Tag Archives: Humor

September 6, 2024 · 11:20 am

SPX 2024: M. Jacob Alvarez comics

The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament

M. Jacob Alvarez is a longtime cartoonist who always has something new and interesting up his sleeve. For this year’s Small Press Expo, he has two new minicomics to debut: The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament and Mae the Master. Find Alvarez at Table W37B. As a fellow cartoonist with a similar penchant for exploring and dissecting, it’s great to follow Alvarez’s various pursuits. These two books could not be more different from each other and yet they share certain qualities. So, if you haven’t already made plans, and happen to be in the DC metro area, consider Small Press Expo, Sept 14-15, and seek out the work of M. Jacob Alvarez.
The Atheist’s Guide to the Old Testament. M. Jacob Alvarez. Hypnospiral Comics. 36pp. $6.
I have read more of The Bible than I might give myself credit for. I have certainly not read it from cover to cover nor do I have plans to do so anytime soon. Thanks to M. Jacob Alvarez, I need not worry if I’m missing out, at least not as far as the Old Testament is concerned. In his handy dandy minicomic, Alvarez covers all the highlights and then some. And, as is his way, he can’t help but dive into related matters. There’s a bonus section on the I Ching and a brief history of magic.
Mae the Master. M. Jacob Alvarez. Hypnospiral Comics. 28pp. Free.
If you treated your passion in life like a religion, then it might involve this next work by M. Jacob Alvarez. As he told me himself, this comic is more than just a love letter to manga and anime: “Mae the Master is about devoting yourself to an art you love, having your whole social life be that art, but never ‘making it.’ Dragon Ball Z is full of interesting characters who have obtained near God-like power through training and self-discipline. Without fail, after their initial appearance and threat, they fall behind the main character (Goku) and are treated as a joke.”  Alvarez relates this dynamic back to the rough and tumble of stand-up comedy where he endured the harsh competition between comedians. Well, every industry has its rough and tumble dynamic with competitors and gatekeepers. Alvarez’s comics demonstrate a happy warrior, confident in his worth, and in it for the love of the game.

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August 14, 2024 · 7:45 pm

PeePee PooPoo #1 comics review

PeePee PooPoo #1. Caroline Cash. Silver Sprocket. 36 pp. $9.99.

Caroline Cash is back! Her fourth comic book has just released and it looks terrific. The PeePee PooPoo series recently won the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series, has won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Minicomic in 2023, and the Broken Frontier Award for Best Periodical. Of great interest to comic strip fans, Cash took over the Nancy comic strip during Olivia Jaimes’s hiatus. Cash started PeePee PooPoo with issue #69, then #420, and followed by #80085. And now we have #1, a “first issue,” an opportunity to re-introduce herself to new readers.

I am ramping up my own new comic book series, Pop Culture Super-Sleuth, and I can tell you from that experience that it’s a ton of work, a labor of love but work all the same. A key thing I want to make note of is that Cash is a very well organized phenomena: just like a political campaign, Cash has a well-oiled machine, thanks to Silver Sprocket, keeping things flowing with production as well as promotion. Pee Pee Poo Poo is a comic book series with the ambition of placing itself among the best ground-breaking indie comics. Well, the stars have indeed aligned as each new issue has been celebrated within social media and grass roots word-of-mouth. Momentum has built over a period of time. The style, content and approach all add up. Unabashed autobio comics are a staple of indie comics and go through up and down cycles, but, when done with gusto, like Cash’s work, they can be a hit. If done right, they can even be considered a voice of a generation. Once the momentum is in place, the machine is running at full steam.

What do I like about this new issue? Well, what I’ve loved all along. Cash is showing us once again that she is in it for the long haul. She’s a born storyteller spinning yarns with a seemingly effortless abandon about travel, relationships, sexuality and just being a human being. It doesn’t matter, in the big picture, really, if you’re gay, bi, or whatever. What really matters is that you have something to say and you express it, which is what Cash does so well. This issue is playfully numbered as #1 but that’s significant. I think it’s safe to say that this is a nice pause, a chance to say hello again, while at the same time continuing to celebrate her wonderfully uninhibited comics. There will be nods to the giants from time to time. Yes, Cash is walking down the same path of such greats as R. Crumb, Julie Doucet and Daniel Clowes and she can rest assured that she is leaving behind her own distinctive footprints. I love the scene, by the way, in one of her comics where she’s walking barefoot through TSA. I’ve done that and, well, it’s definitely a unique experience.

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July 15, 2024 · 3:16 pm

FUNNY STUFF Interview: Secrets of New Yorker Cartoons

New Yorker cartoon by John O’Brien.

In this interview, I chat with Phil Witte and Rex Hesner, the authors of, Funny Stuff, a new book that explores the creative process behind great cartoons, specifically the tradition of the one-panel gag cartoon in The New Yorker. What exactly is it that makes for a perfect New Yorker cartoon? Well, you get a lot of answers in this book, starting with the Foreword by one of the legendary New Yorker cartoonists and editors, Bob Mankoff. As a cartoonist, myself, I’m on cloud nine with this read and you will be too.

