Today, the world loses legendary underground comics writer, Harvey Pekar. The creator of the long-running American Splendor series, passed away at age 70 at his home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Pekar’s work was largely an autobiography of the mundane. Despite gaining fame in his later years, he continued to work as a file clerk at a VA hospital. During this time, he also wrote biographies of his coworkers and other people, notably The Beats.
Over the years, Pekar worked with a number of different artists, including R. Crumb (who he credits with inspiring him to start American Splendor), Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets) and Richard Corben (Heavy Metal).
Time Magazine famously wrote of Pekar that he was the “Lenny Bruce of comix.” A well-received film adaptation of American Splendor came out in 2003 with actor Paul Giamatti as Pekar. Harvey Pekar lives on in that scrapheap in the sky and can always be visited through books like this.
Here’s an interesting case of crossoversauce between custom toys and comics. Germany-based toy and graffiti artist VISE ONE has been incorporating speech bubbles and actual pages from comic books in his latest Comic Stripped toy series.
He’s also made a few mixed media and acrylic on canvas pieces to go with the toys. More photos here.
This is totally fun. Poland isn’t usually on the toy art map, but shouldn’t it be already? I remember writing about a Designer Toy Expo in Wrocklaw last year and saying, “It reminds me that when I explain to non-collectors about ‘our little community,’ it’s not that micro at all.” Anyhow, *StarFil emailed to share the progress of turning his comic book character, Dangerous Chicken, into a 3D toy.
Can someone translate this comic for me? I’m so curious what Dangerous Chicken is yelling at that KAWS’ Companion.
The Dangerous Chicken mold.
The Dangerous Chicken army.
I’m just going to quote this one directly from the blog: “Maybe it’s Maybelline or maybe it’s the fcuking DC!” I enjoy the humor in this. Follow the process here. Click through for a campy video. Read the rest of this entry »
The end of FDBD2010 is nigh, so we’re slowing down the grooves. Hike up the hill and chill. In the picture left to right: Neon Monster co-founders John Crowe, Isaac Pritzker and Jacob Pritzker with designer, Reuben Rude (second from left).
Designer Reuben Rude is holding court outside Neon Monster on the corner of Castro and 22nd. We’ve got free mini Circus Punks (including some vintage ones by Reuben himself) and there’s still free beer and free comics. Come hang out and watch a local San Francisco artist do his thing. Photos of Mitch in progress below. If you’re not near us, and you want to read more about Reuben, check out this interview.
We’re starting to grill the hotdogs now. Yes, for you people who are vegan or, like me, carnivores who are uncomfortable with food that comes in casings, we’ve got veggie dogs too. Beer and other beverages are ice cold on this warm spring San Francisco day. Oh and yeah: there are still tons of totally FREE comics as the main course of today’s Free Comic Book Day festivities.
Some excellent people have been stopping by. Like this couple above who picked up a Mitch, a GID Potamus and a Radioactive Seamour Sheep for their granddaughter. They must be going for a theme of mutations and misfits. Take that, traditional kids toys! Bravo grandparents! And look at all the ladies reading comics in the photo below. Neon Monster crushes the stereotypes of who the “typical” comic book reader is. Curious about comics? Come and get some!
Free Comic Book Day is in full swing in San Francisco! We’re up to our third re-stock on most of the books. Popular so far = Jim Woodring’s Weathercraft, Fraggle Rock, The 6th Gun and a bunch of others.
Here’s a glimpse of the rack of FREE comics. In the time it took to type that sentence, John just came through to restock more issues of Lady Gaga’s Fame and Fraggle Rock. Talk about crossoversauce.
How awesome is this? A few months ago, Neon Monster went to Art Basel and set up a Cave of Wonders. Flash forward to now, and we’ve got this free comic with Red Fraggle trying to convince Boober to come along to the Cave of Wonders! But, see, Boober wants to be a Doozer. Remember the Doozers? Dang, Fraggle Rock ruled. The state of kids TV is different these days. Free Fraggle Rock comics are just one out of 20+ titles that are part of Free Comic Book Day all day long while supplies last. Neon Monster is located at 901 Castro Street at 22nd in sunny San Francisco.
Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day, always a blast at our San Francisco shop. You can get all the details in this post, but here’s the skinny:
This Saturday, May 1st from 11AM-7PM(ish), we’re giving out tons of FREE comics. It’s a family-friendly shindig with hotdogs and beverages, and it’s part of a national FCBD event that aims to increase literacy by getting kids interested in reading. We’ve got comics and graphic novels for kids (and adults) of all ages in the shop (Marvel comics are 30% off one day only), and a selection of TOTALLY FREE comics up for grabs. In addition, just for Saturday, all plush monsters have been discounted at 20% off, and we’ve even got records for $1.
A partial list of the ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY FREE comics includes: some Jim Woodring, a little Lady Gaga, a bit of Fraggle Rock, something for you Simpsons fans, a preview of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel, an Oni Press Free For All, Fractured Fables, Love & Capes, a bit of the Tick, Owly and Friends, War of the Supermen, Worlds of Aspen 2010, Green Hornet (written by Kevin Smith!), G.I. Joe, some Shrek, some Sonic, a couple of Iron Mans, The Sixth Gun, bits and bobs from Radical Publishing, Irredeemable, the first action-packed issue of Fearless Dawn, Doctor Solar, Magnus, Storm Lion, Toy Story, Archie, Atomic Robo, a Drawn & Quarterly grab-bag, Artifacts, the Stuff of Legend and more.
Come say hi and hang out. We’re at 901 Castro @ 22nd in Noe Valley. If you aren’t local, you can get 15% off anything you buy in the online shop by typing in discount code “FCBD” on May 1st. Have fun! That’s what comics and toys are for!
Neon Monster is once again participating in Free Comic Book Day! FCBD is one day a year when specialty and independent comic book shops around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes in. Millions of comics have been given away since the event began in 2002.
Neon Monster will have over 20 different completely free comic books. We’re sure we have something for you. What have we got? Well, for starters: some Jim Woodring, a little Lady Gaga, a bit of Fraggle Rock, something for you Simpsons fans, a preview of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel, an Oni Press Free For All, Fractured Fables, Love & Capes, a bit of the Tick, Owly and Friends, War of the Supermen, Worlds of Aspen 2010, Green Hornet (written by Kevin Smith!), G.I. Joe, some Shrek, some Sonic, a couple of Iron Mans, The Sixth Gun, bits and bobs from Radical Publishing, Irredeemable, the first action-packed issue of Fearless Dawn, Doctor Solar, Magnus, Storm Lion, Toy Story, Archie, Atomic Robo, a Drawn & Quarterly grab-bag, Artifacts, the Stuff of Legend and more.
My exposure to comics had previously been limited to Gary Panter’s Jimbo, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and Jhonen Vasquez’s Johnny The Homicidal Maniac. Sure, I dabbled in a little Adrian Tomine and other indies here and there, but now because of Neon Monster, I’ve got a stack of comics nearly knee high that I’m enjoying again. If you haven’t picked up a comic in a while, come back to the genre and check it out. It couldn’t be any easier. It’s FREE COMIC BOOK DAY on Saturday, May 1st from 11AM-7PM. But who cares what I say. Listen to Hugh “Wolverine” Jackman.
We’re setting up on the sidewalk for a little neighborhood party. Swing by Neon Monster (located at the corner of Castro and 22nd in the Noe Valley area of San Francisco). Street parking is pretty easy, and if you trek up the hill on foot, you’ll really earn those free comics. There will be other incentives for you, including:
You can take one free copy of as many titles as you like while supplies last. I’ll be hanging out reading comics and blogging. Come say hi. Bring your friends. Oh, and if you’re not local to the San Francisco Bay Area to join the fun, we’ve got a little something for you, too: For 24 hours on May 1st, use discount code “FCBD” on anything you want in the online shop to save 15%.
Hope to see you there! Look, Milo wants you to go!
