Comic Arts Brooklyn 2013
January 1st, 2014 by chocko
Last November, Desert Island presented the first annual Comic Arts Brooklyn which looked and felt a lot like last years now defunct Brooklyn Comics And Graphics Festival. The event which celebrates indie comic books, art and self publishing took place at the usual spot, Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Both floors were packed with exhibitors and comic book fans. I shuffled along in the late afternoon and perused the many books and prints for sale. There were art shows at Desert Island and Mishka, animation screenings at Spectacle Theater, lectures at The Knitting Factory and an after party at Union Pool. The following is just a little sample of what went down during the fun festival in Brooklyn.
2 talented artists you should know about…Heather Benjamin (left) and Alabaster (right). Heather’s work is graphic, twisted and not for the faint of heart. I picked up Alabaster’s Mimi and the Wolves Act I which is the first part in a dreamlike, epic tale that follows Mimi and her friend Bobo.
The latest work by Benjamin Marra is titled Blades & Lazers. His latest is a mini comic featuring two brothers that can slice and dice demons from outer space with no problemo. Benjamin’s comics are always a blast to read and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s like Star Wars, Conan The Barbarian and Terminator all rolled in one. Out now on Sacred Prism.
Paul Pope was signing his new book, Battling Boy. I went a bit old school and got him to sign a kidrobot vinyl toy of Playboy’s Miss November 1978, Monique St. Pierre which he designed a couple years ago.
Françoise Mouly (Art Editor, New Yorker) and Charles Burns whose appearance at the festival also coincided with an exhibit at Desert Island of original cover artwork from his Nitnit comics and random ephemera.
Gregory Benton debuted his latest work, B+F on AdHouse Books.
Kicks Books was in the house with all sorts of hip pocket paperback on display including some Avi Spivak books which you should check out…Kicksville Confidential which documents the history of Norton Records and the music and comics ‘zine, Human Being Lawnmower.
Leslie Stein (left) the creator of the comic series Eye of the Majestic Creature which is now published by Fantagraphic Books. I love her work and I picked up her latest mini comic titled “The Desk” out on Oily Comics. The Chris Uphues table (right) featured a lot of smiley hearts.
On the CAB stage…an installation collabo by Chris Uphues and Erik Z.
Simon Hanselmann is seen here signing and drawing inside my copy of “Life Zone” which you should totally pick up via Space Face Books.
Representing California…Never Press with their new, eye-popping and awesome ‘zines and prints with Gabe Gonzales manning the table.
Charles Forsman and Melissa Mendes of Oily Comics, a micro-publisher out of Hancock, MA. A lot of great stuff at $1 a book…buy them all.
Legends in the punk rock and ‘zine world, Fly and Aaron Cometbus!
Downstairs at CAB…artists, punks, pirates, hipsters and scalliwags!
Kaz signing one of the latest publications to come out of Desert Island. It’s a newspaper featuring 100 unpublished Underworld strips. Been a super fan of Kaz’s cartoons that used to be featured in the weekly New York Press and Fantagraphics books. It’s been a long time and it’s good to see Kaz is still cranking ’em out. Get yours at Desert Island!
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Tags: art, benjamin marra, brooklyn, Comic Arts Brooklyn, comic books, desert island, indie, kaz, zines
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