I heard about Kickstarter just a few weeks ago by word of mouth. It’s a fundraising website that works like an online pledge drive for creative projects. Artists are using the site to fund album recordings, independent film and video game production, book publication, liscensing costs, travel expenses and other art projects. I think this site has a lot of potential and it’s been cool to see it mentioned more and more on the web the past few weeks. Most projects need between $1000-$10000 to become reality. Prohibitive for many individuals; but with the help of a hundred or so backers chipping in the goals are being met.  Kickstarter is there to bridge that gap between the dreamers and their benefactors.

For the past two years, I’ve published a free comics newspaper called Diamond Comics which I distribute through local coffee shops, bars, record shops and other cool businesses around town. Basically the same places where you might’ve found a copy of Arthur. Each issue would generally lose a little money, which I would write off as an advertising cost. But if this thing was sustainable I could afford to do it more often and put out new issues on a regular basis.

With the Kickstarter model I set the monetary goal and the deadline that we need to raise the money by. If we don’t hit the goal in the next 40 days, I actually get none of the funds. On one hand the potential for failure was a little intimidating. But I know from experience that the finances of a business are equally cold, hard, and fast, so it’s an accurate model.

Kickstarter suggests that I film a video where I explain my project and also offer different gifts or incentives for the various levels of sponsorship. If you sponsor a recording artist it’s likely you can get your name listed as a “producer” in the credits or even have something personal worked into a song lyric. With Diamond, I’m offering free issues, a printed ‘thank you’ in the next issue, and archival prints of covers from past issues. The video thing actually held me up for a couple weeks after my proposal was approved. Oh yeah, Kickstarter is invite only. Which I originally misinterpreted as something like a Google invite where users would have to invite me. No, you just email Kickstarter with your proposal and an individual responds within a day or two. They seem enthusiastic to have users spread the word about their site which is the right way to do cooperative marketing.

For anyone who’s used a Blogger, Twitter or Vimeo, Kickstarter’s interface is very appealing and easy to use. I set up my bio and profile, put a picture in, attached some links, came up with the incentive rewards, and finally recorded a video of myself talking to put a face to the project. Now the excitement begins as I watch people from all over the world sponsor the project and spread the word with their Facebooks and Twitters. It’s taking all this internet time and energy we normally dump into our computers every day but actually focusing it into tangible real world results. Put your money where your mouse is.

From Profanity Hill:

The truth is the Punk DIY thing is SO SO SO amazing to me. I hate mainstream society in so many ways. Everything I love is usually done by nuts. Sometimes they get accepted like Herge or Carl Barks but most of the time they are just seen as nuts. And they have to do it themselves. I used to feel so self conscious of that, in that typical comic way where you think you suck cause nobody likes you or wants you to be part of their world. But then I realized that is the root of punk, that you can’t “do it right” so you just end up doing it your way.

Dylan with his Grandma

Our next installment in the Arthur Comics series drops…
so click here to check it out!

About Jean Josef Jesus:
Jean Josef Jesus is a comic zine, 30 pages long going on 100. The work will premiere in conjunction with a narrative installation in an exhibition in May 2010 at the ESAD, a school of decorative arts in Strasbourg, France, as part of its graduate degree program in illustration. Six pages from the collection will appear in the next issue of NYCTALOPE.*

About Tristan Pernet:
Tristan Pernet is a French illustrator/graphic designer and one of the founders of French Fourch, a non profit platform for multimedia publishing. You can check out his stuff over here: tristanpernet.com/

*Thanks to Emilie Friedlander for the worthy translation…

]]> http://www.arthurmag.com/2010/03/10/tristan-pernet-jean-josef-jesus-supreme/feed/ 0 http://www.arthurmag.com/2010/02/27/cartune-xprez-2010-future-television-tour/ http://www.arthurmag.com/2010/02/27/cartune-xprez-2010-future-television-tour/#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:44:16 +0000 Floating World http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=11704

Hello cartoon friends,
This marks the beginning of CARTUNE XPREZ’s 2010 future television tour. After a wildly spiraling tour through Europe this past autumn we have returned to North America for more strange loops:
02.26 -Reno, NV – Joe Crowley Theater
02.27 -Oakland, CA – Lobot
02.28 -Los Angeles, CA – The Silent Movie Theater
03.04 -Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum
04.03 -Minneapolis, MN – The Soap Factory
04.07 -Chicago, IL – The Nightingale
04.10 -Syracuse, NY – Spark
04.17 -Providence, RI – AS220

This program includes work by (click on each link to see a preview of their work):
Nate Boyce
Martha Colburn
Sebastian Buerkner
Rimas Sakalauskas
Christine Gensheimer
Brandon Blommaert
Jim Trainor
Allison Schulnik
David Daniels
and others…… Adding to the spectacle, Hooliganship will be premiering a new electroluminescent stage show to frame the whole scene.

