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.

I am an illustrator comics and drawings and website. I enjoy blue, red, yellow and green when used correctly.  I got to:  go to Purchase College; found Wham City; show work in lots of places and publications; tour the east coast with my friends.  Please email me at dina@whamcity.com immediately.

New projects I gots on the burner include: going to SPX in Sept., a book of my Citypaper comics, illustration for the next Nuclear Power Pants album, comics in Friends With Benefits (ltd. edition handmade art book by Impose Magazine) and Fakeheads Anthology, video on Baltimore vs. The World DVD by Current Gallery, & ISBN numbers!

I asked about her process and influences and this was her reply (translated from French):

My pictures always born of a first stage of simple design, mostly in pen and ink, on very white paper.  Then I reworked my drawings in photoshop, collage, color, filters …
I rarely draw from nature. I have in my head a bank of images and forms that I transcribed so distorted and it is precisely this transcription, these deformations, which interest me. I like the asymmetry and imbalance, the monstrous, grotesque …

When you asked me about my tastes, I mention Toshio Saeki, the canvas “Mr and Mrs Andrews’ by Thomas Gainsboroug, the “Caprichos” by Goya and Lucien Freud, which have in common have nothing to do with my world vision. But my real references are made in literature, film and personal. I draw on my memories of childhood in the countryside, in my obsession for the human and animal biology, the abnormality, the world of dream, transgression …

junk spirals from hooliganship on Vimeo.

Revealing the world of a strange small man, who spends his days away from the world. While indulging in strange pleasures he is suddenly thrown into a fantastical journey.

This animation has been shown at a Pictoplasma animation festival and as part of my presentation at SweetTalk in Ireland. Thanks for all your support and please help us to create more animations by watching and blogging it.

Come out to celebrate the release of “You Shall Die by Your Own Evil Creation!” by Fletcher Hanks, edited by Paul Karasik.

Thursday, July 23, 2009
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Discussion at 7:30 with signing by Paul Karasik to follow
Desert Island
540 Metropolitan Ave btwn Union and Lorimer
Brooklyn, NY

Karasik will speak with comics historian and publisher Dan Nadel about Hanks’s legacy, and both will take questions.

Fletcher Hanks, who worked under pseudonyms such as Henry Fletcher, Barclay Flagg or Hank Christy, is one of the more mysterious comic book artists active in the late 1930s and early 1940s. His work stood out for its weirdness and themes of brutal vengence, but little is known about the artist himself. Among his comic book heroes are ‘Tabu, Wizard of the Jungle’, the lumberjack hero ‘Big Red McLane’, and the cosmic superheroes ‘Stardust, The Super Wizard’ and ‘Space Smith’. ‘Fantomah Mystery Woman of the Jungle’, is often called the First Female Superhero.

Hanks’ work appeared in Fox, Fiction House and Timely Publications for three years (1939-1941) before he abruptly stopped making comics. What little is known about the artist’s fate is outlined in two collections of his work both edited by cartoonist, Paul Karasik. ‘I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets’ won an Eisner Award and the second volume, ‘You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!’, when combined with the first, comprises the Complete Fletcher Hanks.

also: Fletcher Hanks coloring books (with Charles Burns cover!) FREE with purchase of the new book at the event.

plus: a limited edition Hanks screenprint will be available at the event, and is now available for preorder here: http://tinyurl.com/fantomah

If you’re in Portland check out the book release party at Grass Hut (the gallery that Bwana co-runs) Saturday night!

Portland Release Party:
July 11, 6-9pm
Book Signing, Pencil Fighting, Fart Knocking!!!

Grass Hut
811 E Burnside.
Portland, Oregon

Story from North America from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

Here’s a story from North America. A young boy is scared of a spider and asks his daddy to kill it before it hurts him. The father points out the flawed logic of preemptive strikes and explains the values of compassion and living in harmony. Music you’ll be humming by Garrett Davis, animation by Kirsten Lepore.

The 3rd annual Floating World Animation Fest features senses shattering video art and psychedelic animation from the secret world of motionography. 3+ hours of mind melting, soul loving psychedelicanimation… this summer’s ultimate videocation! Floating World Animation Fest 2009 – Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Portland OR – June 25th.

Please Say Something – Full Length from David OReilly on Vimeo.

David O’Reilly’s Please Say Something is one of the highlights of this year’s Floating World Animation Fest.  The deceptively archaic polygon style actually provides a very emotional and cinematic experience for the viewer.  This poignant and moving short film tells the story of a troubled relationship between a Cat and Mouse set in the distant Future.  Winner of the Golden Bear for best short film at the 2009 Berlinale.

The 3rd annual Floating World Animation Fest features senses shattering video art and psychedelic animation from the secret world of motionography. 3+ hours of mind melting, soul loving psychedelicanimation… this summer’s ultimate videocation! Floating World Animation Fest 2009 – Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Portland OR – June 25th.