New Yorker cartoon by Leo Cullum.

What, when you get right down to it, is a New Yorker cartoon, down to its essence? This is a very important question given that we live in disruptive times eager for change. With that in mind, here’s a book that simply lays it all out: what it takes to make an engaging, funny, and successful New Yorker cartoon, including the more subtle aspects. As for what the cartoonist is aiming for, Hesner boils it down to a cartoon where “the humor is not on the nose. It’s not going to be obvious.” And Witte points to “the cartoon’s subtext. What is it that the cartoonist is really saying.”

New Yorker cartoon by Bob Mankoff.

The main point, I believe, is to take a pause and appreciate what is involved, and what is at stake, in the creation of such a cartoon. You know it when you see it, right? It’s not protest art. It’s not cathartic art. It’s not even outright funny art. Heck, it’s not even “art,” per se, although we can argue the finer points in another post. One thing it is, for sure, is funny. It is a one-panel cartoon that not only will stand the test of time but will also instantly engage the reader with a laugh in a very distinctive and offbeat way. It’s not easy to do right and there’s no need to re-invent the wheel. There are tried and true methods that go into such a work. So, it’s worth it to take the time to understand the nuts and bolts behind this very special thing we’ve come to know as The New Yorker cartoon.

Phil Witte and Rex Hesner are two of the most well-versed authorities on all things having to do with New Yorker cartoons. You can find their observations on the state of New Yorker cartoons over at their blog, The Anatomy of a Cartoon at CartoonStock.com. Phil Witte, is an outstanding cartoonist in his own right, published in such notable places as The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, New Statesman and, of course, The New Yorker.

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July 13, 2024 · 9:03 am

FUNNY STUFF: Great Cartoons Dissected

Funny Stuff: How Great Cartoonists Make Great Cartoons. Phil Witte and Rex Hesner. Forward by Bob Mankoff. Prometheus Books. 2024. 150pp. $28.95.

If becoming a New Yorker cartoonist had an employee manual, FUNNY STUFF would be it. Here you’ll find the secrets to making great cartoons from some of the greatest cartoonists in the business. Your guides are two of the best authorities on such things, Phil Witte (a great cartoonist in his own right) and Rex Hesner, co-writers of the blog, Anatomy of a Cartoon, which you can regularly read at CartoonStock.com.

New Yorker cartoon by Michael Maslin.

As a cartoonist myself, I am very sensitive and self-aware about the whole subject of cartooning. And, just like anyone else, I can get cocky and think I already know enough about how to make a great cartoon. But, hang on, this book is truly useful, something different, and I’m thrilled to share it with you. As someone who completely loves cartoons, particularly New Yorker cartoons, I can honestly say this is a book you must get. So, enjoy the rest of this review and then come back this upcoming Tuesday for an interview with the authors to this wonderful guidebook on cartoons.

New Yorker cartoon by Joe Dator.

For something this worthwhile, I’m happy to spring into action. What excites me about this book is that I actually found the text compelling and highly relevant. You know, let’s be honest, sometimes you just want to view the cartoons in some of these collections but, in this case, I found an orderly approach, filled with insights, that really motivated me. People will read this book for a variety reasons but, I suspect, a main driver will be to get some tips on how to make better cartoons. Or, more broadly, how to better understand the unique humor behind New Yorker cartoons. This book has its own unique way of addressing the artwork and the caption, and how these two components work. On top of that, the authors have interviewed many of the great cartoonists so, one way or another, you are getting this from the horse’s mouth.

New Yorker cartoon by Phil Witte.

Is this book for you if you are not a serious student of the art of cartoons? Yes! In fact, put any concerns about being serious aside. This book can be enjoyed on different levels. If you want a fun look at some first-rate cartoons with the option of scanning a few bits of insights, so be it. And, if you’re enticed to read at a deeper level, so be it. The point is that the book has been created in such a way, I think, that it appears as if it takes some of the mechanisms involved in luring the reader into reading a great New Yorker cartoon: simple and intriguing, at first, with a thought-provoking sensation taking hold. Well, something like that.

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June 1, 2024 · 3:00 pm

Comics by Henry Chamberlain: The Flaneur Seeks a Hamburger

Clem, our trusty man-about-town, seeks a tasty treat. Let’s follow along as our favored flaneur negotiates his way to America’s favorite, the humble yet mighty & hearty beef patty. Where’s the beef? Well, it’s been here all along! Ah, always remember my dear sweet friend, that what matters most is the journey and not the destination. Until again, maintain your courage (thinking about Dan Rather right now), you never know when you’ll need it next. Back to the subject at hand, nowadays, a simple fast food transaction can escalate into an existential crisis.