At the end of this trip I will be heading to Europe to host a series of FUTURE TELEVISION events (the details are still in a dark foggy box). Check cartunexprez.com in the near future for details, or email me! I will be returning to the USA in the mid-summer….. so look for more USA shows to come then!

xo
peter

Emily Nilsson interviews Croatian born comics artist/musician Dunja Jankovic on the Sparkplug Comics blog.  Click here for the full interview.

What are your main influences as an artist?

In a random order: 60’s and 70’s hairstyles, outsider art in every form, Constructivism, ceramics (even though I’m not making it, but I’d love to), street art and art in the woods, trashy you tube videos, photos from socialistic era, Yugo-nostalgia, thrift stores and flea markets, Kosmoplovci, Komikaze, indigenous art, masks, ritual dances, rituals in general, smoking cigarettes, quitting smoking and then starting smoking again, afghan war rugs, Indian rugs and art in general, music, green architecture, black olives, diving, diving, dying…

Scheduled for publication on April 1, 2010, Blaise thought of a unique promotion for fans interested in reading his new book.  Make a Yoko Ono zine and he will mail you 1x pre-order package (1x Young Lions + 1x untitled experimental zine).

Mail a copy to:
Blaise Larmee
3720 SE 28th Pl. #19
Portland, OR
97202

or post an excerpt on your blog (example)

This offer will expire (perhaps)

Pete Toms is back with PAWS, another comic that blurs the line between fiction and reality.

The comic is essentially a horror comic about a guy that only experiences the outside world through television trying to sell an autobiographical screenplay.  It has all the same themes as my other comics, how people choose identity roles, the media’s effect on memory, how we mythologize our personalities, but this one has a lot more dogs and possibly werewolves, and jokes about how creepy sitcom laugh-tracks are.

I’m doing the same stuff as always, drawing at night, using my natural jazz dancing ability to put my kids through college during the day.

We found an interview Pete did with Ecstatic Days back in November where he talks about what’s abstract and what’s real.  Enjoy this 9 page preview and stay tuned to Pete’s website for the conclusion of the story!

We’re down to the last ten copies of the limited edition ‘TOYLAND’ giclee print. There’s still time to get one before they’re gone. Artwork is shipped priority mail or fedex for international orders.

PIM & FRANCIE – SALMON FALLS SWEET SHOPPE

Size: 14″ x 12″ – mixed media – 2003

SOLD

To purchase please email: jason (at) floatingworldcomics (dot) com

Floating World Animation Fest 2009 Trailer from Floating World Comics on Vimeo.

Floating World Animation Fest makes its first Los Angeles appearance at Show Cave gallery on Saturday, Jan. 30th!  Local and lo-fi, international and extrasensory, hand drawn, stop motion, cgi and puppetry, electricity and torches.  This will be a brand new mix featuring the best of the past 3 shows, plus… you guessed it: some new shit you haven’t seen before!

Jan. 30th 9pm, $7

Show Cave Gallery

3501 Eagle Rock Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90065

Artists include Bruno Dicola, Robert Seidel, Dan Deacon, Jimmy Joe Roche, Peter Glantz, Zane Kozak, Vince Collins, Carolina Melis, Bruno 9li, Dearraindrop, Will Sweeney, Tasha Brotherton, Jen Stark, Vivian Wong, Mato Atom, Christophe Blanc, Superbrothers, Yoshi Sodeoka, Lung, David O’Reilly and Throne Boogie.

Conor adds, “The drawings are done side by side, two at a time on pieces of 24 x 19″ bristol board.  Each drawing is about 9 x 6.5″.  There are 134 images to draw for the final Silence Country book, so going at the pace I am right now, it’ll probably be done somewhere around 2018.  Haw haw.”

This particular set is from Kentucky, outside of Bardstown. It was photographed right near an anonymous graveyard dating back to the civil war.

