Sally here to finish the week with work by Kyung Me, Gabrielle Bell, Nnedi Okorafor, and more!
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Kyung Me is having a solo exhibition at Selena Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. It opens tomorrow, December 16th, 7-10pm (34 Troutman St #3.)
“Kyung Me’s intricate, hypnotic drawings map out puzzled narratives revealing a mysterious cat and dream like scenery that dismantle linear time. For this exhibition, the artist will present her new original drawings focused around her reinvention of the Cheshire cat.
Kyung Me’s invented characters operate as stand-ins for herself, as a means of understanding relationships with herself and others. In her latest autobiographical series, Copy Kitty, the artist explores the perverse qualities of obsessive romantic relationships. Through sensitively rendered graphite drawings, Kyung Me creates an immersive world full of dread and humor that both satirizes and eulogizes the naïveté of an immature, paranoid, yet earnest love.“
Some of Copy Kitty – {Prelude} – appeared here on Comics Workbook in May – see the comic HERE. Also be sure to check out Kyung Me’s Bad Korean, and other comics and art on her website.
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Brian Nicholson wrote about Gabrielle Bell‘s Everything is Flammable, and E.A. Bethea’s Book Of Daze recently on his blog Longbox Coffin. He wasn’t blown away by either, but I think the reviews are pretty fair to both works. I liked one note he made regarding creators of autobio comics:
“You have to be a certain kind of person to make an autobio comic: Introverted and removed enough to be observing the people around you for being strange, outgoing enough to know those people are interesting, capable of deadpan wit, possessing enough free time to tell the stories of things that have transpired while they’re still fresh in your mind. …
If you were reading straight prose, or poetry, the author’s voice would distinguish itself from others more, but comics can use their visuals to achieve a sort of leveling effect. The narrator is a witness, to give events a throughline, but less of a defining presence in their own right. If they were more overbearing, and dominated their surroundings, they would want to dominate the reader as well, and so would write fiction.“
Read the full review, and Brian’s thoughts on Book of Daze as well, HERE.
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I read a lot of comics, mostly alternative and small press stuff of course, but I dip into mainstream comics occasionally too. I keep tumbling into the world of Black Panther – especially after local Pittsburgh poet Yona Harvey joined the creative team for a minute last year. The series has been struggling against any number of foes in the industry and market, but Marvel is trying again this week with a digital version of the comic, available exclusively through comiXology.
The reason I’m genuinely excited for this release is because Black Panther: Long Live the King is written by one of my favorite sci-fi novelists – the Hugo/Nebula/World Fantasy award-winning Nnedi Okorafor.
The Comics Beat has a write-up on the series, and they share some thoughts from Nnedi Okorafor:
” “I had a lot of questions about Wakanda, so I brought the lens deep into it… You’ll see the Black Panther interacting with tech-hacking village kids, vibranium-affected wildlife, and off-grid communities in Wakanda known as “mute zones”. Not only is this a deeply personal story about T’Challa, you’ll also see a side of the African country of Wakanda that no one’s seen before. Oh and there’s a mysterious monster in the countryside causing problems for everyone.” “
Nnedi Okorafor’s novels combine African locales and characters with supernatural events and weird science in a way that is truly mind-bending, spooky, and often beautiful, so I have high hopes for her ability to channel some bonkers/brilliant new energy into Black Panther. Fingers crossed.
Read more about the series HERE.
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The Rum Punch
- Meg Lemke takes over as the Graphic Novels Review Editor at Publishers Weekly. Heidi MacDonald held the position for 14 years, and now cheerfully hands over the baton to Meg, as her focus shifts full time to The Comics Beat (after its recent acquisition by Syndication Comics). Read more about it HERE – and congratulations to Meg!
- Frank Santoro writes about Lala Albert‘s new comic Wet Earth – here on The Comics Journal.
- Jessica Campbell has a new comic up on Hyperallergic – A Gallery Worker’s Glimpses of Art Basel Miami Beach.
- Emil Ferris is the guest on episode 25 of Comic Book Decalogue – listen HERE.
- Whit Taylor picks a comic by Carta Monir to feature on Illustrated PEN – see it HERE.
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The Winter Semester of thee Santoro Correspondence Course for Comic Book Makers starts January 16th 2018! 8 weeks – 500 bux – coaching for as long as you need. The course is hard, but Frank will push your comics making practice to a new level, getting you to think about timing and color in new ways. Makes a great holiday gift for yourself – or for a loved one who is interested in comics. Apply by midnight (EST) on Dec. 25th and get $100 off the course price.
Full details and how to apply can be found HERE!
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Suzy and Cecil – 12-15-2017 – by Sally Ingraham