From: [b--b] at [lns598.lns.cornell.edu] (Bruce Berger) Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.alternative,rec.arts.comics.info Subject: Comicopia's Guide to the Alternatives Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 22:14:25 GMT Keywords: Comicopia alternative comics I was in Boston over the weekend, and as usual stopped by Comicopia. I become more and more impressed with this comic store every time I go in. This time I ended up buying $70 worth of alternative comics I'd been looking for, some for years. In my opinion Comicopia has become the best store for independent comics in the Boston ares, surpassing even the venerable Million Year Picnic, and one of the best around. One of the new things I like about Comicopia was this handout, "Comicopia's Guide to the Alternatives". This sort of thing seems like a great way for a store to promote independent comics. With the owner's blessing I've laboriously typed this in to post. Apart from correcting the spelling of Alan Moore's name, this list is all their work, not mine. Bruce ----- Acme Novelty Library A profoundly depressing book if it weren't for the incredibly artistic detail involved. The first 3 issues are all different sizes. Does the author have a life? Bacchus One of the few surviving Greek gods, Bacchus indulges only in wine these days, having given up on women & song. When you're 4000 you gotta take care of yourself. Bone A simple charming comic that appeals to a broad range of tastes. Brilliant cartooning for children and adults. Cages Dave McKean's many plaudits have a great deal to do with his ability, which glows on every page of this masterful endeavor. Cerebus The original creator-owned comic, and still the best. Eighteen years of history enrich the aardvark's character and the complexity of his world. Politically incisive and always full of humor. Dark Horse Presents For almost a decade DHP has offered 3 new stories each month. Many contributors go on to become household names. Catch 'em _before_ they're hot. Desert Peach Hard to believe someone came up with a comic book about Rommel's gay brother wandering through deserts in a tank in WWII. Harder to believe that it's funny, sincere and even touching! From Hell Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell give their spin on the Jack the Ripper tale. Annotated. Grendel Tales An agent of vengeance invoked in different times, named after the nemesis of Beowulf. A striking series of novellas by a variety of the best on the comics scene. Jim Comics The author is in touch with his subconscious to a disturbing degree. Although the stories can be bizarre & alien, they still resonate when _our_ subconscious recognizes a kindred spirit. Kabuki This ambitious tale features an enigmatic masked female terrorist/assassin in near future Japan. Can the author continue the high standard he's already set? Violent & sublime. Madman Frank Einstein is a man without a past. Instead, he's got a cool costume, a cute girlfriend and a refreshingly upbeat attitude. What more comics ought to be, fun! Milk & Cheese A carton of milk & a block of cheese that create mayhem and havoc wherever they go. They are "dairy products gone bad!" Naughty Bits Deals with the life experiences of a cantankerous working woman. Women tend to identify, while men tend to squirm. Omaha An anthropomorphic story of an exotic dancer. Mature issues are treated with realism and sensitivity. The characters are believably human. Optic Nerve Amazing feats of short storytelling by a terrific new talent who is _much_ younger than you think he is. Palestine An investigation of the source of the current tensions prevalent in the Middle East. Just because it isn't being published by the New York Times doesn't mean it's not serious journalism. Peepshow Elevating exhibitionism to an art form, this autobiographical comic resembles a car accident; it may not be pretty, but it's difficult to turn away. Sin City "Killing is easy. It's getting rid of the bodies that's hard", pretty much sums up this hard-boiled series by Frank Miller. So gritty you'll be spitting out gravel. Can you handle it, tough guy? Strangers in Paradise Featuring the soap operatic exploits of: Katchoo, who would like one to believe she doesn't care for men if she didn't stop complaining about them; Francine, who just wants to be her friend and David who doesn't. Wonderfully illustrated. Stray Bullets Very, very good "noir"-type of single-issue stories that fit into a much larger mosaic, the outlines of which are only beginning to become visible. Cool Beans! THB Conspiracies within conspiracies conspire against a clever 13-year old girl named HR Watson, whose bodyguard is a enormous rubber android (THB). Did we mention that this takes place on Mars? Thieves & Kings A good traditional fantasy/adventure slated to run 100 issues. Equal parts comics and illustrated prose yields a long and satisfying read that's well worth the price. Too Much Coffee Man You've seen this star of Converse ads on TV! Now read the incredibly ordinary adventures of the costumed schmuck whose caffeine addiction is bigger than the mug sloshing on top of his head. True Swamp The first 4 issues concern the problem of being at the bottom of the food chain as illustrated by Lenny the Frog, whose favorite activities are thinking and not getting eaten. Future issues will examine other critters. ----- Bruce Berger [b--b] at [lns598.lns.cornell.edu] + Fun .sig Games. Name that tune (by email): + + "They're burning down another damn candle + + They're melting the tables and chairs" +