MFR Newsletter 8/22/2020 — Just keep swimming.
Greetings, comics people! Short and sweet newsletter this week, as my day job has me quite strapped for time.
I just want to make quick mention of some Kickstarter comics, because there’s been a surge of great ones recently and I’ve backed quite a few of them. The campaign for NOIR IS THE NEW BLACK just ended, so hopefully you got in on that, but there’s still time to back NEXT DOOR (a neo-noir comic written by fellow comics journo Zack Quaintance of Comics Bookcase), DAGGER DAGGER (a dark fantasy/sci-fi anthology), and THE O.Z. (which I will talk more about farther down). Plus the campaigns for DON’T EVER BLINK and TALES FROM THE QUARANTINE are launching soon — damn what a great time it is to be a comics fan!!
It’s interesting to see this recent surge, especially when you consider the times we’re living in. It hearkens back to what I was saying last week about how comics will never die as long as we keep making and reading them. And Kickstarter is such a great place for the medium because it’s all about the community. It’s comics creators and readers coming together for the love of the game.
What I’m trying to say is “support indie comics so we can keep having nice things.” On with the show!
Interview: David Pepose Throws The Wonderful Land Of Oz Into Civil War In THE O.Z.
I interviewed writer David Pepose about his new Kickstarter comic with artist Ruben Rojas, colorist Whitney Cogar, and letterer DC Hopkins. THE O.Z. is another one of David’s incredible twists on a classic: It’s The Wizard of Oz meets Mad Max and The Hurt Locker. After Dorothy defeated the Wicked Witch, the land of Oz spiraled into decades of civil war. Now, Dorothy’s granddaughter must try and restore peace in the “Occupied Zone.”
It’s always a blast chatting with David, and I think this is one of our best conversations to date. We talk about the series and what it’s like doing a Kickstarter campaign, and David offers some sage advice for aspiring creators.
Lightning on the Panel — Vertigo’s Legacy in Modern Comics
Justin Munday writes an awesome in-depth editorial about the success of Vertigo and the effect that the imprint had on the comics industry. I don’t even think I need to say anything else; Vertigo rules, and articles about Vertigo rule.
Advance Review: THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1 — Uncomfortably Good
MFR Publisher Matt Sardo took an early look at THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1 and had a ton of nice (spoiler-free) things to say about it. He calls Aditya Bidikar’s lettering Eisner-worthy, and predicts that this is a series we’ll be including in our Best of 2020 talks at the end of the year. If you like dark and disturbing tales that put you on edge, be sure to check this one out.
Review: OCTOBRIANA 1976 is the Neon Revolution Summer Comic We Need
Manny Gomez got his copy of OCTOBRIANA 1976 by Jim Rugg and calls it “one of the year's best comic book experiences and the sort of color and passion this revolution summer needs.” It’s a blacklight comic (the world’s first?) which made it one of the most visually striking comics Manny’s ever read (and he’s read a ton).
Manny also got to interview Rugg about the comic back in June — read it here.
What I’m Currently Reading
My buddy and partner-in-MFR Matt Sardo loaned me the first three volumes of THE STUFF OF LEGEND last week, a series that I had never even heard of prior, and I tore through them. It’s Toy Story meets The Avengers meets fantasy! A boy is abducted into his closet by the Bogeyman, and a small band of his toys (along with an adorable puppy) go to save him. They are transported to The Dark, a realm within the closet where toys become real, and embark on an adventure full of action, intrigue, betrayal, and even some swashbuckling on the high seas. It’s full of heart, the art is gorgeous, and I loved it.
I also got my copy of Stephan Franck’s PALOMINO in the mail yesterday, and I consumed the whole thing in one sitting last night. I’m so happy I backed this book. It’s excellent neo-noir: There’s sex and murder, a dark world soaked in neon lights, and a reluctant, hot-headed PI at the center of everything. Plus it’s a cool celebration of the 80’s LA music scene. If you missed it, Matt actually interviewed Franck back when the Kickstarter launched, which you can check out here. The campaign is long over, but you can get a copy through the Dark Planet Comics’ webstore.
Other than that, I’ve dug into Eastman and Laird’s original TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES comics for the first time, and I don’t know if you guys know this, but the Turtles are freaking cool as hell. I know they’re a ginormous franchise with movies, cartoons, video games, toys, and more, but if you guys haven’t checked out the original comics, definitely do so. It’s like peak underground comics. The amount of detail Eastman and Laird put into each page is insane, and their spreads are frame-worthy.
Finally, I meant to mention WAY OF THE HOUSEHUSBAND last week and totally spaced. It’s this hilarious slice-of-life comedy manga that I think everyone should be reading (even if it’s your first manga). The Immortal Dragon is an ex-yakuza boss who has retired, gotten married, and become a stay-at-home spouse. The manga follows him on his daily routine — cleaning, grocery shopping, doing yoga — but everything he does is tinged by his previous criminal life. Simple tasks are carried out with expert precision and intensity (i.e. killing a simple cockroach turns into an elaborate assassination). It’s a breeze to read too; you can knock out all three volumes in a single sitting.
Also reading: PULP, FAMILY TREE Vol. 1, I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS, UNCLE SCROOGE/DONALD DUCK: THE DON ROSA LIBRARY Vol. 3
COMIC STRIP • TALES OF MFR #67
The final panel in this week’s strip is straight fire! Jamie’s art, colors and lettering combine into something truly terrifying, and I am here for it!
Catch up on the series 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! Remember: Darkseid is… but so are we.
Until next week,
Anthony Composto
@The_Great_Ace
@monkeys_robots
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