Deconstructing Comics

Why read a biography of a fictional comics artist? What if it’s also a history of Singapore — done in a style that apes more than a dozen seminal 20th century comics creators? Tim and Kumar take a look at the awe-inspiring (yet sometimes puzzling) Sonny Liew graphic novel The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/07/black_dossier.jpg)FLASHBACK! Tim and Brandon struggle with League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier, zip through Alex Robinson's Lower Regions, revisit The Black Diamond, and go back in comics history for The Grendel Archives. (originally published May 5, 2008)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/06/League_isthatyoudeath.jpg)While this podcast has covered the odd League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book here and there, no one has dared think of trying to discuss all of them in one episode... until now! Kumar and Dana take on the task, with special attention paid to Black Dossier (and the record (http://www.momentofmoore.com/post/29402052020/immortal-love-b-w-home-with-you-by-eddie-enrico) that was recorded for it), the Century trilogy, and the injustice that Kumar feels was done to Volume 2 in the 2006 episode we republished yesterday!

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/06/League_of_Extraordinary_Gentleman_volume_2_cover-200x300.jpg)FLASHBACK! Leading into tomorrow's look at ALL the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen books, we look back to this early episode, in which Tim, Mulele, and Brandon talk about the merits -- or, in Brandon's view, lack of merit -- in League Volume 2. That is, once they're done going down the Star Wars rabbit hole. Originally published May 1, 2006 Alan Moore interview on MTV.com (http://www.mtv.com/shared/movies/interviews/m/moore_alan_060315/)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/06/argo5.png)A new superhero team comes together. But why, and how were they recruited? Tim and Mulele look for answers as they critique Dan Sehn, Arley Tucker, and Alex Garcia's Argo 5 #1!

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/06/trippyaudiocomics.jpg)Jim Woodring doing kids' books!? That was apparently the thought behind Trosper, a 2001 release from Woodring that came with a Southwest Asia-influenced music CD by Bill Frisell. A baby elephant-like creature runs from things that go bump in the night. Maurice Sendak would be proud. Going further back, Daniel Clowes' early '90s comedy/nightmare graphic novel Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron also has a musical soundtrack (sold separately), from Victor Banana. The book is a lesson in controlled chaos; the CD, a commentary on it. Tim and Kevin explore the audible and visual aspects of both these comics. PLUS: Ritz Crackers! Jimmy Durante! The Brady Bunch! This one has it ALL! (including spoilers!)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/06/twomonsters.jpg)What do you do when your town monster just doesn't bring the scary? Hire someone to get the big red guy out of his funk. Rob Harrell breaks out of the funny pages with his first graphic novel, Monster on the Hill; Tim & Mulele review. Meanwhile, much scarier monsters lurk in the background of Justin Randall's Changing Ways, Book 2. Tim & Brandon take a look and compare with Book 1. The monsters are scary, but is the book?

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/06/donaldduck.jpg)From 1942 to 1966, many of the Donald Duck comic books published by Dell Comics were written and drawn by Carl Barks. Like most comic book creators at the time, his name was unknown; the Duck comics were all credited to Walt Disney. Fans only knew that his work was by the GOOD duck artist. Barks created Scrooge McDuck and many of the other duck characters that are taken for granted as part of Disney canon today. What made Barks the standout Duck artist? Were they meant to be satirical, or simply enjoyable stories? Tim, Kumar, and Tom Spurgeon discuss Barks' work, particularly the Fantagraphics volume “Lost in the Andes.” Comics Journal review of Lost in the Andes (http://www.tcj.com/reviews/donald-duck-lost-in-the-andes-2/)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/05/newspapercomics.png)Comics that you buy in comics shops or bookstores are facing enough business challenges, but how about newspaper comics? Their traditional delivery system is dying out, with many printed papers ceasing publication. The comic strip faces a number of challenges, but there are positive trends as well. How are Web comics and other new technology changing the game? This week, Tim talks newspaper(-style) strips with Tom Racine, host of the Tall Tale Radio podcast (http://www.talltaleradio.com/)! Stephan Pastis interview (gigaom.com) (http://gigaom.com/2012/01/26/the-comic-strip-in-the-age-of-ipad-a-talk-with-stephan-pastis/)  

