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Matt Madden




Title Creator Publisher Series Price
Rosetta 2: A Comics Anthology Jason Lutes, R. Sikoryak, Michael Kupperman, Paul Pope and more ... $14.95
($19.95 list)
Rosetta02
Read more and comment... 		For readers of McSweeney's 13 looking to cast a wider net, this great 264-page anthology (with 48 pages in full color) might be the ticket.  There are some exceptional new works premiering here, including a beautifully rendered mythological fable by Craig Thompson; a very interesting (think early Spiegelman) Matt Madden that is quite probably his most challenging work to date; a Jason Lutes piece that is his first non-Berlin work in quite awhile (and it's quite good); R. Sikoryak's take on the funny pages (which is very, very funny); two short pieces by Paul Pope; a nifty Jason; and a truly amazing breakthrough piece from Michael Kupperman.  In addition to this, there's a great deal of work from Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.  All between covers by Peter Kuper and Megan Kelso.  Check it out!
Drawing Words & Writing Pictures: Making Comics - Manga, Graphic Novels, and Beyond Matt Madden, Jessica Abel $26.95
($29.95 list)
Dw-wp-sm
Read more and comment... 		We all knew it was only a matter of time until this day arrived, and so it has: the first textbook devoted to the practice of creating comics is now on our shelves.  Billed as, "A definintive course from concept to comic in 15 lessons," the primary purpose of this work is to provide a state-of-the-art textbook for high school, trade school and college courses devoted to comics craft -- thus the 15 lessons, the average number of classes in a semester.  Authors Abel and Madden (who are wife and husband, and, more germane to their authorship of this work, veteran comics instructors, most notably at SVA [the School for Visual Arts] in NYC) have not, however, forgotten about the rest of us, for they have designed the book with both lone, individual-learners -- "ronin" -- and independent study students who might like to get together and create their own self-directed learning groups -- "nomads" -- in mind.  Of special note in this regard is the book's companion website, http://www.dw-wp.com , which is chock full of extra features and sample work that will help to keep on track those lacking the guiding hand of a professional instructor.  "Well, yes," you say, "that's all very interesting.  But is the book any good?"  While we haven't managed to spend enough time with it yet to provide our own judgement, here's the opinion of the two individuals most qualified to offer one:  "A gold mine of essential information for every aspiring comics artist.  Highly recommended."  - Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics  "Matt and Jessica's experience, both in the classroom and at the drawing board, has resulted in a book that should help any aspiring cartoonist.  A go-to how-to that will undoubtedly be of tremendous aid for any school or instructor attempting to map out a thoughtful and engaging cartooning curriculum." -- James Sturm, founder and director of The Center for Cartoon Studies  And there you have it.
Blurred Vision #4 Matt Madden, Toc Fetch $12.75
($14.95 list)
Blurred4
Read more and comment... 		Weighing in at 232 pages, this is the biggest and quite possibly best issue yet of this 8 1/2" x 11" B & W anthology of "new narrative art" from New York City.  BV regulars Toc Fetch, Ethan Persoff, Karl Stevens and Kevin Mutch are joined by a host of newcomers including recognized creators such as Matt Madden and K. Thor Jensen.