The Daily Cross Hatch review the reissued David Zane Mairowitz/R. Crumb collaboration, Kafka [pictured above]: “The sketches of Kafka’s stories are concise, but entertaining—sort of a Classics Illustrated for New Yorker readers, which will surely someday score a few folks some extra bonus points at a cocktail party or two. The real star here, not surprisingly, is Crumb’s ink-heavy artwork, adopting a suitably macabre style, something akin to a heavily cross hatched collection of woodcuttings. The artist obviously feels a degree of kinship with the Czech author, who, at least at face value, can be taken to be something of a walking superego to Crumb’s own seemingly perpetual id. The artist even goes so far as to place what might very easily be taken for a self-portait in the role of the protagonist for Kafka’s characteristically tragic, The Trial.” {picture from Journalista} * Expatica on the adventures of Hergé: The dream which became Tintin began when Herge, bored with school at College Saint Boniface, joined the scouts in 1921 as an extra-curricular activity. His first drawing appeared in his scout troop’s magazine “Jamais Assez” and then, in 1923, in “Le Boyscout Belge”, the Belgian Boy Scouts Association official newsletter. See 3:AM’s review of Tom McCarthy’s Tintin and the Secret of Literature. * The Forbidden Planet blog talks to Malcy Duff: “I had wanted to draw comics for a long time but was scared by stupid guitar soloing from the elite. I related better to the caveman thud which I was taught by reading Hate, Toxic. I think I got into comics by watching The Lost Boys. Corey Haim deserved a slagging for being a fashion victim and he got it offa two comic dirts.” More info on Malcy Duff on Missing Twin, his publishing arm, and I’d recommend a read of Murtha Milks hosted by Bugpowder. * Jessa Crispin on Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie’s Lost Girls: “As with many Alan Moore works, the idea is better than the execution.” Previously, Crispin on “arty porn”. * Put the Book Back on the Shelf, last year’s graphic novel based on the songs of Belle and Sebastian, received mixed reviews. Derek Webb’s The Ringing Bell, to accompany his CD of the same name, may fare better {via Drawn!} * Express profile Bryon Talbot: “I had no idea what Sunderland was like at all, apart from the English perception of it being a grimy, industrial town. I didn’t want to move here.” And via Journalista!, Steve Flanagan’s review of Alice in Sunderland done as a seven part comic. * The Comics Journal #282 hits the stands any day now and includes an interview with Golden-Age cartoonist Fred Guardineer and a look at Asian comics beyond Japan. Also in there, an interview with Fun Home’s Alison Bechdel, a taster of which is on-line: “I always felt like there was something inherently autobiographical about cartooning, and that’s why there was so much of it. I still believe that. I haven’t exactly worked out my theory of why, but it does feel like it almost demands people to write autobiographies.” * Dean Haspiel, of Billy Dogma fame, spoke to Fanboy Radio about working with Harvey Pekar [Haspiel drew The Quitter] and The Alcoholoic, his forthcoming collaboration with Jonathan Ames [which I am looking forward to..roll on 2008]. Haspiel will be the next subject in Christopher Irving’s Comics Introspective series for TwoMorrows publishing; the first, Peter Bagge.
First posted: Monday, April 16th, 2007.
