Sometimes it's new stuff. Sometimes it's old stuff. Sometimes it'll be back issues or the same ol' thing I got 4 weeks ago. Whatever the case is, here's what I got at the shop this week (lemme know if you wanna borrow anything):
This is a late post detailing some dope comics I grabbed last week! Here's what I grabbed of note at Midtown:
PANOMRAMA COMICS SECTION - This all-comics supplement was a section in the newest McSweeney's volume, which itself published as a massive newspaper. It was unwieldy getting home, but the contributors include Jon Adams, Dan Clowes, Seth, Adrian Tomine and a WHOLE LOT MORE awesome people, so it was worth it. Dammit, this is cool.
RASL #7 - I'm backlogged on a lot of new titles, so I'm really glad to be so caught up on single issues of a Jeff Smith book that I can enjoy each new one when it comes out. The dimension-hopping sci-fi title is starting to really pick up momentum as we find out a connection between real-world science and Tesla-influenced super-concepts. AWESOME.
And here's what I picked up during a weekend trip to Baltimore and a side-excursion to Atomic Books, a fantastic boutique shop that carries a WIDE variety of alt comics and mini-comic back-issues. The store is the only one I've ever ordered from online, so I was excited to finally get a chance to walk inside. And Hampden, the neighborhood the shop is located in, was extra-neat!
NOT MY SMALL DIARY #15 - I actually contributed a story to volume 12 a few years ago to this anthology series packed with short auto-bio stories from dozens of creators. Each newer volume is actually a set of hand-bound books and issue #15 includes folks such as Noah Van Sciver, Lucy Knisley, Dave Kiersch, Box Brown and many more. I missed vol. 14 somewhere along the way, so I was giddy to grab this newest issue!
THE MARSH - I already own a copy of Mario Van Buren's thoughtful, surprise ending mini-comic starring a couple kids on a day-trip adventure (and so should you!), but I grabbed this one for a friend. The book's hard to find in the NYC area and sold out, from what I understand. Check out part two of the story in Dark Corners. All the above from I Know Joe Kimpel.
PRIZE #2 - I don't know dick about this book other than that the deceptively busy, well-balanced art caught my eye and when I flipped through it, I found a story about slackers working at a gas station. I generally love snapshots of middle class American lifestyles I don't live.
FRESH TO DEATH - I don't think I've ever heard of creator Sam Spina, but the art style inside this oblong mini about two jerk-faces going to a concert seemed too interesting to pass up.
SHARKER THE FORGOTTEN: THE STORY OF SEAN KERR - And then I saw this other book by Sam Spina about a dude who gets transformed into a fucking hammerhead shark and deals with life as an alienated weirdo! Comes with ANOTHER mini about a supporting character. Neeeeeat!
PAPERCUTTER #12 - I FUCKING THE LOVE THE PAPERCUTTER ANTHOLOGY! This issue features Rachel Bormann, Nate Powell, Joey Sayers, Mark Campos and Dalton Webb. I probably coulda waited to buy this at MoCCA (WHICH IS THIS WEEKEND!), but I saw it and couldn't resist. I don't think I've ever bought an issue of this book at a store before...
GANGSTA RAP POSSE #1 - I meant to buy Benjamin Marra's out-of-control tale of '90s gansta rapper life at SPX along with his other books, but I forgot. This thing looks bananas and a bunch of my friends speak highly of it, so I grabbed a copy off the shelf.
SLEAZY SLICE #3 - I ventured into the porn section looking for this, but forgot I'd also been looking for this issue of Sleazy Slice for its Jim Rugg cover and interior story by Josh Simmons. The Simmons story is maybe the most disturbing comic I've read since this, but the lead story in this adult anthology called "Human Cows" by Robin Bougie (that link NSFW) was surprisingly effective in its anti-animal cruelty focus. Disturbing stuff all around.
Heading to MoCCA this weekend in New York and then C2E2 in Chicago next week! Can't wait!
(Quick disclaimer: I borrow a LOT of stuff from Ben each week from Marvel, so I don't always buy single issues of the Marvel books. And I get everything from DC, WildStorm, Vertigo, and Zuda for free, so I never really buy anything from them unless I'm picking up for somebody else. So don't take my exclusion of DC stuff as a sign that the books aren't good enough to buy. They are. So there.)
