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Rob’s Second annual Top 20 self-published Comics and Minicomics
The 2012 Edition
This list is in no particular order – I didn’t even alphabetize it. But I did put in all the links and that was a major chore - so don’t judge me, just go explore (hey I rhymed). This was a hard list to compile. We are seriously living in a genuine golden age of alt-comics right now, with so much great stuff out there it’s downright exhausting (and expensive) trying to keep up with it all. At any rate, here are the 20 excellent minicomics, comic zines, and self-published books published in 2012 that I liked best.
The Magic Hedge #2 – Marian Runk
A beautifully rendered sequence of autobio stories weaving through dreams and memories, joy, heartbreak, and loss, and everything in between, including Marian’s passion for bird watching, as well as grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon (omg, me too). As with her other titles, The Magic Hedge #2 is beautifully handmade - a real keepsake - and my yeah, my favorite comic book of the year.
Afterschool Special – by Dave Kiersh
Dave K. is an artist with a distinct, beguiling aesthetic vision, a vision fueled by teenage angst, dreams and desires, all filtered through the haze of 70’s and 80’s popular culture. This lovingly produced little paperback, funded through Kickstarter, is probably his most fully realized book to date.
To look at Cara Bean, a 30-something elementary schoolteacher, you’d never know she was way into gorillas at one time and probably still is. This winningly surreal, imaginatively told story explores her obsession, and no, you don’t have to particularly be a gorilla sort of person to appreciate the ride.
A new zine from Kelly Froh is always a welcome event, especially because you never know just what she’ll focus on next. This time she looks at the life and times of Samson - “Milwaukee’s Biggest Celebrity” – namely, a gorilla who resided in the Milwaukee zoo for 30+ years. Two gorilla-themed zines on this list, yup, I didn’t see that coming either.
Runner Runner – Various (Tugboat Press)
Tugboat put this anthology out for Free Comic Book Day and a fine anthology it is, too – I’d have even paid for it, seeing as how it features so many kickass creators, among them Andy Hartzell (a personal hero of mine), Tessa Brunton, Minty Lewis with Damien Jay, Rina Ayuyang, Jesse Reklaw, Aron Nels Steinke, and that’s just like half of the roster.
The End of the Fucking World – Chuck Forsman
A dark, Badlands-esque tale of a teenage sociopath and his girl. I’ve only read through issue #10 thus far but many scenes are still lodged in my memory. The complete story is coming soon in book form from Fantagraphics, woot!
Primahood: The Second Album – Tyler Cohen
Motherhood and girlhood as seen from the eyes of a decidedly alternative mama, Tyler Cohen, aka Mamapants! It’s lovely work all around, good for boys like me to read too.
Miss Lonelyhearts #1 – Gabrielle Gamboa
This is the first issue of veteran alt-cartoonist/zinester Gabrielle Gamboa’s adaptation of Nathanial West’s classic 1930’s novel Miss Lonelyhearts. West had apparently envisioned the novel in the form of a comic strip and Gamboa does him proud – this spurred me to read the original, actually, and I eagerly await the rest of the series.
Pansy Boy #1 & #2 Jose Luis Olivares
This is one of those genuinely mini minis – not unlike those of Kelly Froh - that proves you don’t have to have a big, slickly produced epic type of comic to make a real impression. Pansy Boy is not explicitly autobio but feels deeply personal and very real. Olivares achieves a simple, relatable grace in just 8 pages of each issue.
The Boy In the Pink Earmuffs – Jay Fuller
Hands-down the most adorable mini I read all year. Fuller demonstrates great comic timing in this tale of 2 young gay boys out to solve the case of the missing Miss Priss (a neighbor lady’s cat, naturally). Really hope this series continues.
Them’s the Breaks, Kid. – Five True Fans, aka MariNaomi, Cassie J. Sneider, Tessa Brunton, Ric Carrasquillo
Four creators, four alternately hilarious (Sneider), tragic (MariNaomi), surreal (Carrasquillo) or heartbreaking (Brunton) tales of misfortune, bad luck, and totally major bummers.
These daily diary comics are funny, well-drawn, beautifully written little narratives that move from the mundane events of life to often completely out of the blue flights of fancy, (esp. love the “Ghost cats” panel which concludes one strip). Gabrielle Bell pulls it all off with grace and style and a certain enigmatic quality in this perfectly executed production.
