When we got home from our Hawaiian vacation I found among the drift of election mailers a package from my brother. He picked up a copy of the first number of the new Houghton Mifflin "Best" series, The Best American Comics. I guess he went to some bookstore event as he got a few contributors to sign the book. Series editor, Anne Elizabeth Moore even writes, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! You've always been so wonderful." and includes a little heart next to her initials. Aw. She's right. But how could she know?
She's brilliant in some ways, not so sharp in others. She apparently argued against doing the series. Didn't think a "best of" comics would be a good (successful) project. Thankfully she was wrong. They've gone back for a second printing after selling out the first 20 thousand. (Or maybe it was 50 thousand. 50,000 sounds better but I can't be sure about it.)
ReplyDeleteI showed up because I know David Lasky, he of the one page contribution. I didn't really think about who else might be there.
I don't think I've actually read any of Harvey Pekar's work. Other than what's in that book. How could I not have read Harvey Pekar?
Hmm. I haven't read Proust or Joyce either. Apparently I am uncultured.
Cheers!
My word verification for this entry is "ozjrk". I'm sure that's significant.
You never read any American Splendor? Dude!
ReplyDeleteDidn't you have to read "Araby" in high school? I remember I hated it and hated the essay I had to write for it and Mom actually talked to the English teacher because ... I forget ... because I never wanted to go to school again? Something like that.
Well I've read it now. It's online. It seems vaguely familiar, like a story I might have read in Shecklin's class. Reading and analysing such a story is why I avoided the A track classes as much as possible. Nothing wrong with story but where are the cosmic horrors, the faithful sidekicks, the wonder and the joy?
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