issues long. Below are my scans of issue #5 of the second volume. It seems like a grand climax to a fun story with awesome art that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I’d love to see the other nine issues.

Art & Story by Adam Kelly. Published March, 1996 by Kim Thompson and Gary Groth of Eros Comix, a defunct imprint of Fantagraphics. The inside cover contains this text: “RETAILERS ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO SELL THIS PUBLICATION TO MINORS.” Compared to some of the publisher’s outright porn comics advertised in the back of this issue, Alexis #5 seems pretty mild.

Collector’s Guide: I have no idea where to find this series. Do you? Leave a comment and enlighten me. UPDATE: I found a store that currently has all issues of Volume 2, and a package deal containing all ten issues of Volumes 1 and 2. Prices are about $10 per issue. See the listings at AbeBooks.com.

amazing heroes 58: alan moore interview

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Alan Moore, Amazing Heroes, Fantagraphics, kim thompson, Steve Bissette

This 1984 interview with Alan Moore comes from Amazing Heroes #58. It features an introduction by Kim Thompson and a portrait of Moore by Steve Bissette.

love and rockets tpb set

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black and white, collection, Fantagraphics, Gilbert Hernandez, Hernandez Brothers, Indie Comics, Jaime Hernandez, Love and Rockets

Before packing up our modest collection of Love & Rockets paperbacks, we snapped a few examples of the dramatic and personal artwork inside. Let’s just admit the photos aren’t the greatest, and offer this as merely a peek — a glimpse — of greatness. The Hernandez Brothers treat their cartoons with love. Though many of these stories resonate with us more than others, you won’t find any poorly done stories.

Highlights include the book Love & Rockets X, a riotous melting pot of ethnic, generational, and gender identity conflicts rendered with humor – but not so much sensitivity it doesn’t sting. The stories of female wrestlers remain our favorites, with loveable and pleasingly plump heroines rendered in black-and-white perfection. Our collection held a large chunk of the critically-acclaimed Palomar stories and the earliest Mechanics stories. If you haven’t read any of this historic series before, see if these pages catch your eyes.

Fantagraphics continues to publish new printings every few years. You can browse the Fantagraphics Love & Rockets selection to see what they currently have in print and in stock. Happy Reading!

Out of the Ruins of Fascist Amerika, Trashman Fights for Freedom!

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Agent of the Sixth International, Fantagraphics, first issue, Indie Comics, origin, Rip Off Press, Spain, Spain Rodriguez, Subvert, Trashman, Trashman Lives, underground comix

It’s our birthday today, so we offer you an origin story. But not just any origin story: Trashman! Bearded hero of the people’s revolution: Trashman! Sometimes called “the Superman of the New left”: Trashman!

Subvert #1 by Spain Rodriguez contains the origin of his guerilla resistance character, Trashman. This off-beat 1970 story published by underground comix legends Rip Off Press describes the transformation of average guy Harry Barnes into an Agent of the Sixth International. He even masters molecular disintegration — whoa!

Murder, nuclear apocalypse, covert agencies, class struggle, satire — and that’s just the origin! The longer story which completes Subvert #1 involves some sexually hungry female revolutionaries. It’s a hoot, but forgive us for not sharing a few pages of THAT with you here.

Collector’s Guide: You can still find well-read copies of Subvert #1 for a few dollars if you are willing to dig. We found a VG- copy at the local comic store for 3 or 4 bucks, or you can go right to Subvert #1 on Amazon. Fantagraphics published a wonderful collection of all the Trashman stories from 1968 to 1985: Trashman Lives! It fetches a hefty price on Amazon these days, but we found a copy at a used bookstore for less than $20.

Sam Kieth: I Before E

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alien, Fantagraphics, I Before E, Indie Comics, Max the Hare, Sam Kieth, Tiger

A year or so before Image began publishing Sam Kieth’s most famous work, Maxx, Fantagraphics produced two volumes of Kieth’s drawings and short stories as I Before E. With creepy aliens, prowling tigers, and visual treats like the short story “Max the Hare,” these two comic-sized volumes make a fine companion to any Sam Kieth collection.

Collector’s Guide: from I before E #2; Fantagraphics, 1992

Remembering Kim Thompson of Fantagraphics

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ellen forney, eric reynolds, eroth franklin, Fantagraphics, gary groth, Indie Comics, jim blanchard, kim thompson, pat moriarty, robert boyd, the stranger

 

This season’s Fantagraphics catalog arrived in the mail with the portrait of Kim Thompson, above. Kim passed away this summer, but not before he left a rich publishing legacy for us to enjoy.

