I think of comics in terms of collage because it provides me with a simple and non-threatening way to get started on a comic: just put things together. I guess I define collage broadly as the art of juxtaposition, and even though that’s hopelessly vague as an art-historical definition, it sort of makes sense when applied to comics, which are basically juxtapositions of little drawings, or juxtapositions of words and drawings, or words and a drawing, or maybe things in a single drawing. I’m not that interested in academic argument over whether all collages are comics. I’m more interested in the freedom suggested by the collage model. The alternative, or one alternative, is to think of comics as a story-telling medium which absolutely frightens me, because then you get into soul-killing rules about dramatic arcs and conflict and character development. Storytelling tends to champion a linear effect. Collage, on the other hand, aims simply for connections–sometimes linear, but sometimes intuitive–or counter-intuitive or absurd.

My first awareness of comics was seeing a daily newspaper comics page. Comics in newspapers still strike me as strange in a beautiful way: in the newspaper, you have page after page of text and photographs, all about the real world, or an official version of it, and suddenly you have a page or two of little drawings in boxes, in different styles, all about these made-up worlds. The newspaper comics page–really, the newspaper as a whole–is a readymade collage.

John Hankiewicz in an interview with Onsmith. Windy Corner Magazine #2, edited by Austin English (Sparkplug Comicbooks, 2007).

Texture and a circle!

Texture and a circle!

This is a nice one too. Such pleasing geometric ratios and subtle colors.

This is a nice one too. Such pleasing geometric ratios and subtle colors.

mysterymanners:

Ben Nicholson, June 1937

Oh wow. I love this. Never heard of Nicholson before.

mysterymanners:

Ben Nicholson, June 1937

Oh wow. I love this. Never heard of Nicholson before.

(via olivereast)

altcomics:

Jason Overby / Stephen Hayes

You can order a copy from here: http://bookletpress.org/bulletin/ only… 161 yen, which is apparently $1.61! Cheap Overby comic!

altcomics:

Jason Overby / Stephen Hayes

You can order a copy from here: http://bookletpress.org/bulletin/ only… 161 yen, which is apparently $1.61! Cheap Overby comic!

Last day at the beach rental and I just noticed this photocomic on an out of the way wall.

Last day at the beach rental and I just noticed this photocomic on an out of the way wall.

lassociation:

Jochen Gerner, Panorama du froid.

lassociation:

Jochen Gerner, Panorama du froid.

situology:

I re-opened the Situology shop. Now Sleepy Details is available for you to own, as well as our old standbys.
I’m finishing up a new, longer book right now and could really use the $$, and maybe you could use the comics. For reading, or giving? Thanks.
http://situology.bigcartel.com

situology:

I re-opened the Situology shop. Now Sleepy Details is available for you to own, as well as our old standbys.

I’m finishing up a new, longer book right now and could really use the $$, and maybe you could use the comics. For reading, or giving? Thanks.

http://situology.bigcartel.com

High-Low: Rhythm & Rhyme: Asthma, The Blot and Comics-As-Poetry

Worth rereading.

4 days ago - 1
William Wegman. He took two pictures / one came out. (1972/2011) (via Marc Selwyn Fine Art | CURRENT)

William Wegman. He took two pictures / one came out. (1972/2011) (via Marc Selwyn Fine Art | CURRENT)

Vacation comic 1.

Vacation comic 1.

A new comic from Pascal Tessier! (via La Crise - uchronie)

A new comic from Pascal Tessier! (via La Crise - uchronie)