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August 17, 2011
Atomic Books Comics Preview - August 17, 2011
In the weekly Atomic Books Comics Preview, Benn Ray highlights notable new comics and graphic novels.
Benn Ray is the owner of Atomic Books, an independent bookstore in Baltimore. The Mobtown Shank is his blog, and his comic Said What? is syndicated weekly in the Baltimore Sun's B-Paper.
Atomic Books was recently named one of Bizarre Magazine's 51 geekiest places on the planet, as well as one of Flavorwire's 10 greatest comic and graphic novel stores in America.
Big Top Popaganda #1: MC Secret Circus
by Ron English
If you've seen the documentary Supersize Me, you're familiar with Ron English's artwork. Ron is a street artist in the truest sense of the word - reclaiming billboards with parody ads for the public interest. As he got older and grew tired of being arrested, his work has become more gallery-oriented. Here he returns to his pop roots with a comic. And it's a perfect fit for Ron's style. I'm excited by the prospect of more of these.
Clutter #15
by Miranda O'Brien / Nick Carroll
The premier magazine of art toy design culture returns after a several year absence with an improved format. Each page is pure eye candy.
Fashion Cats
by Takako Iwasa
Blame VICE for this book of kitty porn, collecting Iwasa's photographs of impossibly adorable, dressed up cats. I just felt like I needed to show this to you.
Important Comics Are Bad
by Dina Kelberman
Atomic Books staffer Dina Kelberman has a second collection of her Baltimore Citypaper comic strips. While appearing simple, the thoughts and emotions they convey are shockingly complex - frequently funny and melancholy at the same time. She's part of the famed Baltimore Wham City Collective - so think of her work as the comic strip equivalent of Dan Deacon's music. Just kidding. Sort of.
Setting the Standard: Comics by Alex Toth 1952-1954
by Alex Toth / Greg Sadowski (editor)
Publisher Fantagraphics hits it out of the park with this gorgeous collection of his work from the 50s for Standard Comics. Toth was a comic books artist's artist who specialized in an often mimicked minimalist style.
Too Much Coffee Man Omnibus Volume 1
by Shannon Wheeler
I admit it, I miss the hell out of the freak of nature that is Shannon Wheeler's Too Much Coffee Man. Dark Horse collects, in an impressive oversized edition, the exploits of the the caffeine-fueled would-be hero. The perfect thing to read while sipping a soychoychaidoublemochalattebutt at your local independent coffee house.
Questions, concerns, comments or gripes – e-mail benn@atomicbooks.com. If there’s a comic I should know about, send it my way at Atomic, c/o Atomic Books 3620 Falls Rd., Baltimore, MD 21211.
Atomic Books & Benn Ray links:
Atomic Books website
Atomic Books on Twitter
Atomic Books on Facebook
Benn Ray's blog (The Mobtown Shank)
Benn Ray's comic, Said What?
also at Largehearted Boy:
other Atomic Books Comics Preview lists (weekly new comics & graphic novel highlights)
52 Books, 52 Weeks
Antiheroines (interviews with up and coming female comics artists)
Book Notes (authors create music playlists for their book)
guest book reviews
Largehearted Word (weekly new book highlights)
musician/author interviews
Note Books (musicians discuss literature)
