Talkin'

Mike Dawson just interviewed Lucy Knisley, Steve Seck, my ol' buddy Joe Lambert, and myself for his podcast on The Comics Journal called TCJ talkies. This episode is focused on CCS. It was really fun to talk to Mike, afterwards I was like "oh my god I can't believe I said that oh my god I sounded so dumb" but then I listened to it and I think it's pretty good. I giggle a lot. Being interviewed is weird. I suddenly forgot everything about CCS. But then listening to the interviews made me miss it. A lot.

I got wee-viewed

Here: by Rob Clough at the Comics Journal

He reviewed "Warmth" and "Freddy: more stories". Rob is a really great writer, be sure to read all of his reviews. He mentions both Crockett Johnson and Lynda Barry, two of my favorite artists ever, which makes me incredibly happy. He is also spot-on about Tom Hart's wonderful influence on me as my advisor. Thank you so much Rob!

It's really interesting how most people think that the character in "Warmth" is Freddy... it's actually not wrong at all, even though I intended it to be me. Freddy and I are pretty much interchangeable. She's me as a child, but then made into her own person. Does that make sense?

Happy summer everybody!

(photo by ol' Joe Lambertini)

Wowie Zowie

I'm blushing.

This is a really, really nice review of my first collection of Freddy stories (buy it here!) and a mini from fall 2008 called Dear Bill (read it here!) from Rich Kreiner at the Comics Journal's most recent Mini-Comics Monday. Here's a quote: (man, does this guy have a way with words...)

"These comics by Melissa Mendes are the strip equivalent of haikus, rigorously trimmed distillations of concrete, evocative moments bespeaking clarity and insight. Like those terse, concrete poems, these cartoons achieve an air of untroubled spontaneity. But instead of reflecting upon the natural world, they preoccupy themselves with social and domestic conditions rooted in — should we be so lucky — shared experience."

Gosh. Thanks Rich!

Right now, I am working my rear end off on my thesis project at the Center for Cartoon Studies, which is a new collection of Freddy stories (and possibly more). Here is a little preview panel:

In other news, we're not going to TCAF anymore. It's kind of sad (TCAF is AWESOME!), but we're poor, and plus I couldn't go anyway because it's the same weekend as my little sister's senior thesis show at Hampshire College. Go Amy!!!