Post Stump // Pre Tea Calf 2012

This past weekend was Stumptown 2012. The last Stump show we attended was in 2010 and we had a total blast, so it was very disappointing that I was unable to be in attendance this time around (had to work the Art in Bloom event at the MIA). With that said, Vincent Stall (King Mini) had us covered as he was holding down the 2DC tent at said show. In addition to the usual 2DC wares, he was carrying some killer King Mini swag which included this short mini which continues his new stylistic approach to narratives (see & buy THINGS YOU CARRY!). Gorgeous, brooding work.

For everyone who stopped by our table and chatted up Vincent, our thanks! Double that for 2DC and Kini Mini purchasers!! A big and obvious thank you to Vincent as well!!

Stepping out of hump-day (well, I guess technically it is Thursday now) and into the future, Little Heart will be making it's big debut at TCAF this Saturday & Sunday! Woo! To help direct that laser pointer that is your wallet onto that book, I have been asked to be a part of a couple panels. 

The first one, taking place at the Pilot Tavern on Saturday at 3:15-4:15pm titled New, Exciting, and Queer will be moderated by Jose Villarrubia (this guy is my comics coloring hero!). Panelists include Maurice Vellekoop, Emily Carroll, Lucy Knisley, Ed Choy, and myself (raighne here!). 

The other panel I will be participating in is called Crowdfunding a Project. It will take place on Sunday on the first floor of the library itself from 1:15pm-2:45pm. Subject matter is pretty straightforward enough I imagine. Fellow panelists include Becky Dreistadt, Frank Gibson, Scott Campbell, Yuko Ota, and Evan Dahm. George Rohac is the moderator for this guy. I'm pretty pumped for these panels and I hope you can make it to both of 'em!

Tomorrow morning we will be getting a closer look at the books as we are (as usual) playing this all last minute like. Many-many heart attacks happening inside my 12 year old frame, believe you me!!

At our table (#137) we will have Ed Choy & Jeremy Sorese, both of whom had larger and longer narratives in Little Heart (and who are both über-talented and awesome). Each of them will be debuting a new book at the show as well (Araby and Curveball, respectively) . Obviously Justin and I will be at our table too. 

Elsewhere on that awesome little island of tables that we are at you can find our friends at La Mano/Spit and a Half sharing a table housing Zak Sally, John Porcellino, and the one and only Noah Van Sciver; Sparkplug Comic Books/i will destroy you will be represented by our pal Tom Neely along with Emily Nilsson; lastly, Dan Nadel from PictureBox will also be on the island -- tons of awesome all around!!!

Please stop by and buy books from our friends Anna Bongiovanni and Evan Palmer too. They are both mega-talented! You can find them on the 2nd floor. We'll have some news on a new book we are doing with Anna later in the year. Pretty excited for it.

Across from our island is kickass Koyama Press, their tables will be full of amazing artists like Maurice Vellekoop, Michael DeForge, Brian Fukushima, Dustin Harbin, Jesse Jacobs, Pat & Marek Tin Can Forest, and quite possibly many others, including kickass Annie herself!

Well, I am out of steam, gotta sleep and maybe dream. Hope to see yah at TCAF!!

Things You Carry @ BCGF + New Books in 'da Shop!

If you're headed to the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Fest (and really why would you not be? unless of course you live thousands of miles away...), Santa comes early. Instead of cookies, bring cash-money's for gorgeous comic goodness. While we at 2DC will not be there, our compatriots at La Mano 21 and Uncivilized Books will be there representin'. Swag.

And speaking of Uncivilized, Tom K. will have Vincent "King Mini" Stall's latest and longest comic narrative at the show -- you know that awesome book pictured that we published last month, yep, that's the one! So please stop on by the table with Tom K, Zak Sally, and Gabrielle Bell behind it -- buy their books and Things You Carry!!

Oh and a small note on the snappily dressed chap -- (yep, that's a-me) Tom K, over at Uncivilized has some cool tee's featuring the 'caveman' logo and the one for True Swamp -- very metal! That's what I am modeling. I was going for that sexy underpants look as seen in those american apparel ads. Yeah, maybe not so sexy. Sorry Tom!

