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New York helped give birth to the American comic book industry, but keeping working cartoonists and artists in the city has become increasingly difficult. Jace sits down with Bryce Gold to talk about BODEGA — the Brooklyn Organization Dedicated to the Endurance of the Graphic Arts — and its mission to build a stronger support system for New York's comics community. Bryce explains how BODEGA grew from an effort to revive the spirit of Comic Arts Brooklyn into something much larger, including the Brooklyn Expo of Comics, artist support programs, educational opportunities, grants, publications and new ways for creators and fans to build a lasting community. They also discuss why Brooklyn remains such an important part of comics history, the increasing affordability challenges facing working artists, the importance of creative third spaces, and how relationships formed through local comics events can change careers and lives. Bryce also previews the Brooklyn Expo of Comics, taking place November 14–15 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with more than 130 exhibitors and a full week of comics-related programming leading into the event. Support BODEGA: https://bodegacomics.org Brooklyn Expo of Comics: https://brooklynexpoofcomics.com The Comic Source: https://linktr.ee/comicsource CHAPTERS 00:00 Hook 00:24 Introduction 01:41 What Is BODEGA? 02:42 How BODEGA Began 03:41 The Brooklyn Expo of Comics 04:21 BAGEL, the Bodega Cat & Artist Support 05:57 Why New York Matters to Comics 08:33 The Changing New York Comics Community 11:47 Building a Long-Term Comics Community 13:39 Creating Opportunities & Making Connections 15:09 Grants, Creator Funding & Keeping Comics Alive 16:31 Mentorship & Fostering the Next Generation 17:19 How Fans Become Part of the Community 18:36 Brooklyn Expo of Comics — Dates & Events 20:11 How to Support BODEGA 21:17 Final Thoughts
From a distance, it seems that Noah Van Sciver is able to make comics roughly as fast as most of us are able to read them. Each social media update from the cartoonist seemingly presents another project he has in the works — an admirable trait in a field that tends to attract so many procrastinators.I’ve talked to Van Sciver a number of times over the years, but this chat was designed to be a kind of make for a previous appearance on RiYL, held at his table at Comic Arts Brooklyn a few years back. Shows aren’t an ideal setting for interviews. They’re busy, chaotic and time is fairly limited. I think it’s safe to say, however, that this particular talk delivered on those things the previous one lacked. Ostensibly about Fantagraphics’ massive collection of the the very good and funny Fante Bukowski, we quickly veered into the subject of Van Sciver’s upbringing in the Mormon church — the basis of his upcoming book on the prophet Joseph Smith.
When I first encountered Gina Wynbrandt’s work at MoCCA Fest a few years back, the Chicago-based cartoonist seemingly came out of nowhere. Here debut book, Someone Please Have Sex With Me was the hands-down hit of the show — and for good reason. The book is an unflinchingly and often brutally hilarious look at sex that turns some of alternative comics’ most unshakable tropes on their head. “I read so many comics about the ugly male cartoonist in live with hot women,” she explains during our chat, “and I wanted my shot at it.” A followup minicomic, Thank You, follows in a similar vein, with the artist beginning the reader to help her foot the cost of a handsome male escort for the night. She debuted the book at Comic Arts Brooklyn, where we sat down for our chat — one she was finished setting up the giant Justin Bieber blanket on her table.
Time Codes: 00:00:24 - Introduction 00:02:33 - Setup of interview 00:03:45 - Interview with Joseph Remnant 01:18:05 - Wrap up 01:19:38 - Contact us Derek is pleased to have Joseph Remnant on the podcast. His new book, Cartoon Clouds, was released last month from Fantagraphics. This is a graphic novel in the truest sense, a work of fiction that explores the nuances of relationships, defining yourself, and growing apart from those with whom you were once close. As Joseph reveals, this is a narrative that began in serial installments on a website he once maintained with Noah Van Sciver, but it soon developed into something more complex and ambitious. Most of the interview is devoted to Cartoon Clouds, but Derek also asks his guest about his comic-book series Blindspot and his illustration work with Harvey Pekar. Along the way Joseph talks about his contribution in the upcoming second issue of Now, and he hints at some of the new work he currently has underway. Joseph will be at CAB, Comic Arts Brooklyn, this coming weekend. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by and tell him hello and that you heard him on The Comics Alternative!
No guest this episode, as Zack and Mike spent the portion of the week usually reserved for recording interviews for the podcast reeling into the abyss of existential despair. A little chat about the New Normal, and then a trip down memory lane to the distant past, just over one week ago when Zack attended the Short Run festival in Seattle and Mike tabled at Comic Arts Brooklyn. Oh, it was a simpler time...
No guest this episode, as Zack and Mike spent the portion of the week usually reserved for recording interviews for the podcast reeling into the abyss of existential despair. A little chat about the New Normal, and then a trip down memory lane to the distant past, just over one week ago when Zack attended the Short Run festival in Seattle and Mike tabled at Comic Arts Brooklyn. Oh, it was a simpler time...
It’s been several years since I last spoke to Bill Griffith. I’m fairly certain I spent much of that last interview attempt to talk the cartoonist into drawing a full length book — and while I certainly can’t take any of the credit, I’m happy to say that the artist was on-hand at this year’s Comic Arts Brooklyn to discuss just such a project. Invisible Ink marks, incredibly, Griffith’s first full-length graphic novel, after four decades spent drawing comics professionally. Of course, working on a daily strip ha kept the cartoonist plenty busy, producing a cumulative output that dwarfs any of his underground comics contemporaries. While others focused on floppies and books, Griffith took a more traditional approach to the medium, infiltrating national newspapers with the sublimely, absurdly subversive Zippy the Pinhead. With Invisible Ink, Griffith explores his mother’s life, uncovering her diary, unfinished novel, and a “long and happy” affair she carried on with a fellow cartoonist. The conversation is a wide ranging and fascinating look at one of alternative comics’ most enduring and beloved careers. It’s a great way to celebrate episode 150.
Joe, Chris and Matt talk about their purchases from the recent Comic Arts Brooklyn show.
Reviews: The Wolverine, Axe Cop, High School USA Jimmy is joined again in studio by his podcast wife, Erica Schultz! Erica gives her thoughts on her first San Diego Comic Con and Jimmy brings you a bunch of the massive amounts of interviews he got there. In this episode, you'll hear him chat with Amber Benson ("Tara" on Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin (March), Lili Bordan (Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome), Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt (Shelf Life) and Stacey Hayashi and Damon Wong (Journey of Heroes). News includes: Comic Arts Brooklyn replaces BCGF, new animated Archie is on the way, Neil Gaiman goes gaming, Skin Crawling Comics launches Indiegogo campain and Flash series to spin out of Arrow. As always, listener feedback, Top 3 and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love! Thanks for listening! Come back later this week to hear the roundtable interviews with the cast/creators of the hit BBC America show Orphan Black and the new CW show The 100.