Above: Two spreads from Tablegeddon
THREE is Robert Kirby's new Queer Comix anthology. Each issue features three new stories by a variety of artists and writers.
THREE #2 edited by Robert Kirby. The brand new issue features a Last Love in Town tale by Sina "Evil" Shamsavari and Jon Macy, a Cowboy Love and Heartbreak jam by Craig Bostick and David Kelly, and the Unlikeliest Love Triangle you can imagine, in a jam by Jennifer Camper and Michael Fahy. Great stuff. 36 half-legal pages, full color throughout; $6.25.
►NEW! - THREE #3 edited by Robert Kirby: The brand new issue of this queer comics anthology is a bruiser! It includes stories from Ed "Wuvable Oaf" Luce, Janelle Hessig and Matt Runkle (on Dolly Parton), a crazy jam comic with work by Howard Cruse, Diane DiMassa, Rob Kirby, Ellen Forney, Joan Hilty and Ivan Velez Jr., plus artwork and sketches from MariNaomi, Marian Runk and more. But the highlight has to be Carrie McNinch's 14 page autobiographical comic about discovering she was gay, IN FULL COLOR. It's become rare to see a long-form comic from Carrie like this lately, and it's a wonderful, welcome return! 36 half-legal pages, full color throughout; $6.50. Highly recommended!
TOOTH: THE GRAPHIC ART OF DALE FLATTUM (La Mano 21): This new collection is a comprehensive look at the art of longtime underground artist Dale Flattum, whose brilliantly satiric, weird, and just plain beautiful xerographic work has graced album covers and flyers since the 80's. A longtime musician (Steelpole Bathtub, etc) Dale's work has become a mainstay of the Minneapolis scene, and beyond. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in the history of underground music, art, and/or xerography. Comes with a 72 minute CD compilation of his music. 256 full-size pages in eye-popping black and white, with CD; $20.00."When I was 16 years old, I tore a weird looking poster off of a telephone pole near my house. It was crudely assembled, cheaply reproduced, and probably the greatest thing I'd ever seen.
Later when I started to play music, the poster for the show became almost as important as the show itself. It was proof that something had happened. It was subversive propaganda. It was fun. It was addicting. And what did you need to do it? Scissors? Glue? A Xerox machine? An 8.5 x 11 piece of paper turned out to be a very powerful thing.
It was like finding a machine gun in your sock drawer.
The possibilities were endless." -- Dale Flattum
Above: TOOTH: The Graphic Art of Dale Flattum
David Lasky
Brad Johnson
John Porcellino
Blair Wilson
Onsmith
Peter Thompson
Fiona Smyth
Carrie McNinch
Mark Connery
Noah Van Sciver
David Heatley
Above: Just some of the many comics in Treasury of Minicomics Vol. One!
TRUTH BE KNOWN by Maximum Traffic: In the 1990's White Buffalo Gazette founder Max Traffic celebrated the 25th Anniversary and 200th issue of his long running obscuro art zine with this giant compendium that serves as sort of psychedelic autobiography intercut with old work by him and his colleagues. The net result is a fascinating look at the history of Max's ideals, as well as one important branch of the "Newave/Obscuro" comics scene. Feature's Max's mind-blowing psychedelic collage art, as well as comics and collaborations with such underground legends as Steve Willis, Edward Bolman, Mike Hill, Clark Dissmeyer, Joel Orff, Chad Woody, Mark Campos, Delaine, and more. 200 full-size pages, black and white, perfect bound; only $10.00.
This book is so sprawling, I thought I'd include a variety of images...
JASON TURNER is a Canadian cartoonist, a long running member of the indie comics underground.
FARM SCHOOL by Jason Turner (Retrofit): Hester is ex-military in a futuristic society years after some kind of cataclysm. She wanders through this wrecked and new world helping others and seemingly harboring a deep secret. Subtly and intricately done, this is a well-done look at one of our possible futures. 36 pages, approx. 5.5" x 7", color covers, b+w interiors; $5.00.
TUSEN HJÄRTAN STARK #1 (Various, ed. by Austin English) (Domino Books): Whoa! New newsprint tabloid anthology featuring some of the best cartoonists out there today! Features Warren Craghead's abstracted poetry comics; amazing pencilled comics by Swedish artist Joanna Hellgren; and Elizabeth Bethea's lucid, dreamy stories of prostitutes, shadows, and Malcolm X. This is a stunning collection of contemporary comics that should be in the hands of anyone in love with the medium. 20 oversized tabloid pages on newsprint, perfectly b+w; $3.00 well spent.
BENJAMIN URKOWITZ draws comix.