Using sex as a jumping off point -- we have 6 new items in the shop! The list includes the aforementioned Things You Carry, Motherlover, Arthur Turnkey Vol. 1, Prizon Food Vol.1 and two books of which have Pornhounds in the title. Those latter two are self published by Sharon Lintz -- who is awesome! They are all top notch books, so go check 'em out! 

A couple more quick notes: the two mini's, Prizon Food and Arthur Turnkey are in very limited supply but they will be getting re-printed very very soon! And for all the awesome folks that are waiting on their copy of Motherlover and other thank you gifts for throwing down the green during our kickstarter -- it's on the way. We are putting together some very cool extra special items! I think y'all will be pleased!

Lovejoy at Copacetic

The latest shop to get on the Noah Van Sciver // Death of Elijah Lovejoy band-wagon is the Copacetic Comics Company. While I have never made it to Copacetic myself, that shop looks to be a comics / art / literature / media mecca. So folks in Pittsburgh, why don't yah treat yourself to some gorgeous tactile media and stop on by the Copacetic Comics Company? I don't think you'll regret it. And besides, how could you not want to add a little bit of that Noah Van Sciver magic to your collection?

This image is snipped from a bunch of misprints of Noah's Lovejoy comic booklet. We plan on having a show sometime this year involving those misprints and some originals from the comic itself. For those unaware, the entire book was printed by La Mano's head-cheese, Zak Sally (they have their own press!). Anywho, I'll keep yah in the loop on that as it develops.

Fleeting Pages & SpringCon 2011 + notes

Last week Justin sent out some copies of Yearbooks to Fleeting Pages, a pop-up book store in Pittsburgh, PA. They ended up taking over the Borders that went out of business and will be selling independently published and small press books of all stripes in their HUGE 24,000 square foot shop until early June. They have also been getting a ton of press coverage on their venture. If you are in Pittsburgh between now and early June, stop by, pick up some gorgeous small press books and check out their workshops and film showings!!

Next on the agenda: This Saturday and Sunday is SpringCon 2011! We will be premiering Noah Van Sciver's 'The Death of Elijah Lovejoy' at the show. The show opens to the public at 10 am both days and ends at 5 pm and takes place and the MN State Fair Grounds. Below is the address for quick reference.

1265 Snelling Ave North
St. Paul MN 55108

At our table will be Nic Breutzman, Justin Skarhus, Meghan Hogan, and myself (raighne here). Noah might be at our table too, not sure if he has his own table or not... Hrm. So visit us, say hi, take a look at our new book!

2 quick notes:

1:
Help Zak get this baby out in the world!! Pre-ordering the book is only 12$!

2: in a future post, after SpringCon I will talk a bit about my curatorial picks for MIX-- sorry about the delay JP.

Extra, Extra: Spring Cleaning Addition

So, some news: we at 2DC have been doing some spring cleaning on this old blog, perhaps you have noticed it looks a bit less-- fugly? Well, I do hope so, dear reader. I have been distracted working on it, instead of colouring comix, which puts me at 3 weeks behind schedule. I will, however, have time to catch up soon as I'll be shaving a day off my schedule by months end.

Our pal, Noah Van Sciver was recently interviewed on Indie Spinner Rack, pimping his new works: Blammo 7; The Hypo; and the first book we are doing with him, The Death of Elijah Lovejoy! WOO-YAH! Sorry, excited there. We have some big plans for that little book. More news on that front soon.

The Chicago Zine Fest was Justin and I's first out of town solo show without the ladies in tow. You know, for a minute there, I thought we'd probably get a little too blissed out in our adventuring. Not so much though, nearing and hitting 30 does that I suppose. Megabussing in also took some of that wind out of our sails. Enough wind that after Neil Brideau directed us to his fun-house, Ed Moorman gave us a ring and asked me when I/we started drinkng-- haha! No drinking, just dehydration, hunger, and my own sense of goofy-odd behavior.

