ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 2/18/19 to 2/22/19

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

* Andy Oliver reviews BODY MAGIK by Scott Roberts, "a quietly thoughtful convergence of social relevance and more metaphysical issues of identity, made all the more pertinent for the symbolism of Roberts’ art."

* Kevin Bramer writes this short review of CHLORINE GARDENS by Keiler Roberts, calling it "engrossing, hilarious while being occasionally heartbreaking (sometimes in the same panel) and just a damned entertaining read."

* Robin Enrico reviews DEMENTIA 21 by Shintaro Kago, "a surprising graphic novel in that it takes [Kago's] well-known ability to render characters in grotesque situations and uses it as a way tackle deeply fraught subjects.

* Chris Mautner on BLAME THIS ON THE BOOGIE by Rina Ayuyang, "a warm, loving portrait of American life, nailing the way the small, silly stuff that hipsters (like me) like to mock -- reality television, sporting events -- and showing the simple happiness seeming it can bring to our lives."

* Oliver Sava reviews OFF SEASON by James Strum which reinforces "how partisan allegiances impact personal interactions even when no one is talking about the government."

* Carol Borden on MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS by Emil Ferris, writing "It is easy to try to separate everything into good or bad and choose a side. But things are complicated and people are complex. And the stories that save us sometimes justify doing terrible things."

* Tom Murphy on Simon Moreton's MINOR LEAGUES #7, writing "Moreton weaves the personal, the geographical and the anthropological with skill, while his more poetic flourishes generally pull up short of preciousness or self-indulgence. He uses his research well, unearthing and polishing little nuggets of history or folklore to highlight the sense of place."

* John Seven reviews PTSD by Guillaume Singelin which "ends up being a hopeful work that calls for blind compassion, and a mix of communal healing and self-sufficiency."

* Rob Clough on Hellen Jo's JIN AND JAM, writing "Jo comes at the reader with all kinds of crazy angles and perspectives, pushing motion and energy on the reader instead of making them think about the actual drawings. There’s also a certain propulsiveness to what she’s doing, pushing the reader along the page."

WHATNOT

* The Festival Workers Association has published an OPEN LETTER calling on conventions to have greater financial transparency, give participants a more equal footing, and make formal commitments to diversity and inclusion.

* Robin McConnell interviews KARL STEVENS over on Inkstuds.

* Jamaica Dyer -- MIXTAPE FOUR: ALBUMS I HAVE LOVED -- need I say more? I don't think so.

* Andrea Shockling has a powerful new installment of SUBJECTIVE LINE WEIGHT up on her site written by Mariah McCourt about her ED and BDD.

* M.S. Harkness has a new WEBSITE and uses it to introduce herself and talk about some of her upcoming projects.

* Anya Davidson has a comic in the Chicago Reader called DOOR TO DOOR.

* Rozi Hathaway has a comic up on the Good Comics site called BEAR.

* Margot Ferrick has a comic up on Vice called MILK SKIN.