University of Alabama professor, University of Pittsburgh alumnus, Copacetic customer, and newly minted St. Martin's Press author, Dave Madden will read from and discuss his new book, The Authentic Animal: Inside the Odd and Obsessive World of Taxidermy, from 6:00 to 9:00pm.  Dave hopes you will stop by and say hello, and sends his greetings: "Pittsburghers! I'll be reading from and signing copies of my new book, The Authentic Animal, at what may be the world's greatest bookstore. Would love to see every one of you."

Here's what St. Martin's Press has to say about Dave's book:

"Why would someone want to create or own the mounted skin of a dead animal? That’s the question Dave Madden explores inThe Authentic Animal. Madden starts his journey with the life story of Carl Akeley, the father of modern taxidermy. Akeley started small by stuffing a canary, but by the end of his life he had created the astonishing Akeley Hall of African Mammals at The American Museum of Natural History. What Akeley strove for and what fascinates Madden is the attempt by the taxidermist to replicate the authentic animal, looking as though it’s still alive. To get a first-hand glimpse at this world, Madden travels to the World Taxidermy Championships, the garage workplaces of people who mount freeze-dried pets for bereaved owners, and the classrooms of a taxidermy academy where students stretch deer pelts over foam bases. On his travels, he looks at the many forms taxidermy takes—hunting trophies, museum dioramas, roadside novelties, pet memorials—and considers what taxidermy has to tell us about human-animal relationships. The Authentic Animal is an entertaining and thought-provoking blend of history, biology, and philosophy that will make readers think twice the next time they scoff at a moose head hung lovingly on a wall. "

Read this excerpt to delve deeper: http://www.davemadden.org/book/the-authentic-animal/

And here are excerpts from a couple early reviews:

“Don't let the gory subject matter repel you from this charming account of the cast of kings, artists, biologists, circus performers, and ordinary folks who populate the world of taxidermy. Madden's investigation is marked by appealing candor, literary references, and atmospheric descriptions of (and fondness for) the subculture and its adherents…this book muses with verve and wit on the relationships between human and animal, art and artifact, as well as on the collector's obsession.”– Publishers Weekly

"Madden…investigates the subculture of taxidermy…[and] can be a bit tongue in cheek…when he wonders “what would happen if the tables were turned?” and the animals put the humans on display… [A] sometimes chilling tour of an intriguing subculture." – Kirkus Reviews

Coffee will be served.

See you there!

Anyone reading this who is aware of Dylaln Williams and his role in creating, publishing, distributing,promoting and nurturing comics is likely already aware that he passed from this mortal coil on Saturday, September 10, 2011.  Tom Spurgeon of Comics Reporter has put together a page linking to tributes to Dylan's life and work, as well as a host of online articles, interviews, blogs, tweets, and photos, here: 

http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/collective_memory_dylan_williams_rip/

Anders Nilsen & Marc Bell
@ Copacetic
on Tuesday, September 13, 2011
 

The Anders Nilsen World Tour touches down in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, September 13 –  supported by Canadian triple-threat*, the one and only Marc Bell.  Things kick off at 7:00pm downstairs one the first floor at the Lili Coffee Shop, so don't be late!

*(fine art, illustration & comics – in case you were wondering)



Facebook Event Page

That number again:  http://www.pixcomics.org

The American Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the Irish Troubles, the Intifada, the "Arab Spring", and a host of other historical conflicts are all summed up in four panels by Mr. Charles M. Schulz, here.

The Copacetic Comics Company will be joining building mates Mind Cure Records and Lili Coffee Shop in celebrating our first anniversary at 3138 Dobson Street on Saturday and Sunday, June 18 & 19, 2011.  Mark it on your calendar now and be sure to join us for door buster bargains, promotional premiums, deals galore and more! 

Indy comics legend, John Porcellino, the self-publishing pioneer of DIY comics, will be visiting Pittsburgh for the first time!  Please join us on Wednesday, March 23, 2011.  John P. will start things off with a personal presentation downstairs at the Lili Coffee Shop at 7:00pm, and then we'll all roll upstairs for some Copacetic congeniality with the one and only Mr. Porcellino.  Signing, sketching (?), conversation and who knows what else...

