Jim Woodring (1) (1952–)

I can't really review or describe this book in very useful detail, I'm too much of a fan... but if you've read any Jim Woodring comics that are not Frank, you probably know whether you would like a large volume of them. I love Frank but I've always had a special weakness for his other stuff, partly because he's one of a very small number of cartoonists who can make emotionally engaging narratives out of dreams, and partly because he writes sharp and hilarious dialogue. I'm partial to the longer stories that originally appeared in the Jim vol. 2 series, especially "Quarry Story" and "The Hindu Marriage Game", so it makes me really happy that those are collected here. The only problem with the completeness(*) of this collection is that if the stream-of-consciousness text pieces from his early zines aren't really your thing, well, there are a fair number of them. Also, I would've liked to see more cover art. Whatever, it's a beautiful book.

(* The only thing that's missing as far as I can tell is one of the "Big Red" stories, where Jim's cat gleefully murders a boastful cat named Tuffy. Except now I can't find that story in any of my old Jims; maybe it was just one of those tiny zines that he sent out through the mail? Or did I dream it??)… (meer)

There's a feeling I get sometimes, mostly when viewing art, rarely when watching movies, of the top of my skull coming off. This isn't a metaphor; that's exactly what I feel. I felt it more often as a kid, reading MAD Magazine -- especially the art of Basil Wolverton -- or at the volumes of Man, Myth & Magic my parents inexplicably kept. There's some quality to the artwork I've always found found both compelling and repulsive. With my skull opened, my brain exposed, what might be poured in there?

This book from Fantagraphics bmBooks, gives me that feeling. Seeing Things by Jim Woodring is a collection of his stand alone paintings and drawings. Best known for his cartoon cat, Frank, Woodring's art always feels like an explorarion of the common man, or cat, experiencing the divine. Though it can tend toward the grotesque, there is always that hint of a higher order at play. His artwork here is beautiful, and engrossing, and sometimes horrifying.… (meer)

Star Wars – Jabba the Hutt: The Art of the Deal collects the four Jabba titles from Dark Horse Comics, “The Gaar Suppoon Hit,” “The Hunger of Princess Nampi, “The Dynasty Trap,” and “Betrayal,” written by Jim Woodrin with pencils by Art Wetherell, inks by Monty Sheldon, colors by James Sinclair, Matt Webb, Rachelle Menashe, and Pamela Rambo, and letters by Steve Dutro. The stories follow Jabba’s various business exploits, double-crossing prospective business partners and stealing from anyone he encounters however he can. Though fun at times, this is no Tales from Jabba’s Palace and leaves much to be desired. It does not match up with much of Jabba’s history from earlier or later Expanded Universe works, let alone the new canon. Wetherell’s simple art is adequate for the stories, which usually revolve around Jabba thinking he has the upper hand in a deal, only for a double-cross, and then Jabba gets his petty revenge. In this way, the work resembles the fictive account that Tony Schwartz wrote about a self-indulgent 1980s real estate developer that lends its name to the title of this collection. Those looking to have the complete Dark Horse Star Wars collection may find this interesting, but it is not their strongest work.… (meer)