Best of 2011: Ed Luce

Ed Luce

1. The Wolf by Tom Neely - A natural progression from his Ignatz winning The Blot, Tom's intensely personal and horrific vision spills across the pages of this graphic novel like so much gore and seed. It's not without its gorgeous side, as the delicately rendered last act balances out the carnage.   All without a single word balloon in sight.  http://www.iwilldestroyyou.com/

Prison Pit #3

2. Prison Pit, Book Three by Johnny Ryan - The Prison Pit series has produced some of the best gay erotic comics in recent memory (particularly Book One), without consciously setting out to do so. It could easily be subtitled "A Complex Cycle of Penetration and Regeneration".  Johnny pumps this hyper-masculine orgy of violence and sex so far beyond bursting, it can't help but tip over to the queer side.  It is a prison, after all.  http://johnnyryan.com/

3. Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Resume, Ages 0 to 22 by MariNaomi -  A different kind of blood and guts are unflinchingly on display for everyone to see in this alternately tender and bitter collection.  There's some very raw stuff in these stories but Mari's sharp, steady renderings charm and guide you through.  Sadly, it made me realize my own romantic resume would have to start at 22...http://marinaomi.com/


4. Metal Evolution documentary series by Sam Dunn (as seen on VH1 Classic) - Metal music is a major ingredient in my comic work, so I was especially excited to see the genre get its due in this eleven part series.  Each episode explores the genesis and innovation of an individual sub-genre:  New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Glam, Thrash, Shock, Grunge, Power Metal.  Props to Sam for going out of his way to get the musicians we don't hear from so much anymore, including Peter Criss and Ace Frehley.   Seriously, I thought Peter Criss was dead...

Batwoman

5. Batwoman by JH Williams - Easily the finest of the DC's New 52 books.  Splendorously dark panels and composition.  JH Williams is redefining the monthly superhero comic.  With a queer female lead, I might add.

6. Your Scene Sucks - The words "hipster" and "scenester" get thrown around a lot but can anyone actually explain the finer points of who these people are?  This site and book series attempt to chronicle, with lovingly crafted illustrations and damningly spot-on footnotes, the many exotic scene species including "Indie Jesus", "Crabcore" kids and "The Screamolester".  Also my go-to guide for character and costume design.  http://yourscenesucks.com/

7. Junque Land #1 and #2 by Jay Fischer & Robin Bogert - Anthropomorphic monster porn, wordlessly illustrated with slobbering, bodacious flair. http://www.junqueland.com/


8. Artist Jose Gabriel Angeles - Take your pick from this comic-zine-painting-print-poster-toy-shirt producing man-machine; it all bares the same insanely intricate, chromatically acidic, ugly-gorgeous sense of design.  http://crudedude.net/

Jose Gabriel Angeles

9. Decibel Magazine - This magazine (along with the aforementioned Metal Evolution series) has completely revitalized both my creative juices and iTunes library.  The only extreme music/metal monthly, it also features comics and artwork by three of my favorite creators:  Chuck BB, Mark Rudolph and (occasionally) Tom Neely.  http://www.decibelmagazine.com/

10. Forming, Volume One by Jesse Moynihan
As bratty as it is pretty, a kinda-sorta re-imagining of man's evolution at the hands of a group of mystical/extraterrestrial douche bags.  It has easily garnered more gawking from casual passersby than anything else I've read this year.  http://jessemoynihan.com/


Ed Luce is the creator of the comic series Wuvable Oaf about love, metal and cats.  In 2011, he had exhibitions of his art -- simultaneously -- in New York and San Francisco.  You can buy his comics here: http://wuvableoaf.com

Posted in: BestOf2011,Feature