Brandon Graham's Blog, page 136

Do you have any intention to ever attend TCAF?

Yeah, I was there a few years back and I’m sure I’ll go again. I talk to the Beguiling guys a lot (they are the best) 

I hope you don't think people take your answers about your "favorite" or "best" comics seriously. We're aware that your responses are as much dictated by your personal friendships as your aesthetic preferences. It's cool you're so honest and open, but I wi

I like all the books I list as liking. Obviously I want to support work of friends of mine who I think are trying to push things in new cool directions. 

but yeahhh, I’m never trying to paint myself as some unbiased critic. 

I think we all have some say in critical comics discussion. I’m interested in what people’s ideal would be. A comic site with writers who understand the medium and politics but also stay clear enough from it all to be unbiased. sounds rare. but I think honestly with clarity about who your pals are is worth something.

On the subject of that, a shit ton of my closest friends are my friends because I loved their work first. I met Simon Roy because I was going to buy his books & I first knew Emma Rios because I was so amazed that Marvel even hired someone as good as her. 

I hope you don't think people take your answers about your "favorite" or "best" comics seriously. We're aware that your responses are as much dictated by your personal friendships as your aesthetic preferences. It's cool you're so honest and open, but I wi

I like all the books I list as liking. Obviously I want to support work of friends of mine who I think are trying to push things in new cool directions. 

but yeahhh, I’m never trying to paint myself as some unbiased critic. 

I think we all have some say in critical comics discussion. I’m interested in what people’s ideal would be. A comic site with writers who understand the medium and politics but also stay clear enough from it all to be unbiased. sounds rare. but I think honestly with clarity about who your pals are is worth something.

On the subject of that, a shit ton of my closest friends are my friends because I loved their work first. I met Simon Roy because I was going to buy his books & I first knew Emma Rios because I was so amazed that Marvel even hired someone as good as her. 

I hope you don't think people take your answers about your "favorite" or "best" comics seriously. We're aware that your responses are as much dictated by your personal friendships as your aesthetic preferences. It's cool you're so honest and open, but I wi

I like all the books I list as liking. Obviously I want to support work of friends of mine who I think are trying to push things in new cool directions. 

but yeahhh, I’m never trying to paint myself as some unbiased critic. 

I think we all have some say in critical comics discussion. I’m interested in what people’s ideal would be. A comic site with writers who understand the medium and politics but also stay clear enough from it all to be unbiased. sounds rare. but I think honestly with clarity about who your pals are is worth something.

On the subject of that, a shit ton of my closest friends are my friends because I loved their work first. I met Simon Roy because I was going to buy his books & I first knew Emma Rios because I was so amazed that Marvel even hired someone as good as her. 

I hope you don't think people take your answers about your "favorite" or "best" comics seriously. We're aware that your responses are as much dictated by your personal friendships as your aesthetic preferences. It's cool you're so honest and open, but I wi

I like all the books I list as liking. Obviously I want to support work of friends of mine who I think are trying to push things in new cool directions. 

but yeahhh, I’m never trying to paint myself as some unbiased critic. 

I think we all have some say in critical comics discussion. I’m interested in what people’s ideal would be. A comic site with writers who understand the medium and politics but also stay clear enough from it all to be unbiased. sounds rare. but I think honestly with clarity about who your pals are is worth something.

On the subject of that, a shit ton of my closest friends are my friends because I loved their work first. I met Simon Roy because I was going to buy his books & I first knew Emma Rios because I was so amazed that Marvel even hired someone as good as her. 

I hope you don't think people take your answers about your "favorite" or "best" comics seriously. We're aware that your responses are as much dictated by your personal friendships as your aesthetic preferences. It's cool you're so honest and open, but I wi

I like all the books I list as liking. Obviously I want to support work of friends of mine who I think are trying to push things in new cool directions. 

but yeahhh, I’m never trying to paint myself as some unbiased critic. 

I think we all have some say in critical comics discussion. I’m interested in what people’s ideal would be. A comic site with writers who understand the medium and politics but also stay clear enough from it all to be unbiased. sounds rare. but I think honestly with clarity about who your pals are is worth something.