REAL RAP #1 by Benjamin Urkowitz (Oily): Da Studge is a subway worker who lives with one cat he thinks is two and his mom's ashes and one day, fed up with wack mc's, starts making his own rap records. His girl friend Nikki causes no end of confusion, he catches shit from his customers, and gets snookered by so-called friends he meets on the train. This comics is 100% right on from cover to cover. Been a long time since I read a mini that was as original and solid right out the gate as this one. Highly recommended! 12 jam-packed mini-pages, b+w; only $1.00, well spent.
TOM VAN DEUSEN is a cartoonist, and the publisher behind Poochie Press.
►NEW! - SCORCHED EARTH #1 (of 2) by Tom Van Deusen (Poochie Press): There's self-deprecating, and then there's Tom Van Deusen, whose comics (fictional, I hope) depict him as the worst man in the universe-- slovenly, lazy, narcissistic, alcoholic, and prejudiced. They're very, very funny. In "Scorched Earth", Tom experiences the ebb and flow of modern romance. The issue is rounded out with shorter but equally disgusting stories. 28 comic sized pages, full color covers, b+w interiors; $5.00.
►NEW! - SCORCHED EARTH #2 (of 2) by Tom Van Deusen (Poochie Press): "Scorched Earth" concludes here, in this reprehensible and vulgar comic book. 28 comic sized pages, full color covers, b+w interiors; $5.00.
NOAH VAN SCIVER is a young Denver cartoonist who seems to channel the spirit of the old undergrounds. That's not to say his comics are a nostalgia act-- they are all up-to-date with the modern world-- but they have that self-deprecating, absurdist take on urban struggle, squalor, and grittiness that the classic undergrounds had. Blammo documents the big dreams of a talented and driven misfit who has had work published in Mome and the Comics Journal, as well as on the Top Shelf site. For more sample pages click here.
NOAH VAN SCIVER is a young Denver cartoonist who seems to channel the spirit of the old undergrounds. That's not to say his comics are a nostalgia act-- they are all up-to-date with the modern world-- but they have that self-deprecating, absurdist take on urban struggle, squalor, and grittiness that the classic undergrounds had. Blammo documents the big dreams of a talented and driven misfit who has had work published in Mome and the Comics Journal, as well as on the Top Shelf site. For more sample pages click here.
#6: This recent issue features Nasty Bob Dylan, Punks vs Lizards, and much much more, including an exclusive John Porcellino comic-strip! 32 comic-sized pages, $4.00.
From Blammo #7
►NEW! - BLAMMO # 7.5: Noah's newest self-published collection compiles work that originally appeared in anthologies around the world, including: All Washed Up, Rabbit in the Moon, I Don't Drive, the classic Roommates, and much more. In color and black and white, with full-color covers. 20 comic-sized pages chock full. $4.00
►NEW! -- BLAMMO #8 by Noah Van Sciver (Kilgore Books): This fantastic new issue features Dog on Wheels, Expectations, the return of Chicken Strips, Punks vs Lizards, She's Losing It, and lots lots more, jam-packed into every awesome corner. Reading this ish practically brought tears to my eyes, cuz I'm old enough to remember what comics used to be like when people packed their whole hearts and souls into it, and weren't afraid to be funny, stupid, or happy just to move that ink on paper. Blammo is one of the greatest series out there, and keeps getting better. Highly recommended. 44 pages, 6" x 9", color covers and b+w interiors; $5.00.
THE DEATH OF ELIJAH LOVEJOY by Noah Van Sciver. In his latest release, Noah presents an historical rendering of the martyrdom of publisher and abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy, drawn in his dense, beautiful crosshatchy style. Noah is working on a book-length biography of Abraham Lincoln, called The Hypo, and this can be considered an adjunct to that work. Powerful stuff. 32 pages, 7.25" x 4.75", full color covers, 2-color end-papers, handprinted by Zak Sally at La Mano. $5.00. OUT OF STOCK
THE HYPO by Noah Van Sciver (Fantagraphics): Noah's long awaited debut graphic novel tells the story of Abraham Lincoln, before he made a name for himself, as a confused and melancholy young man trying to make his way in the world of politics and love. Noah's obsession with period detail drips off every lovingly inked page of this brilliant book. Excellent, and highly recommended! 192 pages, 7" x 9", gorgeous full-color hardback covers, b+w interiors; $25.00. 
►NEW! - MORE MUNDANE by Noah Van Sciver (Spit and a Half edition): More Mundane is a collection of Noah's diary comics from October and November of 2013. Anyone who knows Noah, knows what a gifted and prolific cartoonist he is-- he's constantly working hard and constantly expanding his skills and interests. Here, he gives us his roughly hewn but impeccably drawn daily diary strips. And like all of Noah's work it's by turns hilarious, sad, poignant, and fucked up. Recommended! 32 digest pages, two-color covers, b+w interiors; $5.00.
