Twenty pages of trippy evocations of New York City life – specifically riding on the subway and dealing with the MTA – by a long time comics maker that we're going to go out on a limb and guess that most people reading this have never heard of (although we have had a handful of her self-published works on sale here at Copacetic, as a part of one or more of our SPX hauls).  Sakura brings an adventurous artistic spirit to comics in Dark Tomato, and we recommend it to any and all adventurous readers.  A publication of the newly founded Domino Books, the paper, production and printing (in Estonia!) impeccable, but, with the exception of the cover, is in black and white.  The interior artwork appears as though it were reproduced from color originals, and while it is possible that this is not the case and the work was produced using only grey tones, because of the expressiveness of the visuals there is a feeling of, "if only this were in color" attached to the reading experience.  Don't let this stop you, however; it's "colorful" even in black and white.  And, finally, we can't help but note that there is no actual creator credit anywhere – that we could find – in this book.  While every page is signed "SM10," it is only by reading through the back cover blurbs that the presumed creator of the work can be identified.  Perhaps this is intentional on the artist's part; she does cite "the artist formerly known and now also known as Prince" among her inspirations, after all.

Things start to get more interesting with Chromozoid's second issue.  Again we have a squarebound, full color, magazine size publication jam-packed with comics.  This issue runs a whopping 108 pages and some amped up, electrified art!  While the current of horror running through the first issue continues through this one as well, readers will also find stories with a bit more sexual charge.  All in all this issue raises the stakes and delivers a more potent cocktail of emotional charges than the first.  A. Degen fans will rejoice to get their hands on this issue's "Soft X-Ray" tale, and any sighting of work by the reclusive (well, at least as far as print publication goes, anyway) Sakura Maku is always a cause for celebration.  Austin English pounds the pavement, and the paper with his pencils in eight pages of rough and ready urban action.  Grant Reynolds and Nicki Yowell deliver a science fiction/horror hybrid gross-out gag-fest in "Vampire Tampons from Outer Space." There's plenty more on hand here before Lale Westvind closes out the book with an "Evening Flight." 

AND – All orders will now come with a copy of the Chromazoid #2 Soundtrack CD!  (which you can also stream HERE)

NOW ON SALE for a SUPER DEAL price!

This issue features a whole lotta' Austin English comics (just about exactly half the issue).  Sakura Maku turned in eight pages of her unique collaged watercolor comics that .   Jason T. Miles provides a comics interpretation of a "Letter to Windy Corner" in an 89 panel two-page spread.  Frank Santoro penned a lenghty appraisal of Gipi's graphic novel, Garage Band.  And Vanessa Davis interviews Carol Tyler amidst her working on You'll Never Know.

FROM THE ARCHIVES - ONE COPY - GONE!