Comments on: Coming Up in August 2008

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:03:47 +0000

That’s a side effect of primarily publishing graphic novels, I think — less to drive activity on a more frequent basis. But yeah, Oni’s one of the better websites. Clearly organized, possible to find what you’re looking for quickly and easily. Those should be basics, but it’s surprising how many publishers just fall down completely in those areas.

By: Barry

Barry — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:18:06 +0000

After looking at some other comics publishers sites like Image, I take back what I wrote about Oni. Their site is pretty comprehensive and probably one of the best organized and designed of all of the major comics publishers. Though it seems their message board isn’t quite as busy as it used to be…

By: Barry

Barry — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:15:53 +0000

I should have mentioned that I did a google and Amazon search for both creators prior to my posting and found Scott Morse’s Magic Pickle illustrated prose books and a sketchbook. I’m not interested in illustrated prose but I did pick up the sketchbook, just to get some kind of Morse fix. But based on his blog and his not very up-to-date website, he’s focusing more on these projects and his Pixar work than any regular comics work. I also found out about Glister on Watson’s site, but he hasn’t updated his blog since December of last year. Which brings me to another rant: badly designed and not up to date websites. While I like Morse and Watson’s sites, they’re hardly up to date. And while browsing through Drawn and Quarterly and Oni Press’ sites, I found them confusing and poorly designed and also not up to date in some areas.

In general, it just seems like the excitement has gone out of comics publishing. Again, maybe it’s just me, but if someone new or returning to comics wants to find interesting stuff to read, it seems like it takes an awful lot of work to find something worth their time. This is the only site I’ve found any useful recommendations and I’m thankful for that. But in general, I’m finding that my return to comics has been less than satisfying.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:09:16 +0000

Scott Morse is doing children’s books these days (Magic Pickle, I think they’re called). Andi Watson is doing Glister, a new mini-GN series. The other two, you’re right, I haven’t seen anything in the last few years … but that may be a side effect of the graphic novel approach. They take much longer to do than periodical comics.

By: Barry

Barry — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:27:14 +0000

I’m starting to get back into the comic reading thing and I’ve just finished up Whedon’s run on Astonishing X-Men (disappointing) and read Scott Pilgrim 3 (awesome). Aside from Scott Pilgrim, Vol 4: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow and Houdini: The Handcuff King graphic novels as well as the recent issues of Berlin, I’m mostly catching up on books I purchased a few years ago.

Once I finish reading those older books, I was hoping to pick up something new. However, reading around the various comics blogs and websites, I’m finding very little of interest. Is it me, or did it seem like there was a real spurt of creative energy, especially in the world of Indie comics, around 2000-2005? Maybe it was all the media hype of “look, comics are ART!!” But I don’t think so. Favorite creators like Scott Morse, Chynna Clugston, Craig Thompson and Andi Watson seem to be MIA.

Unless, of course, I’m just so far out of the loop I have no idea what I’m talking about. :-)