From Cover to Cover

A follow up on Desert Island Comics, The Comics Courier, An Appreciation of a Letter and More— Comic Bookmarks October 13, 2024

Scott Cederlund -

I was really debating on whether or not to write about Absolute Batman this week. I even purchased the digital copy of it Tuesday night with the idea of trying to bang something out late in the night but quickly realized that I didn’t want to play that game. After another issue or two, I may have something to say about this comic bigger than the below, a post to Bluesky that basically can be summed up by saying that this first issue is “meh.”

So Absolute Batman is just another Batman comic. That’s a bit of a disappointment. Dragotta and Martin’s artwork is pretty enough but Snyder’s story tries hard but feels empty. The book feels like it’s trying to fill its space but doesn’t have the form to define that space.

— Scott Cederlund (@scottcederlund.bsky.social) October 8, 2024 at 11:52 PM

I’m trying to think a bit more about the shape of this issue and I just don’t see it other than trying to define this Batman by what he isn’t in comparison to how we usually see him. Maybe there’s more there and I‘m missing it (based on other‘s reaction to this book, it seems like this is a “me” thing) but I’ll stick around this for a few more issues to see what it ends up becoming.

On Junji Ito
I discovered Juni Ito’s manga about 9 years ago, when Viz started rereleasing his work again, starting with Uzamaki. At Panel Patter, I jumped on his stuff, getting sucked into Uzamaki and GYO. Other books followed and there are some that I need to still catch up with (Remina
From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Headlines

More on the future of Desert Island Comics from Gabe Fowler
Desert Island Comics has raised more than $80,000 in three days to stay open, and owner Gabe Fowler reacts
The BeatHeidi MacDonald

Following up from something called out in last week’s post, Gabe Fowler launched a GoFundMe to try to raise funds for his shop Desert Island Comics to stay in it’s current location or to move to new location. Heidi MacDonald talks to Fowler about his successful campaign (currently over $93,000 on goal of $79,200) and what his next steps are.

Introducing our Artists in Residence Program
Tiny Onion keeps growing…
The Empire of the Tiny OnionJazzlyn Stone

This is interesting and I wish that there was a bit more explanation here about this. What does this mean for Jordie Bellaire and Aditya Bidikar? It sounds like only good things which is great because both of them deserve the work and recognition.

Comic Sites on Comic Sites

You can support The Comics Courier now at Kickstarter.

Not comics specifically but I suspect that there are many sites that run on Wordpress and rely on their plugins for functionality. I know that I’ve used it for other sites and the flexibility you have because of the plugins allows for so much great functionality and individuality in sites. But I haven’t paid much attention to it in 5 out 6 years as it sounds like Wordpress has either been taking a lot of this functionality in house or predatorily just taking over that functionality to squeeze out developers.

Business

You can contribute to the Silver Sprocket fundraiser here.

The Funny Pages

Reviews & Features

FINAL CUT by Charles Burns graphic novel review - Comics Grinder
Charles Burns new graphic novel, FINAL CUT, reviewed at Comics Grinder.
Comics GrinderHenry Chamberlain

It sounds like Charles Burns is still trying to work through the awkwardness and the pain of growing up. It’s so interesting to see just how this time period of growing up still has so much meaning and questions for him.

The Letters of Absurd Realities: On The Lettering Of Aditya Bidikar
An examination of the art of lettering across multiple comics–looking at the craft employed by letterer Aditya Bidikar
Ritesh Babu

Ritesh Babu has a great examination of Aditya Bidikar’s lettering, and how Bidikar’s work is part of the storytelling and not just a necessary tool of it. It’s the considered approach of an artist, choosing the right approach to the individual work.

A Guest in the House - The Comics Journal
Emily Carroll’s quiet horror graphic novel, A Guest In The House, reviewed by Sadia Bies.
The Comics JournalSadia Bies

I really need to reread this book. It was one of my favorite books last year and does feel like one that should be returned to over and over again.

Absolute Batman #1 delivers a Dark Knight that’s civically minded while also having the best extended action sequence in years
Buy!
Graphic PolicyLogan Dalton

I opened with my thoughts about Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman and end with Logan Dalton’s, a review who I really appreciate as he comes to comics from a different angle than I do, with different reference and anchor points which make realize that we can all see something different and (hopefully) still be right in those differences.