BLOOD ON HIS HANDS

Books & Comics Selfie Project #4

INSOMNIA CAFE by M.K. Perker

"Who said that reading novels and writing about them must be boring?"

Peter Kolinsky's favorite place for an evening out is Insomnia Cafe run by an amazing bar tender Angela. Suffering from sleeping disorders, he finds her presence somewhat soothing.

When Angela feels she can trust Peter, she takes him to the Archives - a secret and most fascinating library on the planet where books being now written by the world's most famous authors are available for reading. However, when the writers put their pen down, the books disappear from the Archives' shelves.

Peter gets confused and steals one of the books. Soon he learns there is a heavy price to pay for breaking the rules of this unusual place.

"Insomnia Cafe" is a grasping comics novel created by an acclaimed Turkish illustrator living in New York - M.K. Perker. Published by Dark Horse Books, it is eerie and will keep surprising you till the last page.

THE GIGANTIC BEARD THAT WAS EVIL: STUBBLE ATTACKS!

Books & Comics Selfie Project #1

"THE GIGANTIC BEARD THAT WAS EVIL" by Stephen Collins

Who said that reading novels and writing about them must be boring?

With this photo I am starting Books & Comics Selfie Project where I take pictures of myself with the books I love, trying to reflect their content. 

"The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil" is a phenomenal graphic novel by Stephen Collins published by Random House. Beautiful illustrations, amazing style and a quirky storyline make it a mandatory position on every geek's Must Read List.

On the island of Here life is simple and predictable. Everyone wears clean and elegant clothes. All trees are cut in the same way. Men are nicely shaved and women are always stylish. But one day everything goes out of order.

As Dave is in his office preparing for a business meeting out of the blue moon a massive beard starts growing on his face. It grows really fast and is resiliant to trimming. After a few days it gets so big there is no more place for it in his house. It soon gets out through the doors and windows and starts overtaking the island. All Here's stylists, hair-dressers and gardeners are hired to keep it under control. But will they be able to fight the element?

SHORTCOMINGS: EMOTIONAL DILEMAS OF A NORMAL GUY

"Shortcomings" by Adrian Tomine / Photo by Agnes Prygiel

"Shortcomings" is a poignant graphic novel by Adrian Tomine, published in Britain in 2012 by Faber and Faber.

"Shortcomings" by Adrian Tomine / Photo by Agnes Prygiel

Ben is a 30-year-old university cinema manager and more or less a normal guy whose relationship with Miko falls apart after she organizes an independent film festival at the campus and gets a small modelling job. Ben feels insecure and slightly jealous of her career as he himself is a bit stuck with his job and life in general. With Miko distancing herself he turns for support to his lesbian friend Alice and starts some small sex experiments with other girls.

With art, campus life, a fascinating trip to New York and of course love - "Shortcomings" is a really interesting graphic novel to read.

THE CRACKLE OF THE FROST: LOVE & DEMONS

The Crackle Of The Frost

The Crackle Of The Frost is a touching graphic novel by Lorenzo Mattotti and Jorge Zentner published by Fantagraphics Books in 2012. It tells a story of a young man Samuel and his partner Alice.

Possessed by his fears and demons Samuel hears voices in his head. Alice wants to start a family but he is not ready. After a major fight she moves out but gets in touch a few months later through a mysterious letter. When Samuel gets on a train to find her there is an accident where his eyesight is affected. Temporarily blind he spends a few months in a hospital. In this time of darkness he gradually becomes ready to confront his girlfriend. But will it work out?

In this amazing graphic novel reality gets mixed up with myths and dreams. The Crackle Of The Frost is a psychological illustration of a complex human condition and a difficult emotional journey.

Don't Judge a Comics by its Size: PEBBLE ISLAND

"Pebble Island" / Photo by Nobrow Press

Pebble Island by Jon McNaught is a beautiful graphic novel published by Nobrow Press in 2010. This 15x15cm booklet fits into a large pocket. But one should not judge it by its size. It is an amazing collection of stories inspired with childhood memories of the Falkland Islands. Using a silent narration with hardly any words at all, the author invites us into an intimate world of forgotten adventures. This wonderfully crafted graphic novel depicts amazing landscapes, beautiful nature and quiet, but somehow magical and intriguing life on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with a particular sensitivity. Each image is a miniature print with lots of intricate details. Nostalgic and eerie, Pebble Island is a unique work bringing a lot of sentiment into the comics novel experience.

Pebble Island by Jon McNaught / photo Agnes Prygiel

EYE OF THE MAJESTIC CREATURE - It's All Right To Be Lost

Eye Of The Majestic Creature by Leslie Stein, Photo Agnes Prygiel

"Eye Of The Majestic Creature" is Leslie Stein's debut collection of stories published by Fantagraphics Books in 2011. This beautiful comics novel touched me with its pure honesty.

Larry is a young girl in her 20s looking for her own place in life. Trying to escape busy San Francisco, she moves to the countryside where she hopes to find comfort and peace of mind. Instead she ends up feeling pretty lonely and isolated in a small provisional town which does not have much to offer. When visiting home, she gets mixed up in all the emotional drama and her parents' complicated relationship which is no longer a real part of her own story. Going back to her little cottage is on one hand a relief. On the other it is not a real solution. By some point Larry realizes she needs to move on from her sanctuary and go back to the big city.

In her adventures she is accompanied by her guitar named Marshmallow. An interesting bit is that Marshmallow is like... real. By that I mean that it talks, walks and has its' secret life known only to Larry. Wow! THAT is quirky!

