The Comix Files: Hank Arakelian

Hank Arakelian and I corresponded from 1982 to 1997, and talked on the phone several times. In the Newave Comix universe he was unusual in that he had a science background. In fact, in 1985 he earned his Ph. D. in physics from Stevens Institute in New Jersey.

Hank was a solid part of the Newave and created highly original and creative comix. He was a participant in the City Limits Gazette and contributed a great article on the work of Gustave Verbeck. Hank was also the subject of a CLG interview, the original manuscript is included here.

Hank and I had been jamming on a comic for a few years in the 1990s, but it never saw print. Unfortunately, when he dropped out of sight from the comix network, our jam art went with him.

I'm sure he had his reasons for vanishing, but since Hank is apparently not interested in promoting his artistic work, I'll take on the task of reminding comix historians of this unique artist.

Here are the graphic snippets from our correspondence:

 

Pure Insanity # 20

OK, this post cannot really be considered an ad since I don't have any idea how to contact our old Newave comrade Tom Brinkmann, but he recently published 50 copies of Pure Insanity # 20. This is 12 pages/leaves, 28 cm. of Brink jamming with the incredible Buzz Buzzizyk.

Calling this "mindblowing" is no exaggeration. Both of these artists are better than ever.

Phone photo 3179

A jar of Marmite, a Fruit Wizard, and a Talking Sock Monkey

Yes, this is another one of those "Incredible Journey" stories about to begin ...

Cissy Houston Sings Bacharach

This Empty Place

Consolation

A simple and eye-catching cover by W.R. Cameron, copyright 1926. The back cover has some kind of difficult to see pointalist thing going on.

The Comix Files: Stuart Appleton's Seeds for Thought

A poster for Stuart Appleton's underground newspaper, Seeds for Thought, 1994. At least one 4-page issue was published.

Dionne Warwick Sings Bacharach

This Empty Place

Thru the Shady Lane

If that background is shading film,this piece must have been labor intensive with all those leaves to cut around.

F. Donald Miller was one suave guy!  A few years ago I had a chance to watch a couple silent films in a theater with a live organist supplying the music. It was amazing and a totally different kind of movie-going experience.

Wilson Art Service logo

Milton Weil Music Co. logo on back cover

The Comix Files: Anonymous 2

This anonymous letter from 1988 included a torn out shred from the Feb. 17, 1988 (exactly 26 years ago today!) issue of the East County News, our local weekly newspaper. I believe this article was kicking off the East County Comix strip I drew for that paper for nearly two years. 

The reproduced panel "Repeat after me, 'Question authority!'" panel was originally used, I believe, in the Cooper Point Journal, student newspaper for The Evergreen State College. Libertarian Socialist might sound like an oxymoron, but that comes the closest to describing my political philosophy.

As a result of watching too many demonstrations at Evergreen, I grew to hate megaphones. After awhile I concluded that anyone using them was a hustler. Hence, this cartoon panel, which I still love.

But the irony is missed by many. The following anonymous writer was apparently arrested as a result of protesting the WPPSS nuclear plant here in Grays Harbor County. And it never went online. Whoever you are, thank you! for helping to stop that insane project.

Here was her cartoon response:

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Sandbaggers prepare for flooding in McCleary

Babs Tino Sings Bacharach

Call Off the Wedding

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Charlie, Dreamer, Buster, Hettie

Paul Tumey Introduces the Bungle Family

Library of Congress, Paul Tumey, dark visions -- look promising.

Check it out at THIS LINK

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Charlie, Dreamer, Buster, Hettie

Favorite Movie Quote: The World's End

"I remember sitting up there, blood on my knuckles, beer down my shirt, sick on my shoes and seeing the orange glow of a new dawn break and knowing in my heart life would never feel this good again. And you know what? It never did."

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Charlie, Dreamer, Buster, Hettie

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Charlie and Dreamer, Guardians of the Universe

The Four Winds and the Seven Seas

From 1949. Not a particularly exciting cover. Note the use of shading film.

Hal David (1921-2012) would team up with Burt Bacharach in 1957 and become the composer's chief lyricist.

The Comix Files: Anonymous 1

Amazingly enough, the number of anonymous mailings I have had over the years have been quite small. This particular one was mailed from the UK around 1994. Not only did this arrive without a return address, but also without postage. The small envelope contained carefully folded ads for various UK Punk recordings and zines, no doubt meant for me to reproduce in City Limits Gazette, which had already croaked by the time this made it to McCleary. The only title I recognize in this batch is the Bypass zine.

Here's a peek into the UK Punk/garage band/zine scene two decades ago:

The Midnight Rebels Sing Bacharach

Don't Make Me Over

Alabama Moon

From 1920. I like the texture created by the uneven thick black lines, giving the work a look of being carved out of linoleum. The back cover includes a nice period drawing. The cover artist's signature cannot be deciphered.