Conor underwent a similar walking/photographing/drawing process for a zine he did in 2008 titled “The Spirit World.”

Conor is a member of Closed Caption Comics, he plays in the band Witch Hat, and he lives in and helps run “Open Space” gallery in Baltimore.

(click on images to make them larger)

“Casio Halbzeit” by Knalpot, directed by Martha Colburn from Floating World Comics on Vimeo.

Martha Colburn is a musician and filmmaker living in New York.  Through a collage of live action (paint-on-glass) animations, found footage and documentary filmmaking techniques, her films are a disturbing and at times humorous take on popular and political culture.

Among her dozens of short films she has also made videos for Deerhoof and Daniel Johnston.  Her latest video is for the Dutch band Knalpot and their song, Casio Halbzeit.  The film is hand made collage animation shot on 16mm.  “Animation is magical, it’s making gold out of glitter.”

Previously:  In issues 1-3, interplanetary nurse Gemma is sent to space to help heal atmosphere-poisoned colonists on Venus. She’s attacked by a butterfly farmer who experiments in aphrodisiacs and steals a top secret book, which gets her demoted to a mission on Mars. On the way to Mars, two space pirates, Bandit and Pandaface, hijack her ship and loot it for parts. Gemma discovers a way to escape the pirates but it lands her on a familiar adversary’s ship.

Previously:  In issues 1-3, interplanetary nurse Gemma is sent to space to help heal atmosphere-poisoned colonists on Venus. She’s attacked by a butterfly farmer who experiments in aphrodisiacs and steals a top secret book, which gets her demoted to a mission on Mars. On the way to Mars, two space pirates, Bandit and Pandaface, hijack her ship and loot it for parts. Gemma discovers a way to escape the pirates but it lands her on a familiar adversary’s ship.

Previously:  In issues 1-3, interplanetary nurse Gemma is sent to space to help heal atmosphere-poisoned colonists on Venus. She’s attacked by a butterfly farmer who experiments in aphrodisiacs and steals a top secret book, which gets her demoted to a mission on Mars. On the way to Mars, two space pirates, Bandit and Pandaface, hijack her ship and loot it for parts. Gemma discovers a way to escape the pirates but it lands her on a familiar adversary’s ship.

Two dimensional line animation from the amazing Mr. Bickford.

Jesse Moynihan self published 2 books in 2005, and ran a strip in the Philadelphia Weekly.  He’s been featured in Meathaus and Canicola anthologies.  This year, Bodega put out a larger volume of his work called Follow Me.  He recently collaborated with Dash Shaw on a strip that will appear in an upcoming issue of Believer Magazine.

Meanwhile Jesse has been plugging away every Thursday on his webcomic, Forming, which is a sprawling account of human origins, transgender aliens, and ripped gods.

SPREAD EAGLE – TRAILER from SHOW CAVE on Vimeo.

SPREAD EAGLE is the next chapter in SHOW CAVE’s
ongoing video series curated by Hazel Hill.

SPREAD EAGLE is also the inaugural event at SHOW
CAVE’s new location 3501 Eagle Rock Blvd. in the
beautiful Glassel Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Contributing artists include:

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge
Tommyboy
Cornrow Rider
Hazel Hill
DGTRK09
Ashley Huizenga
Kathleen Daniel
Telefantasy Studios
Jacinto Astiazaran
Eric Nordhauser
Milton Melvin Croissant III
Nic Chancellor
Bobbi Woods

Respect Films’ documentary about Grant Morrison’s writing, life and career is scheduled to debut at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con. More info at http://www.grantmorrisonmovie.com/

We’re down to the last dozen copies of the limited edition ‘TOYLAND’ giclee print. There’s still time to get one before they’re gone. Also we want to remind you that Al Columbia will be appearing at Ada Books (717 Westminster St.) in Providence, RI on December 11th from 6-8pm, to sign books and meet readers. Artwork is shipped priority mail or fedex for international orders.

RUTHY & LUCY’S REVENGE

Sneak peek from the upcoming color comics series: “THE ADVENTURES OF PIM & FRANCIE”
Size: 8″ x 8.25″ – mixed media on 3 ply crescent board – 2009

SOLD

To purchase please email: jason (at) floatingworldcomics (dot) com

1. SOLUTION

2. MUSCLES

3. YOU’RE TRAPPED

4. ENSIGN SMURF

5. SOME GREAT REWARD

This week’s chapter is the first half of SOLUTION (colors by Pete Toms).

