Copy This! # 1

Copy This # 1, a new publication covering news and information regarding minicomix and their artists (mostly those descending from the community of the Newave era) is, appropriately enough, now available in print only. This issue is 40 p. and in the minicomix format (13 cm.)


This issue includes a new column, "Itchy Dreams," by yours truly; Dan W. Taylor is interviewed by Richard Krauss, "two of the nicest cats you'll ever meet"-- I know that statement is true, I've met them both; And updates on the haps with Larned Justin, Howard Cruse, Bruce Rosenberger, Richard Krauss, Bob Vojtko, Rob Kirby, Edward Bolman, that rascal Buzz Buzzizyk, Joe Wehrle Jr., Jenny Zervakis, Marc Myers, Brad Foster, Artie Romero, Mike Hill, Clark Dissmeyer, Steve Willis, John Porcellino, Andy Nukes, Rick Bradford, Deliane Derry Green, Jeff Zenick, Colin Upton ("color is for the weak"), Matt Feazell, Rob Imes, and the incomparable Bruce Chrislip (who reveals the existence of  his comix history in progress!)

No frequency is listed. You can inquire with editor/publisher D. Blake Werts at: 12339 Chesley Dr., Charlotte, NC 28277, or via email: bwerts@vnet.net

Blake says:  "News contributors receive a comp copy of the issue(s) in which their announcements appear. So, as long as you are keeping in touch, you are subscribed!  Otherwise, single copies go for $2.00 ppd, twelve-issue subscriptions just $20.00 ppd. (U.S. rates, send email for other countries.)"

A very worthy effort that deserves support! Go Blake!

Help Build a New Comix Zine!

Bruce Chrislip, Colin Upton, Blake Werts

SPACE 2011, Columbus, Ohio

Our friend Blake Werts has either lost his mind or is a visionary (I'm going with the latter, but he might wind up in the former after a year or two of this project!). 

Please take a look at this news release and give Blake some feedback. I have already contributed an essay for the first issue:

 January 18, 2014

Charlotte, NC


Greetings mini comix fan,

It all started when I made a half-joking proclamation to Dan W. Taylor, "We
should start a mini comix news zine!" Dan wasted no time responding, more or
less, with "Blake, that sounds like a great thing for YOU to do.." Fast
forward a few years and I still have the itch. This idea was mentioned in an
email exchange with Richard Krauss, and next thing I know I was getting both
words of encouragement and lots of great suggestions on how we could make it
happen. Would it be possible to recapture some of the "paperNet" of years
past? I won't be so bold as to say we'll rebuild the sizable networks that
congregated around Clay Geerdes' "Comix World/Comix Wave" or Bruce Chrislip
and Steve Willis' "City Limits Gazette," but I'm excited to give it a try.
All I need is a little help from you..

Below you'll find a few questions to gather current information. It will be
compiled and published in our first few issues. Then, as you create new
material, or have updates that you'd like to share with the community, just
let us know and we'll help spread the word. Also planned are interviews,
biographies, histories, artwork, and maybe a few surprises from Steve
Willis!

Please help us get this started by answering the enclosed questionnaire and
returning it to me as soon as you get a chance. Of course, you can email
your responses to me at bwerts@vnet.net if you'd rather.

Much appreciated!





D. Blake Werts
12339 Chesley Drive
Charlotte, NC 28277



Please answer and mail/respond to:

        D. Blake Werts

        12339 Chesley Drive

        Charlotte, NC 28277

        bwerts@vnet.net



1. What's happening? Are you currently active in cartooning or any other
creative endeavors?


2. Do you have any new comix or zines available? If so, what are the details
(size, page count, cost)?


3. Do you have any older comix or zines available? If so, what are the
details (size, page count, cost)?


4. Will you consider trades?


5. Best way to contact you? Postal mailing address? Email address?


6. Besides this newsletter, how can readers keep up with your work? Are you
are active online?


7. What would you like to see in a newsletter / zine about mini comix?


8. Any announcements you'd like to make?


9. Would you be willing to contribute a spot cartoon or cover artwork for an
issue?


10. Any other mini comikers we should contact?


-----------------------------------

Intro to Mini Comix by Blake!

[Above: Blake shows a photo of the legendary Clay Geerdes as portrayed in the Michael Dowers book, Newave!]

Our old friend Blake has just released a 35 minute introduction to minicomix on YouTube.

It is quite an experience to see a comix movement one was a part of be treated as an exciting period in comic art history. Blake tracks the Newave Comix movement from the comix ancestors of the 1960s up to the 1980s.

To this day I still proudly classify myself as a Newave Cartoonist.

Go Blake! Thank you for recognizing the importance and spark of our comix genre!

