ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 10/10/16 to 10/16/16

Highlighting some great small press comics criticism being published, as well as other random things that have caught my eye over the past week.

COMICS CRITICISM

* "The act of processing grief, and the person you become afterwards, is a fertile ground for creative work." Alex Hoffman reviews SAFE DISTANCE by James K. Hindle and One Percent Press. 

* Tucker Stone continues to update his SPX 2016: THE HITS offering mini-reviews of books he picked up at the show. He's now added books by Roman Muradov and Charles Forsman and Melissa Mendes. 

* Phillippe LeBlanc takes a look at SHORTBOX #2, the international "comic box" currated by Zainab Akhtar with support from Clark Burscough, which "is quickly establishing itself as an incredible distribution force in alternative comics."

* Scott Cederlund reviews Tom Gauld's MOONCOP, which he summarizes perfectly by saying, "Ultimately, that's what the book is about, the quietness of life." 

* Megan Purdy on Kate Beaton's STEP ASIDE, POPS which "feels like an isolated chapter of a much longer tale, rather than a complete work in and of itself."

* Reading Gaiman, Nowlan, and Vozzo's "THE CASTLE" in The Kindly Ones had a profound effect on the young Alex Mansfield. Here, he revisits it to evaluate "what precisely worked so damn well."

* And if you read nothing else, please read Ray Sonne's powerful and personal and beautifully written piece on THE ENIGMA by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo.

WHATNOT 

* Tim Hodler interviews TOM SPURGEON about his involvement in CXC, his new book on Fantagraphics (We Told You So), and his site, The Comics Reporter. Towards the end, Spurgeon says, "My main goal in my professional life, and I would suggest all of our main goals might include this because the 'comics for everyone' fight has concluded on some fronts and still advances on others, is to make things better for those involved; yes, the readers, but primarily the makers of this material. It sickens me with all of the money made overall that we're still in a situation where so many creators have to harm their lives in order to make art in a medium we love." 

* Joseph Marczynski interviews SARAH GLIDDEN about Rolling Blackouts and using comics for storytelling.

* Chase Magnett interviews BOX BROWN about his new book, Tetris. 

* "In a time where mainstream comic publishers are making excuses for why marginalized voices on, and off, the page don't sell, you have this project smashing every single one of them." Ardo Omer on THE IMPORTANCE OF CHECK PLEASE!, YEAR TWO'S KICKSTARTER. 

* Lars Martinson's TONOHARU: PART THREE is available now!  

* Simon Moreton's MINOR LEAGUES #2 is available for pre-order!

* Janelle Asselin is stepping away from both ROSY PRESS and, seemingly, being a "Comics Personality and Commentator".