Best Comics of 2012 - Kid Mafia

It bugs me when I read about cartoonists who don't read comics. Why devote yourself to an art that you aren't immersed in/enthralled with? Honestly I think there are more good comics being produced today than ever before, so there's no excuse not to be reading somehting great, whether it's a mainstream comic, indie graphic novel, kids comic or mini-comic.

The secret has been out about Michael DeForge (multiple Doug Wright Award winner) for some time now. The guy is a comics-making machine. When he's not doing Lose for Koyama Press, his webcomic Ant Comic, or various one-shots, he's busy making mini-comics the old-fashioned way => stapling and folding a comic himself in very limited quantities. Some of these minis really represent his best work, his mini-comic "Kid Mafia" is one of my picks for Best Comics of 2012.

Kid Mafia by Michael DeForge

This past year I picked up "Kid Mafia" #1 and #2 at the Beguiling in Toronto. These are two little square-shaped minis about Franco, a high-school dropout and skater kid does all the regular teen things like hanging out by the variety store and playing video games with his friends. He also happens to be a crime boss and he's having an affair with his best friend's Mom.

This is a very fun, very well thought-out and polished book. Granted DeForge's minis are hard to find, but I think that's half the fun. With ebay and Amazon, there are very few comics that are hard to find and you need to seek out these days. It used to take me years to find certain back-issues for my collection and the hunt was half the fun. I am currently on the lookout for "Kid Mafia" #3 which recently came out. I neeeed it!

Luckily DeForge has posted the complete Kid Mafia #1 online at his website. You can read it here.

Best Comics of 2012 - Saga

Over the next week or so I'll be highlighting some of my favourite comics and graphic novels for 2012 (presented in no particular order). I've jotted down titles through the year from mainstream comics, to indie graphic novels, to mini-comics, to kids comics that I've really enjoyed. My first pick is Saga.

I can just about count on one hand the comics that I still buy monthly, and it's rare that a new comic enters the list. This past year, a new title did make it in though - Saga, by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, published by Image Comics.

It's kind of a Romeo and Juliet story that takes place in a futuristic world. Marko has ram-like horns with magical powers, Alana has wings and comes from a technologically advanced society. Both were soldiers fighting on opposing sides of a war. They are now war deserters with a small baby. They're trying to make a quiet life together while dealing with the disapproval of their parents, and being hunted down by a variety of people.

This is a science fiction story in the truest sense, in that it does what the best science fiction stories do - they show you a vision of the future that makes you think differently about the present. It's really finely crafted and lavishly illustrated. I take great joy in the fact that Fiona Staples, a Canadian, does such a wonderful job in what's typically a very male realm - a futuristic space opera-like story. She can do everything from great battle scenes, to tender family moments.

When the first issue came out it caused a big commotion because it starts with a childbirth scene and then shows Alana breastfeeding her newborn baby Hazel. Some fanboys were offended by that. So crazy huh? The scene is no gimmick though, it fits the story and the characters and I loved it. Great comic.

The first trade paperback is now available.

An Artists Affair

Coming this December 8 at the Artfusion Gallery, Citi Plaza, London Ontario is An Artists Affair is back and I am one of the exhibitors.

This is not your grandma’s craft show and will be a perfect spot to pick up unique gifts for Christmas. There will also be live music from fabulous, local musicians like Duane Lauzon and Leah Morise. This show is put on by the good folks at 379 Collective. I was at last year's event and it was really nicely done.

What I'll Have Available

Prints
I'll have my Forest City Prints. These are limited edition, hand letterpress prints on 130 lb Coronado paper, done in 4 different colours. Size is 12 x 16. Cost is $35.00 unframed, $75.00 framed.

 

 Also available is my Superman print. $20.00 in red or blue. 

T-Shirts
I'll have all 3 of my t-shirt styles available: the Kazoo shirt, my Surfer shirt and "Pursued by a Bear shirt". They are 100% cotton, pre-shrunk, AL Style tee that have been hand-silkscreened by the good folks at Fresh Ink Apparel. Cost is $20.00 each.

