MFR Newsletter 6/19/20 - Another tough week in the books
What’s up comics fans, EIC Anthony here, which means we’ve made it through another week of 2020.
But what a week it was. More terrible male comics creators got called out for being terrible, and it’s just horrifying to hear that a) these events happened, and b) people know these things are going on and just carry on like it’s an open secret. There’s not much I can add to the conversation that hasn’t already been said, but please: listen to women, believe and support victims, and just plainly don’t be a d*ck. Most importantly, keep your eyes open, and if you see that things are going on that shouldn’t be, speak up.
I feel like over these last few weeks I’ve only had bad things to talk about to open these newsletters. It can be disheartening, but it’s important that we talk about these things. It’s the only way we can start building a better future. I really liked this quote from Kieron Gillen’s most recent newsletter, so I’m going to bogart it to cap off this intro before heading into our usual chatter:
“Better is a direction, and we should try to head there. This means being aware and f*cking doing something.”
5 Days Left To Back Monkeys Fighting Robots: The Magazine
There’s less than a week left in our Kickstarter campaign for MFR: The Magazine, and we can’t thank our backers enough for their support. Matt, and myself, and all the writers and artists who worked on this thing are just so excited to get it put together and out to you all. We’re officially past the $3500 stretch goal, so we’re going to have even more comics and content than originally planned, and now we can add an upgraded 14pt card stock cover.
Please continue to share the campaign with your friends and followers in the coming days so we can end strong! If we break $4500 before the campaign ends, we’ll be adding a centerfold poster, and I would really really love to see that happen.
Back the magazine here: MFR THE MAGAZINE on Kickstarter
Review: The End of An Era In QUANTUM & WOODY #4
Cat Wyatt takes a look at the final issue of Christopher Hastings and Ryan Browne’s QUANTUM & WOODY. This is the first Q&W series I’ve ever read myself, but I’ve just been enjoying the hell out of it. It’s big colorful fun, and I’m sad it’s ending so soon.
“Quantum & Woody #4 is the conclusion fans deserve, one that is full of chaos and vibrant images worth diving into.”
Eye Grabbing Panels In UNDONE BY BLOOD #3
Darryll Robson takes a deep dive into UNDONE BY BLOOD #3 in this editorial.
“The creative team of Undone By Blood is experimenting with the storytelling possibilities of the comic book medium. Each member of the team is pushing the boundaries of what they can do for the greater good of the comic and the story.”
Review: A Fiery Noir Tale in BLACKING OUT
Justin Monday reviews BLACKING OUT, a noir graphic novel currently raising funds on Kickstarter. There are still a few days left in the campaign if you want to back it.
“A sharply-executed noir comic with what may be one of the best twists in the genre.”
Review: STRANGE ADVENTURES #2 - A Little Less Strange, A Lot More Terrific
The latest Tom King/Mitch Gerads/Doc Shaner joint is finally out, and it’s a 5-star comic according to Zac Owens. I’m a massive fan of this creative team, and of Zac’s reviews, so I’ll give them a shout-out whenever I get the chance.
“This is a story with philosophical complexity, and the same moral anguish of one of its lead characters, Mr. Terrific. It's a story that's deeply concerned with a story's place in the world.”
What I’m Currently Reading
If you love comics as a medium, you need to be reading ICE CREAM MAN by W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo, and Chris O’Halloran. This series is constantly experimenting and expanding the concept of what a comic can be. Issue #19 came out last week, and it’s told in the format of a “How To” guide. Other issues have been told as a palindrome, so you could read the story front-to-back or back-to-front. Everything these guys do challenges you as a reader and pushes you to open your mind to new and different ways of storytelling.
I guess technically it’s a horror series, but honestly every issue scratches a different itch. It’s an anthology series, so one issue you might get a suburban horror, and then you’ll get a high-concept fantasy in the next issue, and then science fiction in the next. It’s a beautiful, poignant, haunting series about humanity and suffering, and anyone who dares call themselves a comic book reader needs to check it out.
The team also put out a series of short comics in recent months under the banner QUARANTINE COMIX with 50% of the proceeds going to support struggling comic shops in these tough times.
I’ve also spent the last week catching up on a few different series that I fell behind on, most notably GIDEON FALLS and DEATH OR GLORY. I won’t waste too much time talking about GIDEON FALLS, but it’s more essential reading for horror fans (it’s Lemire, it’s Sorrentino, it won the Eisner last year, you’ve probably already heard of it and/or read it).
DEATH OR GLORY, however, I feel like people have been sleeping on. Maybe that’s because there was a long break between arcs, but more people should be talking about this book. It’s Rick Remender and Bengal, and it’s a powerhouse action comic. It’s about the flaws in our health care system, as well as the flaws in our society as a whole. It’s about our relationships with our parents and friends, our neighbors and exes. And it’s all wrapped up in this high-octane grindhouse thrill ride that puts the Fast and Furious movies to shame.
TALES OF MFR • COMIC STRIP
Chapter 60 of TALES OF MFR is on its way. In the meantime, catch up from the beginning here: TALES OF MFR
The war between monkeys and robots has raged on for eons; these are the stories that have survived. With art by Jamie Jones and the occasional words by Matt Sardo, Tales of MFR hits the web every Sunday.
For more reviews, interviews, and “Legends of the Longbox”, head over to the website to see what the team’s been working on this week:
That’s all for now, but remember: Darkseid is… but so are we.
Until next week,
Anthony Composto
@The_Great_Ace
@monkeys_robots
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