ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 8/28/17 to 9/3/17

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

* Sarah Rose Sharp on DIASPORA BOY by Eli Valley, a book that "analyzes the contradictions lodged within the heart of Zionist ideology and how they're an indictment of American Jews."

* John Seven on JAM IN THE BAND by Robin Enrico, an "on-target examination of the tug-of-war between nostalgia and change, and how the eternal quality of a youthful experience becomes just a dot on a timeline."

* Melissa Brinks looks at LONG LOST by Matthew Erman and Lisa Sterle, a book where "you're being thrown in the deep end and effectively told to figure it out as you go."

* Andy Oliver reviews A PORTRAIT OF SHEFFIELD by Anja Uhren, "a reminder that there are still a wealth of possibilities in how we react to and interact with graphic storytelling in print that digital delivery can never emulate."

* Zainab Akhtar spends an hour crafting these thoughts about YOU AND A BIKE AND A ROAD by Eleanor Davis, which just goes to show you that an hour of Zainab's time is three days for me.

* Rob Clough reviews POPE HATS #5 from Ethan Rilly, a book about "personal agency when faced with a culture that steamrolls indecision."

* Corissa Haury lauds praises on the work of cartoonist KATIE O'NEILL, in which Haury says, "Though there are serious themes in these stories like societal expectations for queer people  or psychological trauma, O'Neill's comics are untainted by violence and rage."

* Jon Hogan on Sonny Liew's THE ART OF CHARLIE CHAN HOCK CHYE, "a graphic novel worthy of its fans and acclaim around the globe."

WHATNOT

* Ryan Claytor interviews JAMES STRUM on the always amazing Michigan State University Comic Art and Graphic Novel Podcast.

* For JACK KIRBY'S 100TH BIRTHDAY, Tom Spurgeon posts panel after panel of why Kirby is King.

* RJ Casey's well-done take-down, YOE BOOKS: A DISSERVICE TO COMICS HISTORY.

* Phillipe LeBlanc is at it again over on The Beat with his SMALL PRESS AND INDIE COMICS GALORE set of links and commentary. Phillipe is finding some good stuff. Is it weird to link to a set of links that links to something you wrote? Whatever. Maybe Phillipe and I should for some small press criticism linking super team or something...

* Please take a look at Luke Humphris' WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY "TOXIC MASCULINITY".

* Kim O'Connor writes this "tribute" (not sure what else to call it, sorry) to JOE MCCULLOCH on the occasion of his last installment of his long-running column on TCJ.

* The SPX 2017 PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE is live and there are some damn fine things happening on that end. Check it out and if you're still on the fence about whether you should attend, this should help you make up your mind. Also, I'll be there celebrating my 50th birthday, so not only will you get great comics and fantastic panels, but you'll also get to buy me drinks.

* Paul Berman's ON PHILIP LEVINE, THE WORKINGMAN'S POET.