Right now I have a number of different colours in all different sizes for Men and Women. Come early for best selection as I'll be sure to sell out of some sizes before the end of the day.

Greeting Cards
I'll have some comic-themed greeting cards for sale. $4.00 each, or 3 for $10.00

 

Collectibles

I'll be bringing some items from my collection like this 2 LP set of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds Broadcast ($10). Not sure what all else I'll bring, some comics and graphic novels for sure - you'll have to come by to see!

Lastly, I'll probably bring a few pieces of my own original art with me and some comics too!

For More Information
Admission: a suggested donation of $2 or a canned good in support of The London Food Bank. But no one will be refused!Parking available at Citi Plaza.

For more info and a full list of vendors, see anartistsaffair.com

Justin Trudeau - Comic Geek

Tonight it is widely expected that Justin Trudeau, Member of Parliament for Papineau, Quebec and son of arguable our most famour Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau - will formally declare himself a candidate for the leader of the Federal Liberal Party of Canada.

For all intents and purposes, it looks like he has a solid shot at winning. Why should nerds care? Because apart from being a fresh face on the political scene who brings with him some much needed energy, charisma and understanding of what people under 60 care about - he is ONE OF US.

Justin Trudeau - The Nerd
A few weeks ago, the Montreal Comic-Con took place (September 14-16 to be exact). I had a few friends who were exhibiting and others who were up for a few Joe Shuster Awards, so I was following coverage of the event pretty closely. I was more than a little surprised when I saw that Justin Trudeau, MP took in the show along with his kids.

"That's so cool that he did that. He's so down to earth" - I thought. Then he posted a couple of pictures of himself at the show on his twitter stream in French (yes he's fully bilingual too)

Bien fier d’avoir pu déchaîner mon côté geek en me faisant arrêter par des stormtroopers à #comicon #montreal.

And in English:

Went to the Montreal #ComicCon (for my kids, really!) and totally groupied out on Dark Helmet! Embarrassed, yet proud.  

He likes comics, he likes Star Wars, he likes Mel Brooks! ONE OF US.

Not that I really needed to be won over, because like many in the country I've been impressed with him since his speech at his father's memorial ceremony. Add to that that he's intelligent, well-spoken, shares the same ideals as I do, well what can I say? Plus he's dreamy.

Thought I'd end this post with some faux campaign posters my buddy Chip (aka Steve Murray of the National Post) recently did up:

Postscript

I went to University at Concordia in Montreal back in the early 90s. One grey, foggy Sunday afternoon, I was walking down Sherbrooke St.,  a person in the distance was walking towards me. Their gait and figure were so familiar to me I was convinced it was a family friend who I couldn't quite place.

I walked faster towards him, thinking I would recognize him when I got closer, and I was ready to give him a big hello. When I was within a few feet of the man, I realized it was Pierre Trudeau.

I slowed right down almost to a stop, he looked up at me, gave me a warm smile and a nod, then tipped his hat. I stood there like a dummy and nodded back, with a goofy smile on my face as I watched him walk by.

This must have happened to him every day. I was honestly proud that he could walk down the street by himself, no bodyguards or entourage in sight. It was a charming Canadian moment. I wish I had shook his hand though. Fuddle duddle.

Visual Fringe - June 6 - June 17

This Thursday, June 7th is the Opening Night party for the Visual Fringe and official kick off of the London Fringe Festival.

The Fringe runs from June 6- June 17 and is 12 days, 44 theatre companies, 35 visual artists, 350 performances. This is always a really fun time of the year and I love participating.

I'll be showing and selling the following works:

• Forest City Prints ($35.00 each, $75.00 framed)
• Behold Orion! ($125.00 framed)
• Destination Moon - SOLD.
• Krypton Crawl Prints ($20.00 each, $35.00 framed)

Here's a sneak peek of what it will look like (Rosie and Dave helped me hang the show)