►NEW! -- DEEP IN THE WOODS by Noah Van Sciver and Nic Breutzman (2D Cloud): Two stories in a tabloid format: In "The Cow's Head," Noah gives a weird fairytale about a girl who escapes her sinister stepmother into the woods where she finds a strange shelter and a stranger guest. In "The May Fly," Nic Breutzman presents a story about a decrepit, drug-addicted family. 32 pages, 11.75" x 17", 2 color covers, b+w interiors; $6.00.
Top: Noah Van Sciver and Bottom: Nic Breutzman, from Deep in the Woods
NOAH VAN SCIVER: IN CONVERSATION WITH CHARLES FORSMAN (Oily Comics): Two of the best young cartoonists going sit down and talk about their fathers and families, sleeping on the floor in crack houses, Florida, Denver, Crumb, John P. (gasp), and Noah's new book on Lincoln, The Hypo (due this summer from Fantagraphics.) A great little read. 12 mini-sized pages, b+w, NOT COMICS; $1.00.JON VERMILYEA is an LA based artist and cartoonist.
MALACHI WARD is a cartoonist. He lives in Pasadena with his wife and a car they borrowed.
PETER WARTMAN is a young but highly developed cartoonist, hailing from Minneapolis.
JULIA WERTZ is one of my favorite cartoonists of recent times. When I first got her zines in the mail, and saw the title, "The Fart Party," I'll admit it-- I expected the worst. That's what made what I found even more special. Yes, her comics can be crude (especially her early ones), but they are also devastatingly funny, and once you begin sinking into her rhythms as a cartoonist you notice that there's some thing else going on-- a sweetness and heart that can be disguised by all the cussing. Julia is a natural born cartoonist-- she started out good and is getting better all the time.
THE INFINITE WAIT AND OTHER STORIES by Julia Wertz (Koyama): Julia's brand new book collects three all new stories: "Industry," a look at 25 years of employment; "A Strange and Curious Place," a love letter to her childhood library; and "The Infinite Wait," her tale of discovering she has Lupus. With an introduction by the author. Beautifully produced. 232 pages, two-color covers with b+w interiors, French flaps; $15.00.
AARON WHITAKER is a Texas-based cartoonist and screenwriter. He's the co-author with Melinda Boyce of the much-loved comic Okay ? Okay!
THE CITY TROLL by Aaron Whitaker: Excellent, heartfelt, and funny/weird story about a guy named Paul and his self-hating alter-ego, the City Troll. The narrative follows Paul as he tackles a love triangle and the problematic relationships with his parents. A nicely crafted book, with excellent, idiosyncratic artwork. 184 pages, 9" x 6", color covers, b+w interiors; $15.00. ONLY ONE LEFT!
ANDREW WHITE is a cartoonist.
WE WILL REMAIN by Andrew White (Retrofit): Short stories told in many differing styles: Kirby-esque cosmic inks, Sparse pencils, inky washes; focused on memories and time. 48 pages, 6" x 8", color covers, b+w interiors; $6.00.
WINSLOW-YOST AND RAE-GRANT are an impressive new young cartooning duo.
►NEW! - TIGER MAN #1 by Winslow-Yost and Rae-Grant (Oily): This great debut features Tiger Man, a young dude who's plan goes down in the jungle, where he is imbued with the power of a tiger. Graphicall beautiful, fun, and fascinating. 12 mini-sized pages, b+w; $1.00.
LEAH WISHNIA is a NY based artist and publisher, who edits the underground comics anthology Happiness.
►NEW! -- GUT FEELINGS by Leah Wishnia (Spithouse): This collection of short comic stories, from the editor of Happiness, features gritty, surreal, and expressionistic tales of Pill Poppers, Misery Birds, Spare Change, and lots more. Not for the faint of heart. 76 pages, 6" x 9", color covers, b+w interior; $6.00.
STEVE WOLFHARD is the Toronto genius behind Cat Rackham, and now everybody's favorite unemployable Turtle, Turtie!
TURTIE NEEDS WORK by Steve Wolfhard (Koyama Press): Turtie is an adorable, unemployed turtle, and in these delightful little comics he shows us just how rough the working world can be. Ridiculous and wonderful. 20 pages, 2" x 4", color covers, b+w interiors; $3.00.
ZACH WORTON is a cartoonist.
