January 08, 2010

Moving

I'm about to move this blog to another platform and another server. Expect some glitches over the next few days.

Posted by tomk at 10:26 PM | Comments (0)

November 14, 2009

8th Annual Book Arts Festival

Today will be spent at the 8th Annual Book Arts Festival at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. The usual assortment of Uncivilized Books publications will be available for sale, including Gabrielle Bell's L.A. Diary and... a brand new mini-comic: Ancient Reading Device (pictured above). More on that after the festival. Stop by and say hello.

Posted by tomk at 09:42 AM | Comments (0)

October 06, 2009

Aleja Komiksu

I came to the United States From Poland in 1987. I've traveled back to the home country a few times over the last couple of decades. A few days ago I had a different kind of homecoming. I was interviewed for the first time by the Polish comics community. The brief interview is now posted, along with a few pages of my comics, on the Aleja Komiksu site.

If you read Polish the rest of the Aleja Komiksu site is well worth checking. I especially recommend the extensive interview with Andrzej Klimowski, one of the most interesting figures in British comics. English speakers aren't completely left out. The site posted a survey of recent comics by young British cartoonists. Take a look.

To celebrate this virtual homecoming, I'm posting one of my first ever comic-books. It may not be THE first comic, but it's certainly the first total package: a stapled pamphlet, complete with a logo and print run number (it was customary for the print run to be listed on books in Poland at the time - in this case the print run was 1). I was 11 when I made this.

Posted by tomk at 05:48 PM | Comments (0)

September 30, 2009

Million Year Boom: Best, But Not Required

Eric Reynolds at Fantagraphics mentioned it a while ago, but I didn't really believe it until I saw the book a few of days ago: Million Year Boom, my story from MOME 11 was selected for the 2009 edition of Best American Nonrequired Reading. I'm REALLY surprised and thrilled to have my work appear in such an amazing collection. Two other MOME contributors, Olivier Schrauwen and Émile Bravo were also selected. Congratulations to all contributors!

For more about Best American Nonrequired Reading series and it's selection committee check out their very own blog. A portion of the proceeds from the book go to benefit the 826 National youth literacy project.

The book should be available in bookstores at blog time. Or buy the book online via: Magers & Quinn, Amazon, Powells.

Posted by tomk at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)

April 19, 2009

R.I.P. J.G. Ballard

Posted by tomk at 10:47 PM | Comments (1)

August 26, 2008

Recent Press

I probably don't do this sort of thing enough... but here are a few recent reviews of my work I was alerted to, or have stumbled upon:

"Still, though not quite successful on a philosophical level, it's a lovely-looking strip, with judiciously chosen images representing the various ideas and idea-spouters and Kaczynski's precise use of thicker blacks creating a memorable Easter Island sequence."
— on Cartoon Dialectics by Sean T. Collins

"[...]another one of his psychoeconomic fables, one where his trademark mounting sense of disconnection and dread wind their way through several symbolically engrossing episodes[...]"
— on MOME 11 by Sean T. Collins

"[...] incredibly well-written but not-very-inspiringly illustrated [...]"
— on MOME 11 by Chris Estey

"Like Eightball with footnotes! (or at least, in this case, an actual bibliography.)"
— on Cartoon Dialectics

"The artist-author, like his protagonist, manages, without premeditation or planning, to discover some profound truths encoded within a corporate brand finally produced as a 21st century cave painting of blood, sweat and semiotic design at the end of a trail of excrement and allergens."
— on MOME 11

both quotes by Chris Nakashima-Brown

Posted by tomk at 05:26 PM | Comments (1)

January 31, 2008

Momed

panels from Mome 11

The term 'Momed' was coined by Gabrielle Bell (if I remember correctly) and it refers to MOME contributing cartoonists who, in an effort to meet their deadlines, forgo normal social behavior and lock themselves up for extended periods of time in a desperate attempt to make comics at a highly depressing rate of speed... In short, I've been Momed over the last few weeks, which is why this blog has been very quiet lately. But my next MOME contribution is done and so this blog can resume it's semi regular posting schedule.

panel from Mome 10

Speaking of MOME, the current issue (MOME Vol. 10, Winder/Spring 2008) is out now. This time I contributed a four page story called Phase Transition. It's a kind of a prequel for the story I just finished. It wasn't intended that way originally. As I worked on the MOME Vol. 11 story it slowly became clear that the main character from Phase Transition should play a role in it.

In addition to the story, I'm also the subject of an interview conducted by Gary Groth. I was very nervous before this interview because I've read so many of his interviews over the years and he's definitely one of my favorite interviewers. It turned OK in the end and the conversation was pretty interesting even if I didn't always give a good or coherent answer. Apparently Fantagraphics will be putting up all the MOME interviews online at some point, so look for it to appear there soon. I'm sure I'll link it here when it goes up.

Posted by tomk at 05:32 PM | Comments (0)

November 29, 2007

Daily Cross Hatch Interview

I meant to post this sooner but the Yokoyama essay has been quite a distraction. Anyway, since the Daily Cross Hatch has deemed me a subject worthy of an interview, I suppose I should at least link to it: here's Part 1 and Part 2. The interview was ably conducted by the intrepid Sarah Morean. Ok, this piece of shameless self-promotion done with, the blog can return to it's semi-regular service...

Posted by tomk at 04:52 PM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2006

Drama 9 Release Party

Another issue of The Drama magazine is set to hit the stands very soon. In just a few issues the magazine has evolved into one of the best new magazines on the stands. And I'm not just saying that because they published another comic of mine. They are celebrating the release of their 9th issue with a few parties in select locations. I will be at the New York one. More details here. Stop by and get a free copy of the mag before the print medium expires altogether!

Posted by tomk at 11:45 AM | Comments (0)