KHEPRI.COM | BEST GN OF 2005 | WEEK 49 (DEC 04 - DEC 10)

05. X-Factor: Peter David v1 TPB (Marvel Comics)
04. Y - The Last Man v6 TPB (DC/Vertigo)
03. Ocean TPB (DC/Wildstorm)
02. The Walking Dead v4 TPB (Image Comics)
01. Demo: The Collection TPB (AiT/Planet Lar)

+++++

Having some trouble with the Sunset office phone; if you need to get in touch with me, call the cell. If you don't have my cell number, drop me an email if you've got a comic book-related emergency. Otherwise, I'm out until Monday, and hopefully we'll have fixed the phone by then. Merry Christmas, everyone.

I love you, Mark Evanier: "I've learned it's important to hit that 'sweet spot' between bloodlessness and overstatement. You want to write what you believe in with some passion and conviction but not box yourself into a position you'll regret in six months. In spite of that, some people will read the most astounding things into what you post in clear, inarguable English...or will even respond to something you never wrote nor believed."

+++++

"Publisher and all-around nice guy Larry Young sent me a copy of the DEMO COLLECTION .pdf and, honestly, it looks great. This 300-something page monstrosity is a stripped down version of the monthly title. There are no additives – no extras. It's all just story and artwork and with DEMO that's the best part."

+++++

"The collection also pulls an interesting trick when it practically ignores the monthlies where these stories were first published. There's no collection of covers, no commentary, no sketchbook: this is presented as an original work of art. Though it seems to be swimming upstream in this market patterned after the ever-increasing bloat of the DVD market, this slim, efficient collection feels like a book - not a comic."

It sure is gratifying to see our books making the end-of-the-year Best Lists. The latest? Colonia makes Tom The Dog's Top Ten of 2005 list, and, of course, you can go into your local shop and pick up St. Martin's Press' The Year's Best Graphic Novels, Comics, and Manga featuring selections from Matt Fraction and Kieron Dwyer's Last of the Independents and an excerpt from Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan's Demo #7. Congrats, everyone.

How's this for an early Christmas present? H over at The Comic Treadmill singles us out as his favorite independent publisher, and even ranks his favorite AiT books: "AiT/Planet Lar is my favorite 'independent' publisher – and not just because Larry Young sends me complimentary review copies of a lot of books. I’ve paid my own hard-earned cash for plenty of the books you’re about to see on the list. No, the reason why they’ve achieved favored nation status in the Treadmill hearts and minds is that AiT consistently puts out a high percentage of books that do what comics do best – tell a captivating story that enthralls the reader’s imagination. My only complaints are that they don’t put out enough books and that I’m still waiting for some of the series previewed in the AiT Sampler and for more of some of the strips from Proof Of Concept. Whiny aren't I? Without further ado, here is a list of my Top Ten favorite AiT publications. Because I live dangerously – for a middle-aged white guy with a wife and two kids in the suburbs – I’m even putting them in order of enjoyment:

1. Proof Of Concept
2. Colonia
3. Scurvy Dogs
4. Electric Girl
5. Surviving Grady
6. Couriers 03
7. True Story: Swear To God
8. Demo
9. Sunset City
10. Full Moon Fever

+++++

"Are the two characters in the book's last story jumping off a building to their deaths or flying away?"

+++++

Matt over at SFist looks at some funny books and says of author's favorite Astronauts in Trouble: Space 1959: "Now this is the type of schlocky-fun noir we can really get behind -- mean looking men spitting out 'tell it to the Marines,' fast-talking lady aviators of the type that Sky Captain only wishes Angelina Jolie could've been, heroes draped in the American flag and reporters who mean to get to the bottom of things. You want nuance? Go take a nature hike."

Now, that's my kind of review.

+++++

Marc Mason's got a look at Colonia: "COLONIA, like ELECTRIC GIRL, is something of an event comic, as Nicholson is a busy fellow who only has so much time to devote to the book. But when he does get as issue together, it is jam-packed with a lot of story and fun. Bringing together six issues, as this collection does, means you have a very healthy reading experience ahead of you when you sit down with the book. And when the reading is this much fun, so much the better. Like ELECTRIC GIRL, you wish that you’d be able to get more story with higher frequency, but the end results are so good that you’re happy with what you get. Hurry back, Jeff. We’ll be waiting." and on Demo: "The standout for me remains 'Girl You Want,' a story about a young girl whose appearance changes depending on who is looking at her. Her identity-less life seems never-ending until she meets a waitress who only sees her true face, and then she becomes as obsessed with finding love with the girl that she begins to mirror the actions of those who have bedeviled her for years. The story works on so many levels, as do many of the tales in the book, making this a very satisfying book. Extra kudos go to Cloonan, who does simply amazing work in adapting her art style with each chapter to fit the characters and situations involved."

Just got back from celebrating my mom's 70th birthday in rural Georgia with her, and we had a blast. Although I'm glad my birthday isn't so close to Christmas.

Jason Rodriguez has some awfully kind words to say about me, which I read to my mom over the phone. She particularly liked: "I think it’s safe to say I’ve heard every word in the English language applied to Larry Young. Every word of praise, every insult and every declaration of neutrality possible from all walks of the comic community." and "There’s nothing more embarrassing than a Larry Young burn and you can’t fight it, publicly, because more people listen to him than listen to you. So you step on eggshells, double check your steps and no matter what you think of the man you ask yourself 'What Would Larry Young Do?'" although she thought Shane Bailey's assessment was most apt. And say what you want about me, but who's gonna argue with this woman:



...and speaking of saying what you want about me, I'm not going to be commenting on the comments of the comments on that ol' Loose Cannon that ruffled everyone (it's called Loose Cannon for a reason, people, and you are all quite crazy) except to note that lovable, irascible Chris Allen is invited to show me anywhere on this wide web of the world where I've ever wrote, thought, or spoken anything anywhere close to "Marvel/DC suck, etc." C'mon, man, half the interviews extant having me singing the praises of Paul Levitz, Bob Wayne, and Patty Jeres of DC, and I'd even written a Loose Cannon called "I Love Marvel; No, Really, I Do." So, you know, c'mon. How'm I ever gonna do that Kamandi revamp or that Swordsman/Mantis return when you write that silly stuff? People might believe you.