A short, subjective
list of the best comix of 2011
What follows is a list of my “favorite” comix of 2011, as
opposed the “best.” More important to me
than any single title was the increasing profile of self-published comix in the
Pacific Northwest and beyond. These
handcrafted books are appearing in greater numbers and with higher production
values than at any time in recent memory. The contents are delightfully uneven,
but the level of enthusiasm from both cartoonists and consumers is refreshing.
To varying degrees, my three selections from 2011 all emerge from this
independent tradition.
Crickets #3 by Sammy Harkham (Self-published, distributed by
Fantagraphics Books)
Like many comix enthusiasts, I was primarily aware of Sammy
Harkham as the editor of the ambitious anthology Kramer’s Ergot. What little exposure I’d had to his comix work left
little impression until the appearance of Crickets
# 3 earlier this year. Maybe it was the alluring cover that attracted me to
this magazine sized comic book. The “Sex Morons” subtitle was certainly
intriguing. Once opened, the skillfully rendered, enigmatic endpapers were
equally sensuous. The stories mostly deal with mundane indiscretions and
infidelities of married men. While they may lack drama, the fluid narrative and
engaging artwork made this one the pleasant surprises of last year.
Thunder in the Building #2 by Margaret Ashford-Trotter
(Self-published)
Seattle resident Margaret Ashford-Trotter is a formally
trained visual artist. My experience indicates that many cartoonists emerging
from academic backgrounds sacrifice storytelling skills in favor of aesthetic
considerations. Thankfully, Ashford-Trotter is in full possession of both. This
single story, magazine sized comic with additional illustrations, is rooted in
the Northwest Noir tradition. The fictional “Young Savage” tale has the
authenticity of contemporary autobiographical comix; its believable narrative
enhanced by realistic artwork. The work
is sophisticated conceptually without a hint of condescension. Technically, the
book was published in late 2010, but didn’t come to my attention until 2011. It
was among the most memorable reads of the year.
Love & Rockets: New Stories #4 by Gilbert and Jaime
Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books)
Thirty years ago, brothers Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez
self-published the magazine sized Love
& Rockets #1. In the process they altered comix culture in the U.S. and
abroad. Their sensuous comix foreshadowed a multicultural society featuring
determined women facing relevant situations. Three decades later, their work
resonates with equal intensity. The conclusion of Jaime’s poignant “Love
Bunglers” story alone made this book essential reading in 2011. Almost
unfathomably, Love & Rockets
keeps getting better with age.
Larry Reid is the curator of Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery in Seattle, WA.
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