ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 6/3/19 to 6/7/19

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

COMICS CRITICISM

* Alex Hoffman reviews THE PERINEUM TECHNIQUE by Ruppert and Mulot, in which he concludes "If you’re willing to spend time thinking about what is strange about intimacy in our terminally online existence, The Perineum Technique will be a welcome read."

* Andy Oliver on PARK BENCH KENSINGTON by Peony Gent, calling it "an impression of an experience and one that becomes so resonant for a detachment that ironically makes it all the more compelling.

* Tom Shapira on WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE by Emily Carroll who "has always been one the finer artists of her generation, casually translating a sense of darkness into beautiful illustrations that are mesmerizing in their monstrosity, but this is just something else."

* Ryan Carey looks at RED ULTRAMARINE by Manuele Fior, writing "the revelations one arrives at when considering this book are earned — as is its author’s reputation."

* Chris Gavaler reviews ALIENATION by Ines Estrada.

* Dominic Umile writes for the Los Angeles Times about ANGOLA JANGA: KINGDOM OF RUNAWAY SLAVES by Brazilian artist and writer Marcelo D'Salete.

* J.M. Suarez reviews CLYDE FANS by Seth which "achieves in not only telling a story rife with poignant and memorable moments, but it also conveys with sophistication a depth of feeling. There is sentimentality without cloying emotion, just as there are bitter shame and remorse without devolving into a depressive tome."

* Then James Smart reviews CLYDE FANS for The Guardian saying it "balances rosiness and realism, making precious fiction from the stuff of ordinary lives."

* Finally, on TCJ, seven comics scholars and Seth experts discuss the long-awaited, twenty-years-in-the-making complete collection of Seth’s CLYDE FANS. 

* Rob Clough reviews ONE DIRTY TREE by Noah Van Sciver, writing "Thinking about it in terms of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a child who grows up without basics like food and a reliable shelter will struggle later in life. What makes the book so compelling is the way that Van Sciver ties these struggles to specific kinds of homes and reflects on how the everyday experience of these environments had a profound effect on him."

* There's a review on Publishers Weekly of ROOFTOP STEW by Max Clotfelter that calls it "a yawp of a book that highlights Clotfelter’s willingness to confront his demons head-on and turn them into visceral and emotionally affecting art. "

* Jenny Robins on MARBLE CAKE by Scott Jason Smith, writing "Repeating motifs do underline a theme of collective humanity, but it’s the way that the author playfully invokes and subverts narrative tropes that kept me turning the pages here."

* Peter Dabbene has this short review of GRAVITY'S PULL by MariNaomi, writing "MariNaomi’s art is deceptively pared-down, at first appearing fairly simple and straightforward. But there’s much more at work here, and her thoughtful layouts and willingness to experiment prove highly effective in conveying emotions and essential information while preserving the sense of suspense that permeates the book."

* And finally, while not small press comics, David Harper has this great piece on SKTCHD called LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF NEXTWAVE: A LOOK AT THE MAKING AND MAGIC OF A COMIC BOOK CULT CLASSIC.

WHATNOT

* Kelsey Wroten has a personal essay up on the Powells Books Blog called A QUEER LOVE LETTER TO INDIE COMICS.

* So the 2dCloud Kickstarter was canceled right before it was scheduled to end, having raised only a little over 10% of its very lofty $85,000 goal, but apparently Maggie and Raighne still have plans to keep the operation going. You can read THEIR STATEMENT HERE and then draw your own conclusions.

* AJ Dungo is doing this week's A CARTOONIST'S DIARY over on TCJ

* Leela Corman has a new comic up on The Believer called VICTORY GARDEN.

* Also on The Believer, Mira Jacob has a comic called THE MENOPAUSE.

* Andrea Shockling has posted part three of her auto-bio comic titled ANDREA'S BARIATRIC DIARY as part of her Subjective Line Weight series.

* Keiler Roberts posted THIS.

* Alex Dueben interviews KAT VERHOEVEN "about how she worked, Toronto, and Jane Fonda."

* Marie Anello interviews TANEKA STOTTS about "her insights on creating comics, her upcoming projects, and her advice for new creators."

* TWO POEMS by Cynthia X. Hua