Leslie Stein's graphic novel feels is a bit of a personal memoir. I'm amazed with how much this story is similar to mine. Trying to escape London I ended up living in a small town which somehow does not feel right. When seeing my family and visiting my hometown I realize I just moved on so much it all becomes irrelevant. Trying to connect to the past I am confronted with that there is no real way back. I can only move on. But that turns out to be most difficult, because I just don't know where to turn.

Sometimes doing something is better than not doing anything I suppose. Like Larry I've found my own sanctuary, but it is not a place to stay in forever. I have to make a step. Feeling messed up like I do, I now know I am not the only one who is just looking for something in life and is honest about not having any big answers to some personal questions. It's comforting to realize that being in the process does not mean we are lost. We are changing the world around us little by little.

Caution! Lichtenstein!

On Feb 21st 2013 Tate Modern is launching Roy Lichtenstein's retrospective art exhibition. With over 100 pictures, sculptures and drawings, it will be a great opportunity to see the work of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

Whaam! by Roy Lichtenstein in Tate Modern's storage warehouse.
Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

There is something final and metaphorical about all Lichtenstein's works. As if he was trying to compare life to a comics story and show us that we should either be more easy going about everything or - on the contrary - extremely dramatic. If we live only once, why not do it with the passion and energy of an exploding plane from his 'Whaam!' painting?

Lichtenstein was one of the most significant figures on the American pop-art scene. His comics-inspired style earned him a place in the pantheon of acclaimed art gods. Lichtenstein did his own interpretations of Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne or Jackson Pollock's pictures showing his sense of humor and extensive knowledge of art. 

Love Story (Or Not)

 

'Empire State' is a comics novel by Jason Shiga I have only just came across. It tells the story of a bit lost and dreamy young man who works in a local library in Oakland. He goes all the way to New York to meet up with his old friend he has recently developed a crush for. After 6 days spent on a bus and a few minor adventures involving ex-criminals, he climbs the top of the Empire State Building where the date is supposed to take place, but the girl... well... she isn't there.

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It is a lovely and soothing story relating to all those moments in our lives which didn't quite work out the way we wanted, but still they were worthy of a go.
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Jason Shiga's website: http://shigabooks.com/

Comics Turtle Wire Wrap

Turtle Cable Organizer helps to keep your wires in order. The product is hand-decorated by a comics and graffiti artist Polka who has just launched her accessories brand named Polka Planet. To keep your headphones nicely rolled while travelling, skating or chasing after aliens - this would be a perfect solution. Original packaging from upcycled materials gives the item a final edge and makes it a unique gift. Comics Turtle Wire Wrap is available for £10 at Polka Planet's online shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103219631/turtle-cable-organizer

  

One-Eyed Dog

Graphic Design

Threadless Submission

Me

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Guys, please, vote on my T-shirt on Threadless by clicking here:

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If people don't show acceptance for this marvelous one-eyed design in a few days, it will be rejected and thrown away. I fear it might happen because of Christmass time and few people voting. However I don't want to use you, either. So feel free to vote or not. I will be truly grateful for every single person clicking "I like it". And every single person liking it as well.

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I feel particularly connected to this project, as it shows my dog from my childhood, but in green and with one eye. I really loved my dog, however I was a cruel and often thoughtless child and I feel sorry for this. I would love my dog back, but she is gone. However I might have dogs in the future. I'm thinking of becoming a loving dog couch and repenting for bad actions from the past.

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Comics Christmas Wishes

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My dear Readers: I wish You all peaceful Christmass and thank You for visiting and reading my weblog. Here is my comics illustration for You. :-)
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Laika

The First Dog In Space
Comics Book/ Music

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Laika was a Russian dog who first went into a space journey. She was launched in a satelite Sputnik 2 in 1957. Unfortunately, because of time pressure, the machine was build so that it could go only in one direction and it was not designed to come back to Earth. The dog had enough food and air to survive 7 days, later she was supposed to get a medicine which would put her harmlessly down. In fact Laika survived only 4 to 7 hours. A technical problem occured and the temperature in her cabin increased rapidly. She died out of stress and heat. However she is the most famous space dog in the history who moved hearts of many people.

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In 2007 Nick Abadzis - a Russian comics author living now in London - created a comics book "Laika" which is a story of the dog from birth till the end. The story pictures a sensitive lady technician - Jelena Dubrovska - who was taking care of dogs in the Russian space institute. Dogs were used for scientific purposes there and in fact they were little astronauts who first tested new technologies. Jelena is strongly connected with Laika, who is her favourite animal. She is not aware that Sputnik 2 has got only one-way destination. Laika is a special dog who actually enjoys space practice and being in the state of weightlessness.

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Laika was a homeless dog before. In the comics she bravely goes through difficult trainings including special gel-food diet which is used for human astronauts as well as tiny space cabins. Sending her into a one-way mission is unavoidable because of ideological reasons of that time and seems to be even more unfair because of the dog's devotion and trust.

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Laika also appears in the song of Arcade Fire from 2005. She is actually mentioned in the song title on a debut album "Funeral" - "Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)". The song is about a young man Alexander who escapes his own family and erases it from his life so to start his own new story from the very beginning. The lyrics say: "Our mother should have named you Laika!". It is a bit misterious, however it showes that Laika is a synonime of a person who seeks one's own destiny, cuts away from difficult environment and enteres entirely new one withiut looking back, no matter what the costs are.

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