pssssst! brainfag is retired! i'm now at natebeaty.com

 

Serious kids for stupid comics

posted in Home Jabber on February 04, 2005

I was excited to find Childhood is Hell at the local last-of-a-dying-breed, for reals Thrift Store here in Astoria. Matt Groening has got to be one the funniest damn people alive. But even more hilarious was the counter lady's response when I brought it up for purchase (along with 8 records, the total was two bucks!): "OH THAT MAN IS WEIRD."

"Yeah, he's uhh, pretty weird," I replied, still in shock at the miniscule cost of all these items.

"I bought one of his books as a coloring book, but you couldn't color in it!" She paused, obviously angry at the memory. "And it's certainly not for kids. I was going to call the publisher!"

"Yeah, it's not for kids." I lamely replied, a little confused as to how she would think it was a coloring book for kids.

As I walked home, it started getting to me. The old woman was a reminder of the majority attitutude towards comics and cartoons: entertainment for kids, but certainly not a serious art form. "Whatever," I eventually concluded. I was glad to find a class-A book for the shitter for a quarter, and went home to continue honing my attempts at my serious art form.

Speaking of which, I really want to make it to MOCCA this year.. Not only do I think it's time I saw New York, I also think it's time I became a serious cartoonist. Hahaha, oh-hoho.

As you might have noticed, I've recently become fascinated with coloring illustrations with Photoshop -- there's illos in About and Writing, and a few on the new Reading Frenzy site. This has gotten me to thinking of continuing Brainfag 6 with some new minis, and possibly colorizing the whole thing for online viewiing.

Aaron Renier and I have also been talking about doing a joint-mini for MOCCA, but we've been *talking* about that for almost four years, so don't hold your breath.

Just got a slew of new books and comic books including a Krazy Kat reissue (gawd I hate Fantagraphics' site), Jessica Abel's amazing Perdida #1, Bwana Spoons Pencil Fight #2, Kevin H's Or Else #1, and my fav: Lewis Trondheim's Nimrod #3, #4 and The Hoodoodad (yay Fantagraphics for publishing these in English!).

9 comments on this entry

I freaking LOVE the color illustrarion with the creepy crone.

Becca 2/4/05
 

nates going to ny! show them what west coast art is all about!

yobro 2/5/05
 

holy shit, my brother told me today that he's talked my mom and dad into pitching in for a round-trip ticket to NY for mocca! now i just have to get my ass in gear and actually have some new comics to show at the event....

nate 2/6/05
 

All right Nate!!! Woo Woo!!

Shawn 2/6/05
 

Nate-
SWEEEEEEEET. My couch is calling your name!!! You me and Aaron can share my MoCCA half-table (it'll be cozy...) Now, if we can only convince EZRA to show up we could really show this town a thing or two...

Let me know when your plans solidify--I can't wait to hang out in New York with you!!!

Alec.

Alec 2/6/05
 

Just curious-- was that CRS or Deja Vu? CRS, I bet...

Joseph 2/7/05
 

you lucky son of a bitch!

pond scum 2/7/05
 

nope, actually it was deja vu... it was the lady with the strong new york accent. i wonder how the publisher would respond to such an irate customer. also wonder what the lady would think if she ran across a Brainfag in the store.. or a Dave Cooper or R. Crumb comic.

nate 2/8/05
 

The answer, obviously, is for you to plant copies in the store and watch the fireworks.

 
 

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