On the subject of that, a shit ton of my closest friends are my friends because I loved their work first. I met Simon Roy because I was going to buy his books & I first knew Emma Rios because I was so amazed that Marvel even hired someone as good as her. 

Why do so many Image books seem like failed TV pitches?

My most honest answer is that it’s because they are writer run books and most comic writers are probably as influenced by tv as they are by comics. If there is some active work being done by any writers to pitch shows through Image comics it’s nothing I pay attention to or care about. 

 I’m really happy that Image has writers like John Arcudi ,

Kieron Gillen, Keatinge , Busiek , etc. Writers who don’t draw (professionally)  but I feel are aiming to make comics for comics sake.

Airboy,( as much as I didn’t like how they handled the trans stuff in that book) the concept was something that no one else in comics was doing. Joke autobio comics with a public domain hero. 

I like that Snotgirl feels like it’s a comic that could run in Sassy magazine. 

I’m realllly not a fan of the Image books that look like failed Vertigo pitches. 

I get that bringing Berger in was a political move but that book she’s editing looks awful, (it could probably use an editor) The fucking Azzarello books at Image look like what you’d get if he was TRYING to Ashton Kutcher punk the company. A prohibition werewolf comic called “moonshine” Is that really your dream book you needed the freedom to make?. & him and Bisley working together would be amazing in 1998 but instead you get some garbage beer tie in comic. 

I could go on but It seems smarter to talk more about comics I like. 

Have you guys read Mirror? , that book is amazing.

Table of contents for ISLAND #10.This is a goooood issue

Table of contents for ISLAND #10.

This is a goooood issue 

How did you feel about the somewhat recent wave of creators who left the big 2 for Image, only to go back when their creator owned stuff didn't take off or they didn't get that TV deal? There was some pretty dull stuff getting put out, but does that taint

I dunno about anyone’s motivations, I assume those guys just like jumping around and trying out different companies. I’m not a fan of Image pulling many creators from M and DC. For many reasons. 

Although I do think you have to look at each creator as an individual. You have people like my manga bro Emma Rios who did work at Marvel but then comes to Image and does work like I.D and Mirror (with Hewi Lim) (two amazing books if you haven’t read them) , and then you have people who get the freedom that Image provides and they just do the same old shit they were doing on superhero comics or some other tired idea. It bugs me when creators act like they can’t do whatever the fuck they want at Image. Take a risk, maybe have an original thought?

Unfortunately I do think it weakens Image as a company to have any subpar books. but I get that my taste is far from what sells best. but I do think they also have some fantastic books. (some books  I like RIngside, Prince of Cats, Snotgirl, Wicked + Divine, Rumble, Mirror, Manifest Destiny, etc)

I hope work like the stuff in ISLAND feels like it’s own thing. Because that’s the whole goal. 

How did you feel about the somewhat recent wave of creators who left the big 2 for Image, only to go back when their creator owned stuff didn't take off or they didn't get that TV deal? There was some pretty dull stuff getting put out, but does that taint

I dunno about anyone’s motivations, I assume those guys just like jumping around and trying out different companies. I’m not a fan of Image pulling many creators from M and DC. For many reasons. 

Although I do think you have to look at each creator as an individual. You have people like my manga bro Emma Rios who did work at Marvel but then comes to Image and does work like I.D and Mirror (with Hewi Lim) (two amazing books if you haven’t read them) , and then you have people who get the freedom that Image provides and they just do the same old shit they were doing on superhero comics or some other tired idea. It bugs me when creators act like they can’t do whatever the fuck they want at Image. Take a risk, maybe have an original thought?

Unfortunately I do think it weakens Image as a company to have any subpar books. but I get that my taste is far from what sells best. but I do think they also have some fantastic books. (some books  I like RIngside, Prince of Cats, Snotgirl, Wicked + Divine, Rumble, Mirror, Manifest Destiny, etc)

I hope work like the stuff in ISLAND feels like it’s own thing. Because that’s the whole goal.