Author Archives: Aidan Koch

Fresh Ink

Mega Macerator

This zine is a gem, and not just for its gemstone rainbow palette!

Every time I go back through it, I’m excited by the drawings, the colors, and the creativity. Nearly every page is printed in a different style and technique, including color Risograph, and yet it is totally cohesive. Self described as an “Anglo-Italo mega-mush collection book,” Macerator is a collaboration between Masamilliano Bomba and Leon Sadler, who runs Famicon Express, and from whom I received this zine. Both Bomba and Sadler are wild artists with styles that I would perhaps describe as new-age 70′s. Both artists have additional books out on Famicon.

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Print Matters

No Complaints, Nobrow

Birchfield Close by Jon McNaught

I unknowingly ran into Nobrow about one year ago. I would pass by this space on the bus in London and gaze wondorously at the colorful mural and art showcased inside. It looked a little like a dreamland in Shoreditch. I could never quite figure out what this space was whose sign read Jaguar Shoes, Importers, Exporters, and unfortunately was never adventurous enough to get off the bus and go inside. I’m glad to know about them now though!

Nobrow is a printer of beautiful posters, magazines, books with a focus on silk screening. Everything is clean, bold, and vibrant and just a joy to look at.

Nobrow 2: The Jungle

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Print Matters

Virtual Print

Comics aren't just books anymore.

While the experience of reading comics online can never replace the joy of holding a freshly printed book in your hands, web comics have existed just about as long as the technology has been available to make them possible. They are particularly relevant for those of us whose jobs place us in front of computers for most of the day, bringing a little light to the systematic and repetitive existence entailed by such work.

While originally consisting primarily of shorts and daily funnies, you can now read a wide variety of comics online in different formats. Beyond the classics like Penny Arcade, the late Perry Bible Fellowship, and Slow Wave created by local Jesse Recklaw, here’s a sampling of some of my favorite sites to browse.

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Fresh Ink

Tim Hensley’s Black Light Print

A few months ago, I saw Daniel Clowes speak at Powell’s Books here in Portland, and he proclaimed that the best comic he had read recently was Tim Hensley’s Wally Gropius. I’d seen parts of Hensley’s Gropius in Fantagraphic’s quarterly MOME anthology, and have definitely been wanting more. Today I ran into this awesome Hensley print on the FAMILY blog and it is too good. His classic American style and bright exaggerated coloring lends itself perfectly to the graphic nature of silkscreen prints, black light to boot!

Title: I–I Can’t!
Item: Blacklight screenprinted poster (with flocking)
Artist: Tim Hensley
Printer: PictureBox Inc.
Available: $50 online

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Print Matters

The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb’s Book of Genesis

R. Crumb at the Portland Art Museum

Portlanders: anyone who has not gotten the chance to go see The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb’s Book of Genesis at the Portland Art Museum needs to go soon. Rarely have comics met with the walls of museums, but this show marks a new and well-deserved turn. The book took Crumb over four years to render and it is filled with his trademark scratchy, exaggerated characters and cross-hatched detail.  It’s wonderful to look at all the pages up close and see his pen work, the waviness of the paper, and the dabs of white-out all over. It’s a truly unique experience because as you examine the pieces, you can’t help but get sucked into reading the text as well. Though the museum’s layout for the show is not the easiest to follow, you can always get the 224 page book if you’re itching to delve into it a little bit more.

The exhibit runs until September 19th. Tickets are $12 for adults or try and catch “Free Fourth Friday Night” at the museum on August 27 from 5-8pm. More information at www.portlandartmuseum.org.

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Book Report

Comics Mastr

Publications by CF.

The artist CF (Christopher Forgues) is a truly notable character in the comics world today. Hailing from the Providence, RI/Fort Thunder scene of the late 1990′s, he’s produced a number of works including the series Low Tide, as well as small zines like Core of Caligula (featured above) and the captivating graphic novels, Powr Mastrs 1 & 2, put out by PictureBox Inc. Not only are his drawings beautiful, but the unique design in the layout and panels has me flipping through his books every time I see one. I’m sure anyone who has read the first two Powr Mastrs will be thrilled to know that Number 3 is due out this September. Finally, the sci-fi/fantasy/abstract/metaphysical comic shall continue!

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Print Crush

Sparkplug Lights up!

The scene at Sparkplug HQ

I ventured out to deep Southeast Portland last week to see what I could learn about Dylan William’s Sparkplug Comic Books. I’ve known about Sparkplug for a while, always happily surprised when I pick up a new book and his logo is on the back. He produces a steady flow of books, as well as distributes others. He runs his business out of a shop called the Bad Apple in Southeast Portland, next door to the always delightful Guapo Comics. Here’s a little of what I found out.

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Print Matters

Ward Zwart

I am a huge proponent of trades. It’s an amazing way to get connected with like-minded artists from all over and build a collection of interesting and unique art! This year, probably one of the most beautiful and inspiring packages I received was from artist Ward Zwart in Belgium.

The package included two 6 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ zines. Herinneringen includes three other artists mixed throughout it, Astrid Yskout, Ephameron, and Gerhard Leysen, and his solo zine, 15 Seas, has a mix of sketch, single image, and comic pages. These are both really lovely printed books and more like them can be found at Mus Mus.

His illustrations use finely stylized pencil often accompanied by spot color. He depicts renderings of people, animals, and scenes that are slightly distorted and messy, but also very precise in their likeness.

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Print Matters

Tools of the Trade

Looking to experiment in the sequential arts?

As with any new artistic venture, there are ways you might not think about to make the transition easier. From layouts to lettering, here are some attractive and indispensible materials that can help you get started.

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Book Report

Loving the Unlovable

Title: Unlovable Volumes 1 & 2
Author: Esther Pearl Watson
Publisher: Fantagraphics, Seattle, Washington
Published: Vol. 1: February 2009, Vol. 2: March 2010
Available: Fantagraphics
, $22.99 ea

Acclaimed illustrator Esther Pearl Watson’s masterpiece comic, Unlovable, follows the dark and humorous exploits of a misguided and hapless teenage girl during the 80′s. The heroine, Tammy Pierce, is pathetic and a bit gross, but she can certainly make you laugh.

Watson has been producing the series for a number of years through her business Fun Chicken (run with her husband, and fellow illustrator Mark Todd). They are both huge proponents of self publishing, and even released a book titled Whatcha Mean What’s a Zine? in 2006, as a guide for people looking to print and distribute their own work. All of their releases are silk screened or offset printed with two or more colors.

Watson recently broke the self publishing streak to put out two volumes with Fantagraphics in Seattle. Case bound, with full color covers (that include glitter detailing!), they compile the comics to date, and are a fabulous way to cruise through the series if you haven’t before.

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