BLOOD VISIONS #1 by Zach Worton (Oily): Teenage bullying and cruelty erupt in a strange and bloody crime-scene in part one of this promising new series. 12 mini-pages, b+w; $1.00.
►NEW! -- BLOOD VISIONS #2 by Zach Worton (Oily): The plot thickens in this excellent second issue, as Seamus and Carl have a run-in with the principal, and the cops get on the case... 12 mini-sized pages, b+w; $1.00.
WOWEE ZONK #4 (Koyama Press): Koyama takes the publishing reins for the latest issue of this anthology, which features work in color and b+w from Patrick Kyle, Chris Kuzma, Marc Bell, Mark Connery, Alex Schubert, Ginnette Lapalme, and Ryan Dodgeson, among many others. 84 pages, 8" x 9", color and b+w; $15.00.
CHRIS WRIGHT's lovely, inky, scratchy, fuzzy and brilliant comics have been around for awhile. Here's Sparkplug's great collection:
INKWEED by Chris Wright (Sparkplug). Chris Wright's inky, brilliant comics depict a quasi-victorian world of weary artists, lonesome scientists, drunks, and heartbroken women, with recurringthemes of love, loss, and obsession. His cartooning is intricately hatched, and indiosyncratic, with nods to the classic newpaper strips (Segar, et al), and his writing is intricate, old-fashioned, and right on. Highly recommended. 156 pages, 8.5" x 7", color covers, b+w interiors; $16.00.
IN SITU #1 by Sophie Yanow (Colosse): Sophie moved from the Bay Area to Montreal, and these brief sketches of her thoughts and experiences document the ongoing transition. Quiet, human, and nicely done. 44 pages, 5" x 7", color cover, b+w interiors; $11.00. OUT OF STOCK
IN SITU #2 by Sophie Yanow (Colosse): More diary-like musings on everyday thoughts and events-- friends, plans, and places-- including Hayley Made Coffee, You Got Weird, and Doom Metal; More. 36 digest pages, b+w; $5.00. OUT OF STOCK
YOU ARE A CAT! by Sherwin Tjia (Conundrum): This charming and fun book is based on the old "Choose Your Own Adventure" books of th 80's, where every page gives you a number of choices that decide how the story will continue. Except in this one, you're a cat. Visit the lonely old lady down the street, get trapped by delinquents, find a warm lap. The choice is up to you! Full of the dangers, affection, and intrigue of the feline life, this unique book will be thoroughly enjoyed by cat lovers everywhere. Includes phony ads for future volumes in the series in the back! 234 pages, 4" x 6", black and white illos on every other page; $17.00.
M. YOUNG is the editor of The Kindlin' Quarterly, and a talented young cartoonist.
THE WILD CHILD Part One by M. Young: The brilliant Xeric-funded comic tells the story of two rebellious West Virginia girls, one from late 19th century, and then her counterpart a hundred years later, growing up in the Grunge-filled early 90's, as they struggle to break free of the oppression that surround them.. Beautifully painted in full color and expressive grey-toned pen and ink, with a full-color "CD insert" centerfold, this is one of the most evocative and impressive debuts I've seen in a long time. Highly recommended! 28 digest pages, plus bound insert, color and b+w; $7.00.
AARON WHITAKER is a Texas-based cartoonist and screenwriter. He's the co-author with Melinda Boyce of the much-loved comic Okay ? Okay!
ANDREW WHITE is a cartoonist.
WINSLOW-YOST AND RAE-GRANT are an impressive new young cartooning duo.
LEAH WISHNIA is a NY based artist and publisher, who edits the underground comics anthology Happiness.
STEVE WOLFHARD is the Toronto genius behind Cat Rackham, and now everybody's favorite unemployable Turtle, Turtie!
TURTIE NEEDS WORK by Steve Wolfhard (Koyama Press): Turtie is an adorable, unemployed turtle, and in these delightful little comics he shows us just how rough the working world can be. Ridiculous and wonderful. 20 pages, 2" x 4", color covers, b+w interiors; $3.00.
ZACH WORTON is a cartoonist.
CHRIS WRIGHT's lovely, inky, scratchy, fuzzy and brilliant comics have been around for awhile. Here's Sparkplug's great collection:
INKWEED by Chris Wright (Sparkplug). Chris Wright's inky, brilliant comics depict a quasi-victorian world of weary artists, lonesome scientists, drunks, and heartbroken women, with recurringthemes of love, loss, and obsession. His cartooning is intricately hatched, and indiosyncratic, with nods to the classic newpaper strips (Segar, et al), and his writing is intricate, old-fashioned, and right on. Highly recommended. 156 pages, 8.5" x 7", color covers, b+w interiors; $16.00.
