Editorial: Art vs Commerce (or, "Buy Our Comics!")

Today sees the one-year anniversary of the launch of Graphic Eye.  It's been a strange, interesting experiment; launching a new website in an already-crowded scene, wrangling writers and cartoonists, and trying to maintain some semblance of a regular schedule.  The site has had some ups and downs, its golden periods of quality articles and its half-hearted ones where life has got in the way, and some pieces have been posted that I wish...

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Review: The Moon Moth by Jack Vance and Humayoun Ibrahim

The Moon Moth – Jack Vance (w) Humayoun Ibrahim (a) First Second, $17.99, ISBN: 978-1-59643-367-0 Jack Vance has always been the connoisseur’s sf writer.  Never attaining the widespread acclaim of the likes of Philip K. Dick or Arthur C. Clarke — possibly due to the absence of a middle initial — he nevertheless inspired a loyal cult following whose number includes Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin and Michael Chabon.  Perhaps...

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Feature: Taste-testing the Apocalypse, part 4

Elysian Peste To celebrate the impending apocalypse (or capitalise on popular misconceptions of ancient mathematics) Fantagraphics have made a strange alliance with fellow Seattleites, Elysian Brewery, to release a series of 12 speciality beers with label art by Charles Burns. The beers are being released at a rate of one per month, with this month's brew being “Peste” ("Plague" in what might be a subtle nod to Burns's Black Hole graphic...

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Review: Only Skin by Sean Ford

Only Skin – Sean Ford (w/a) Secret Acres, $21.95, ISBN: 978-0983166207 Sean Ford is one of the increasing number of CCS graduates who are beginning to make their mark on the comics landscape.  Only Skin is his debut, long-form work, created over the course of five years.  Its lengthy gestation is appropriate, given the creeping, slow-burn of the narrative and its empty, lonely mood. Only Skin flows from the heart of the American...

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Weekly Reviews: The Secret Service #2, Manhattan Projects #3

The Secret Service # 2 - Mark Millar (w) Dave Gibbons (a) Marvel Icon, $2.99 The Secret Service # 2 is actually kind of fun. There isn’t any excuse to continue reading Mark Millar’s books but, for those of us who can’t help ourselves, this issue delivers. It isn’t original, not by a long shot, but the opening scene alone is well worth the price of admission. At least if you’re a fan of ridiculous over-the-top violence,...

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