Interesting works by sia Joo hiang. reminds me of seth.
http://www.siajoohiang.com/
http://www.auntiejoo.com/
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Minis, Zines and other Assortments
I used to do zines in the days of Factsheet Five.
http://www.factsheet5.org/
Sold cheaply, given out freely or as trades.
Lately, there is a trend of repackaging zines as Art. Limited edition print run, some colours but essentially, still the same. Cost the same too but you put a higher price tag to it, people will see it differently.
Some examples can be found at the little drom store and books actually.
The mini comics by xin cost between $12.50 (please to meet you) to $22.50 (someone's not talking)
xin is http://www.doinkydoodles.com, shop at Bali Lane.
But some zines are still zines. One of my favourites in recent months is strange as i have ever seen by drewscape. Sold at $5 at OIC events.
There are others you might want to check out like 20 Cornflakes presents Fanclub (by Nicholas Chim, www.29cornflakes.com ), also about $5 at books actually and from KL, munkao's hilarious zines, www. munkao.com (i picked them up at last year's STGCC).
http://www.factsheet5.org/
Sold cheaply, given out freely or as trades.
Lately, there is a trend of repackaging zines as Art. Limited edition print run, some colours but essentially, still the same. Cost the same too but you put a higher price tag to it, people will see it differently.
Some examples can be found at the little drom store and books actually.
The mini comics by xin cost between $12.50 (please to meet you) to $22.50 (someone's not talking)
xin is http://www.doinkydoodles.com, shop at Bali Lane.
But some zines are still zines. One of my favourites in recent months is strange as i have ever seen by drewscape. Sold at $5 at OIC events.
There are others you might want to check out like 20 Cornflakes presents Fanclub (by Nicholas Chim, www.29cornflakes.com ), also about $5 at books actually and from KL, munkao's hilarious zines, www. munkao.com (i picked them up at last year's STGCC).
Comics Event at Books Actually
Meet the Artists session at Books Actually (Club Street) on 9 April, 7.30 - 9.30 pm.
Troy Chin - Resident Tourist and Loti www.drearyweay.com
Adrian Teo and Ken Foo - Date King http://kenfoo.wordpress.com/
Ken Foo - FREEDOM LOVE FOREVER www.kenfoo.com
Zhen Ye - Singapore Hip Hip Horror Comics
Book 1 Singapore Drifter Tong
Book 2 Singapore Sling
Book 3 Singapore Warbaby
Book 4 Singapore Strawberry Shortcake - www.comicspace.com/yezhen http://bractulunatis.deviantart.com
Cheah Sin Ann - Billy & Saltie: Cool Croc - www.houseofcheah.com
Troy Chin - Resident Tourist and Loti www.drearyweay.com
Adrian Teo and Ken Foo - Date King http://kenfoo.wordpress.com/
Ken Foo - FREEDOM LOVE FOREVER www.kenfoo.com
Zhen Ye - Singapore Hip Hip Horror Comics
Book 1 Singapore Drifter Tong
Book 2 Singapore Sling
Book 3 Singapore Warbaby
Book 4 Singapore Strawberry Shortcake - www.comicspace.com/yezhen http://bractulunatis.deviantart.com
Cheah Sin Ann - Billy & Saltie: Cool Croc - www.houseofcheah.com
Friday, March 26, 2010
Let's cook! Oh yeah!
Flight (Image) has reached volume six. For me, the best comics in this volume were Dead Bunny and Cooking Duel. The latter makes for a very interesting case study.
Cooking Duel has a manga-influenced art style. What makes it so good is that it has excitement and humour packed into it even though the story is so simple. Not really simple, but the idea of it, a couple challenging each other in cooking, is rather simple. The execution itself and the plots are very well done. There is no kung fu fighting or espionage, but there is so much action and humour. Of course, if you are not aware, I am indirectly criticizing Marvel and DC comics.
Just look at Thunderbolts during Dark Reign. So there are all these things going on, people getting serious and such. Pull yourself away from all that is going on, and ask yourself what is it all about. Nothing? Perhaps it reflects on American politics, where politicians are acting on self-interest. I don’t know. Entertainment? Probably the mindless sort. I don't know. Really I don't.