CZF, which was a blast and is now about 2 weeks in the past. While we did not have a final finished version of The Death of Elijah Lovejoy available at the show, we did have some last minute ashcan's dropped off by none other than Zak Sally the very day prior to our departure! I was super thrilled to have them there-- I am seriously indebted to Zak for pushing to get us those ashcans for the show. Ed did a huge favor by us with lending us usage of his awesome stapler-- a life saver fer sure, as those books needed binding bad (Michael Jackson Bad).

Another huge thank you to Neil for helping to make CZF the awesome show it is AND for letting us crash at his pad! And before I forget-- thanks to everyone who made it out there and stopped at our table to chat us up and/or purchase something!! We love yah!

In other beleaguered and belabored news, a spell back I, Raighne here, was announced to be one of the curators for MIX. I am in some pretty cool company, the curators are as follows:

Rob Stenzinger
Michael May
Ursula Murray Husted
Brittney Sabo
Jason Loeffler
Barbara Schulz
Michael Drivas
Raighne Hogan
Tom Kaczynski
Zak Sally

Purty neat. Well, thanks for lending me your earballs and eyeholes. More pots and pans banging concerning our 2011 plots and plans soon! Also, apologies for any bad grammar or spelling issues. J-Stud, our co-pub, moved to NE recently and has been needing to get his place in order-- Justin normally makes me sound/look better in all regards, including editing my posts before they go live. Regards!

Happy New Year Folks!

So, it's 2001, er 2011.  Happy New Year folks!  We have some big plans for 2011.  For the past 2 years we have only put one or two books out all year.  This year, we are upping that to at least 4-5 titles at minimum.  We've budgeted for considerably more, but we have to wait on the artists to finish or for some (myself included) to start their respective books with the gusto required to get them done on schedule.  In a future post I will go over some of the titles and the artists involved.  It's going to be a full year!

The first book out of the gate for 2D Cloud will be Noah Van Sciver's The Death of Elijah Lovejoy.  To the left is a very rough colour test-- I'll be doing a number of these and having Zak Sally take a look at seeing which ones would be easiest to run off his press.

I'm very excited to be working with Noah, who recently had a fling with the press via the Most Memorable Comics and Graphic Novels of 2010 on NPR.  He is also going to be on Inkstuds in the very near future and he has a comic in an upcoming issue of MOME!  Congrats Noah!

I am also very excited to be using Zak Sally's press for The Death of Elijah Lovejoy, it's a perfect fit.  In the next month or so we will have a more in-depth interview with Noah over at Itchy Keen.  And at some point here we will get that video interview we did between Zak Sally and Dylan Williams up.

Speaking of interviews on Itchy Keen, we have a new one up with Jordan Shiveley, head cat over at fellow minneapolis based small press publisher, Grimalkin.  They have title out by Noah Van Sciver at their shop.

Holy CRAP!! I am late: OR : a MIX wrap up nearing a month after the fact

Fore-warning: Lots of pictures, not so much text. The MIX weekend was pretty spectacular.  I really should have written this much much sooner.  I am not sure how I managed not too.  Nor am I terribly sure what I have all been up to in the meantime.

In any case, the MIX WEEKEND began with a screening of Scott Pilgrim vs the World.  I was unable to make it to this as I worked.  Also, not being a huge fan of the comic, I don't know that I could enjoy it as a film either.  Lot's of folks did though I am sure!

Photo by Will Dinski?

On Friday, Dylan Williams and I ran over to Big Brain for pre-MIX festivities.  Specifically, 3 signings.  One of Zak Sally's new book, Sammy the Mouse; Will Dinski's Fingerprints; Aaron Renier's The Unsinkable Walker Bean.

I  snatched a copy of each.  It's the second time I bought Will's story, and well worth it. The earlier version I had also came in a hardcover, but was in black and white and limited to 35 copies as it was hand-bound.


Photo's by Michael May

The pre-MIX fun continued into the evening at the 501 club.  Thar be Kenin Cannon, Tim Sievert, Brett Warnock.

Mr. Renny Kissling and his band Robot's From the FUTURE were there as well, playing in the past.  Renny has a colour comic we will be serializing called Pale Blue Dot.  A preview snapshot can be viewed in GMN4 or online.  More on that at a future time.

