Sparkplug Comics

Dylan Williams of Sparkplug Comics has just sent me 9 books, all posted below.

These are more than just comic books, they are Art Comics. Dylan is doing more than just publishing small press comics, no, these go beyond that label. It takes some one brave enough and with a solid vision of what comics can be to take the risks involved in publishing books that have routes in the Dadaist, and Fluxus movements.
Thanks for sending the books Dylan, I hope this blog generates a few sales.

Dadaism

A European artistic and literary movement that flouted conventional aesthetic and cultural values by producing works marked by nonsense, travesty, and incongruity.

Fluxus

International avant-garde group of artists founded in Germany By U.S. artist George Maciunas. Opposed to tradition and professionalism in the arts.

You can purchase any of the books reviewed below from:
Sparkplug Comic Books
PO Box 10952 Portland OR 97296-0952

dylan @sparkplugcomicbooks.com

REICH 5,6 and 7

24 pages each, color covers, B &W interior, 6" x 9" by Elijah Brubaker $4.00 Each

The on going story of Dr Wilhelm Reich a psychoanalyst and sex researcher circa 1930.

A difficult subject to be sure, but the art work here is outstanding. Once again another brave cartoonist tackling a subject that not everyone will appreciate. But you just might learn something who knows?

DEPARTMENT OF ART

28 pages, color cover, black and white interior, 7.5 x 10.25 by Dunja Jankovic $6.00

Here is an art comic, that in my opinion, represents dadaisim in comics. It is a brave thing to do, art for art's sake. I am not sure how many will appreciate it, but those who do, and purchase the comic,may very well have a collectors item on their hands!

THE ROCK THAT NEVER SLEEPS

36 pages color cover, black and white, with single color interior 9" x 6" by Olga Volozova and Juliacks $6.00

Truly this falls under the category of art comics. Two artists collaborate and blend their unique drawing styles, to create a surreal book.

NEPTUNE

160 Pages Digest size color cover, black and white interior, by Aron Nels Steinke $14.00

Aron owes a lot to John Porcellino, with regard to his drawing style, and that is not a criticism. John paved the way for a lot of fine cartoonists.

Neptune is an all ages story about a girl, her brother and their dog Neptune. There is a hint that Neptune just might have supernatural powers... or do we have a little girl with a big imagination? You will have to read the story and form your own opinion.

SAUSAGE HAND

80 pages Black and White digest size, by Andrew Smith $ 6.00

The pen and ink work in this book is outstanding, and the drawings are exaggerated to their fullest.

With regard to the story, I will post part of Dylan Williams' Synopsis:

The story follows a mentally unstable character names Sausagehand in his exploration of a mall and its inhabitants.

THE SHORTEST INTERVAL

20 pages, color cover and interior, mini by David King $3.00

Here is a mini that takes on a rather large subject.... the first instant of the universe! David makes it clear on the last page of the book that he is not a scientist, and does not understand physics or anything. But it is pretty interesting, and you won't find another mini comic like it!

ESCHEW

36 Pages Black and white Digest size By Robert Sergal $5.00

A slice of life book, however an unusual slice! The book features very stark black and white art with no cross hatching. Along with the stories, Robert throws in two pages of portraits called " Sex offenders who live near me" I guess it is for the reader to decide if these are real people or not. But if you live in the Boston area take note!