Greetings! I’m pleased to share two new stories I’ve recently published, both centered on the world of cartoons.
One of them, an interview with pioneering graphic novelist Daniel Clowes, also led to me serving as Dan’s converation partner for his event at Green Apple Books on the Park here in San Francisco last Tuesday.
If you’re so inclined, you can watch it on demand via YouTube!
It was, suffice it to say, a supreme honor. I’m grateful to Dan, Fantagraphics, and Green Apple for inviting me to take part in such a special evening. More on the book in question (Monica) below. Thanks for reading along.
Cartoonist Lawrence Lindell’s ‘Blackward’ is a testament to publishing without permission
Long before Lawrence Lindell was publishing cartoons in the New Yorker, he was eagerly consuming any comic books a quarter would buy him.
Raised in Los Angeles’ Compton neighborhood, he recalls the trips he’d take to local comics stores, where he’d immediately paw through their bargain bins in search of reading material.
“I grew up on superhero comics, which is weird, because I mostly make indie and autobio stuff,” Lindell told the Chronicle during a recent Zoom call. “But I grew up reading old Image Comics because they were in the 25-cent box and that’s what I could afford. I would get the knockoff comics of the big guys.”
By the time he got to college at Otis College of Art and Design, Lindell had discovered underground comics. Influenced by the work of award-winning Sonoma County-based cartoonist Julia Wertz, among others, his connection to the Bay Area began when he met his spouse, fellow cartoonist Breena Nuñez, at the 2013 East Bay Alternative Book & Zine Fest in Oakland. Lindell would go on to receive his MFA in comics from San Francisco’s California College of the Arts in 2020. Today, he and Nuñez co-run a small press called Laneha House out of their San Francisco home.
This month, Lindell’s passion for speech bubbles, bleed lines and shading will enjoy its biggest audience yet with the publication of “Blackward,” his first book.
Read the full story via San Francisco Chronicle
Cartoonist Daniel Clowes proves time is a virtue with astounding new graphic novel
In the world of cartoonist Daniel Clowes, time moves at a different speed.
Long recognized as a pioneer of the graphic novel form, Clowes is now 40 years into a career that’s already seen him win a trophy case of awards, inspire a generation of new peers and cement his own place as one of the best in his field. All are worthy accolades for the mind that’s given us seminal works like the groundbreaking comic series “Eightball” and stand-alone titles like 1997’s “Ghost World,” which Clowes would later co-adapt into an Oscar-nominated screenplay with director Terry Zwigoff.
Yet, the 62-year-old Clowes has shown no desire to hang up his pen, instead choosing to hole up in his Oakland studio for years at a time to complete a new title.
“I always think of the way I work as how I imagine a painter like Willem de Kooning works,” he said. “You start with little things that feel right, you explore those, and then you realize that thing isn’t quite right, so you fix it and add to it. You’re finding out what you’re doing as you do it. That’s why it takes forever.”
In 2016, the result was — fittingly — “Patience,” a surreal, time-traveling murder mystery ripe with gorgeous colors, meticulous craftwork and Clowes’ signature themes of alienation, loneliness and paranoia.
This fall the reward is “Monica.”
Out Tuesday, Oct. 3, from Fantagraphics, the narrative consists of nine interconnected stories and centers around a daughter’s desire to find out more about the mother who abandoned her as a child. It’s a genre-bending meditation on familiar bonds, a dazzling testament to Clowes’ skills as an artist, and, quite possibly, the cartoonist’s single greatest work to date.
Full story via San Francisco Chronicle
I JUST THINK IT’S NEAT
Calling an audible here and re-naming this section in honor of my favorite Marge Simpson quote. To be fair: potatoes are neat! Anyhoo, moving forward, it’ll just be the title above and the things below.
This story from Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, detailing Chris Paul’s recent trip to San Quentin Prison for the annual prisoners versus Golden State Warriors game. He’s one of the best sports writers currently drawing breath and this piece proves why. 🥔
The insane food and drinks menus from Austin, TX bar Nickel City, which apparently turns into Moe’s Tavern from The Simpsons each October for Halloween. The attention to detail here is amazing. 🥔
This Talking Heads Universe playlist (note: link opens in Spotify) from Fluxblog founder Matthew Perpetua. Having recently seen A24’s re-release of “Stop Making Sense” in IMAX — which I’d heartily encourage all readers to catch on a big screen if you can — finding this 124 song, 10+ hour playlist was a total goldmine. Filled not only with all the Talking Heads one could ever want, it also features tracks highlighting their inspirations, peers, and side-projects. Listen to it from start to finish or set it to shuffle and see what you get: there are no wrong answers. 🥔