Photo's by Will Dinski.

The site of the show was pretty perfect at the Soap Factory.  I love the area, very warehousy.

Photos's by Melissa S. Kaercher.

Did I yet mention that there were VEGAN DONUTS!?  Yup, pretty awesome and damn tasty.  Donuts provided by the newly formed Donut Cooperative, but of course!  Check 'em out!

Photo by Sharyn Morrow.

Here is Sam Sharpe.  One of many talented cartoonists that we would be having as house guests shortly.

BT Livermore and Banner Year Press were some of the first place's I stopped.  Anyone with a 'stache should take a looksy here for friendly write up on his Man's Face Stuff line.  Great stuff!

There's our table!  Meghan, Nic, and Sarah holding down the fort while Justin and I are probably at a panel (either the one with John Porcellino or with Tom Kaczynski).

We premiered GMN4 at the show.  This was the full final version.  I have been neglectful on getting this out to Shenton, shops, contributors, supporters, reviewers.  I will amend that shortly.

Also pictured is Meghan's Geirdo Ferris Wheel.  For a better look, check out her site.

Photo's by Neil Brideau.

This is such a goofy picture.  There is a semi-closer look of the tiny book that is GMN4.  Plus a funny look at myself (Raighne here), Meghan, Justin.

Photo by TwinCities MetroMix.

A nice photo of a cute little red head.
Photo by Sarah Jordet.

Dylan Williams and the beautiful amazing books that his outfit, Sparkplug Comic Books puts out.

Photo's by Neil Brideau.

On the left we have a couple of talented Chicagonites, Ian McDuffie and Lane Westvine. Information is scant from a brief scan of the internets, but they both had some promising comics on hand...

Photo's by Melissa S. Kaercher.

Neil Brideau and Sam Sharpe Mega Bussed it to the Xpo together with Aaron Renier.  Interesting note: Sam, Neil and Eric Schuster were all next to each other at MIX.  Why is that interesting?  'Cause they're all redheads!  It's uncanny and weird!

Photo's by Neil Brideau.

Photo by Melissa S. Kaercher.

Brett and Top Shelf tabling.  Check out the excellent signage!  Also, they are having some amazing sale going on there now with ultra cheap Eddie Campbell and Alan Moore book's as part of the sale.  Check it out!  The sale ends this Friday!  Had I a few extra bones I know I'd be spending 'em there.

The one and only JP Beaty.  Keep an eye on this talented kid.  His output is top notch.  As we were just talking about Alan Moore, his latest is the Adventures of Alan Moore.  Pick it up!

Photo's by Michael May.

I very much enjoyed this funny book.

The organizers! Andy Krueger and Sarah Morean.  Take a bow you two!  Photo by Sharyn Morrow.

Grabbing a bite to eat after MIX at Sen Yai Sen Lek.  One of my favorite places to go for food stuffs.  And they are the exclusive carrier of my favorite beer, the Flat Earth Xanadu.   Here is another strange pic of me and little Maggie.

There is a bottle of it and Sam and me.

Sarah Tulius and who's that in the back?

Why it's the elusive Tom Kaczynski eating a whole slop of noodle's while Aaron Renier watches on.

Ahh shit, we've been spotted, they're calling the cops!

We've escaped to the house, where Dylan Williams, John Porcellino, Noah Van Sciver, Neil Brideau, Sam Sharpe all shall be spending the night.  It's going to be a rather full house.  Pictured is Sarah and Justin.

Justin and myself in the dark prior to going to the after-party at Altered Esthetics.

Getting an air mattress and a sleeping bag for Neil and Sam to have a place to sleep.

Dylan picked up this comic from Big Brain.  Everyone is pouring over it.

That's it, lights out.

Photo's by Neil Brideau.

Kickstarter goal toppled! La Mano 2nd Annual Report report! GMN4 Filed Under Other!

