It’s Not Fan Art, It’s Practice! Practice I Tell You!

Although I am a fan of Ted Naifeh’s and I would recommend Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things (as well as the three graphic novels that come after) to readers of any age who enjoy creepy stories about fairies. Oops! I mean faeries. And seriously, man! I need him to come out with Polly and the Pirates Vol. 2. Like now.

I got comics on the brain. Even when I don’t, I stumble upon this article. So some folks out there are really pissed off that there’s a (fictional) Muslim Batman out there in the (fictional) world and because Idris Elba plays an Asgardian in the coming Thor movie (also fictional). Like really pissed off. Like you haven’t seen a bunch of racists and white supremacists this mad since Nov. 4, 2008 (…ahem, when Obama won the presidential election). How can something be funny and scary at the same time? Read some of the remarks of outrage quoted in the article.

Sometimes I manage to forget that there are people out there like that. But at least it provides the Daily Show with material.

But in less depressing comic news, I recently learned of an awesome web comic created by Canadian cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks: The Adventures of Superhero Girl!

I’m going to the comic book store today. Her graphic novels Zombies Calling and The War at Ellsmere are so on my list. I’m also going to check out her other web comics. It may be too soon to call it, but suspect I may be a fan.

Also, I stumbled across this really cool podcast 3 Chicks Review Comics. The episodes get kinda long, but I usually do something that needs getting done while I’m listening. Yea, for multitasking!

I gots me two new books (just arrived in the mail this weekend.) Who likes reading about making comics? I likes reading about making comics.

And now I want a third.

Oh, how I covet thee.

But maybe I should finish reading that one book I was super excited to get but have yet to finish because it doesn’t matter if it’s explained using comic book format, books about drawing perspective are confusing!

I should mention South, since I'm here. Technically, this is a picture book and not a comic book or graphic novel, but it was created by cartoonist Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) and I absolutely loved it.

A month or so ago, I picked it up for $3 at my neighborhood discount store with a mind to give it to my niece and nephews. But then I read it. Now I don’t want them anywhere near it with their grubby, sticky little fingers.

And I just realized I can’t find a certain graphic novel which I know for sure I own.

Or this one.

And now that I think about it, I haven’t seen them in a while…

This is very upsetting. Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns is the graphic novel that got me all hot for comics in the first place.

Look at that foxy page. That sexy panel layout.

And Marvels is just excellent, showing writer Kurt Busiek doing what he does best and Alex Ross isn’t really my favorite comics artist (though I have great respect and reverence for what he is able to do) but he really rocks the pages in this one!

See!

Hmm…

Yes, I’m very concerned.