Archive for October, 2007

Against those words that kill

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

Graphic novels at impressive publishers aside, comics are still considered children’s fodder and not to be taken too seriously. Still, comics vocabulary is consistently used in mainstream media to convey certain messages.  For example, speech balloons are the most common and easily understood visualisation of oral communication. Moreover, since they are visual elements themselves,the balloons can convey different and conflicting messages in their shape and in their contents, resulting in rather humorous effects, as these examples show.

(from Ads of the World)

The Cat by Gene Deitch

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

In 1948, the cartoons that Gene Deitch drew fo Record Changer Magazine, were published as a book, The Cat. As vintage record collector Glen Richards, who reproduced this book on his website, puts it :

“The Cat is the consumate collector; he knows who is on what record, what master is the rarest, exactly how to tweak his system for the ultimate playback. He is an expert in all things musical, an expert in discography, and is always ready to share his knowledge (whether he was requested to or not!). This series of cartoons, drawn by Gene Deitch for Record Changer magazine, was published in 1948. In this age of Rust discographies, compact disks, MP3s and computerized databases, it’s amazing to see how little has changed in 50 years…”

In 2003, these cartoons were collected again as Cat On A Hot Tin Groove, by Fantagraphics.

(image © Gene Deitch - from Glen’s excellent The Hot-Dance & Vintage Jazz Pages)

Nutricia Baby Books 10 - Pollie The Poodle

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

It’s been a month again since we dived into the sinister world of PG 60’s children’s literature. This week, another typical “cute” animal claims the stage, so gather round and shudder while I tell you the story of…

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“Pollie The Poodle”

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Future Trash

Friday, October 19th, 2007

I am totally flabbergasted by Scott Teplin’s architectural typography (or is that typographical architecture ?) at Future Trash. His work is immensely detailed and researched (as the numerous sketches and experiments on his blog show), and he uses the cavalière perspective in an amazingly creative way. For more of his work, visit teplin.com.

(illustration © Scott Teplin)

Ever Meulen on Writing

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Ever Meulen has a long history of illustration related to books, reading and writing. These stamps are the latest in that line. They were issued earlier by the Belgian Post Office, and deal with all forms of writing (with the motto “What’s written, stays”). I like the fact that Ever didn’t limit “writing” to books, but also included music, letters and even emails. In fact, he focuses on letter writing - after all, this is the post office. On that note - check out the sad git in the last stamp : is it any wonder that the only person in these stamps using a computer is crying his eyes out ? The Post Office needs your business, people, so stop emailing and start writing letters !

Also, check out the git’s t-shirt on the last stamp. This is a reference to the comic series “Stamp & Pilou“, which the Belgian Post Office has been publishing for quite a while now. I don’t really care for it much myself, but it has introduced a lot of kids to stamp collecting, which is a good thing.

Finally, a little philatelist phact. These stamps are among the first to be issued in Belgium without an actual monetary value. Instead, they have a “1″ in a circle in the top right corner, indicating that they can be used for all regular mail, regardless the rise in tarriffs in the future.

(artwork © Belgian Post Office)

Hellboy 2 - scary !

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

FirstShowing.net announces the new Hellboy movie (aptly called “Hellboy 2” ) ! I liked the first one the way I like white chocolate. I just hope the second one won’t make me feel nauseous the way too much white chocolate does.

Cool poster, though.

No copyrights in Africa

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

(photo © Marc Goldchstein, published in De Morgen Magazine, september 15 - via my mom)

Comics history artifact

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

I found this leaflet (click for the complete version) in an early issue of Seth’s Palookaville. I like the way Black Eye and Drawn And Quarterly at that time tried to cross-market their respective titles, only to completely merge a couple of years later.

I iz a Yellow Cat

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

(From Hobotopia)

Chris Ware for the New Yorker (again)

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

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From Occasional Superheroine, another New Yorker cover by Chris Ware. I love this guy.