MUGGER'S FETISH
The New York Press' January 3 issue debuts "The Taint," a new comic strip by Renee French. The four panel strip is reproduced at large size on the weekly paper's website.
INFO: NY Press
posted by Egon on Friday, January 03, 2003

KARASIKS' RIDE IS HERE
Paul Karasik announces the January 9 release of "The Ride Together," the text-comics hybrid authored in collaboration with sister Judy Karasik. The Karasiks will appear on that morning's broadcast of FOX 5's "Good Day New York" and will read from the book at the 82nd Street Barnes & Noble in the evening. Accompanying the book's release is a website featuring a fifteen page comics sequence by Paul and a prose chapter by Judy. As previously reported, the book is a memoir of the Karasiks' experiences growing up with an autistic sibling.
INFO: The Ride Together
posted by Egon on Friday, January 03, 2003

THE WAY TO THE FORUM
James Romberger now offers the second issue of "Comic Art Forum," a "fan/prozine" including interviews with Dick Ayers and Calvin Reid, "an appreciation of French comics master Francois Boucq," and pieces on Jack Kirby and Wally Wood among its various features. Copies cost $3, shipping included; inquiries can be addressed to Romberger via e-mail at Lordsemaj@aol.com.
posted by Egon on Friday, January 03, 2003

RADIO FREE JIMBO
Arts and culture radio program Studio 360's December 28, 2002 broadcast treats the subject of toys, including a chat with cartoonist, designer and " toy devotee" Gary Panter, as spotted by the Comics Journal's "iJournalista!" website. The episode is available for download from the Studio 360 website.
INFO: Studio 360
posted by Egon on Friday, January 03, 2003

L.A. COMIC BOOK CONFIDENTIAL
The January 3 - 9, 2003 issue of the LA Weekly is the publication's semi-regular "Comics Issue." This time out, the Weekly interviews David Rees and appreciatively features romance comics and Harvey Kurtzman's "Cold War comic-book noir." The issue also runs strips and artwork by Renée French, Phoebe Gloeckner, Eric Haven, James Kochalka, Bernie Krigstein, Frank Miller and Tony Millionaire. The LA Weekly's complete contents are available online.
INFO: LA Weekly
posted by Egon on Wednesday, January 01, 2003

EXILE: ART QUITS MAG'S STAFF SPOT
Art Spiegelman has decided not to renew his contract as staff writer and artist for the New Yorker, citing editorial conservatism inconsistent with his own creative goals in the January 6 edition of the New York Observer. "I find as much fault with David Remnick's New Yorker as I do with American media in general," explains Spiegelman to "Off the Record" media columnist Sridhar Pappu. "It's insanely timid. But that's a criticism I'm not leveling at David. It's part of the zeitgeist right now. And it's why I feel I'm in internal exile." Spiegelman characterizes the discontinuation of his contract as amicable and hopes to contribute future covers and pieces to the magazine. Current projects include his monthly comic strip for Die Zeit and the Forward, "In the Shadow of No Towers," and a collection of New Yorker illustrations "which will debut as both a show in Milan and as a book in Italian in May 2003," writes Pappu.
INFO: The New York Observer
posted by Egon on Tuesday, December 31, 2002

ARTHUR 2: DRUNK ON COMICS
The second issue of Arthur Magazine inaugurates the co-editorial tenure of Sammy Harkham and Jordan Crane with comic strips by Crane, Kevin Huizenga, James Kochalka and Anders Nilsen. The free newsprint publication "is now out on the east coast and it'll be all over the country within the next two weeks," according to Harkham. The magazine's website lists distribution points.
INFO: Arthur Magazine
posted by Egon on Tuesday, December 31, 2002

ISOTOPE ACCOLADES MINI-COMICS
San Francisco retailer James Sime announces the first annual Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics, reports Silver Bullet Comics' "All the Rage" website. "The only entry fee is five copies of your book, sent to judge Kirsten Baldock at the Isotope address... by January 29th, 2003. She and I will pick the winner and present the trophy on February 1st," says Sime. Entries can be mailed to: Isotope, 1653 Noriega Street, San Francisco, CA 94122. Winners must be present at the Isotope comic shop on February 1 to accept their award.
INFO: Silver Bullet Comics
posted by Egon on Sunday, December 29, 2002