Jesse Moynihan self published 2 books in 2005, and ran a strip in the Philadelphia Weekly.  He’s been featured in Meathaus and Canicola anthologies.  This year, Bodega put out a larger volume of his work called Follow Me.  He recently collaborated with Dash Shaw on a strip that will appear in an upcoming issue of Believer Magazine.

Meanwhile Jesse has been plugging away every Thursday on his webcomic, Forming, which is a sprawling account of human origins, transgender aliens, and ripped gods.

TOYLAND by Al Columbia

Pim & Francie is already receiving advance praise from folks like Spike Jonze.  Jim Woodring’s drawing group, Friends of the Nib, is calling it “book of the year“.

Al’s always working on something new and amazing, whether it’s music, filmmaking, comics, or in this case, painting.  Al showed me a photo of this new painting he was working on and I became immersed in the labyrinth of frayed facade and haunting beauty.  We reprinted it as the centerpiece of the new issue of Diamond Comics, available now!

To commemorate the release of Al Columbia’s new book, Floating World has teamed with the artist to produce a limited edition series of archival prints of this latest painting, Toyland.  The giclee prints are on museum quality paper measuring 18″x24″; the artwork is 15″x20″.

We only made 25 copies of this incredible image, and each was signed and numbered by the artist at his recent book release party at the Fantagraphics store.  Orders will be filled in numerical order starting with number 3 of 25 (#1 and #2 already sold).  They will be shipped securely in a tube.  Head over to Floating World Comics’ website to place your order.

If you’re in NYC tonite:

RADAR EYES, an exhibition of hallucinogenic prints curated by Canadian printmaking duo Seripop, Chicago gallerist Reuben Kinkaid, and The Space L.I.C. will open Friday, November 6th, 7pm at Fardom Gallery, 25-17 41st Avenue, Long Island City. Around the corner, a secret space will stash many more prints and a new installation by NYC artist Sakura Maku. Gallery goers will enjoy an exciting dual-opening of hundreds of works evoking altered states, perpetual distortions, and outright hallucinations.

Including works by Le Dernier Cri (Marseilles, France), Xander Marro and Lief Goldberg (Providence, RI), Dutch Illustrator Zeloot, Minneapolis-based Danimal, and Seripop (Montreal), this show offers a mind-expanding aesthetic experience for all.

Get the full scoop here.

Boing #3 by Andy Rementer, A J Purdy, Ben Jacques, Mike Perry, Luke Ramsey, Ron Regé Jr and Jim Stoten.

SUPERFUNSEXYTIME by BANG & Jon Boam

Live Free Or Die Harder by Leif Parsons

Daught by Stephane Prigent

Luke Ramsey came down for the Portland Zine Symposium this past July to represent the Islands Fold art collective that he started in Pender Island, British Columbia.  One day after the fest he was hanging out and participated in a drawing session with local artists: Blaise Larmee, Kinoko (from Seattle), Sean Christensen & Theo Ellsworth.  Little did they know, the collaborative jam session would result in a zine of ultimate greatness, Negative Bulge!  For the month of November we are very pleased to present original art from the jam session here at Floating World Comics, as well as a selection of new zines from Islands fold.

WHO: Islands Fold, Blaise Larmee, Kinoko, Luke Ramsey, Sean Christensen & Theo Ellsworth
WHAT: Negative Bulge zine release + art exhibit
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 5th, 6-10pm; exhibit ends Nov. 30th
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave #101

Islands Fold™ is an independent publisher and artist residency created and operated by Angela Conley and Luke Ramsey.  It’s about inviting artists into our home, supporting creative identity, collaborating, promoting health and well being and producing unique art.  Established on Pender Island B.C, Canada in the Spring of 2006.

We decided to move from the city to enjoy a simple lifestyle on Pender Island. It’s easy to travel to Pender by ferry from Vancouver or Victoria. Islands Fold collaborates with artists, as well as supporting solo projects. We personally invite artists to our residency. We want to remedy the term “starving artist” by feeding artists whose hunger we admire and respect. In a competitive consumer culture, being an artist is a commitment that some people don’t understand. We are inspired by the people that aren’t always motivated by money, but are motivated by the work itself. As much as Islands Fold needs money to survive, we are about people, not profits. In a world motivated by money and greed, we want to embrace a world of sharing and peace. At Islands Fold, art is a labor of love. We want to create an environment where artists don’t have to concern themselves with daily chores. We want our guests to relax, make art, and eat good food. The most important thing in our home, is to be comfortable, have fun and be creative.

