Deconstructing Comics

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/littlenemo.jpg)FLASHBACK! Repeatedly collected and published since it went into the public domain, Winsor McCay's Little Nemo is perhaps the most celebrated comic strip of the early 20th century. Peter Maresca, whose Sunday Press (http://www.sundaypressbooks.com/) republished all the Nemo strips at their original size a few years back, talks with Tim about what's good and bad about the strip, and the influence it still has on modern comics. (Originally published September 28, 2009)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/tracy_sincity.jpg)FLASHBACK! Many comics have been adapted to movies, but few have tried to reproduce the experience of actually reading a comic. These two did: Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy, and Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's Sin City. Tim, Mulele, Paul, and newcomer Rod discuss. Also: Paul and Mulele give Miller's The Spirit a quickie review. (Originally published August 24, 2009)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2012/05/lordmofo.jpg)While technically a comic, The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo attempts to be a bit of a comics/animation hybrid -- not a "motion comic", but something like manually flipping through the frames of a movie. Does the technique succeed? Does the writing back it up? Tim and Mulele ponder.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2012/04/skydoll.jpg)Imagine a Disney movie with tons of cheesecake and commentary on how religion can be used to control a society. It would look an awful lot like Sky Doll, by Alessandro Barbucci and Barbara Canepa. Originally published by Soleil in France starting in 2000, it came out in English from Marvel in 2008. While there has been an anthology book (http://marvel.com/comic_books/collection/36914/sky_doll_space_ship_trade_paperback) and a sketchbook (http://marvel.wikia.com/Sky_Doll:_Doll_Factory_Vol_1_1), the main series (http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/22429/sky_doll_vol_1_premiere_hardcover) has apparently never been completed, but don't let that dissuade you from reading this very compelling (not to mention gorgeously drawn) volume. Tim and Rashad explore. Another take from Charley Parker (http://www.linesandcolors.com/2006/03/20/alessandro-barbucci-barbarra-canepa/)

Critiquing Comics retur(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2012/04/zombieheadhunter.jpg)ns! Along with it, the work of Guy LeMay ("Z-Blade XX") also returns, as he gives us a look at his more recent work. Listen to find out how Tim and Mulele evaluate "War Within" (written by Marcus Jones) and "Zombie Headhunter" (written by Guy and Tamey LeMay), both released under Guy's Strong Guy Comics (http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/pinballcomics/) imprint!

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2012/04/lostgirls.jpg)Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Wendy from Peter Pan, and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz meet in a hotel in Austria in 1913 and perform almost every sex act conceivable with each other, animals, objects, relatives, consenting and non-consenting minors, and numerous combinations thereof (it's all just lines on paper, folks!) nearly non-stop for 240 pages. Close to 20 years in the making, Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie's Lost Girls is perhaps the most ambitious, lavish, and beautiful project of Moore's career. And yet, does it all amount to mere slash fiction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_fiction)? Or, on the contrary, is it so intelligent that it sabotages its own pornographic objectives? Or is it, in fact, impervious to criticism? Kumar and Dana turn up their trenchcoat collars and slink into the grimy back room to discuss.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/jinchalo-a.jpg)(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/jinchalo-b.jpg)It pays to advertise! In episode #311, Tim asked Matthew Forsythe to contact him for an interview, and Matthew responded! This week he tells us about his two books that are informed by Korean (and other) folktales, Ojingogo and Jinchalo; about his tools, influences, and developing a style; and much more. * Some of his other illustration work (http://bldgwlf.com/matthew-forsythe/) * CBR interview (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37024) * Tour schedule (April-May 2012) (http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/newsEvents.php)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/dogisasuperhero.jpg)(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/superproko.jpg)It's been a while since we caught up with Rashad Doucet ("My Dog is a Superhero", "Nadia's Jewelry Box") and Jarrett Williams ("SuperPro K.O.", "Lunar Boy"), two graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design who have been on the podcast several times apiece. This time Tim takes them on together, and hilarity -- not to mention some great conversation about building a comics career -- ensues!

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2012/04/okashinafutari.jpg)Brian John Mitchell talks about his Kickstarter project (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/462361469/silber-mini-comics-collection) to fund the making of his matchbook-sized comics. Two of these books involved a collaboration with Dave Sim! "Rook Bartly (http://rookbartly.deviantart.com/)" (US Air Force active duty member Jason) tells us about "Okashi na Futari", the Japanese novel series whose author has hired him to draw a manga version of the story. Then, Kumar returns to tell us about a couple of his recent manga translation projects, "Stupid Guy Goes to India" (which landed him an interview in the March 25 Mumbai Sunday Mid-Day (http://epaper2.mid-day.com/epaperhome.aspx?issue=25032012&edd=Mumbai), pg 38-39) and Osamu Tezuka's "Adolf". All this, plus the announcement of the winning "what do you like about Deconstructing Comics" entry!

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/daredevil1.jpg)Over the years we've repeatedly looked at how other media adapt to comics, and vice-versa. This time around, Tim and Kevin (http://www.hortonsvoice.com/) look at the challenges of converting comics to audio, including Black & White Nexus #3 (1982) and Daredevil #1 (2011), plus some unofficial takes (including our own!) on Watchmen.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/sfsf.jpg)A few weeks back on Critiquing Comics (http://deconstructingcomics.com/?p=1981), we discussed the work of science-fiction creator Ryan Cecil Smith; we liked it so much, we decided to have him on the show! Kumar talks with him this week about his influences, producing and promoting his books, and more.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/docfrank.jpg)FLASHBACK! The Wachowski Brothers' Doc Frankenstein #2 and further discussion of burning questions such as: Can single-panel cartoons be considered "comics"? Are comics "drawn" or "illustrated"? How does society -- American and Japanese -- perceive comics creators or comics readers? Tim and Brandon ponder. Originally published October 23, 2006.