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/05/mindgator_background.jpg) Drawing backgrounds is seldom the most enjoyable part of drawing a comic. Many artists dislike it, and might try to give it short shrift. But it's an important part of telling your story, so you've got to do it right. Tim and Mulele discuss some important points to keep in mind when drawing your backgrounds -- and a few things to avoid. Sean Gordon Murphy's background tips (http://seangordonmurphy.deviantart.com/journal/Background-Tips-248391711) Drawinghowtodraw.com (http://www.drawinghowtodraw.com/drawing-lessons/improve-drawing/drawing-backgrounds-interiors-scenes.html) (beware of the popup ad!) idrawdigital.com: backgrounds tutorial (http://www.idrawdigital.com/2009/11/tutorial-drawing-backgrounds/) Schweizercomics: tangents (http://schweizercomics.tumblr.com/post/11966164633/the-schweizer-guide-to-spotting-tangents) The Mindgator: invisible Coke machine in last panel (http://mulele.com/mindgator/?p=53)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/nemi_blacksad.jpg) In more than seven years of doing this podcast, our coverage of European comics has been, um... underwhelming. This week, Tim tries to change that, discussing two European comics with European co-reviewers! First, Nemi, the overzealous goth girl from Norway, whose eponymous strip by Lise Myhre has become popular in numerous European countries. Norwegian Line Olsson (of the Boston Comics Roundtable) joins Tim to discuss. Then, the second Blacksad installment, "Arctic Nation", by animators Juan Diaz Canales (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_D%C3%ADaz_Canales) and Juanjo Guarnido (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juanjo_Guarnido). Is racism the point of this noirish "furry (http://th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2011/003/0/b/my_definitions_by_goldenwolf-d36donx.jpg)" tale, or is it just the framing device for something else? Eugenia Koumaki in Athens co-reviews with Tim.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/05/manga.jpg)The 2000s have been thought of as a "manga boom" in the US. Well, that's true in comparison to the '90s, but North American manga sales have never come close to the numbers in Japan (http://omaris-sister.blogspot.jp/2012/06/real-numbers-on-sales-of-manga-in-us.html). Sales of manga -- and books in general -- have dropped the past few years, but there are signs that the market has stabilized (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/56693-manga-2013-a-smaller-more-sustainable-market.html). Deb Aoki, who writes about manga for About.com, joins us again this week to discuss the reasons why publishers hesitate to put out new manga titles, why Jmanga died (http://comicsbeat.com/jmanga-shuts-down-taking-all-the-manga-you-bought-with-it/) and Manga Reborn's business model is imperfect (http://en.mangareborn.jp/), and what bright spots there are for the future.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/madmanofmagic.jpg)A maligned magician steps up in a time of crisis to become a hero! Tim and Mulele discuss Jason Love's Kickstarter-funded (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/madmanofmagic/madman-of-magic-the-beginning-of-the-end) Madman of Magic.

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/podcast/references/china.png)Electronic publishing has made it possible for anyone, anywhere in the world, to make their work available to millions of people. Chinese graphic designer and sometime comic creator Liu Jing is one of them. He's using modern technology to put out his comics history of one of the world's oldest civilizations: Understanding China through Comics (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0983830819/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0983830819&linkCode=as2&tag=globalcomicsn-20)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=globalcomicsn-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0983830819). Tim talks to Jing about his book, as well as Chinese comics, copyright enforcement, censorship, and more. (Thanks to MandMX.com (http://www.mandmx.com/2012/01/14/23-questions-for-beijing-cartoonist-liu-jing/) for their help in getting in touch with Jing!)

(http://deconstructingcomics.com/kumar/2013/04/lulu.png)Many classics have been presented as comics, but Frank Wedekind's "Lulu" plays have, as far as we know, not made it to the page until now; occasional Deconstructing Comics contributor John Roberson (http://www.jlroberson.org/comix/index.html) has recently released Book One of his adaptation. He talks to Tim about including the level of sexual frankness Wedekind may have intended, censorship, self-publishing, and more.