We're super excited to have received the first issue of Maple Key Comics! A new comics anthology series published out of White River Junction, Vermont, by a group of Center for Cartoon Studies grads and their immediate circle, and edited and designed by Joyana McDiarmid, this series shows a lot of promise. The concept here is to produce a big, fat comics anthology filled with ongoing, continuing series by a wide variety of artists and writers on a regular basis. While this is a common practice in Japan, it is pretty much unheard of here in the US. The first issue is a massive 327 pages (!) and features some really great work by the likes of Jon Chad, Sophie Goldstein, Carl Antonowicz, Sasha Steinberg, Rachel Lindsay and many others. There is a definite – and welcome! – tilt towards science fiction in a number of the stories here, but, as we stated, there is plenty of variety here, with teen romance, nautical adventure, gothic horror, cooking, and many other sorts of tales on hand here for readers' delectation – something for everyone! Make sure to take a look next time you're in the shop. We're already looking forward to the next issue, which is due in June. BACK IN STOCK!
<<•>> edited by Joyanna McDiarmid <<•>>
There's nothing else like Maple Key Comics currently on the market. Unique, hybrid comics abound in its pages: Science fiction / Teen romance, nautical adventure/romance, funny animal / auto-bio – you won’t find these types of comics together under one cover anywhere else! And, of course, there’s plenty more on hand in the 250+ pages of the right-on-schedule second issue ofMaple Key Comics: Mystery, intergenerational saga, fantasy adventure, work place gaffs, domestic drama, straight-up auto-bio, a historicized mythological tale, as well as several other variations of science fiction; plus a “Star Artist Interview" with Nicole Georges. Whew! The bulk of these are the second chapter of serials begun in the first issue, but there are several that are self-contained stories as well. A regularly published, big, fat book of engaging, personal, unique, innovative long and short form comics created by practiced, trained cartoonists doing what they love. Check it out!
Here's a unique, horizontally formatted, duo-tone hardcover graphic novel from erstwhile Pittsburgher, (and current Oklahoman) Carl Antonowicz.
Fieldmouse Press sez:
"In a medieval fantasy setting called the Roodlands, a young monk is tasked by the head of his order to move the jewel-encrusted skeleton of one of their martyrs to safety. His faith is tested in a journey where the concepts of honor, family, and piety are laid bare. This bleak but hilarious subversion of standard fantasy quest comics will draw comparisons to Kurt Vonnegut and Julia Gfrörer."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Advance Praise for The Ardent:
"Carl Antonowicz knows that the disappointments of man are eternal, but so are their cures. The joke is always the same, but that's what makes it so funny."
— Claire Napier, author of The Magic Necklace, Wolf Story
Book Size: 8 × 6.5 inches (landscape)
Pages: 172
Format: Case-bound hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-956636-52-9
