AStrangeDay
Originally uploaded by davidlasky.

Seattle artist Tatiana Gill has received much acclaim for her work with writer Damon Hurd on the graphic novella “A Strange Day”, the story of a Cure fan in middle-America who runs into a kindred spirit when he shows up too early at a record store on the day the band’s new album is to be released. This book was recently released in French!

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shakiprez112104
Originally uploaded by davidlasky.

Portland cartoonist Shawn Granton often draws women with stripey socks (and possibly scarves) wearing red Chuck Taylors. Who knows why, but who can argue with the results? Many of Shawn’s mini comics can be obtained from microsm publishing.
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Alice
Originally uploaded by davidlasky.

Seattle artist Henry Chamberlain is in the middle of an autobiographical graphic novel about his arrival in New York City as a young man.

Says Henry: “I’m continuing my work on Alice in New York and having a great time as the work continues to develop. The process is organic, spirited, and exciting as I dig deeper and ultimately go back from beginning to end and back reworking and refining. The trade paperback will be something else.”

Not only is he is releasing chapters from the book in mini-comic form, he also has a store on his website which features one of the greatest comics-related t-shirts I’ve ever seen (the image is displayed here). It would make a nice stocking-stuffer for the clerk in your life…

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Dogsbody review of Alice in New York.

Email Henry for info on ordering his comics.

“Real” “Art” gallery show
Originally uploaded by davidlasky.

I almost forgot that I’m the co-curator of a small (but packed) gallery show of comics art which comments on the (capital A) Art World. It was inspired by a comic Peter Bagge drew about a show at the Henry Gallery, basically tearing apart the obscure pretentiousness of the art on display. The show he inspired features comics by Bob Rini, Greg Stump, Megan Kelso, myself, and a tour de force by Jeremy Eaton (illustrator of the image featured here, a portrait of the surrealist “Mandalet Blanchet”). The show hangs at the Sessions Gallery in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood until December 18.

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Pithed
Originally uploaded by davidlasky.

The prolific Donna Barr began self-publishing her comics and graphic novels years ago, and has always been a vocal advocate for artists keeping control of (and profits from) their own work. Donna is now one of the few cartoonists publishing extensively in the burgeoning print-on-demand arena. The new issue of her long-running “Desert Peach” series is now available exclusively from lulu.com, a print on demand site that allows customers to order a hard copy (for $18.48) of the new issue, entitled “Pithed”, or download the comic for monitor viewing ($3.75). Of the steep cost for the printed version, Barr says: “YES, the prices look high — but it’s print-on-demand and on acid free paper. And no higher than comparable books in the rest of the publishing market.”

Donna Barr also has prose novels available on demand from booksurge.com.
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moxie cover
Originally uploaded by davidlasky.

“Moxie, My Sweet” an anthology by Seattle’s Fine Comix collective is available in stores November 30th. It has previously only been available by mail order or at conventions. It’s a sweet little book of stories written by Mark Campos which he’s given to his Seattle ‘posse’ to draw. Artists include Dalton Webb (who drew this cover), Tatiana Gill, Kaz Strzepek, & Stefan Gruber. If your store doesn’t carry it, you can find ordering details at the fine comix site.
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This is guest DJ David Lasky, coming to you live from Seattle.

Seattle, as you may know, is the home of alternative comics uber-publisher Fantagraphics.

There are various cartoonists living in Seattle, including the members of the Fine Comics collective. Another group, which draws its members from the whole Northwestern region is Cartoonists Northwest.

Some of the best known cartoonists who live in Seattle are Peter Bagge, Jim Woodring, and Roberta Gregory. Gary Larson, world famous creator of the Far Side is said to live in Seattle. In future postings, I’ll introduce some of the lesser known (but should be better known) cartoonists residing here in “the Jet City”…
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