The Pickytarian

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June 09, 2005

Three Unrelated Items

from Skyscrapers of the Midwest #2. Art by Joshua Cotter, published by Adhouse Books.

A handful of random stuff today...

First, I saw another comic reader on the subway yesterday. Asian boy, roughly ten years old, carrying a digest-size comic book. Must have been manga, right? I mean, he was a kid, and Asian at that. Sorry, my stereotyping friend, but you're wrong: it was an Archie Double-Digest.

Yesterday I bought and read the second issue of Skyscrapers of the Midwest by Joshua Cotter. What an amazing book. Cotter's non-linear storytelling tricks are innovative, impressive, and most importantly of all, highly effective. I read a ton of comic books, and I like them, but every once in a blue moon something like Skyscrapers comes along and everything else pales in comparison. While everybody else seems to be riffing on the same old straightforward stories and techniques, Cotter is taking it upon himself to remind us of the malleability and unlimited potential of the medium. I know that sounds absurdly hyperbolic, and a week from now I will probably cringe at lavishing such high praise, but after reading this comic I felt like I had been punched in the gut. In a good way! I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I had never heard of artist Ben Oliver until he filled in for Jock for a few months on The Losers. I was really impressed with his layouts and style, and I was hopeful that I would see his work again. Yesterday I not only found out that he will be drawing an upcoming series from DC called Vigilante, but I also noticed his name on the credits of the new issue of Tom Strong. When it rains, it pours!

Posted by jdonelson_nyc at June 9, 2005 03:12 PM

Comments

Posted by: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez at June 13, 2005 03:14 PM

Posted by: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez at June 13, 2005 03:23 PM