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July 31, 2015
Atomic Books Comics Preview - July 31, 2015
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 has been named one of BuzzFeed's Great American Bookstores, as well as one of Flavorwire's 10 greatest comic and graphic novel stores in America.
7 And 7 Is #1
by Hidden Volume Records
Depending on how you look at it, this is a flexi-disc 7-inch with a zine or a zine with a 7-inch. Either way, it's total garage rock fun. The hot, red record features tracks by Jake Starr & The Delicious Fullness. The exquisitely designed zine, loaded with gorgeous vintage ads, also features pieces on Starr, Quitty & The Dont's and The Insomniacs. All in the size/format of your average record single (so it fits in your singles case!).
The Bell Tolls For No One
by Charles Bukowski
Despite the defiant title of this book, the bell tolled for beloved American low-life chronicler Charles Bukowski in 1994. Regardless, this week saw the release of 2 new books by the writer, this one and On Writing. Not bad for a someone who's been dead for 22 years. This book collects a long and wide range of Bukowski's previously uncollected short stories - from his pulp genre writing to his post-modern writing. This City Lights book really captures the spirit of a great writer.
Conditions On The Ground
by Kevin Hooyman
Whoa... I did not see this book coming. I mean I did, but I didn't realize it would be this... Ugh. What I mean to say is, I love it when I pick something up that looks cool and it turns out to be even cooler than it looks. Kevin Hooyman has a lot of crazy-awesome line work mixed with a lot of stream-of-consciousness storytelling that is relatable, fun, engaging and interesting. Conditions collects over 350 pages of stories, and instead of having a numbing effect, you'll find yourself tearing through one story to get to the next in excitement.
Not Ha Ha Funny
by Leah Hayes
Leah Hayes' book is simply astounding! This abortion handbook should be a staple in every sex ed class throughout the country. But what's most remarkable is Hayes' non-political, commonsense, and compassionate approach to abortion. By removing the politics from her book, some will most certainly interpret this book as political (yeah, go figure). Regardless, it's human, humane, and full of information that every person should have and many try to deny people from having. This is the rare book that is bigger than the sum of its parts.
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, Mutant Funnies
also at Largehearted Boy:
other Atomic Books Comics Preview lists (weekly new comics & graphic novel highlights)
Antiheroines (interviews with up and coming female comics artists)
Book Notes (authors create music playlists for their book)
Librairie Drawn & Quarterly Books of the Week (recommended new books, magazines, and comics)
musician/author interviews
Note Books (musicians discuss literature)
Short Cuts (writers pair a song with their short story or essay)
WORD Bookstores Books of the Week (weekly new book highlights)
