'11, pt 4

Chimo by David Collier. All for the tone. (Reminds me why I like Dan Zettwoch too.) I also recommend this essay from The McGill Daily about the book's asymptotes: judgement, family life.

Cat dick

Surely there must be an interesting way to engage with the work of Kim Deitch. I have not found this way. Skewing the Fleischer era is thin stuff. Anyway, this page from A Shroud for Waldo (1992) is pretty madcap and lands on a fine gag.

'11, pt 3

Ganges #4 by Kevin H.: modest and cerebral. The Nicholson Baker of comics? That might mean something to someone somewhere.

ST OP!

Artistically competent, mostly harmless, and occasionally insightful. I stayed away from these Paul books because of their titles: Paul Goes to the Store or whatever. But I was in the right mood for the one where he moves out.

'11, pt 2

I won't mention that I keep stumbling upon this new genre of comics about teaching comics. Woof. But this Brunetti piece, "Mr. Peach," is one smart single page. Nothing like breaking up a New Yorker with colorful despair. You can use despair wisely instead of isolating it in foolproof packages.

Shoes wisely

Mostly unfortunate that Bob Mankoff's perfect cartoon (by Chon Day) is about killing a wife. Poe lives on. I appreciate Mankoff's reading of the black shoes, but boy the shame.

'11, pt 1

Slowly letting trickle out the year's neat list.

Finder: Voice by Carla Speed McNeil. The book plays with iconography in fun ways, and precariously walks the line between parsimony and difficulty.