Trying to figure out what to do this summer?  Then consider this:  The Center for Cartoon Studies offers a variety of summer comics making and cartooning workshops that anyone looking to hone, fine-tune, extend, expand, or otherwise improve their comics and cartoon skills in the company of like minded individuals in scenic (and, in July and August, cool) Vermont should check out their offerings:  http://www.cartoonstudies.org/index.php/programs/summer-workshops/

Who knows, you might get inspired to take it to the next level, to realize that a career in comics and cartooning is an actual option in life and consider taking the plunge and applying for the full two-year CCS program.  Life is short:  to cartoon or not to cartoon, that is, if not the question, at least a question well worth pondering, and there's no better place to do so than the Center for Cartoon Studies:  http://www.cartoonstudies.org/index.php/admissions/

Here for your consideration is the six page story, "Follow the Bouncing Ball" from Archie Coimcs #126, with a publication date of March 1962.  Produced by the peerless penciller, Harry Lucey, this story appeared on the stands five or six months before Amazing Fantasy #15 (AF15 had a cover date of August, but states September 1962 in the indicia).

This story involves the accidental introduction of radioactivity into a high schooler's life, with supernatural results. Not only that, but the throwaway gag panel that concludes the story introduces the concept of the so-gained supernatural power interfering with the teen's normal romantic life, which is a central theme to Spider-Man, and critical to the long lasting success of the character.  And then there's the use of the word "tingling" which came to be associated with Spider-Man's "spidey-sense."  It kinda of makes you wonder...

Zeitgeist?  Coincidence? Or, perhaps, this story was read by Stan and/or Steve (if so, it was almost certainly Stan) during a lunchbreak, leading to the conscious or unconscious sparking of an idea.  The timing is just right.  We'll never know, of course, but it's something to ponder.  Now's your chance to read it for yourself, and see what you think. 

Copyright 1961, by Archie Comic Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

This is truly wonderful news.  Carl Barks is one of the true all time great comics creators, and arguably the single most influential of all.  Walt Disney's Comics and Stories was read by more people – mostly, but certainly not exclusively, children – in the United States of America than any other comic book title in history, and it was the Donald Duck stories written and drawn by Carl Barks, month after month for twenty years, that was the highlight of every issue. 

Read the story, along with a great interview with Fantagraphics Publisher, Gary Groth, here:

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/01/exclusive-fantagraphics-to-publish-the-complete-carl-barks/

And here is Tom Spurgeon at the Comics Reporter weighing in on this epic event:

http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/a_few_notes_on_the_fantagraphics_carl_barks_duck_comics_announcement/

THANK YOU FANTAGRAPHICS!

HOLIDAY HOURS:   

The shop will be CLOSED Fri, Dec 24, Sat, Dec 25 & Sun, Dec 26. 
The shop will also be CLOSED Sat, Jan 1 & Sun, Jan 2. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

PIX: The Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo 2010

Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17, 2010
10:00am to 5:00pm both days

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PIX: The Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo
 
WHEN:  Saturday, October 16 & Sunday, October 17, 2010
from 10:00am to 5:00pm, both days
WHERE: The newly refurbished 17,000 square foot top floor of the Guardian Storage facility at 2839 Liberty Avenue in the strip district
WHAT: Independently produced, creator owned, self published, small press and handmade comics from Pittsburgh and around the world

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Get on the mailing list! Write:  pix@copacetic.biz

a presentation of:

lead sponsor:

PIX is supported in part by a grant from The National Cartoonists Society Foundation.Design by Copacetic &   SiteCreative

Intrepid Copacetic customer turned comics reporter, Yakov Hadash has turned in a report on the goings on, yes, but mostly on those comics on offer that were found to be the most Copacetic of MOCCA 2009, which was held the weekend of June 6 & 7, 2009.  We're going to take Yakov's advice and try to get these in at Copacetic, so don't hesitate to ask us about any of them to learn if we have been successful.

Here's the report:  http://snipurl.com/ilikecomics

Anyone wanting to learn more about MOCCA can visit their site, here:  http://www.moccany.com/artfest09-main.html

Thanks, Yakov!