SOPHIE YANOW is a young cartoonist out of the Bay Area. She recently moved to Montreal, and her series In Situ, is about that.
IN SITU #1 by Sophie Yanow (Colosse): Sophie moved from the Bay Area to Montreal, and these brief sketches of her thoughts and experiences document the ongoing transition. Quiet, human, and nicely done. 44 pages, 5" x 7", color cover, b+w interiors; $11.00. OUT OF STOCK
IN SITU #2 by Sophie Yanow (Colosse): More diary-like musings on everyday thoughts and events-- friends, plans, and places-- including Hayley Made Coffee, You Got Weird, and Doom Metal; More. 36 digest pages, b+w; $5.00. OUT OF STOCK
YOU ARE A CAT! by Sherwin Tjia (Conundrum): This charming and fun book is based on the old "Choose Your Own Adventure" books of th 80's, where every page gives you a number of choices that decide how the story will continue. Except in this one, you're a cat. Visit the lonely old lady down the street, get trapped by delinquents, find a warm lap. The choice is up to you! Full of the dangers, affection, and intrigue of the feline life, this unique book will be thoroughly enjoyed by cat lovers everywhere. Includes phony ads for future volumes in the series in the back! 234 pages, 4" x 6", black and white illos on every other page; $17.00.
M. YOUNG is the editor of The Kindlin' Quarterly, and a talented young cartoonist.
YOUNG LIONS by Blaise Larmee. "So we're all agreed then, our conceptual art group is not going as planned..." So begins this elusive story about a group of jaded, young artists, who go to parties, listen to rap music, and join a prospective member on a trip to her home in Florida. Drawn in an ethereal un-inked pencil style, Young Lions is strange and liberating, unique, and ultimately moving. 98 perfect-bound digest-sized pages, with two-color covers and French flaps; $10.00. 
JENNY ZERVAKIS is one of my favorite cartoonists of all time, and one of my biggest influences/inspirations. This is the first issue of Strange Growths in 6 years! And it came not a moment too soon. I practically wept when I opened the envelope. Jenny's stories are vague and beautiful, with a gentle, dry humor running through them, and her art is perfectly scratchy and simple. This new issue features a couple soon to be Strange Growths classics, like Icebergs and Tell Us How You Really Feel. I know it cost Jenny a lotta dough to get this new one out, so please help support this great American artist!
STRANGE GROWTHS #15: Iceberg, We Can Be Heroes, Tell Us How You Really Feel, Beach Trip, and May Is the Month of the Rose, plus much more! 24 digest pages, $3.00.
►NEW! -- STRANGE GROWTHS #16 by Jenny Zervakis: Wow! At long last, the new issue of Strange Growths has arrived! US Presidents, When the Moon Was a Part of the Earth, Winter Wonderland, Lost Dream, the Last Kindness and lots more... beautiful. 24 digest pages, b+w; $3.00.
DAN ZETTWOCH: Part of the St. Louis/USS Catastrophe Crew, Dan Zettwoch's amazing, goofy, historic/schematic comics are a delight.
►NEW! -- CUT-AWAY COMICS #1: TREE SWALLOWS Part One by Dan Zettwoch (Oily): In his latest release Zettwoch gives us the first part (of three) of his true-life tale of John James Audubon's obsession with discovering the secrets of a giant sycamore stuffed to the gills with Tree Swallows. If you know Zettwoch's work, this will be a delight to you; if you've never checked it out, this is a great starting point. Wonderful! 12 mini-sized pages, b+w; $1.00.
►NEW! -- AMAZING FACTS AND BEYOND WITH LEON BEYOND by Kevin Huizenga and Dan Zettwoch (with Ted May and Ron Weaver) (Uncivilized Books): This lavish hardcover book collects the acclaimed faux trivia column Kevin and Dan produced weekly for St. Louis' Riverfront Times newspaper (which were originally self-published as well in zine form). All the facts and all the fun you've come to expect from Mr. Beyond, as well as a full color supplement and index. 240 pages, 8.5" x 9", b+w and color, hardcover. $25.00.
►NEW! -- AMAZING FACTS AND BEYOND WITH LEON BEYOND by Kevin Huizenga and Dan Zettwoch (with Ted May and Ron Weaver) (Uncivilized Books): This lavish hardcover book collects the acclaimed faux trivia column Kevin and Dan produced weekly for St. Louis' Riverfront Times newspaper (which were originally self-published as well in zine form). All the facts and all the fun you've come to expect from Mr. Beyond, as well as a full color supplement and index. 240 pages, 8.5" x 9", b+w and color, hardcover. $25.00.
