© 2007 Jason Martin. Excerpt from Black Tea #1

Word from Jason Martin:

“I also just posted some big news about an upcoming comic I’m going to be in: Papercutter #17. Last fall Greg Means of Tugboat Press asked me to write 32 pages of new autobiographical comics for this issue, and he got seven of my favorite cartoonists to draw them. These artists really took my stories to a whole other level, and I’m really excited for this issue to come out!

In order of appearance: Jesse Reklaw, Corinne Mucha, Francois Vigneault, Calvin Wong, Sarah Oleksyk, Hellen Jo, and Vanessa Davis (with end pages by Nate Beaty)

There should be ordering info coming soon at www.tugboatpress.com (it’ll also be for sale at SF Zine Fest at the Tugboat Press table). “

We all know I’m a big fan, so this is amazing news. I’m stoked for Jason!

Sorry Entertainer contributor Jason Martin has got a new website!

I first found out about Jason’s work from John P.’s Spit and a Half comix and zine distro last year. I was moved from what I read to buy his comics and never looked back, contacting Jason shortly after to arrange some trades. I wrote about his work in February 2010, saying:

“I’ve recently discovered the work of Jason Martin (who is awesome). His Laterborn mini-comic has been one of my favourite purchases of recent times. I suggest that if you’re a fan of Jeffrey Brown or King-Cat, then you will probably like Laterborn, which both speaks to, and distinguishes itself from, the work of those two other artists in a wonderfully confident, yet understated way. There’s some reviews over at Optical Sloth, should you need persuading.”

To say Jason has since become one of my favourite zine makers and comic storytellers would not be an exaggeration: his work is humane,  grounded, and lovely. His stories connect pasts and presents without nostalgia, but very much with a sense of the magical - and sometimes sad - things that happen when we try to map how those moments from our lives that make us us relate to one another. Always greater than the sum of their parts, his Laterborn and Black Tea zines are unmissable. Go and buy them from him.

EDIT: This is what Noah Van Sciver has to say about Jason Martin. He likes him, too.

© Joe Decie 2011

I sometimes like to think that if I hadn’t grown up under a (probably self-imposed) cloud of self-doubt and brow knitting self-seriousness when it came to making comics (and life in general), I might make work like that of Joe Decie. It’s beautiful, slightly poetic, slightly tongue in cheek and - dare I say it - redolent with a rather British sense of humour.

As it happens, it’s a good job I don’t try and do work like that, because Joe is much much better at doing this sort of work than anybody else I’ve seen. It’s funny, but dryly, subtly so; in fact, sometimes it feels like the cartoon is laughing at you, they’re that well written. A few, sparse words; comedy timing, ink washes and suddenly, there you go; you’re in Joe’s world of whimsy, wonder and wit.

However, all this unbridled praise seems out-of-keeping with the demure yet mischievous, one-eye-brow-raised spirit of the strips so, in summary: Joe Decie? He’s OK I guess.

He’s got a new book out on Blank Slate called The Accidental Salad. I’m going to buy it next time I see him; in the meantime, you should go out and get it.

My friend, Bearpit contributor (and editor of the second issue) and sufferer of the inane customer, Deemo, has a new tumblr. Check it!

I came across the work of Billie Muraben today (via bearfishing). This image is striking, and the rest of her work is well worth checking out. The landscapes and warm abstraction speak to me. Yes.

billiemuraben:

Graphite on paper, reproduced as a single colour Risograph print, Neoteny spread.