For the first two years, Islands Fold has offered residencies to artists at no charge. Due to rising expenses and no grant funding, we now offer the residencies by donation to any amount an artist feels comfortable with. Our residencies are also sustained from public support by purchasing the art and publications made available online. We are also supported by generous art donations from artists who believe in our cause.

Thee infamous PSYCHICK BIBLE from Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth receives an updated, expanded, corrected edition, compleat with dozens of new visuals and essays. It’s a sewn-bound hardcover, compleat with ribbon. Thee 544 pages within are printed in two colors on high-quality, acid-free 100% recycled paper stock.

This signed, numbered, limited edition (999 copies only) includes a remarkable DVD of impossible-to-find videos from Genesis P-Orridge archives of early Psychic TV and TOPY creations, which includes the work of Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson and Derek Jarman.

The artist, BREYER P-ORRIDGE, says about this edition: “It has been a revelation and become very thrilling for me to see 30 years+ of social, ritual and communal creative explorations condensed into what we feel may become the most profound new manual on ‘practical magick’ taking it from its Crowleyan level of liberation and empowermeant of the Individual to a next level of realization that magick must then give back to its environment, its community, become about liberation and empowermeant to change this ‘world’ and evolve our humanE species.”

Hazel Hill, designer and artist from Los Angeles (www.madeofthis.com), met Genesis through Adam Parfrey (owner and director of Feral House Books). The two entered the project as friends and have come out as life-long devotes to each other and most importantly, Lady Jaye.

Thee price is $69 plus shipping, and can be obtained directly from Feral House: www.FeralHouse.com.

Each week we bring you a new strip from Chocolate Cheeks, the next collection of the Yikes! gang’s adventures, due from Fantagraphics in December 2009, plus maybe a few surprises!

Read it here.

Hall Hassi made a minicomic version of Kramer’s Ergot 7, which she calls her ‘ke7 zine.’ The new size is only 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

It’s 96 xeroxed pages, really pushing the limit of the saddlestich binding but still holding together, and exactly like the original with some minor (I assume) accidents in printing. The only addition is the new ‘zine friendly’ title, ke7. Some pages transitioned better than others, here are some snaps.

Featuring over 7 artists from Portland, OR including Aidan Koch (who recently relocated to England).  She created a new 2 pager for the latest issue of Diamond Comics, which she describes as a “spacey fantasy fashion comic”.  Also she’s started a new online magazine called Work For Free.

From Marc Bell:

Drawn and Quarterly is sending me off on a book tour this Fall in support of the HOT POTATOE. I’ll post this again later with the times for all of the events but here we have it….

Thursday, October 15th
Adam Baumgold Gallery
60 East 66th St, New York, NY 10065 (6-8 pm, ALSO: HOT POTATOE EXHIBITION!)

Saturday/Sunday, October 17th-18th
Alternative Press Expo
The Concourse, 620 7th St, San Francisco, CA

Monday, October 19th
Lucky’s Comics
3972 Main St, Vancouver, BC

Wednesday, October 21st
Family
436 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Sunday, October 25th
Desert Island
540 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Friday, November 20th
Magic Pony
694 Queen St West, Toronto, ON

Friday, November 27th
Librairie D+Q Bookstore
211 Bernard Ouest, Montreal, QC

Jesse Moynihan self published 2 books in 2005, and ran a strip in the Philadelphia Weekly for a year and 1/2.  He’s been featured in Meathaus and Canicola anthologies.  This year, Bodega put out a larger volume of his work called Follow Me.  Vice Magazine said about it:  “Basically this comic is a vision into hell. I can’t think about it anymore, it’s given me nightmares.”

Meanwhile Jesse has been plugging away every Thursday on his webcomic, Forming, which is a sprawling account of human origins, transgender aliens, and ripped gods.

M’UAD DIB

Inspired and energized by his recent newspaper format work on Strange Adventures, Paul has been doing more big comics in the Wednesday Comics style.  Read more on Paul Pope’s blog.

From PULPHOPE:

“It is said of Muad’dib that once when he saw a weed trying to grow between two rocks, he moved one of the rocks. Later, when the weed was seen to be flourishing, he covered it with the remaining rock. ‘That was its fate,’ he explained.” –From The Commentaries Of M’Uad Dib (DUNE, Frank Herbert).

