THE BOSTON COMICS ROUNDTABLE: a community of comics creators, meeting weekly since 2006.

Author: David Kender

  • The Best Comics You Never Read in Your Life #3

    A new series feature in which comics creators discuss their favorite comics that just haven’t got the attention they deserved.

    Killer of Demons
    by Christopher Yost (writer), Scott Wegener (art)

    Story synopsis
    Wegener describes it as “Office Space meets Shaun of the Dead”. What if everyone around you was a demon and you were compelled by a 3′ tall cigar smoking angel to kill them?

    Why comics creator Carl Tsui loves it
    This is not John Constantine. It’s not strewn with obscure Biblical references or grim dark gritty gritty. It’s a  witty action comedy with plenty of wry fun poking at everyday geek life. Oh and there’s kung fu. Fun art style tops it off (Wegener is the Eisner nominated artist for Atomic Robo series).

    How to buy Killer of Demons
    Amazon

    To see art and comics from Boston Comics Roundtable’s own Carl Tsui, visit http://steamee.deviantart.com.

    Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld
    by Dan Mishkin & Gary Cohn (writers), Ernie Colon (art)

    Story synopsis
    Amy Winston is your average teen girl who seems to have elaborate, “Little Nemo” type nightmares by night about a psycodelic fantasy world.  Little does she know, these aren’t dreams at at and as it turns out she is the ruler of the Amethyst empire of Gemworld!

    Why comics creator Jack Turnbull loves it
    I love this 12 part DC series from 1983/84 because it totally doesn’t know what it is.  The writers don’t know their target audience, the genre flows from horror to fantasy to psychodelic feminist wonderment.  The reason why it probably didn’t do too well and you’ve never heard of it is because nobody could figure out what they were reading … but this is why I dig it.  It’s totally unpredictable but simultaneously lovable in a pulpy, cheesy way.  Also, the color separations (a lost art) are superb at times.  And, admittedly, I have a crush on Amethyst.

    How to buy  Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld
    Try Ebay. The original 12 part maxi series is what I’ve read and love.

    To see art and comics from Boston Comics Roundtable’s own Jack Turnbull, visit www.jackturnbull.com.

  • Heaps ‘o Praise: July 2010 edition

    We now take time to honor the honored.

    Ron LeBrasseur was praised by The Comics Journal for his book Blood Moon: A Love Story.

    Joel Gill earned a great review from the Small Press Syndicate for the first and second issues of Strange Fruit. Days later, he garnered a second positive review from The Poop Sheet Foundation (a much more pleasant website then the name implies).

    Cathy Leamy was called out by The Comics Journal just a few days ago for her excellent minis Greenblooded and Reggie & Brian and the Lousy Nickname.

    Dan Mazur also got accolades from The Comics Journal last month for his latest mini, The Way it Crumbles.

    Congratulations to everyone!

  • The Best Comics You Never Read in Your Life #2

    A new series feature in which comics creators discuss their favorite comics that just haven’t got the attention they deserved.

    Hello, Me Pretty
    by Line Gamache

    Story synopsis
    A family history, mostly set in 1960s Quebec, centered around the family’s mentally disabled daughter (sister of the writer/artist). This daughter makes life challenging, but she is most of all a positive force in the family.

    Why comics creator Line O loves it
    The drawings are very creative and unique. A bit as if a child had drawn them, but with the imagination of an adult, which goes well with the theme of the daughter who can not grow up, but remains small and innocent. Despite the challenges the family faces, the message of the comic is positive, without becoming sentimental: People are different and unique in their own beautiful ways.

    How to buy Hello, Me Pretty
    Amazon, Conundrum Press, local comics shops

    To see art and comics from Boston Comics Roundtable’s own Lino O, visit http://outoflinecomics.blogspot.com.

    The Man Eating Cow
    by Clay Griffith (writer), Alan Hopkins (artist)

    Story synopsis
    When heaps of partially eaten criminals start lining The City streets, the homicide local squad sets out to capture Crime Cannibal. But the real killer is a cow.

    Why comics creator Joey Peters loves it
    A spinoff from The Tick, it takes its source material in a completely different direction. Surreal, but with less overt parody elements. It’s about as grounded in reality as any comic you’re likely to see about a former crime fighting cannibal. Also, it’s very funny.

    How to buy  The Man Eating Cow
    Amazon

    To see art and comics from Boston Comics Roundtable’s own Joey Peters, visit http://tacolicious.net.

  • The Best Comics You Never Read in Your Life #1

    A new series feature in which comics creators discuss their favorite comics that just haven’t got the attention they deserved.

    The Astrosmurf
    by Peyo

    Story synopsis
    A Smurf wants to build a rocket and travel to another world, when it looks like he’ll have to give up, Papa Smurf enlists the other Smurfs to makre his dream come true.

    Why comics creator Will Clark loves it
    Quite simply, Peyo is one of the finest cartoonists who has ever put pencil to page. Plus, the story is funny and delightful.

    How to buy The Astrosmurf
    Ebay, though American reprints are supposed to start in August.

    To see art and comics from Boston Comics Roundtable’s own Will Clark, visit http://laughingboycomics.com.

    Los Tejanos
    by Jack “Jaxon” Jackson

    Story synopsis
    A beautifully-drawn black-and-white historical graphic novel based on the political career of Juan Seguin, a Mexican founding father of the republic of Texas.

    Why comics creator E. J. Barnes loves it
    This was the first comic to bring home to me the potential of the comic book and graphic novel to portray historical events in social as well as dramatic context.

    How to buy  Los Tejanos
    Pub. Fantagraphics 1982.  Out of print?

    To see art and comics from Boston Comics Roundtable’s own E. J. Barnes, visit www.ejbarnes.com.

  • Indie Spinner Rack honors Inbound #4

    Indie Spinner Rack has named Inbound #4 one of their top anthologies of the year. You can hear all about it at the end of episode #175 , the latter half of its two-parter 2010 “Izzer Awards” (listen for it at the 41:25 mark). We expect our tiny statuette in the shape of Rudolph Topffer to arrive in the mail any day.

    Thanks, Charlito and Mr. Phil!

    If you can’t get enough of Inbound #4 reviews, here are some more to pass the time:

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