Cooking Duel has a manga-influenced art style. What makes it so good is that it has excitement and humour packed into it even though the story is so simple. Not really simple, but the idea of it, a couple challenging each other in cooking, is rather simple. The execution itself and the plots are very well done. There is no kung fu fighting or espionage, but there is so much action and humour. Of course, if you are not aware, I am indirectly criticizing Marvel and DC comics.
Just look at Thunderbolts during Dark Reign. So there are all these things going on, people getting serious and such. Pull yourself away from all that is going on, and ask yourself what is it all about. Nothing? Perhaps it reflects on American politics, where politicians are acting on self-interest. I don’t know. Entertainment? Probably the mindless sort. I don't know. Really I don't.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Comics vs Film: Abe Sapien
Abe Sapien’s (Hellboy) film design departures a lot from the one Mignola gave him in comics. Both versions are blue-green amphibious humanoids. But the film version is more amphibious in look. This film version gives Abe a more alien look, making Mignola’s design a very human sight. So which one is the better one?
The film version, being more alien to sight, contributes a lot to the film’s atmosphere and themes of the weird and occult. In this sense, the highly amphibious design adds to the film’s visual spectacle. The choice to make such a huge change was beneficial to the film from this point of view. What about the comics’ version?
Looking at the B.R.P.D. arc, Plague of Frogs, we see Abe drawn with human facial expressions for a number of panels. When he is pierced with a spear, we see him grimace. It is easy for Mignola and artists to let readers know what Abe is feeling or thinking through familiar visuals of facial expressions. Abe’s feelings for Princess Nuala in the film, Hellboy 2, are explicitly told to the audience. It has to be explicitly talked about by the film characters, because...... Abe’s face does not allow for much to be said.
Both the film and comics designs of Abe have their own positives and drawbacks. Mignola has his own ideas, Del Toro has his own. It is just a matter of which design working better in what situation.
The film version, being more alien to sight, contributes a lot to the film’s atmosphere and themes of the weird and occult. In this sense, the highly amphibious design adds to the film’s visual spectacle. The choice to make such a huge change was beneficial to the film from this point of view. What about the comics’ version?
Looking at the B.R.P.D. arc, Plague of Frogs, we see Abe drawn with human facial expressions for a number of panels. When he is pierced with a spear, we see him grimace. It is easy for Mignola and artists to let readers know what Abe is feeling or thinking through familiar visuals of facial expressions. Abe’s feelings for Princess Nuala in the film, Hellboy 2, are explicitly told to the audience. It has to be explicitly talked about by the film characters, because...... Abe’s face does not allow for much to be said.
Both the film and comics designs of Abe have their own positives and drawbacks. Mignola has his own ideas, Del Toro has his own. It is just a matter of which design working better in what situation.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
New Book By Cheah
Longtime fans of House of Lim would want to get this new book by Cheah Sin Ann.
Billy & Saltie: Cool Croc. This has been syndicated in Brunei and Malaysia (NST).
Details here:
http://www.houseofcheah.com/
I also like his Event Horizon science strips.
http://www.houseofcheah.com/eventhorizon.html
Billy & Saltie: Cool Croc. This has been syndicated in Brunei and Malaysia (NST).
Details here:
http://www.houseofcheah.com/
I also like his Event Horizon science strips.
http://www.houseofcheah.com/eventhorizon.html
Animation Asia Conference 2009
While we are wondering about the plans for STGCC 2010, some of us are looking forward to the 3rd edition of AFA. Here's a report on last year's AAC, which was part of AFA 09.
http://www.onscreenasia.com/article-6526-animationasiaconference2009-onscreenasia.html
http://www.onscreenasia.com/article-6526-animationasiaconference2009-onscreenasia.html
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
First time with Jason
I finally got a chance to read comics by Norwegian cartoonist Jason. Low Moon (Fantagraphics) is collection of short comics. Most of them utilize classic American genres, such as noir and western. Using genre conventions to tell his stories, he plays them straight sometimes, crooked at others, but always with his quirky and humorous touch.
Though the stories are rather simple, being based on genres, it is quite a page turner. There is usually a hook to each of them, say a mystery or some goal the protagonists are trying to reach. All this, with Jason's sense of comedy and depth, is worth exploring.