I’ve always been struck by the taciturn Nietzschean aspects of M’uad Dib’s character as a leader. One of Frank Herbert’s points in DUNE was a warning– beware of charismatic heroes. When entrusted with great power, they can do great damage to a civilization. Even a brief sweep of history can illustrate this point.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Meanwhile Jesse has been plugging away every Thursday on his webcomic, Forming, which is a sprawling account of human origins, transgender aliens, and ripped gods.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

(via John Porcellino, Paul Hornschemier & Jeffrey Brown)

Inimitable Cartoonist and Fine Human Being Anders Nilsen has pulled together some great artwork for an even greater cause: health care reform. The participating artists are:

John Porcellino, Genevieve Elverum, Chris Ware, Ivan Brunetti, Dan Clowes, Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie), Jeffrey Brown, Paul Hornschemeier, Todd Baxter, Sonnenzimmer Print Studio, Adam Henry, Kevin Huizenga, Jay Ryan (The Bird Machine Print Studio), Lynda Barry, Lilli Carre, David Heatley, Kyle Obriot, Stephen Eichhorn, Buenaventura Press, Sammy Harkham and the organizer, Anders Nilsen.

And you can (and should) see all the artwork up for auction by searching for 46 Million on eBay.

The proceeds will go to Democracy for America Now, a national advocacy group running television ads to push the Public Option in democratic swing districts and offering support to congressional members who take a stand for the policy.

In light of recent events, this is a desperate attempt to do something rather than just sit idly by while a few giant corporations with something to lose goad a gullible few into scaring their elected representatives away from real change. We’re doing this because the richest country the planet has ever known has no excuse to not take care of its citizens. We rank 37th in the world in overall health care performance, according to the World Health Organization. Right now a million Americans declare bankruptcy every year because of lack of adequate insurance. Hundreds of billions of dollars are wasted on redundant and impenetrable insurance company bureaucracies. We spend vastly more money on health care and wind up with far worse outcomes than other comparable countries. For many of the artists involved in this auction, a real health care bill is exactly the kind of reason we voted for Obama and Congressional Democratic majorities last Fall. To sit by and do nothing while Obama’s first significant initiative twists in the wind is simply not an option.

Like millions of other working Americans, a lot of artists and freelancers in this country are denied affordable health insurance simply because they are self employed. Making access to health care dependant on a person’s employment status is arbitrary and unsustainable.

A FEW QUOTES FROM THE ARTISTS:
Jeffrey Brown: I’m not sure why I have health insurance now. Because I’m self employed with a pre-existing condition (even though that condition was diagnosed fifteen years ago and has been in remission since), the only health insurance I can get is the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance plan with a $5,200 deductible. Basically, I have it in case I’m in some horrific accident or something. I’m guessing there’s some fine print buried in my documentation that would release them from reliability to pay out on anything anyway. I’ve been burned before by that – finding out that vaccines are not considered ‘essential care’ and being told that using a midwife for birth was covered, only to be denied because there wasn’t a doctor in the room at the time of birth. Anyway, the past couple years I’ve spent something like $8,000 in health insurance, and in return, the health insurance companies have paid for me… um… nothing.

Ivan Brunetti: As someone with a lot of pre-existing conditions, I wouldn’t be able to purchase my own insurance plan, at least nothing of decent quality or anywhere close to affordable. I rely, necessarily, on my employer for my health insurance. I have a lot of preexisting conditions and have been rejected when I tried to purchase my own insurance plan in the past.
Lynda Barry: The motivation behind the health care hoo-ha is difficult to understand. I can’t get my mind around it at all, can’t understand what’s driving it. I’ve spent the last six years living in a very conservative area, and many of my good friends are hard core Republicans, but not a single one of them is having the reaction I’ve seen in the press. That screaming shouting hatred. Maybe they hide it from me because I’m such a lefty liberal, but we’ve always been able to speak frankly about everything else. So I don’t get it. I don’t know who the furious and screaming people are at all.

Anders Nilsen: My girlfriend in March of 2005 was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and died that November. She had endured symptoms for several months before it became too much to bear and we went to the county hospital. Had she had insurance I have no doubt that her condition would have been caught earlier. That was several years ago and I have moved on and am now very happily married. My wife has insurance, supposedly very good insurance, through her present job, but the bureaucratic nonsense the insurance company puts her through every time she sees a doctor, and the amount of stuff that should be covered but isn’t, is astounding.

