Steve Willis Archives v. 2

1st edition, March 1991. Chico, California : Onward Comics. 50 copies. Blue cover, regular digest size.

This one contains a couple pieces new to this blog.

"The Day I Wore Bruce Chrislip's Tie" was originally published in John E.'s Mumbles # 4, I think. Rather fitting this is being scanned and posted on the eve of Bruce and Joan hosting my visit to SPACE later this month. As time has passed I have come to regard this story to be every bit as pretentious and overly dramatic as the art gallery types I make fun of. The term "cringe-worthy" comes to mind when I read it today-- obviously created at a time when I would occasionally lapse into Drama Boy mode. But I do like the panel of Bruce holding his clip-on tie.

Second, the little ad for The Tragedy of Morty, Prince of Denmarke was a bit of self-promotion that had escaped my memory.

I'm Taking a Trip to SPACE

As most of you know, I don't get out much. But this year I'll be taking a trip to SPACE. It's going to be a blast.

SPACE as in Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo in Columbus, Ohio in March 19-20, 2011.

Bruce Chrislip is graciously hosting my visit. I am looking forward to seeing Bruce and Joan again, and also getting a chance to meet many of you cartoonists out there who I have known for years but never met in person and also getting together with new people.

Thank you Bruce for arranging this. I'll be bringing my drawing pad and a bunch of comix.

Bruce Chrislip Portrait of SW, 1986

While I was preparing the hallway for repainting, I noticed this framed portrait was starting to fade, so I thought I better scan it right away.

This was drawn by Bruce Chrislip back in 1986. In those days he was living in Seattle and acted as host for many cartoonist get-togethers. They were fun and offered all of us local comix artists the opportunity to meet face to face.

After Bruce and Joan moved to Cincinnati, the Seattle comix scene was never quite the same.

Raining Quills, pt. 3

I miss Bruce Chrislip. When Bruce and Joan lived in Seattle it was easy to get together and enjoy socializing. Bruce hosted several cartoonist get togethers and it was through these parties I got to meet many of the local comix people during an exciting period when Seattle was being discovered by the rest of the country and Fantagraphics had moved up here. At the start of the 1980s I felt quite alone as an obscuro self-publisher living in Seattle. By the end 1980s, there was a cartoonist on every block.

But then this funny, nice guy with the encyclopedic brain for comix trivia had to go and leave us for his native Ohio. Seattle has never been the same.

Mark Campos has become something of Seattle cartoonist icon. I personally don't feel any cartoonist gathering is complete without him. During the days when I edited City Limits Gazette (1991-1993) I realized Mark was one the greatest writers among us Newave/Obscuro cartoonists.

Mark, Bruce and I have similar simple drawing styles and sense of space, so our work blends together in this jam. Horst, comes from a different school, and his visuals really give the story an energetic shift. He has a gift for really packing a lot of info in a small area! And nice work it is too.

Published by Starhead Comix in Seattle in 1990.