SORRY

I know I know...these are supposed to be DAILIES. BUT the time off was well worth it, because I was in Brooklyn at BCGF, spending money on some choice comics, choice food, and hanging out with some choice friends. Seriously, I love my cartoonist friends so much sometimes I think I will explode. There is just something about these people that brings me close to tears just thinking about how awesome they are and how much I admire them for the hard work they do. There is just some common weird trait in cartoonists that makes them the greatest people.

Anyway. I got some comics that I am really excited about.

Hildafolk by Luke Pearson, published by Nobrow. I wish I had spent more time at their table, but I'm so excited I bought this beauty of a comic. There's a hardcover book as well, which is the sequel, but I could only bring myself to spend the 10 bucks. It is SO BEAUTIFUL. The language is a little weird, but the story is really cute, and by the end I accepted that Hilda would talk the way she does. Lately I've been attracted to comics that are a little more animation-y, have good stories, and have strong female leads...

Like Eye of the Majestic Creature by Leslie Ann Mackenzie Stein. I only bought the third one of her minicomics, but now I really want to buy the book...there's something I really love about her stuff. There's something really odd about it that I can't pinpoint, but it's readable and hilarious and straightforward, and I love reading comics by ladies that aren't just about being a lady.

Open Country 1 and 2 by Michael DeForge. (Chuck actually got these. But I read them). I've always loved his stuff, but there's a different kind of creepiness and heartfelt-ness in these.

KING CAT #72 BY JOHN PORCELLINO. John P. is what I mean when I say how much I love cartoonists. There is something magical and heartbreaking about his work. And about him in general.

These are actually just the ones I've read so far. There are a million more that I still have to read. And I didn't even get to see everything that I wanted to see.

xoxo

Big Food

Last night I had a dream about giant boxes of Ritz Crackers and Honeycomb in a huge store. SO I drew a huge box of cereal in today's comic.

Also, I'll be at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival this weekend! With my buddies Chuck Forsman, Sean Ford, Joseph Lambert, and Jose-Luis Olivares. It's seriously the best show all year, in my opinion. It's the third year, and it's starting to get bigger so...

I'll be there with Freddy Stories, which incidentally received a lovely review from Rob Clough on the Comics Journal today. He always is so thoughtful and thorough, and I was really excited to get reviewed by him!

I'll also have a little mini of some of the daily strips (in full color!)

AND maybe some tiny Freddy figurines...

Gettin' Personal

Something I needed to get out of me and onto paper.

I've been really inspired by Gabrielle Bell's comics lately...I bought her new mini at BCGF and it's amazing. I'm not always drawn to making diary comics, but hers always reach way beyond just being personal, and they make me want to do more comics like that.

Speaking of Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival, it totally ruled! Each time

it happens I leave there thinking that I'd be happy is that were the only show I went to all year. Sad but true. I want to go to Mocca and SPX less and less...I'm still thinking about why this is.

But mostly it ruled because I MET LYNDA BARRY. I was in line to have her sign a book and I almost started crying. I managed to hold the tears until afterwards though. In like 2 minutes we had one of the most amazing conversations ever, and I left it ready to draw draw and draw more Freddy stories.

She talked about how when she draws Marlys, it's like Marlys only exists when Lynda draws her...like Lynda is giving her life, giving her part of herself, but Marlys doesn't keep existing and doing things inside of Lynda's head. She compared it to giving life to stuffed animals or a blankie when you're little. This is how I feel about Freddy too. And it's why drawing these Freddy stories is so important...I get to step outside of myself and talk about the stuff that's sometimes hard to talk about through her.

Peggy at D&Q sent me this photo. I have no idea who took it! Man, look at that awesome posture.