Update: Blake follows this up with an addendum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jamUb7Grhc0

Inspired, issue one

It's sort of collage, Jack T. Chick, Hot Stuff, Lady Gaga rolled into one from our buddy D. Blake Werts. Brings me back to the Newave days.

bwerts@vnet.net

PO Box 49283
Charlotte, NC 28277

SPACE 2011 Report, pt. 12

Bruce Chrislip and Matt Feazell inspect the Outside In foamboard display right before the event where I'm interviewed by Bruce.

Judging by the expression on Bruce's face, I'd say he was using the method actor technique of preparing for his role as interviewer. For you see, about 35 minutes after this was taken, I saw Bruce give the greatest performance of anyone ever on any panel discussion of any type.

In the course of the hour, Bruce read a couple selections from "The Bil Keane Watch." The first one was from City Limits Gazette # meat of the tree (June 1991):

But it was Bruce's rendition of the next one that brought down the house. This was from City Limits Gazzzzzzzette # Pongo (Aug. 1991):

Being every bit as dramatic and somber in his narration as James Earl Jones or John Houseman, Bruce slowly built up his voice until by the time he was yelling out at the top of lungs "DEAD! DEAD!" he was on his feet with his clenched fists in the air. The audience applauded in ope mouthed awe. I was laughing so hard I was crying.

This 50 minute Chrislip-interviews-Willis portion has been captured on audio by both D. Blake Werts and Bruce Rosenberger. I have a copy of the Werts version and The Fabulous Sarah is working on a way for us to post it here.

Update, 3/25/2011: Audio by Bruce Rosenberger is available at the SPACE website:
http://www.backporchcomics.com/SPACE2011CrislipandWillis.mp3

Bruce Chrislip's amazing performance is about 30-35 minutes into the program.

SPACE 2011 Report, pt. 6

I had Mike Hill here as a guest long ago when he dropped by McCleary. By coincidence, collector/reviewer Lynn Hansen was visiting as well, so we held a mini-convention.

Mike is an important figure in the Newave story, his Worker Poet publication pushing the movement to a more literary edge. His art is distinctive and wonderful. It was a true joy to jam with Mike and Maximum Traffic at the of 1999 for Modernman # 3 ; Maximum Traffic # 210.

On Saturday night Mike put together a quick mini (with Blake's help, I understand), Modernman # 4. I like to call it the quint-Hill-sential Mike comic.

Above: Bruce Chrislip, Colin Upton, Mike Hill

SPACE 2011 Report, pt. 2

One of the big factors in my decision to accept the invitation to attend SPACE 2011 was the opportunity to finally meet so many people who had I known for 1, 2, even 3 decades only through correspondence. The recent passing of several of our comix comrades like Jamie Alder, Mike Roden, Steve Fiorilla, Jay Kennedy hit me hard. These were people I was hoping to meet in person some day, and I figured eventually our paths would cross. I waited too long for "eventually" to happen.

But we are not getting any younger. To put it diplomatically, I knew I needed to do this while so many of us are still above ground. And what better place to see so many comix people from our old Newave/Obscuro network at one time than SPACE?

Bruce Chrislip and I loaded up his car and headed north to Columbus on Saturday morning.

Above: on the trip to Columbus.

Upon arrival we were issued and assigned a table which we shared with Mike Hill and Maximum Traffic/Buzz B./Borpo Deets.

One of our neighbors, I'm happy to say, was Colin Upton, who came all the way from Vancouver, B.C.. Together we constituted the only Pacific Northwest presence at the expo. He is a good conversationalist with an understated, wry way of observing life's foibles.

Another person I got to meet right off the bat was Morty the Dog regular reader D. Blake Werts, who helped me make an emergency run to the closest available computer so I could print out a script for the next day's reading. I really appreciated his company and it gave us a chance to visit a little.

If there is any down side to events like this, it is that I don't get to really spend a lot of time with any one person. But names do get associated with a face, a voice, a personality in person. A human connection is made. And that's worth a lot.

Above: Bruce, Colin, Blake.

Colin's new book, The Collected Diabetes Funnies, is a good example of how technology has made it possible for us photocopy comix artists to graduate to a more sophisticated format. I was astounded over and over at what high production values I was seeing in the physical publications. As you can see, Colin has not fallen into the lure of life beyond black and white. "Color," he told me, "Is for the weak"-- a quote I enjoyed so much I asked him to repeat it a couple times.

Why is this Breakfast Smiling?

Here's the way to start a day. Some more smackeroos were dropped into the Kibble & Cigars for Morty donation box by our friend D. Blake Werts, enabling us to get closer to reprinting another comic from years past.

Here's how Blake described the donation: "Found a $10 bill on the ground today and thought that I'd pass it along to a good cause...."

Where else but America? Thanks Blake, we appreciate your thinking of us.

Thanks to D. Blake Werts!

We have a second patron of the arts here, D. Blake Werts, who contributed to Sarah's brainstorm-- the donor box. We appreciate the support, Blake. Once the studio gets fixed up we're going to start reprinting some of the old comix and this piggie bank is going to be a great booster in getting things off the ground!