Genevieve Elverum: I know too many people who went through the warp of needing serious medical attention and dangerously delayed it or got themselves in deep financial turmoil because they couldn’t afford insurance. I myself gave up my right to receive free healthcare when I moved across the border from Canada. It’s kind of terrifying sometimes.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Get your very own physical copy of Pete Toms’ Pink Tombs by clicking on this link here.  Some sweet FAQ from Pete’s livejounal:

FAQ:

- What the fuck are you talking about?
Pink Tombs was a comic I did a few months ago for the Arthur Blog. If you want to read a 20 page preview of the 20 page comic you can there:
part 1 part 2 part 3

- I read it online, why would I want to buy a print version?
While I agree that print is a dying industry, I’ve tried to include some incentives that weren’t possible in the internet version: 1) There are a random number of variant covers. While some companies try to entice you with foil or hologram wrap around covers, my comic is the first to feature the ‘Thumbprint Variant’. Every few covers will probably have my soapy thumb print somewhere on it as I obsessively wash my hands 10 times an hour. I am always worried they’re sticky and/or covered in germs. I have yet to figure out if this stickiness is physical or mental, but I hear germs are real.

2) Besides the variant, there are actual covers on the print copy. There were no covers online.

3) If you have never bought a comic before, or haven’t bought one recently you are missing out on belonging to an exclusive club called ‘comic fandom’ Have you ever wanted to tell people your opinions on things even if they didn’t ask you or aren’t even talking about the same topic? Have you ever wanted to laugh at someone’s lack of knowledge about Gambit? Have you ever wanted to accuse a guy that just like, draws fucking Spider-Man, of metaphorical rape? Have you ever wanted to complain about how things were better when you were younger, and kids today don’t know what they’re doing, like you’re a 60 year old man, even though you’re in your 20s or 30s? Comic fandom is for you. But you can’t just read webcomics. Try mentioning that in a comic book store. You will be laughed away. Unless you’re a woman, then there might be leering and confused mumbling. Unless it’s one of those cool, indie stores, then they’ll be like ‘yes webcomics’, stroke their beards and make sweet love to you (man or woman) and then write nice things about you on their blog.

“Leon Sadler is part of the UK artist group Famicon, working mostly in comics and drawing.

I run Famicon Express with Bonehouse Books, which publishes comics and artist books, the most recent of those is Jonathan Chandler’s 2by2 (Jon’s first solo show just opened in sukiwa gallery in tokyo, information here:  http://mr-boobytrap.livejournal.com/  IT CLOSES THIS WEDNESDAY)

I just finished a little zine for Nieves, and drawings for the next Nazi Knife, and I’m currently working on a MEGA MACERATOR comic book with Massimiliano Bomba, about eating lumps and stomping on shit, I’m working on some stupid computer game for Boys Empire, and maybe another Bart the General…

For enquiries visit famicon.net, lmsn.eu, famiconexpress.co.uk”

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik. Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik. Available in hardcover from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik. Pre-order now from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik. Pre-order now from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik. Pre-order now from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik. Pre-order now from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Forty Four Presidents by MZA & Maria Sputnik.  Pre-order now from Garrett County Press.

A brief illustrated history of the U.S. presidency told by the presidents themselves in the style favored by modern social networking web sites, Forty Four Presidents imagines 220 years of presidential succession pancaked into a single moment — documented simultaneously by each commander-in-chief in status updates designed for easy consumption by their Facebook friends. Each status update is accompanied by a jaunty, high-contrast profile picture intended to reflect something of the essential personality (and hotness) of the president.

Really digging this animation sent over by Marc Ngui (music is “The Grand Elixir” by Ocote Soul Sounds).  Read more about the ideas and inspiration at Marc’s site:

Totem Pill is inspired by Robert Anton Wilson’s description of Timothy Leary’s Eight Circuit Model of Human Consciousness.

The model addresses the question of how and why the mind evolved into an organ of consciousness. Beginning with a single celled organism, each system of consciousness is created as an emergent phenomenon of the previous system in an ever more complex networking process, leading towards a godlike state existing in all time-space with the possibility of engaging with other time spaces. The model is a creation myth, a cosmic blueprint, and fertile territory for the imagination.