This Weekend.......................TC Book Festival

The hustling continues here at 2dc, as we have two big books at press simultaneously (Things You Carry & Motherlover), while two minis, Toby Jones & Co.'s new serial Arthur Turnkey, and Eric Schuster and Joe Gillette's Prizon Food, are being assembled for press in preparation for their MIX debuts as well!

Needless to say, our hands are full, but if all this activity wasn't enough, we have another show before all these new 2dc releases drop: Rain Taxi's Twin Cities Book Festival. Although this is a show primarily geared towards the printed word, comics always figure in the spectrum of exhibitors as well as at least one notable cartoonist from outside our borders. 

The first year 2dc attended, it was Jaime Hernandez, interviewed by Zak Sally. Gabrielle Bell was the guest cartoonist the following year, which is also when Tom K. put out his first of what has become a reliable string of well-designed minis collecting much of Gabrielle's recent online output into print form. Last year saw a smattering of MN connected cartoonists, including newly 2dc-distroed artist Will Dinski, amongst others. This year, it looks like Rain Taxi has done it again by bringing Ben Katchor to the show. Admittedly, I haven't read as many of his books or collections of his weekly strips as I'd like, but what I have seen in anthologies (Kramers 7 is coming to mind) was definitely memorable and I look forward to hearing him talk this weekend.

Not to be outdone by Mr. Katchor, plenty from the stellar local scene will be in attendance, as we once again do battle with MCBA's Fallcon show for the hearts, minds, and hard earned currency of the local comics fan. If you have the chance, do stop by both, as there are plenty of worthwhile cartoonists in attendance at each show, but if you're looking for something a little different than what you may have seen at Springcon earlier this year, you may want to spend your afternoon in Minneapolis instead.

Although things are starting to look a little grim, we are still hoping beyond hope that our goal for the Motherlover Kickstarter can be met in the week and a half we have left before the curtain is lowered. We truly appreciate all of the backers that have donated thus far, and we'd like to be able to shell out those gifts we have listed, but if that goal can't be reached, well, we can't promise anything. If you haven't checked out the page in a while, it has been updated with more images of the book as well as some samples of the awesome prints Luke Holden has conjured as gifts, not to mention a limited edition of Detrimental Information 8. But enough out of me, if you like this book or what we're doing overall, feel free to share this kickstarter in any way you see fit; we want to pay the artists what they deserve for this book and we want to give people some awesome art and comics!

If you're reading this and you're out west, Raighne and Meghan will be at the Plush You! show at Schmancy in Seattle this Saturday as well. Meghan's always popular Geirdoz will be standing alongside other handmade creations of all shapes and stripes, so if you're up in the pacif northwes, make a point to stop by!

You Can't Be Here gets it's first review!

Nic Breutzman got his beautiful newspaper biggie reviewed over at The Comics Journal by none other than Rob Clough. You Can't Be Here will  be colored and collected into Mother Lover early next year, along with another short by Nic and a new story by John and Luke Holden. Some time before that we will get the new web shop up and open and have You Can't Be Here available for sale there as well as some some of Shenton's shops (currently waiting on Nic getting us some more copies as we are a little low).


On a side note, I got to meet with Grimalkin's publisher, Jordan Shiveley, over tea talk a bit about his outfit as he makes the move to Minneapolis. We'll be doing an interview with him over at Itchy Keen at a later time. Our own Reynold Kissling has a very pretty short in the forthcoming fifth volume of Hive! If I haven't said it before, Hive is doing some things really well and I applaud them on their ability to release regularly, the beautiful hand-craftedness of their releases, and their ability to put out better and bigger books with each iteration. Anthologies are hard, this I know.

Yearbooks and GMN4 get reviewed AGAIN--Woop Woop!

Over at the excellent Warren Peace Sings the Blues, Matthew Brady writes some thoughtful reviews on a handful of mini's including Yearbooks (which really isn't quite a mini, but--) and Good Minnesotan #4.

Side note: anthologies are generally a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes they work out better when there is a smaller list of contributors and tighter focus on the vision. Sales tend to reflect this as well.  Obviously, I really like GMN4 as it is, but then, I am the editor.  I'll have more masturbatory thoughts on anthologies over at Itchy Keen in the FUTURE.

Oh yeah, the drawing is another image by Luke Holden from the comic/anthology Mother Lover which comes out next year. It's going to be pretty awesome.

Matt Dick Reviews Good Minnesotan 4 + Other Odd Ends

Across the pond at Exquisite Things, Matt Dick reviews our forth and final outing of Good Minnesotan.

Matt writes: “Good Minnesotan sits neatly alongside the likes of Kramer’s Ergot and Mome”.  There are more positive words regarding what was once our flagship title over at Exquisite Things.  Give it a read.

I almost feel that sending this book out to reviewers is unfair.  There is something like 22 contributors to the little guy, so he quickly stacks up to 120 pages.  To make matters more confusing, the copy sent to reviewers is a part of the “early sunday” edition.  The final edition, the one in which we are actively raising funds for, will be 30+ contribs, adding another 40 pages onto an already full volume.  So, many thanks Matt!

Before the month is out I will be posting a huge preview of the book, for anybody to check out.  In the mean time, take a minute or two to visit Itchy Keen Art Fiends for some interviews with the contributors.  Interesting stuff.

The above image is just one cover of the four books housed in GMN4's elephant poop paper sleeve.  It was illustrated by Luke Holden.  We will be doing a new book with him, his brother John and Nic late this year or early next.  It's going to be something special.  Then again, I am probably biased.

Last month my sister, Chantel graduated from the Perpich Center for Arts Education.  Before the year is out, when we move into the new space we will be taking in an intern, and you guessed it, it will be my sister.  She has a great work ethic and is more organized then I often am.  Chantel is also a talented illustrator and cartoonist.

Meghan and I at Chantel's Graduation party.  Looking tired, tired.