Week of 2/19/2024
This week, we learn about Midae's rough early childhood on The Shapes, I talk about my experience at the St. Pete Zine Fest among other news, and review a new alternative comic.
The Shapes
Struck v. Struck 14-15
To all the new readers here who feel like you’re being thrown into this story out of the blue, read from the beginning for more context.
News
St. Pete Zine Fest & Symposium Overview
St. Pete Zine Fest was a fun time. Originally intended to be held outdoors at the St. Pete College Gibbs Campus, the event moved indoors to the school’s West Community Library due to inclement weather (thank goodness for their foresight), which I think was ultimately a better decision overall. The campus was empty that weekend, and since the library was public, it attracted an audience of regular passersby rather than exclusively people who knew the event was happening. As a zine fest should with that space, there were a variety of vendors spread out throughout both ends of the building and the second floor.
When I arrived, I was kindly directed to set my table up by the campus entrance. Naturally, since no one was walking on campus grounds, there was more foot traffic coming from the street entrance. I was in good company throughout the show including the sublime Filipe Bergson who runs a local distro for alt comix. Some other talents worth mentioning include Tristan, Cherry Art, Holly Grobholz, Mia, and Abby Knauff.
My only real complaint was that there weren’t any meal options beyond the school cafeteria. While I didn’t perform as superbly as Tampa Zine Fest, St. Pete Zine shares similar good vibes and is free, so I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks once more to everyone who came by and stopped at my table.
Purgatory Press
My friend Lars just launched an alternative comics press which is currently accepting both short-form submissions for their periodical anthology and long-form material up until July 15th. You can learn more about submission requirements here.
The Shapes #2 Availability Updates
The Safety Harbor Arts & Music Center (SHAMC) has two copies of El Puro in stock, so grab them while they’re still there.
Sammy the Critic
Hable Con Ella Review
While at Tampa Zine Fest two weeks ago, I brought this gem by rising creator Lxtrrs. My best way to sum up the zine is as a graphic form of self-therapy which even encapsulated in the title which translates as Talk to Her. In the 24-page comic, we follow Ski Mask Girl, the author’s self-sonna, as she’s in conversation with the bright side of her inner voice who’s trying to help her confront her interntalized shame which manifests externally as the ski mask. The mask thereby becomes the most salient motif emblemizing her self-isolation socially due to repressed feelings of inadequacy. These internal emotions are represented through the dark side of her inner voice.
These seemingly oppositional forces don’t share a dualistic dynamic, but rather, one of manageable coexistence, a common theme I’ve noticed throughout newer autobio comics not because it’s an ideal solution. Instead, it’s a healthier, more pragmatic approach to confronting mental health issues than extinguishing it like it’s a fire.
Lxtrr’s art follows a manga-inspired chibi aesthetic. While normally reserved for cute and silly moments, it works so well within the comic’s earnest context in combination with minimalistic, predominantly gray and black backgrounds to convey this dejected feeling Ski Mask Girl is going through. Meanwhile, reds are sparingly used to intensify an emotion. To further emphasize the story’s isolating tone, white space is used consistently and quite effectively throughout the panels and speech bubbles, allowing the reader to have a vicarious experience with the author.
Overall, Lxtrr’s debut Hable Con Ella is a beautifully written and drawn comic book I confidently think will go down as one of my favorites of the year. She’s certainly a new talent worth keeping an eye on. You can buy the book on her website.