Nerve Comix Issue

Just a quick note to urge you to check out the new issue of the online magazine Nerve, which is the new comics issue. I often get emails from people asking me about new stuff to check out, but I'm no Drawn: sometimes I'm too busy to actually find cool new stuff, myself. This Nerve issue has some nice introductory strips from some radical rising-but-under-the-radar artists such as Leah Hayes, as well as more established folks like the untouchable Paul Pope. Chynna Clugston has the best one on there (she's like a girl Evan Dorkin!), and even Sophie Crumb's strip isn't half bad, considering the fact that she's busy carrying around that last name like an albatross. On the whole, pretty good stuff. Also, more than half of the artists are women: that's a nice change of scenery. There's also an awesome article comparing TMNT to Sex and The City. Outstanding!

Duck Tales

My comics and illustration, when they're accused of any thing, have been accused of being very 'masculine': primarly colors, strong outlines, heroic poses, to say nothing of the content. I'm OK with that - hell, I'm a guy -, but it doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the effort of the fairer of the species. Frankly, a woman's perspective is exactly what I think the world of comics needs more of. A lot more.

I grew up in relatively typical New England town, and I was lucky enough to meet a bunch of great people, one of which was the House of Guerra. Five kids in all, I became close with the two oldest of the Guerra family, but the entire family posesses a natural talent and easy way with creativty that makes the question of Nature vs. Nuture even muddier.

I didn't really know Lynn growing up, as is the case with the younger siblings of friends, but in the past year, I've found out that Lynn makes great DIY comics. Below is her first offering, and like I mentioned above, the comics have a feminine sensibility (the pacing alone is something I wish I had the patience to dream up), as well as her excellent draftsmanship, with, and I think this another really cool part, a ballpoint pen. It reminds me of dooding of science class, and hence reminds me high school, and then on top of that, the content, well, the whole thing just leaves me all gushy. Enjoy.

(Click to enlarge)