Below you can see a comic about Kim’s history in the world of comic books, another portrait, and a couple of cartoons produced in his honor. They come from a Seattle publication sent to us by a friend just weeks before the Fantagraphics catalog arrived. If you want to go more in-depth, read the entire article online courtesy of The Stranger. Author Robert Boyd and several more comics artists give Kim a truly touching memorial. If you would like to sample some of our favorites from this publisher, just click Fantagraphics to roam through our online archive.

 

 

 

 

Alien Legion in Amazing Heroes

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Alan Zelenetz, Alien Legion, Amazing Heroes, Carl Potts, Fantagraphics, Frank Cirocco, Terry Austin

Issue #44 of Fantagraphics’ fanzine Amazing Heroes showcases one of our all-time favorite series: Alien Legion. We scored it at our top-secret 50-cent rack, but you can easily find a copy for a couple bucks. Its highlights of the creative team, along with some tasty pencils by Frank Cirocco, earn it a place in your Alien Legion collection.

The creative backgrounds of Carl Potts (creator, plotter) and Alan Zelenetz (writer) make interesting reading. And, you get a good look into how the main characters of the series started out. Alien Legion deals with the evolution of the main characters: how they change in response to their missions and war. In retrospect, this article underscores just how much the characters develop throughout the series.

Collector’s Guide: from Amazing Heroes #44; Fantagraphics, 1984.

A Short History of America by Johnny Ryan

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Angry Youth Comix, Fantagraphics, Indie Comics, Johnny Ryan, Short History of America

The back cover of this issue of Angry Youth Comix is one of the few pages we’d feel comfortable sharing with you here. Having never read this title before, we picked this up off a 50-cent rack just because Fantagraphics published it. It turned out to be the most offensive, disgusting piece of cartoon nightmare nonsense we’d ever read. So of course, we read it two or three times.

Collector’s Guide:
– From Angry Youth Comix Vol. 2, #13; Fantagraphics.

Paranoid Postcards 2

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EC Comics, Fantagraphics, Jack Davis, postcards, Wally Wood

Jim Woodring’s Frank 1: Gentleman Hog!

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Fantagraphics, Frank, Gentleman Hog, Indie Comics, Jim Woodring, Portable Frank

Frank and his friend the chicken pull a cruel prank on Hog. As Hog flees, he finds solace and comfort with a strange, sensitive, and regal man who treats him kindly. But all good things must come to an end, and all terrible things must come full circle. Let’s take a look at a small excerpt from this tale. For the horrifying conclusion, pick up Portable Frank.

Wordless, funny, poignant, terrifying, and trippy: Jim Woodring‘s “Frank” takes ‘funny animal’ cartoons to a place they’ve never been before!

Collector’s Guide:
– From Frank #1 “Gentleman Hog,” Fantagraphics Press.
By Jim Woodring.
– Reprinted in the Frank Hardcover, 354 pages collecting all the color and b&w stories.
– The easiest Frank collection to find is Portable Frank. 200 pages collect a great deal of the black and white stories.

Recuerden El Alamo!

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Alamo, black and white, Fantagraphics, indie box, Indie Comics, Jaxon, Juan N. Seguin, Juan Seguin, Mexico, Native Americans, Recuerden el Alamo, Texas

Recuerden el Alamo! presents the true story of Juan N. Sequin and his fight for Texas Independence. This intensively-researched historical comic book by artist Jaxon provides the reader with new insights into the history of Texas and Mexico. Maps and supplemental text, all hand-drawn and written, help bring the story to life. Here are a few samples. Published by Fantagraphics.

Steve Ditko’s Strange Avenging Tales!

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Fantagraphics, Indie Comics, Steve Ditko, Strange Avenging Tales, The Baffler

In Strange Avenging Tales, you’ll find a re-working of Ditko’s Charlton character The Question, reconfigured as The Baffler – for copyright reasons, we speculate. Also some short crime stories, a little bit of surrealism, and some satirical social commentary. Personal opinion: Some of the best Steve Ditko artwork we’ve ever seen, and the black and white format really showcases his sense of composition and rendering.

The second issue promised in the back of the book never happened, so don’t beat yourself up hunting for it!

Collector’s Guide:
– From Steve Ditko’s Strange Avenging Tales #1.
Fantagraphics Books, 1997.
Stories & Art by Steve Ditko

Preeeeeeeesenting… The Women’s Texas Championship!

Tags

Fantagraphics, female wrestling, Hernandez Brothers, Indie Comics, Jaime Hernandez, Whoa Nellie, Womens Texas Championship

Big women, big action! Jaime Hernandez of Love and Rockets fame produced this little-known series, Whoa Nellie. Fantagraphics Books published it. Feast your eyes on a delectable sample of its voluptuous and bodacious majesty!

Collector’s Guide: From Whoa Nellie. Reprinted in the Penny Century TPB and also the Whoa Nellie TPB.

You might also enjoy Love and Rockets. We’ve looked at Penny Century here, too. Click Penny Century to see more!