 

 

 

 

Fin

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May 7, 2024 · 1:21 am

UNFROSTED Directed by Jerry Seinfeld movie review

Unfrosted. Directed by Jerry Seinfeld. Netflix.

Jerry Seinfeld’s new movie, Unfrosted, as Tony the Tiger would say, is great! It’s great for more reasons than you might think. First and foremost, it’s funny as it keeps to its theme, basically that of our love/hate relationship with American consumer culture (at its zenith in the early ’60s), and just runs with it with sincere passion and goofy humor. The whole thing rings true in a way that you can’t fake, managing to unlock that secret code that usually eludes Hollywood of creating a homage piece in the style of the thing being honored, in this case, the broad and frenetic ’60s comedy. It doesn’t feel at all like a contrived attempt but, in fact, the culmination of a lifelong love for a certain moment in time. Any fan of Jerry Seinfeld’s standup comedy knows that he loves, and loves to poke fun at, the simple pleasures in life, like the Pop-Tart.

This movie is all about Pop-Tarts and then some. It’s everything that you would expect from a comedy that is like a classic ’60s comedy: somewhat higher production value, family friendly, usually with a cavalcade of comic actors and unapologetically nonsensical. I don’t think I’m giving anything away (but spoiler alert nonetheless) when I say that this is the kind of movie that invests a lot of time and energy in establishing that the milk industry is having a very hard time with the emergence of a product that will replace cereal. Did Pop-Tarts ever really threaten to replace cereal? Don’t Pop-Tarts go great with milk? Toss any serious arguments aside and just bask in the playful satire, including spot on jabs at John F. Kennedy (Bill Burr) and remarkable send-ups of Walter Cronkite and Johnny Carson (both by Kyle Dunnigan).

Kyle Dunnigan, as Johnny Carson.

This whole movie is a hilarious send-up of ’60s culture from the race to the moon to the race to the consumer. Just add milk, and I’m sure this movie will deliver some good laughs. It’s certainly not meant to be taken too seriously, at least not in any obvious way. That said, it has its own special social commentary particularly focused upon American exceptionalism. A highly polished report could do no better. This gentle well thought-out and heart-felt comedy has plenty to say and with a stellar cast, including everyone from Hugh Grant to Amy Schumer to Jim Gaffigan to Melissa McCarthy. In fact, this movie has some great child actors, including Eleanor Sweeney who helps in the mad pursuit to invent the ultimate breakfast treat. If these young stars of tomorrow can not only appreciate the humor in this movie but help to make it shine, then there’s still hope for the rest of us.

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April 13, 2024 · 11:45 am

2120 by George Wylesol comics review

2120. George Wylesol. Avery Hill. 2022. 500pp. $25

A meandering story is often an asset in the world of comics. Sometimes, it’s the whole point, especially if your story is also a game. Think of the Choose Your Own Adventure series and then times that by a hundred and gear it up to a relatively older demographic. This book sets you upon a journey, having you choose your own narrative by leap frogging your way through the book’s infinite number of alternate paths. It’s a book that will entertain any age but there is a fine dollop of droll sophistication given the premise is a middle-aged tech guy who finds himself trapped in a building with no clear way out.

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April 2, 2024 · 9:40 am

Zack Quaintance’s Death of Comics Bookcase Kickstarter

A page from Death of Comics Bookcase.

Comics Bookcase was a blog, in a similar spirit to Comics Grinder, and then it left the scene. But now it’s back, at least, in the form of a comic book. I find it very inspiring and leads me to think that perhaps Comics Grinder needs its own comic book. Ah, but there is! More on that later. What’s important now is what Zack Quaintance is up to with his 48-page Death of Comics Bookcase comic book. It’s impressive. I can’t wait to check it out. But, first, we all can support the Kickstarter campaign, thru May 1st, and secure that this project becomes a reality. There’s a significant amount of overlap between what Zack does and what I do that I can’t help but sincerely wish Death of Comics Bookcase great success. For more details, an excerpt from the press release follows:

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March 21, 2024 · 4:30 pm

The Werewolf at Dusk by David Small book review

The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories. David Small. Liveright. New York. 2024. 175pp. $25

One great way to approach David Small’s delightful new “graphic novel” is as a collection of bedtime fairy tales for discerning adults. And, no, I am not inferring that this is a book to keep away from the youngest readers. There is nothing explicit to be found here. What I mean is that this is a delicious book for world-weary folks who want to be entranced by a dance made up of words and pictures. There’s nothing pretentious to be found here either. Just a very smart, whimsical foray, beginning with the titular tale involving a werewolf who has somehow outlived its purpose, just too long in the tooth.

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March 10, 2024 · 9:40 am

Comics: Henry Meets Griffy, ongoing process

Just a barefoot artist in search of the meaning of life.

Here is a follow-up on a 5-page comic that will appear in the first full-length issue of Pop Culture Super-Sleuth, which will debut at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. I will post more as time allows and when it makes sense. In fact, I really should do more of these work-in-progress posts.

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