‘Roots to Fruits‘ is a little limited edition zine made for “Story Motel”  @ Owl & Lion Gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland. An exhibition of zines and multiple publishing.

Show Dates: 14th May – 12th June, 2009

Celebrated Norwegian Cartoonist Jason Appears at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on June 13 for Launch of LOW MOON Graphic Novel

SEATTLE, WA. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is honored to host an exhibition and book signing by internationally acclaimed comics artist Jason on Saturday, June 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This event marks the debut of Jason’s LOW MOON collection, published by Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books.

Norwegian alternative cartoonist Jason is among the most prolific and influential cartoonists of his generation. His economical narrative approach, clever rendering technique, and singular color sensibility distinguish his sophisticated yet populist style.  LOW MOON features Jason’s recent comic strip of the same name originally serialized in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. Also included are four new stories which display one of the world’s most admired graphic novelists at the absolute peak of his powers.

Fantagraphics Books has published no less than 10 volumes of Jason’s work in English. In addition to the display of his stunning original artwork, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery will also offer several rare European editions in his native language.

The public of all ages is invited to meet this wonderful artist on Saturday, June 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. DJ Russ, former proprietor of Fallout Records, will spin platters. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) only minutes south of downtown. This event coincides with the colorful Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack featuring lively visual and performing arts presentations throughout the historic neighborhood.

JASON: LOW MOON

Artist reception and book signing Saturday, June 13, 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Exhibition continues through July 8, 2009

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale St.
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 658-0110
Open daily 11:30 – 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM
www.fantagraphics.com

BIRDY NAM NAM – THE PARACHUTE ENDING from Steve Scott on Vimeo.

Check out this incredible video for ‘The Parachute Ending‘ by French DJ group Birdy Nam Nam. All the illustrations are designed by Will Sweeney and the song is produced by Justice!  We’re very proud to screen this video at our Animation Fest later this month.

The 3rd annual Floating World Animation Fest features senses shattering video art and psychedelic animation from the secret world of motionography. 3+ hours of mind melting, soul loving psychedelicanimation… this summer’s ultimate videocation!  Floating World Animation Fest 2009 – Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Portland OR – June 25th.

Return as an Animal from Bruno Dicolla on Vimeo.

Bruno Dicolla’s gorgeous short film about the myth of the eternal return of life after death.  Floating World Animation Fest 2009 – Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Portland OR – June 25th.

We’ll be screening a 1 hour preview of the animation fest tonite at Floating World Comics (20 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR), to coincide with ‘EXPLODED DRAWINGS 2‘: art opening with E*Rock and Cody Brant.

This is awesome news.  I remember a friend of mine showed me some Paper Rodeos that a friend have brought him from the east coast.  My favorite was Multiforce, these full page densely psychedelic adventure comics that seemed like old Masters of the Universe D&D characters come to life.    I didn’t figure out who Mat Brinkman was until I saw his cover to the now legendary Kramers Ergot 4.  This morning I was very excited to see this announcement from Picturebox:

At last, all of Mat Brinkman’s 2000-2005 comic strip serial Multiforce is collected in one volume at its original printed size. 22 big pages of some of the best comic strips I’ve ever seen. PictureBox scanned and carefully retouched these pages in collaboration with Brinkman. Come with Brinkman as he creates, explores and explodes his visual universe. Deeply personal, extravagantly visual, often hilarious: Multiforce is nothing short of a masterpiece. Big claim? I guess. But then, why not? Most of all, it’s an incredibly enjoyable thing to delve into. So, please do.

Floating World Animation Fest 2009 -- Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Portland OR -- June 25th

Floating World Animation Fest 2009 -- Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Portland OR -- June 25th

Smoke Signal #1 cover by Travis Millard

From our friends at Desert Island:

Desert Island is starting a free all-comics newspaper called SMOKE SIGNAL, which will debut in June.  The paper will have a circulation of 1000 and will be available at a few choice locations in Brooklyn (and via mail-order through our website).

In an effort to raise funds for this community-based project, we are hosting a fundraising concert at Union Pool on Memorial Day, May 25th, featuring performances by Uninhabitable Mansions, Boogie Boarder, Darlings, and Ambergris.  All proceeds will go towards the printing costs for the newspaper. PLEASE COME AND HELP MAKE THIS NEWSPAPER A REALITY!

Smoke Signal fund-raising concert
Memorial Day – this Monday!
Union Pool
484 Union Ave Brooklyn, NY
8 pm – $8 admission

For more information and links to the bands, please view our blog at http://tinyurl.com/smokecomix

From Matthew Thurber:

Hi, Rebecca and I have started a gallery in our living room. It opens tomorrow with a group show of Eamon Espey, Carlos Gonzalez, Haisi Hu, Jenni Knight, and Jonny Petersen. Come by and have a beer with us tomorrow!
http://www.ambiguousmass.org/interesting/interesting.html

MUSIC YOU CAN SEE:  Eamon Espey / Carlos Gonzalez / Haisi Hu / Jenni Knight / Jonathan Petersen

Opening Reception Friday, May 15, 6-9pm

Interesting Gallery

33 Crooke Avenue #2B

Brooklyn, NY 11226

We have two amazing graphic novels scheduled for November 2009 and February 2010. They are fantastic, vital works of art and we need your help to release them.

