Squid Works: True Fiction 3: Tragic Strips

This is a break-out year for the Small Press Expo. Not only did the Expo's traditional facilities sell out in record-time, leaving many creators stunned by a lack of table vacancies, but the crown jewel of the gathering, Expo Comix, received so many submissions that there were almost enough to create an entire volume of refused submissions. Many of SPX's contributors have decided to take up a generous offer on behalf of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund: to publish an unofficial companion volume of proud also-rans. Named after a Pacific Northwest Native American ceremonial feast that centers around competitive, extravagant gift-giving, Potlatch 2002: Comics to Benefit the CBLDF throws down the gauntlet. Give it up for comics!

Contributors include Squid Works' own Stan Yan and Lonnie Allen. Yan contributes the striking cover design and his 2001 DCAF award-winning short story, "(Jawwing) the Wang." Allen contributes his hilarious biblically-inspired "All About Eve." Other contributors to this 156-page anthology include Dave Law & Steve Noppenberger, Randy Oest, Jose Mochove & Rusty Rowley, Marc Deering, Juan Navarro, Bill Lange, Jennifer M. Contino, Chris Staggs, Carl Mitsch, Mike Watts, Chris Yambar, Chris Pitzer, Greg Vondruska, Jason Alderman, Sal Cipriano, Mark Stemlach, Rusty Rowley, Michael Carroll, Neil Fitzpatrick, Ryan Dunlavey, Justin Savage, Ron LeBrasseur, Barrett McIntosh-Lombardo, Ryan Dunlavey, Justin Savage, Ron LeBrasseur, Christian Rogue & Kenneth Heidrich, Sal Cipriano & Kristof Spaey, Julio Valle, Russ McIntosh and Chris Jaworski.

Potlatch 2002 proceeds go to benefit The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

The above press release was written by Carl Mitsch, and was written prior to the tragic events of 9/11, and the subsequent cancellation of the EXPO 2002. A virtual version of the expo can be seen
at www.sequentialtart.com. Visit their October 2001 issue. Also, see the write-up: http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/feb02/art_0202_1.shtml.

Potlatch is being re-solicited in the July 2002 Previews and is available through the Squid Works and Last Gasp.

(Cover Image by Stan Yan (above). Excerpt from the 2001 DCAF award winning short story, "(Jawwing) the Wang" by Stan Yan (below).)

Potlatch 2002: Comics to Benefit the CBLDF
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Squid Works
Various contributors

"Potlatch 2002" gathers the significant and collective talents of a battalion of artists and writers to present some 20 wildly different shorts the sale of which goes towards the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

The CBLDF stands behind the First Amendment, defending comic book creators to their rights of free speech.

Benefit books, like any charitable collection, stand the chance of being a half-assed effort by the contributors. Not here. There is some intense stuff at work in this volume, which includes everything from laugh-out-loud humor to heartbreakingly sad to wink-and-nudge ironic.

The word "potlatch" comes from the language of the Chinook tribe, and means "to give." The contributors have given their all, each story intense and individual and fun.

There are too many to go into detail for each, but this reviewer will give you a few highlights (disclaimer: there's something for everyone in here. These were just a few of my personal favorites).

Ryan Dunlavey starts the collection off on an energetic right foot with "Tommy Atomic," about a heroic hipster who must do battle against the evil Klub Kids of Khaos. This hot little skit thumbs its nose at pop culture with ice cool art and some snappy dialogue. I'll be digging up some more Tommy Atomic stuff myself (www.eviltwincomics.com).

"Catsitting Noir," by Jason Alderman, turns the mundane experience of taking care of someone else's cat when said animal doesn't want to cooperate into a hardboiled detective story. Clever art, fun dialogue, good stuff.

"T'was the Night Before," by Dave Law and Noppie (AKA Steven Noppenberger), is a shockingly heartrending silent piece that, in just a few pages, changes the mood of the collection dramatically and unexpectedly.

Sal Cipriano and Kristof Spaey turn the cheating-lover scenario on its head in "Heartache Hotel. Sexy, strange and very real, this short piece says a lot.

"Sticking With It," by Marc Deering and Chris Staggs, touches on a familiar theme: the endless battle to break into the comic book industry. Filled with familiar themes and a lot of hope, this piece is a good one to hang over every comic book creator's desk.

You know you're in for a twisted story when the second panel has a character saying: "Joey, remember that time I was psychic?" Such is the case in "Full Sanction, in Rusty's Psychic Adventure," by Jose Mochove and Rusty Rowley. I want to see a "Full Sanction" TV show. These twisted characters, drawn in stick figure simplicity (no exaggeration whatsowever), demonstrate what would REALLY happen if psychic powers landed in the wrong hands… funny, funny stuff.

Do yourself a favor. Pick up "Potlatch 2002." You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be doing your part to save free speech.

156-page, digest size, color perfect-bound cover, anthology. Action, drama, comedy, sex. It's got it all! With more than twenty different contributors, this small press comic anthology has something to offer all taste. The title, Potlatch, means "to give" and by putting down just a few bucks for this collection that's exactly what you're doing. You're giving to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF). What patron of the small press wouldn't want to support such an entity?

The contributors to this thick collection of comics all worked on individual stories. Most range between four to eight pages in length. That means there's plenty of diversity, and a wide range of illustration styles. The artwork runs the gambit from simple stick figures to cartoony characters to representational renderings. There's even a little anime thrown in! And, to enhance that personal experience, brief biographies of the various contributors are provided following the books introduction. Contact information is also given to help you track down more work from the talented parties that put Potlatch together.

"There are a few good contributions... Stan Yan's funny customer service dialogue in "The Wang"..."

POTLATCH 2002 by Various. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. $4.95 This is the first such benefit anthology for the CBLDF, and one can only hope it's upward from here. If it's a choice between just sending the organization, which provides legal aid to comics creators and retailers in need, five bucks, or buying this book, sure, buy the book. There are a few good contributions here in this 150-page volume, notably Sal Cipriano's and Kristof Spaey's story of adultery turned upside down, "Heartache Hotel;" Stan Yan's funny customer service dialogue in "The Wang;" or Chris Staggs' and Marc Deering's schmaltzy but sweet, well-drawn "Stick With It," but that's honestly about the only stories that succeed. There are a couple more with good art but flawed stories, and many, many more with mediocre to poor, unattractive art and insipid, overly earnest, pointless or incomprehensible writing. I commend all the creators for their charitable efforts here, but it doesn't excuse bad work. Hopefully next year will find a higher percentage of stories of the quality of the ones I singled out above. ~Chris Allen, www.moviepoopshoot.com, (go to article)

Please note that all images are (C) Copyrighted by creators. Use of images without permission is strictly prohibited except for review purposes, where partial reproduction is allowed. If you DO review any of the books seen here, please let us know, because it could mean FREE merchandise for you from Squid Works!!! Find out more by clicking on "reviews."