Ah summer, a time of cervezas, unchecked turpitude, and the inevitable fallout known as August. Guess no one told us summer has arrived, because 2D Cloud has been too busy pestering our friends (that's you) and loved ones (that's probably you) about this little project known as Good Minnesotan 4. Raighne slaved over this gem of a anthology earlier this spring and has just about rallied the last of our new troops into what will be our finest hour as promoters of local comics/sequential artists.
 Check it:      +$110 (Non-internet monies)= an astounding collection of cartoonists/artists who are just mere weeks away from being gathered together within the snug confines of ink-slathered elephant poop paper! Thanks so much to everyone who threw down some money, especially in these times of broketude to help us fund this thing. We are beyond grateful and we hope you enjoy the gifts that will be making their way into your hands in the coming weeks. Now comes the fun part for us, nailing down who is printing this (as of now the covers will be going to the Lab and the comics will likely be printed under the watchful eye of the masterful Tom K. of Mome/Uncivilized Books fame) and then getting these guys assembled in time for MIX! Can't wait to see this thing fully grown. Doing these anthologies over the past three years has been great and we hope people enjoy this final installment as much as I know we have and will. A side note: although we didn't raise double the goal amount, we will still be aiming to print twice the projected copies, meaning 500 instead of 250!


To segue ungracefully to last weekend, thanks to Zak Sally for his gracious invite to be a part of his 2nd Annual Report (can't help but think of the Throbbing Gristle record of the same name every time I hear this title, hope it was a reference). It was fun sharing horizontal door space with Tom K. and Camden/Cole's noise ephemera while sweating to the faint hum of aged arcade machines. Was definitely a memorable summer show, we hope to do it again if Zak will have us.


Rounding off a week of greatness for 2D Cloud was another shot in the arm from our staunch supporter and discerning comics connoisseur Shannon Smith on his minicomics blog File Under Other. As usual, Shannon doesn't hesitate to surround us with impressive company in his reviews of our anthologies, as evidenced by lines like:


Like Kramers Ergot or Mome, Good Minnesotan is a really good snapshot of the state of alt comics at the moment of production.  But unlike Kramers or Mome the product has a much more home made feel.


Although I typically feel a little sheepish putting our books in league with these captains of industry, I do feel our final issue reaches as close to the lofty standards those books set than any of our prior anthologies. Thanks as always to Shannon and best of luck with the book he just edited, Shiot Crock Sixteen!


And finally, I, Justin Skarhus, will hopefully be making semi-regular appearances on this and the Itchykeen Art Fiends blog from here on out, as I'm now along with Raighne the co-publisher of 2D Cloud. I've been working with Raighne on comics we never made since we were in high school and I'm looking forward to our 'formal' partnership at the helm of 2D Cloud. Look for 2D Cloud as repped by Shaun Feltz at the Caffetto Craft Fair on Sunday!

La Mano 2nd Annual Report + awesome but mostly unrelated note

This Saturday, starting at 5pm is Zak Sally's La Mano 2nd Annual report. It's an awesome-strange combination of a comic/zine/art fair, music show and benefit, all wrapped into one with a side order of fries, er, fun!  The place to be is:

Eclipse Records
1922 University Ave. W.
Saint Paul MN

The musical acts are as follows (though, not in this order):

CAMDEN (Cole from Daughters Of The Sun project)
PINK TEETH (me and Tooth making a racket)
NOSE QUEAN ANT (newly reconstituted)
TUNNELER (a couple guys from Moonstone doing "a hair metal project about drills", whatever the hell that means...)
MARIJUANA DEATH SQUAD
ARCTIC UNIVERSE
and
GAY WITCH ABORTION

Also, there is a door fee of $6. With that door fee you get a $6 discount off select La Mano books. Other cartoonists selling their wares include Zak Sally/La Mano, Tom K, Maddie Queripel (?), Vincent Stall(?) and a few 2D Cloud folks (of course!). I should mention that I am not really sure who all is attending the fest to sell their comix and the like. I apologize if I forgot anyone or if folks listed above are actually, you know, not in attendance. Not 100% sure...

Here is a clip from last year's event:



Also of awesome note:  Sean Lynch and Mako Homura got hitched!  Congrats you two love birds, sorry we missed yah!