David Lasky has punched his timecard. Don’t be surprised if he pokes his head in from time to time though.

More news, gossip and dazzling international guest stars to come, never a dull moment at ComicsLifestyle.com!

True-Porn,
originally uploaded by davidlasky.

Looking for a unique gift for your oh-so-alternative friend who has all the cool albums, books, DVDs, toys, etc? Might I recommend the “True Porn” anthology, a collection of slice-of-life erotic comics? It features all new work by artists like Ellen Lindner, Robyn Chapman, Rich Tommaso, Kazimir Strzepek, the phenomenal Hope Larson, and many more. Cover art is by the legendary Chester Brown.

I myslef wasn’t able to complete a story in time for the book, but editors Robyn Chapman and Kelli Nelson let me draw the back cover image (pictured here).

Amazon sells it with a nice discount…

CAUTION: Don’t get this for anyone under 18 or who is, you know, sensitive; it has lots and lots of nudity (if that’s even the word for it).

-DL

Romy Ilano has some free comics online:

short wordless vignettes,at http://www.miromi.org/comics.html

I just got Mandy Ord’s new comic in the mail which is excellent. I recommend you get your hands on one anyway possible!!

Cheers Anthony

Jim Woodring, one of the great comics artists of our time, has just released an all new comic book, “The Lute String,” as well as “Visions of Frank”, a DVD of 8 animated shorts (featuring, as one might imagine, the character Frank) made by “some of Japan’s most innovative and idiosyncratic filmmakers.” Woodring’s site features lots more news and products, including some lovingly crafted toys.
-DL

This is happening right now in Berkeley…

I meant to mention it sooner…

Independent Publishing Open Studios
Sunday, Dec. 11 2005, 11am-5pm
2480 Fifth St., Berkeley, CA 94710
Hand-made cards, cookbooks, zines, paintings, wallets, jewelry, and comic books by over twenty local artists. Many books at holiday discount prices. Tour the letterpress and silkscreening studios, then enjoy an amazing cookie (or two).

Global Hobo also has a website with lots of fun mini comics one can obtain via paypal or by mailing a check…

Crafty Cards (Ker-Bloom) sells a snazzy, and somewhat pricey, letterpress printed comic book.
-DL

sliderulelogo,
originally uploaded by davidlasky.

Seattle’s Davey Oil created “Slide Rule” so that comics artists could be given the same or similar adulation as rockstars. Artists read their comics live on stage while Davey projects digital slides of their comics panels. Davey (whose real name is David) also co-directs the Zine Archive and Publishing Project (aka ZAPP) in the basement of the Richard Hugo House.

Slide Rule performs regularly, including a december 17th show at Confounded Books of Seattle, opening for the perpetual motion roadshow tour.

-DL

The phenomenal Lark Pien recently left her Bay Area stomping grounds to check out Tokyo, and was kind enough to send us the following report…

Design Festa – welp! this was a big reason for coming to japan when i have. it was on the 26th and 27th of November. i caught the giant DIY show on Sunday. it was FABuLOUS. there’s something like 2,000 odd vendors at this thing. Chiku, nikawabin, kimono girls, and semani are all people who “tabled” (they just get a spot on the floor). i didn’t know any of these people, i just bought stuff from them, but they were pretty accepting of my very very bad japanese (hey! i had to teach myself!)

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chiku does beautiful paper cut outs. immaculate stuff. i’ll try to find the websites, i’ve packed them away for now.

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nikawabin and another girl are artists/illustrators and they were selling bookcovers (the paper she’s holding up).

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kimono girls – i think they were selling handmade pouches? i didn’t get a good look, it was crowded.

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semani does silkscreen t-shirts. i bought one of his cool deconstructivist punk architectural themed ones for about 35.00. that is a cheap price for t-shirts here – the average seems to be 50.00.

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Nakano Broadway

– in Tokyo area, get off at this station, walk through the sun mall (see photo) and round the bend to get to the NakanoBroadway mall for 4 floors jam packed with toys, comics, costumes (cosplay – is that what they call it? all new to me…!), original art, cells, vending machines with those little toys that come in plastic ball cases, video games, antique toys. I saw a battlescarred Optimus Prime in one of the cases – BAD ASS! i got a huge slew of comics, including everything i ever wanted by taiyo matsumoto. google Mandarake stores for more info.

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gocco demo – the coolest “you can find everything in this store” Tokyo Hands. A giant one in Shibuya, and another, slightly less comprehensive store located in Shinjuku. The shibuya one had a whole aisle dedicated to Gocco Printing, with screens bigger than 8×11 even. there were 2 videos demonstrating how to use the gocco. go, gocco!

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XBox Cafe – this is right near where i’ve been staying. the Sony PS cafe is pretty close too. go in anytime to test drive a virtual car, beat up monsters and what not. i only know how to use a gamecube, so i didn’t try any games at these places.

props go to my brother, who housed me for the whole 3 weeks. without him, and his merchandising career, i wouldn’t be able to come to japan and have this great experience.

All Photos by Lark Pien.

Silviecomic
Originally uploaded by davidlasky.

The enigmatic Matt Silvie has his comics (or at least, the comic you see here) on display at the Hi-5 art space in Seattle’s Pioneer Square ‘hood. Hi-5 has openings every first Thursday from 6 to 10pm at 619 western (at western and yesler), on the fifth floor all the way in the back.

-DL