Though the stories are rather simple, being based on genres, it is quite a page turner. There is usually a hook to each of them, say a mystery or some goal the protagonists are trying to reach. All this, with Jason's sense of comedy and depth, is worth exploring.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
More and Moore
Forgot I put this old ST review (2002) up here.
http://www.wittyworld.com/reviews/reviewcomicbooks.html
Views changed over time as one read and learn more. Back then, I focused on the similarities between Capt Britain and Marvelman and how the former foreshadowed the superhero revisionism that Moore would expand in Marvelman and Watchmen. Also, one can't help but to notice all the references to X-Men circa Claremont/Byrne. (Claremont was the co-creator of Capt Britain with Herb Trimpe in 1976)
But thinking about Moore's Capt Britain now, it's actually more aligned to his other series in Warrior, V For Vendetta. When he started V in 1982, it was the height of Thatcherism. V wasn't just about a dystopian future ala 1984, but it reflected Moore's very real fears as a father back then. He was afraid of the apocalyptic future his daughter would grow up to, especially the Cold War rhetoric of Iron Lady Thatcher and Ronnie Raygun which threatened to plunge us into a nuclear war when they went head on with Brezhnev and Andropov - remember Star Wars (Strategic Defense Initiative) and Ronnie's evil empire speech?
That's the context. Moore's view of early 80s England was one that would only become increasing fascist. At that point, Moore was writing V and Capt Britain at the same time. While V was completed as a Vertigo series after Warrior folded in 1985, his Capt Britain stories would not see print again until after 2000AD. While V is still the better written series, it is unfortunate that Capt Britain is lowly regarded in Moore's oeuvre given it's similarities in themes and concerns to V.
V dealt with the fear of a fascist England by having a Guy Fawkes character making things right. Capt Britain made things right by destroying the lead character. Under Moore's charge, Capt Britain gets murdered when he entered the world of an alternative Earth run by dictators, the British National Party.
http://thatchadblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/captan20britain207.jpg
Mind you, that was a real British far-right political party that was formed in 1982 (a splinter group from the National Front), around the time Moore started on Capt Britain.
So if Capt Britain is the spirit of England, then he gets bloody murdered by the fascist forces overtaking the country/world. It doesn't get as literal as that. Moore was saying that if the British allowed their freedom to be trampled upon by right wing parties, then they only had themselves to blame. If you can't save the world, you may as well destroy it. The Nation and its racist tenets were to be feared and rejected. The idea of nationalism then was not a multi-racial one. It was white nationalism.
Moore was not the first to deal with the problem of rising fascism in early 80s England. Most people have forgotten this, but Judge Dredd was created to make fun of the fascists. If you think about it, Dredd is still a fascist today. But Moore took it the extreme to reject the whole notion of the nation itself. The idea of the nation is the basis for fascism.
http://www.wittyworld.com/reviews/reviewcomicbooks.html
Views changed over time as one read and learn more. Back then, I focused on the similarities between Capt Britain and Marvelman and how the former foreshadowed the superhero revisionism that Moore would expand in Marvelman and Watchmen. Also, one can't help but to notice all the references to X-Men circa Claremont/Byrne. (Claremont was the co-creator of Capt Britain with Herb Trimpe in 1976)
But thinking about Moore's Capt Britain now, it's actually more aligned to his other series in Warrior, V For Vendetta. When he started V in 1982, it was the height of Thatcherism. V wasn't just about a dystopian future ala 1984, but it reflected Moore's very real fears as a father back then. He was afraid of the apocalyptic future his daughter would grow up to, especially the Cold War rhetoric of Iron Lady Thatcher and Ronnie Raygun which threatened to plunge us into a nuclear war when they went head on with Brezhnev and Andropov - remember Star Wars (Strategic Defense Initiative) and Ronnie's evil empire speech?
That's the context. Moore's view of early 80s England was one that would only become increasing fascist. At that point, Moore was writing V and Capt Britain at the same time. While V was completed as a Vertigo series after Warrior folded in 1985, his Capt Britain stories would not see print again until after 2000AD. While V is still the better written series, it is unfortunate that Capt Britain is lowly regarded in Moore's oeuvre given it's similarities in themes and concerns to V.
