Week of 1/22/2024
This week, the Struck family drama escalates in Struck v. Struck, I make some big announcements, and review reviews. Yep, things are getting real meta in this house!
The Shapes
Struck v. Struck 7-9
News
Events Schedule
I have a lot even planned for February starting with Megacon from the 1st through the 4th. I’ll be there as an attendee like last year probably with the same Morty cosplay for half of the show since my Cartman one never arrived (or got stolen) and I’m too lazy to do anything about it.
After that on February 10th, I’m tabling at the Tampa Zine Fest from 6-10 PM Saturday at Southern Brewing’s outdoor garden. I did this show last year, and it was amazing, so I’ll be looking forward to being there again!
The following Saturday, I’ll be tabling at the St Pete Zine Fest & Symposium at SPC-Gibbs Campus’s West Community Library from 11 AM-3 PM which is organized by the fabulous Print St. Pete.
Both Tampa Zine Fest and SPZF are free, so check them out!
Scarff #17 Feature
Big news! A Shapes comic I submitted to Scarff Comics Newspaper is being run first on their latest #17 which follows a multiverse theme. You can grab a free copy at one of the retailers listed on their social media page or by subscribing to their Patreon. It’s my first time having my work printed in a publication, so I’m thankful to the folks at Scarff for giving me this opportunity.
The Shapes #4 Update
After a few delays, printing for The Shapes #4 has finally begun which should take around two weeks. Going by the estimated delivery date, the release might not be able to coincide with the Tampa Zine Fest for the regular-sized (6.69" x 10.24") copies, but the minibook versions (4.1" x 5.8") should arrive before then. So if things go as planned, I’ll be premiering those at the show.
Sammy the Critic
What the Bl@nkety Bl@nk Movie Reviews #1 Review
While I was at Big Apple Comic Con’s winter show, I mostly said hi to old friends/ acquaintances and browsed comic book back issues. However, one original artist I did buy work from was Sarou Armstrong whose graphic movie reviews piqued my interest due to the concept’s uniqueness.
I’m familiar with comics journalism such as The Nib publication (R.I.P) or Joe Sacco. However, many of these works can be hit or miss depending on how balanced the text and visual qualities are with the worst offenders feeling like illustration encyclopedias rather than a sequential narrative. Given the analytical often detailed nature of critique, I wasn’t sure how a comic could achieve such a balance. Nevertheless, my concerns were abated as soon as I opened the first page.
Three films are covered in this issue: Shin Godzilla, Ingrid Goes West, and The Florida Project. Every review begins with a page skit germane to the themes that will be explored. For instance, the Ingrid Goes West review opens with a bit where someone is knocked by a football, to the amusement of the author’s selfsonna which ties into schadenfreude, an element subsequently explored in the critique. In that way, I am reminded of the introduction portions of someone like The Nostalgia Critic, albeit with more subtlety.
Armstrong is an intelligent writer with a myriad of insights to share both cinematic and worldly which boldly manifest throughout shining in genuine passion. More importantly, what carries these write-ups is Armstrong’s keen eye for sequential composition. He knows how and where to distribute the text boxes, creating a seamless reading experience that shirks turgidity. The art always complements the text well enhancing it despite the latter operating independently of the art minus a few humorous bits of dialogue which also help elevate the comics to more than an illustrated review.
Overall, What the Bl@nkety Bl@nk is a great trio of reviews written with inspiring wit and insight that surpasses those of many “professional” movie critics. Sarou doesn’t seem to have an online store where he sells these books, but you can read these comic reviews and more on his website. Now, the only thing that’ll make this more meta is if someone decides to review my review of reviews.