3-D Pete's Big Orbit Comics - #8 - Half Sized Glossy Cover
(Goofa Man) This is
great, I'm a big graphic novel fan and avid reader of Heavy Metal
magazine so when I saw this comic I was pretty excited. It's primarily a
collection of one page stories about 3-D Pete, who is an independent animator
and cartoonist. He bases his stories on real life focusing on the "fun"
of doing an indie publication and making animated films. Maybe, I enjoy
it so much because I can fully relate, but I feel that the humor and artistry
would be enjoyable to everybody. I am totally hooked on his style and can't
wait to watch the animated shorts he sent. A huge thumbs up!
-- Grog Mutant (2006)
Blankets - Craig Thompson
(Top Shelf Comix)
Stretches of aloneness, self-loathing and questioning punctuated with all
to brief respites of wonderful moments that make life shine. If this sounds
like your adolescence than Blankets by Craig Thompson will hit you as hard
as it did me.
This is a brilliant graphic Novel, which follows Craig from third grade to adulthood, with the bulk of matter happening during his senior year of high school. Raised in central Wisconsin in the late 80s / early 90s to evangelical parents Craig tries to make sense of his relationship with his parents, his younger brother, the people who torment him in school and most of all god.
During several points in this story I felt crushed by emotion and the past rushing back to attack me. All the taunts, self-doubt, inadequacies and feelings of hopelessness from my teen years reared their ugly heads. Raw reality and emotion pour out from his images and show the reality of those on the "outside". At times finding out that he really isn't as different as he had thought…or hoped. Craig has some horrible things happen to him, yet he has the strength to pull through it by facing ugly reality head on and using art as a way to escape and maintain self.
I feel like I know Craig and that we would have actually been friends had
we met. This book is a must for anybody who loves graphic novels or has
felt like they were one of the "misfits". (Besides anybody who loves graphic
novels already know they are considered a geek.)
-- Grog Mutant (2006)
The Boy Who Cried Freebird - Mitch Myers - Novel
(Harper Entertainment)
"In Review"
-- (2008)
The Cheetah Girls - Air Fresheners
(Hollywood Records)
Yes, The Cheetah Girls air fresheners. Is your car smelling stale?
Then freshen it up with your favorite Cheetah Girl, choose from Adrienne,
Kiely or Sabrina. Or if you're feeling really stale put together
a threesome. I find the whole promo a bit odd since I hear their main audiance
is teen and pre-teen girls, but these sure look like they're for cars. Maybe
they can talk their parents into sporting their favorite Cheetah. The good
thing is at least these all have the girls dressed attractively, but modestly
since they are aimed at the young crowd. Which one did I choose for my car
you ask? You'll just have to ask for a ride and find out for yourself.
Crippled By Depression - #2:Why Don't Nobody Love Me? Half Size - 56
pages - $4
(Adam Beebe-Infanticide, Mishap Productions) One of the best zines I
have seen lately. Primarily a collection of personal ads Adam posted on
the Craigslist personals. Most of his postings are humourous and provoking.
I love the witty and at times insulting banter with the women who actual
write back.
Along with the collection of correspondence, he has sketches of women who I would rate as gorgeous. He has even included pictures of some of the lucky ladies who answered his posts, with eyes black-barred out of course. There are even a few pics of the skinny-ass, honkey-nerd man-child himself.
I love personal zines and this has the added benefit of playing with cyber
dating, which I am all too familiar with myself. All hail Adam and his many
art projects. I'd never want you as room mate, but I'd buy you a drink anytime.
-- Grog Mutant (2004)
Eat.Devour
(Xerus R&D) This
mini zine contains five quick poems about a few aspects of life and the
little things in them that make it all real. Pain, humor and self-deception
are the primary themes. You truely must experience the bad to appreciate
the good.
-- Grog Mutant (2008)
My Little Friend - #2 The Spell
Begins To Break
(e P.O. Box 3535 Santa Monica, CA 90408) This is a nice short 32 page 1/4
size zine from a teen. My Little Friend is full of teen angst, ideas,
creativity and passion. I love these types of zines and wish I had the self
awareness to have created one at 15, instead I waited until I was 21. e
talks about her bundle of emotions, hopelessness and in between the lines
hope. There are also lists of books, bands and movies you should read, hear
and see (and I agree with the bulk of them). I see a lot of the teenager
I was in her words, but she is infinitely cooler than the mess I was. For
50 cents and a stamp you too can get a copy.
-- Grog Mutant (2006)
Runner's Paradox - Comic
(Awakening Comics)
This comic was released in conjunction with the CD Steve
Peters' Paradox which was reviewed earlier. For being written and drawn
over the corse of two days this is absolutely amazing. It's not on par with
most of the graphic novels I read, but it is impressive nonetheless. There
is a short story based on each song on his CD and this gives a lot more
body to his music. The music was overall unremarkable, but coupled with
the comic made for a great story. I think his real talent lies in the realm
of graphic novels. With some more story development I could see his unique
style and characters taking off quite well.
-- Grog Mutant (2008)
Serenity - Joanne Olivieri
(Shadow Poetry)
I have this picture in my head of Joanne now that I've finished this
book of her poetry. She comes across as the middle-aged new age hippy type
who is longing for possibly a man younger than her. Most of her poems are
of the mushy variety and seems like she's trying to be Rod Mckuen.
This just isn't my thing and for the many folks I shared this book with,
it wasn't their thing either.
-- Mite Mutant (2007)
Sihm - #0 - 52 Pages - $3.50
(Something's Fishy Productions) This is a locally produced graphic novel.
It's always great to see things like this coming out from local artists,
especially a work that took as long as this one did. I have a lot of respect
for graphic novels and have been a fan for well over a decade.
Sihm is the story of a girl who is on a journey in the netherworld. I would peg her as somewhat of an apatheist, but then an unfortunate accident happens. I won't divulge the rest of the story, but it dwells quite a bit in Dante's Inferno. The artwork isn't earth shattering, but it is sufficient. The primary force here is the story and the srtistic presentation, which is very impressive. I like the mix of intriguing questions, humour and fantasy all thrown together.
I hope to see more graphic novels by this author who never names themself
or even gives an address for contact. If I do get some contact information,
I'll add it to this review.
-- Grog Mutant (2006)
(Xerus R&D) This is another one of Shawn Obnoxious' quick reading poetry zines. Specimen focuses on war, consumerism and feelings of being excluded. Like Shawn's other works they are fairly straight forward and to the point on topics that are personal yet universal. I used to write similar to this when I was younger, is it just age or a softening of conviction that has stopped me?
-- Grog Mutant (2008)
Renee Zawawi - Calendar
(Renee Zawawi)
Reene sent this along with her CD. While her CD was a bit of a problem
for me, her calendar graces the wall in front of my desk as I type. It's
a standard size 18 month calendar featuring Reene in a variety of
clothing, wigs and poses. She is stunning and has a very classic yet versatile
style. Each month has a theme and she does a great job of capturing the
moment. Other cool things are the extra Black & white photos on each page
which Renee took herself and the fact that all the text is in three
languages English, French and Spanish. I really had been looking for a new
calendar and this came at just the right time…and seeing her sweet face
always brightens my day.
-- Grog Mutant (2007)