I adore this little graphic novel. From the illustrations to the pure emotions, I read this from cover to cover in glee. This book is a treat. A young woman’s relationship with an actual live bear is met with struggles – from a friend’s negative reactions, to the challenge of not seeing each other for the months of hibernation. Though the obstacles are definitely specific to their unique relationship, the message rings loud and clear for everyone to hold close: Do what makes you happy with the people (or bears?) that you love most and don’t worry about the rest. Five stars from me.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Books read in March 2022 BUSTER UNDERCOVER by Caleb Zane Huett TIGER VS. NIGHTMARE by Emily Tetri THE MUSHROOM AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing FOUR THOUSAND WEEKS by Oliver Burkeman CAMP by Kayla Miller FIBBED by Elizabeth Agyemang SLIP by Marika McCoola and Aatmaja Pandya WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A LIST OF FURTHER POSSIBILITIES by Chen Chen THE LESBIANA’S GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL by Sonora Reyes
I’m up to the third issue, but I just have to blabber on about the protagonist’s second dream, the one in which he’s on a train. All the hints and hooks and seemingly minor incidents in the story up to now feature in the dream, but at the same time, some of these allusions are obviously “premonitions”. I put “premonitions” in quotes because in Providence, time is kind of a permanent, motionless thing where every thing that happens sets up echoes in the past and the future. (It makes more sense in the actual graphic novel than in my words.)
The premonitions are unmistakably of the Holocaust, still twenty or so years into the protagonist’s future. Stating it flat out like that doesn’t begin to convey the growing atmosphere of dread, of foreboding. It’s still just disturbing little hints, but it chills me to the bone! It’s almost as if the premonitions reflect something approaching him that’s even worse, if possible, than the Nazi genocides.
I originally started reading the novel due to Gordon White’s praise of it. He described it as having a genuine magician’s understanding of time, and that each event thus sends echoes down through the past and the future. I’m beginning to see what he meant.
The Greek gods – they’re just like us! Rachel Smythe’s new Lore Olympus vol. 1, a dead-tree edition of her hit webcomic, transplants Hades and Persephone to a world of sportscars, slick suits and “apology donuts.” Our critic Etelka Lehoczky says “The diverse, subtle ways Smythe reiterates her central question — which can be summed up as something like, "How have we changed in the past two millennia? How have we stayed the same?” — make this book a great read for anyone who’s thought about the stubbornness of human nature and the resilience of classic tropes.“ Check out her full review here!
Another bit from the large scale #comic I worked on with @rafmuseum’s for their brand-new Building 69 about certified badass edith maude cook. Turn-of-the-century lady aviators were AN AESTHETIC.
Here’s one of the full comic I created for the RAF Museum’s new exhibition space about the history of parachuting featuring William Newall and his fantastic moustache (plus some utterly terrifying airborne antics).
MA bits- currently trying to get through pencils for this thing ASAP (212 pages and counting!) but here’s a spread from the 1st third or so which I am mmmmmm quite pleased with.
Bits from Toronto Comix’s SHOUT OUT anthology which I had the pleasure of contributing artwork to last year. Ah man. Can someone just pay me to draw supernatural-smashing teens all day?
After learning what Black Out Tuesday was originally intended to be, I too would like to use this opportunity to boast about some black creators and their work that needs more attention.
These are the three books, two graphic novels and one poetry book, that I will be reading this week.
✊ I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina and illustrated by Stacey Robinson & John Jennings with a foreword by Bryan Stevenson:
When an off-duty officer mistakes a clothes hanger for a gun, Alfonso Jones wakes up in the afterlife guided by fellow victims of police shootings. Meanwhile, Alfonso’s family and friends struggle with their grief and seek justice for Alfonso’s murder.
✊Your Black Friend and Other Strangers by Ben Passmore:
Described as required reading for those seeking to be useful allies in the fight for justice, this collection of culturally charged comics tackles race, gentrification, the prison system, racial micro-aggressions, and more with both humor and relatability.
✊Say Her Name by Zetta Elliot and illustrated Loveis Wise:
In this collection of haikus and poems, Elliot creates a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls while also paying tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists championing for the Black Lives Matter cause.
I encourage everyone to check out these books, support a independent bookstore (especially Black-owned ones!!!) and your local libraries. And as always, BLACK LIVES MATTER! And please don’t forget to let your Black joy shine!
Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire by Neil Gaiman and Shane Oakley
Troll Bridge by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran
During my library visit I found two comic adaptations of short stories by Neil Gaiman, which is always fun. Since they were shorter I read them one after the other, comparing their artwork and how much I enjoyed the adaptation of the story.
I liked Troll Bridge best namely because it’s one of my favorite short stories by this author. Also, Colleen Doran made it very fun to read and see her characterization with colors!
Forbidden Brides was also good, a satirical story with striking comic art, but some panels were hard to tell what was going on because there was too much happening at once. I did appreciate Shane Oakley’s art style, giving this story the gothic appeal it rightfully deserves.
