the stuff inside my head that must get out
archives
Sat, 30 Aug 2003
inmate inventors
I just had to post a link to this great site full of
prisoner inventions.
My brother once gave me a prison style tatoo gun made out of a dc motor, paper clip,
a pen and a bunch of needles. Luckily, I was smart enough to never use it on myself.
The chess set made out of toilet paper, sugar water and cardboard is a personal favorite.
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Simpsons Comics is the funniest all-ages title around, bar none.
Like the show, the writers are able to pull off that toughest of all
writing feats, it's as funny for adults as it is for kids. Bongo
is the only comics company delivering on time, high quality comics that
kids actually want to buy! I have a hard time keeping Simpsons and
Futurama Comics in stock because of all the local fans.
Anyway, I just finished the latest issue (#85) and it was a hoot and a half. The best part was the backup story featuring the Comic Book Guy showcasing some less popular Bongo comics. Books like World's Funkiest with Disco Stu, Moe's Sad But True Romance and Smither's the Wacky Lackey. Good fun for the kids! |
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Thu, 21 Aug 2003
The Acme Novelty Datebook by Chris Ware
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I usually don't like to read artist's sketchbooks because they weren't
meant to ever be collected and read. That is, artists use sketchbooks
to work out different approaches in order to incorporate the best bits
into their published works. Maybe I just am looking for a narrative
hook to tickle the story centers of my brain, but I need more than just
some purty pictures of the artist's own thumb and such. Where others
have failed, Chris Ware delivers with The Acme Novelty Datebook,
a lushly designed and produced collection of sketchbook material
chosen by the artist from almost a decade worth of his work.
I tore through this pretty quickly, as you might expect of a sketchbook, but I kept hitting gooey hunks of brilliant little comic strips and self-deprecating tirades that gave more depth than you would expect, all in lavish full-color. This book is a thing of great beauty to behold, and is just the thing to read if you are ever feeling too happy. Like his comics, Ware's sketchbooks can be a lonely and depressing place to visit, but the rare moments of joy are highlighted and focused to great effect in contrast. |
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Mon, 18 Aug 2003
graphic novel bumper crop
That's right kids, take a look over at the selection of Graphic Novels
and trade paperbacks coming in this wednesday, I'll wait.
Done? That's quite a list. I was recently challenged by a long-time customer on my GN/TPB selection. I was taken aback by his contention that I didn't have enough, since I pride myself on stocking comics that other stores might deem too obscure to even consider, let alone prominently display and support. He told me it wasn't the independent stuff he meant, it was all the various mainstream Marvel trades that I needed to stock up on. I stepped back, looked at my stock and realized that he was right. This week changes all of that, and you can thank Tony for it!
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Mon, 11 Aug 2003
Garish Zow #4
I've always liked anthologies because they give you a nice taste of a
lot of different artists. Garish Zow #4 is sort of a comics smorgasbord
if you will.
Rarely does every person like every dish, but as long as there's
enough, and the overall quality decent, it makes for a satisfying
meal.
This issue made a real leap forward from the earlier ones, both in terms of content and production values. Just as an object, it's lovely to look at and feels good in your hands, but that's not enough to make it good reading. This issue isn't just the prettiest one, it's also the funniest yet. The folks at Hidden Agenda Press show not only production savvy, but also refined editorial taste in their selection of stories. I'll just list a couple of my favorites.
MacBoth by Leland Purvis is my favorite piece, pulling off a brilliantly paced pantomime parable that is both fun to read and has a great message it delivers with nary a word balloon or sound effect.
A two-pager called Landscape by Andy Gouveia is short, and also silent but conveys it's message through facial expressions and body language. It's quick and fleeting, but shows lots of potential.
Struck Oil by Lou is just the kind of silent scatalogical space humor that makes me laugh. Giant robots and spacemen mix it up in a wacky moon mix-up.
As for stories with words, Actual Dream caused an actual spit-take when I read it while drinking. Written by Michael Allen and lovingly rendered by Chris Kohler, the story gives us a peek into the nocturnal wanderings of the author. I sort of wish I hadn't looked as Disneyland and Count Chocula blend together into a creamy blend of the cheerful and horrific, while managing to comment on the perverse machinations of modern corporate merchandising deals. The final punchline of this strip alone is worth the price of admission by itself.
Mount Philadelphia by Samuel Kienbaum and Hijinx's own Tim Goodyear is creepy and strange, with art evocative of Steve Ditko after donating blood. I'm not sure if the characters are F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, or just two dudes in a bar, but the tension in the conversation comes through as Ernest bums money off of Scott. At first I found some of the symbolism employed early on to be impenetrable, but upon subsequent reading I found it more accessible.
Not everyone will like every story in GZ #4, but I liked it enough to offer a full money-back guarantee on this issue. If you can read it without laughing out loud, bring it back and tell me I'm a moron.
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Sat, 09 Aug 2003
UT!
I was googling around and came across a great
custom-made Flaming Carrot action figure! Pretty meticulous and
painstaking work on the part of someone with a lot of time on their
hands.
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As any old customer knows, Hijinx used to be called Mike's Coliseum.
Today the original Mike Gamble returned with his two kids in tow. The youngest
wanted to know one thing: "Why'd you take my dad's name off the store?!?"
I explained to him that there was only one true Mike, and that I just couldn't fill those shoes. Mike was a great guy, and I credit him more than anyone for inspiring my career choice. He had a vision of a place kids and adults could come and have fun with their hobbies, and Hijinx is continuing in that spirit. Click on the picture to see the full size version. |
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I'm pleased as punch to announce the latest addition to clan Shahin: my niece Joya! My brother Chris and his wife Eddy were joined by Joya Marie Shahin on July 23rd at 12:25 am. Weighing in at 7 pounds 12 oz she was born just 2 days before my 28th birthday. Now I get to either be that cool uncle with the comic shop, or at least that weird uncle with the comic shop. Click on the picture to see more. |