Damn Fine Coffee: A Twin Peaks Fan Zine – Edited by Andrea Kalfas
Kalfas and a bunch of her very talented illustrator pals visualize David Lynch’s Twin Peaks in all its off-beat humor and eerie mystery. A real treat for the show’s legion of fans, me most definitely included.
Budel’s Wayward Girls instantly put me in mind of cult artist Henry Darger’s Vivian Girls, only the Waywards are rendered in a much more light-hearted and funny fashion - yet still with that slightly pervy/freaky-deak feeling. A fine example of why the phrase “intensely personal vision” was invented.
Invincible Summer #23/Clutch #20 – Nicole Georges & Clutch McBastard
A daily diary comics delight from start to finish. Clutch ‘n Nicole have completely different drawing styles but they complement each other so well. This comic just makes me all happy and stuff.
I love Box Brown’s art here, which reminds me a little of that of Otto Soglow’s - or is that totally off the mark? Anyway, this past June I picked up one of Brown’s comics from his table at CAKE – naturally I chose Fuck Shits: I mean, you have to go with a title like that, right? This tale of teen outcasts is well told, with unexpected plot turns, and the physical comic itself (the size, paper, production, etc) is just exactly right.
Hungry Bottom Comics – Eric Kastiuk Williams
Like Ed Luce before him, Toronto denizen Williams has emerged seemingly already fully developed as a cartoonist, and all at the age of what, 23, 24, or just what? This queer-themed comic is a fantastic debut and Williams, if I haven’t made myself clear, is a major new talent.
Eat More Bikes #3 – Nathan Bulmer
I picked up this random issue at SPX after simply seeing the title, which still makes me giggle. This daily webcomic strip is funny like Joey Alison Sayers’ “Thingpart” was funny, which means it’s pretty damn funny.
Like the work of Andrew Lips, Jason’s work consists of simple art and heartfelt stories. He’s a spare writer who knows how to say what he wants to say with a minimum of fuss, something I really admire. Every story in this issue is a gem.
Hell’s Dachshunds – Reid Psaltis
This is one of those tiny zines someone gives you or trades with you at a con (namely, SPX). All I have to say is that Reid Psaltis draws a mean Dachshund, in both senses of the word. Dog lovers unite!
MORE LISTS, THOUGH TINIER:
Comic that would have been on the list had it not been published in 2011:
Cartoon Dialectics Volume 2 – Tom Kaczynski
Fave ongoing series:
You Don’t Get There From Here - Carrie McNinch, 3 new issues this year, each one a gem, each chronicling her daily life with all its attendant pleasures, pain, and cats.
In a class by itself:
King-Cat Comics and Stories - John Porcellino, still goin’ strong, still keepin’ it real.
More great minicomics, i.e. honorable mentions:
Relics – Whit Taylor: heartfelt and thoughtful
Tread Lightly #1 & 2 - Jonathan Bell Wolfe: eerie & mysterious
Uranus #0 - Carlo Quispe: Wow, those drawings of NYC buildings, so great
Stonewall #1 – Sasha Steinberg: History re-imagined; please keep ‘em coming, Sasha
8 Wonderful Graphic Novels of 2012 (hey, I managed to alphabetize these by author, so proud of myself. Yeah, I know, there’s only 8 of ‘em). Whatever. Read these books:
My Friend Dahmer - Derf Backderf
Are You My Mother? - Alison Bechdel
Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me: A Graphic Memoir - Ellen Forney
You’ll Never Know Vol. 3: A Soldier’s Heart - Carol Tyler
The Infinite Wait and Other Stories - Julia Wertz
Favorite anthology:
No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics – Justin Hall, Editor
Take a bow, Justin Hall: you did a beautiful job with this long overdue collection.
Favorite Benefit Book:
Little Heart: a Comic Anthology for Marriage Equality – Raighne Hogan, Editor
This worked! That stupid anti-gay amendment FAILED in Minnesota! Thanks, 2DCloud, I just know this made the diff! There are many great comics here, with standout work by Jeremy Sorese, MariNaomi, and Maurice Vellekoop, in particular.
I know I will love these - on my shelf but just couldn’t get to them in time:
Graphic Novel: The Voyeurs by Gabrielle Bell
Graphic Novel: Interiorae by Gabriella Giandelli
Anthology: Kolor Klimax: Nordic Comics
Hell, I finally finished! Thank gahd, I have comics to draw! See ya next year. xo
December 6, 2012
