'TORTOISE' by Tetsunori Tawaraya

Tetsunori Tawaraya is one of my favorite experimental comic artists, although it can sometimes be difficult to find his works locally.  When he’s not living in Tokyo, he tours pretty extensively with his band or with friends.  In fact, when I met him in Portland years ago he was on tour with Kill Me Tomorrow, but he wasn’t playing music that time.  He just had handmade books at the merch table, which I purchased and still treasure to this day.  His comics are psychedelic, scatological, but also with a sense of originality and authenticity that just feels right.  He agreed to produce some new stuff for Arthur, but in the meantime here’s a brand new strip that was just published in the Tokyo art magazine Sweet Dreams.

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About Jay Babcock

I am an independent writer and editor based in Tucson, Arizona. In 2023: I publish an email newsletter called LANDLINE = https://jaybabcock.substack.com Previously: I co-founded and edited Arthur Magazine (2002-2008, 2012-13) and curated the three Arthur music festival events (Arthurfest, ArthurBall, and Arthur Nights) (2005-6). Prior to that I was a district office staffer for Congressman Henry A. Waxman, a DJ at Silver Lake pirate radio station KBLT, a copy editor at Larry Flynt Publications, an editor at Mean magazine, and a freelance journalist contributing work to LAWeekly, Mojo, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Vibe, Rap Pages, Grand Royal and many other print and online outlets. An extended piece I wrote on Fela Kuti was selected for the Da Capo Best Music Writing 2000 anthology. In 2006, I was somehow listed in the Music section of Los Angeles Magazine's annual "Power" issue. In 2007-8, I produced a blog called "Nature Trumps," about the L.A. River. From 2010 to 2021, I lived in rural wilderness in Joshua Tree, Ca.

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