Studs Terkel's Working and Syncopated Reviews

I'm just returning from a little vacation to Philadelphia with my wife and son and, as always when I go away, I go completely offline, so it's only now that I see that the Comics Journal has posted two more of my reviews on their website.

The first is a short bullet review of the fourth (and best) volume of Syncopated, Brendan Burford's curated anthology of picto-essays, which I picked up at MoCCA.

The second is a much longer review of another anthology - Studs Terkel's Working: A Graphic Adaptation - a vastly under-appreciated book which was adapted by Harvey Pekar and edited by Paul Buhle.

Please check them both out and let me know what you think.

Trotsky: A Graphic Biography Review

I have a new review up at the Comics Journal's website. This one focuses on Rick Geary's latest book, Trotsky: A Graphic Biography. Please check it out!

Mijeong Review

My review of Mijeong, the manwha short story collection by Korean artist Byun Byung-Jun is up at the Comics Journal's website.

Birdland and Low Moon Links

For convenience sake, here are all five links to my Birdland essay on the Comics Journal's new website:

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

When I get some free time over the holidays I'll try to post it all as one large essay on the Shelf Life blog, including all the images TCJ didn't include for obvious reasons.

Also, here is my review of Jason's new book, Low Moon, which also ran at TCJ.com.

Baggage Check

I know I've been mostly silent on this blog, but today's kind of a big day for me!

First, I am thrilled and honored to be a part of the first day launch of the Comics Journal's new website. The first part of my five-part essay, "Birdland Reconsidered" (which itself is part of my larger ongoing Shelf Life project analyzing the works of Los Bros Hernandez) is now online. Please let me know what you think! This essay represents literally months of writing and research, and I would love to hear any and all feedback on it.

Also, coincidentally, today also sees the final post in my six-part look at Alan Moore's "Lost Treasures" at Trouble With Comics. The final piece discusses Moore's classic "The Bowing Machine," a truly inspired story that first appeared in Raw vol. 2 #3.

For the sake of convenience, here are the permanent links to all six posts:

Part 1 - "The Hasty Smear of My Smile"

Part 2 - "Pictopia"

Part 3 - "I Keep Coming Back"

Part 4 - "Come On Down"

Part 5 - "Madame October"

Part 6 - "The Bowing Machine"