Powr Mastrs 3 (104 pages, 5.75” x 7.75”) continues CF’s visionary narrative about the complex relationships between mysterious beings in a place called New China. If ‘n Oof is Brian Chippendale’s 650 page, 5” x 7” magnum opus, a sprawling, hilarious tale of two pals wandering through a desolate, hostile landscape.

These two books are among the best graphic novels of our time, but they need your support. Like a lot of publishers, PictureBox is looking for new ways to navigate the current terrain. To that end, we are attempting to raise the money for these books ahead of time. It’s all an experiment these days.

So we are looking to you, as a community of readers, to help make these books a reality. Everyone that orders advance copies of one or both of these books (up until August 1) will receive the book itself and a signed silkscreen print upon the books’ releases. Everyone that orders in advance by June 20, 2009 will have their names hand-lettered in the book with their corresponding level of support (see below). We need about 400 of you per book to step up and help make this a reality. Let’s come together as a community.

We’d like to get to know Aidan better; here’s some excerpts from an interview she did in March 09 with Privelidge House:

Which influential artist would you like to ask for advice?
I once wrote some fan mail to Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson and sent them a copy of my latest comic at the time. They were delightfully responsive to it. I think just understanding that the artists you admire are often just sweet, hard working people is enough to be an influence to me. Advice is good, but motivation seems key.

If you had to put up one piece of artwork on your wall and stare at it for a year, who would it be by and why?
Honestly, I have this dog painting from a thrift store that was done in like ‘72. It’s an amorphous husky face and I think it would have to be the one. There’s a lot of art that I love and am influenced by, but when it comes down to it, I’d rather just laugh. It’s one of the best paintings I own.

Tell us about your creative process.
Usually I start with an agenda for painting or drawing. What am I doing? What am I looking at? What is it for? If I’m just going at it, the color palette I’m using is the most important part in creating a piece I like. There are very particular shades and tones and saturations that I use. They’re usually the same no matter what medium I’m working in and generally never fail me. Or I just use pencil and am pleased. There’s a lot of different feelings though that take hold of me and make me want to produce specific work. Sometimes they are simply circumstantial (being stuck in a location for an extended amount of time for instance) or I have a particular show coming up,or sometimes I’m really angry or hopelessly depressed, or sometimes I just don’t know what else to do with myself. There is no special environment necessary for me to work. Sometimes very personal is good. Other times, I just want to sit and draw people and buildings and coffee for hours and listen to conversations. I guess I’m a very skillful adapter.

Do you ever find weird connections between life and art?
It’s the same! The biggest thing I’ve noticed with myself is that my style, and wardrobe, and objects, and everything I surround myself with mirrors my artistic maturity. Or maybe it’s the other way around. These changes can be seen in palette, patterns, line quality, media, and seriousness. I look at pictures of myself and can pinpoint what I was painting at the moment. My interests and style change a lot, so there’s a lot for me to investigate into.

Which of your own works are you most proud of/ is most meaningful to you and why?
My comics and zines actually. I love some singular pieces, but I’ve emoted the most in the works I distributed. Knowing that I’m exposed to an audience for such an extended amount of time, in a variety of locations is terrifying. I’ve done some books that were very specific to me.

Do you think there are boundaries you would never cross in your art making?
I don’t think I can make any such claims at the moment. I only know that I will never give up drawing.

Do you have any magic cures for creative blocks?
I wouldn’t say I have blocks so much. I can always make work that I’m okay with. For work that I feel amazing about though, it’s usually essential that I am feeling a bit out of place or particularly self reflective. Things that I create while basically freaking out are usually what I relate to for the longest.

Which art mediums and brands do you prefer to use?
Gouache is lovely. Rives BFK & lightweight. Sometimes stonehenge. I pretty much exclusively use moleskin notebooks because they have toned pages and just look smart.

Which direction do you see your art heading in the future?
Expanding into space and the invisible.

This year’s fest screens at Holocene in Portland, OR, Thursday June 25th, with a special bonus program curated by Show Cave Gallery (Los Angeles). Trailer features: Yoshi Sodeoka, Eve Duhamel, Peppermelon, Nofun, Bruno Dicolla, Mato Atom, Kaliptus, Kirsten Lepore, David O’Reilly, Nicolas Djandji, Peter Glantz. Music by: Glaznost. Poster by: Psilo Design. I’ll post more films from the fest over the next few weeks.

Floating World Animation Fest 2009 Teaser – Holocene, June 25th from Floating World Comics on Vimeo.