V dealt with the fear of a fascist England by having a Guy Fawkes character making things right. Capt Britain made things right by destroying the lead character. Under Moore's charge, Capt Britain gets murdered when he entered the world of an alternative Earth run by dictators, the British National Party.
http://thatchadblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/captan20britain207.jpg
Mind you, that was a real British far-right political party that was formed in 1982 (a splinter group from the National Front), around the time Moore started on Capt Britain.
So if Capt Britain is the spirit of England, then he gets bloody murdered by the fascist forces overtaking the country/world. It doesn't get as literal as that. Moore was saying that if the British allowed their freedom to be trampled upon by right wing parties, then they only had themselves to blame. If you can't save the world, you may as well destroy it. The Nation and its racist tenets were to be feared and rejected. The idea of nationalism then was not a multi-racial one. It was white nationalism.
Moore was not the first to deal with the problem of rising fascism in early 80s England. Most people have forgotten this, but Judge Dredd was created to make fun of the fascists. If you think about it, Dredd is still a fascist today. But Moore took it the extreme to reject the whole notion of the nation itself. The idea of the nation is the basis for fascism.
Getting the Big Picture
Just read Absolute Promethea Vol 1 and enjoyed it. Never got much into America's Best Comics, so reading Promethea's millennium overtones now only testified to it having stood the test of time. Having JH Williams III's art big really makes sense, so this makes this Absolute edition one of the better ones to get. Some of you would know that I only got into JH Williams III recently via Batwoman and was totally blown away by it.
(excellent analysis of Williams' art in Batwoman:
http://joglikescomics.blogspot.com/2009/06/silent-detective.html
http://savagecritic.com/2009/10/review-of-batwoman-in-detective-comics_30.html)
Only thing missing are the Moore scripts (other Absolutes had them) , but maybe that would appear in Vol 2.
In the meantime, try to find a copy of the Promethea Covers Special (2005). All the covers with notes by Williams. Now that should be reprinted in the Absolute format.
(excellent analysis of Williams' art in Batwoman:
http://joglikescomics.blogspot.com/2009/06/silent-detective.html
http://savagecritic.com/2009/10/review-of-batwoman-in-detective-comics_30.html)
Only thing missing are the Moore scripts (other Absolutes had them) , but maybe that would appear in Vol 2.
In the meantime, try to find a copy of the Promethea Covers Special (2005). All the covers with notes by Williams. Now that should be reprinted in the Absolute format.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Kino Bestsellers for Feb 2010
1. FABLES VOLUME 13: THE GREAT FABLES CROSSOVER
by BILL WILLINGHAM
2. NARUTO VOLUME 47
by MASASHI KISHIMOTO
3. HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOLUME 3: THE SPACE BETWEEN
by MATTHEW STURGES
4. OISHINBO: IZAKAYA
by TETSU KARIYA, AKIRA HANASAKI
5. MY FAIR LADY VOLUME 24
by TOMOKO HAYAKAWA
6. DARK AVENGERS VOLUME 2: MOLECULE MAN
by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, MIKE DEODATO
7. THOR VOLUME 3
by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, MARKO DJUROJEVIC
8. UNWRITTEN VOLUME 1
by MIKE CAREY, PETER GROSS
9. VAMPIRE KNIGHT VOLUME 11
by MATSURI HINO
10. SHUGO CHARA VOLUME 8
by PEACH-PIT
by BILL WILLINGHAM
2. NARUTO VOLUME 47
by MASASHI KISHIMOTO
3. HOUSE OF MYSTERY VOLUME 3: THE SPACE BETWEEN
by MATTHEW STURGES
4. OISHINBO: IZAKAYA
by TETSU KARIYA, AKIRA HANASAKI
5. MY FAIR LADY VOLUME 24
by TOMOKO HAYAKAWA
6. DARK AVENGERS VOLUME 2: MOLECULE MAN
by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, MIKE DEODATO
7. THOR VOLUME 3
by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, MARKO DJUROJEVIC
8. UNWRITTEN VOLUME 1
by MIKE CAREY, PETER GROSS
9. VAMPIRE KNIGHT VOLUME 11
by MATSURI HINO
10. SHUGO CHARA VOLUME 8
by PEACH-PIT
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