#657 “Berlin”

Berlin

Jason Lutes’ Berlin shows us scenes from the lives of many characters in Berlin as the Weimar Republic disintegrated and the Nazis rose to power. Historical events (including the fallout of World War I) affect the characters while the characters continue trying to control their own lives, or each other’s, and they cross paths in ways that are sometimes easy to miss. And the art is detailed and spellbinding. Tim and Kumar dig into this 542-page masterwork, more than twenty years in the making.

Jason Lutes’ presentation

#333 “Louis Riel”

Louis Riel

If you’re not Canadian, this week’s topic may be a bit of a head-scratcher. Louis, uh, who now? To Canadians, though, including our own Kumar and Dana, Riel is a famous historical figure of the 19th century who led a rebellion against the Canadian government. His story is the subject of Chester Brown‘s recent graphic novel which, while complete with end notes, also takes Shakespearean liberties with the historical record. And what’s up with the weird placement of characters on the page? An accident? No… nothing in this book is an accident.

REVIEW: Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography

by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon.

Hill and Wang, 2010.

So, why does a publisher which doesn’t normally deal in graphic novels / comics decide to put out a book like this?

1) It’s a way to re-publish existing material. This is especially true for The Anne Frank Center whose mission it is to perpetuate her story.

2) They assume – mostly incorrectly – that graphic novels are currently trendy.

3) They assume that kids are too slow / callous to appreciate a prose presentation of the same material.

Continue reading REVIEW: Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography

#200 Draw me in St. Louis: Super Spy, Lackadaisycats, and more!

10/5/09 Draw me in St. Louis

A 200th episode extravaganza!

Super SpySt. Louis resident Matt Kindt, creator of Super Spy, has been hard at work on several new titles, set at various points in the 20th century. Matt tells us what’s coming up and answers a few questions about Super Spy.

 

LackadaisycatsTracy Butler, also of St. Louis, shares Matt’s interest in comics set in the past — in particular, St. Louis in the 1920s. Her Web comic Lackadaisycats (now available as a book) is beautifully drawn, interesting, and hilarious.

 

 

ChewThen Tim and Mulele respond to some recent mail from listeners, and Mulele gives his impressions of the Image series Chew!