blog: reader participation

So many good submissions for the blogger portion of the Thanksgiving Project! It was very tough to choose just ten, but thanks to specious criteria and pure caprice, here they are (in no particular order), along with my many thanks for all the kind words! Each blogger will receive an Artist Edition of Clever Tricks to Stave Off Death. LOOK FOR THEM SOON FOLKS

(Click through to read each post in its entirety)

1. Amelie Cherlin / Bajira!

What is this thing? I don’t even know! It is totally impressive though and I dig anyone who goes to any level of effort for something silly like this — to say nothing of the fact that Amelie has somehow seamlessly cracked my entire genetic code. Thanks, Amelie!

2. Jonathan Johns / Intercepted Messages

…From the penthouse suite at the top of the headquarters of TopatoCo, David oversees all daily operations of a team of thousands of highly trained operatives whose sole mission in life is to ensure that the ‘humors’ infecting David are expunged, and spread virally to all of us.

As it was told to me, David woke from a Slushee-induced sugar coma, trapped in the basement of the Los Angeles Central Library where he was surrounded by books depicting 19th century woodcuts and engravings. While in his stupor, the characters in the images began to speak to him, and challenge his manhood, calling him a pansy-artist and both taunting and provoking him.

I also like this bit:

He has had an impressive life up to this point

Man, that terrifies me for some reason.

Thanks, Jonathan!

3. Robin McKinley, Days in the Life*

***Yes. I have the t shirt. If I’d been thinking ahead I’d be wearing it so I could make my annoyingly alert and healthy husband take a photo. If it weren’t for the sleet and the howling gale and so on and the fact that even crouched over the electric fire chafing hellhounds all over my body I’m still cold. Maybe next year Malki can come out with wondermark Shetland pullovers.

Reading Robin’s blog is like reading a Mark Z. Danielewski novel. I respect anyone who can’t muster the conformist attitude to write in a straight line. Also she sent me a ton of traffic so that’s worth an extra 16 points. Thanks, Robin!

4. Cathy Hamaker / A Cautionary Tale

…I have a signed comic on my wall, and a copy of Beards of our Forefathers in my bathroom. (Yes, the bathroom. Shut up. Don’t judge me.)

The bathroom is the best place for books of comics. AUTOMATIC WIN

Thanks, Cathy! P.S. I get them from squid books

5. Bailey Shoemaker Richards / The Reading Corner

…One of my favorite things about Wondermark is that despite its overt weirdness, it’s still relevant. It’s still showing me, as a reader, something to laugh at and simultaneously making me realize that I’m laughing at myself (and the people around me). I am frequently laughing out loud in public places about the latest Wondermark strip, even when I’m not reading it. Then I definitely resemble the people at whom Malki ! pokes fun.

I will definitely take these kind words, though I also will fully own “overt weirdness.” Thanks, Bailey!

6. Shannon Saar / Wighthouse

…A righteous example of the past triumphing, overtaking, and yet melding with an ever-burgeoning future. An age-old tale that obliterates the tired shroud of the mundane. A graphic marvel carved from the monolith of time itself. A paragon of mirthfulness defined as much by what it doesn’t say as by what it must. A willful communiqué to a jaded, humdrum society. A cross-hatched fairy tale that huffs the æther of absurdity in great whoops and gasps. A sophisticated comment on raucous mores that cannot be ignored. A scrumptious brainchild of one peerless, punctuated individual.

I like that, reading the full post, I got the distinct feeling that Shannon took a long, deep breath, paused a moment, then rattled off that paragraph at full speed. That is the best way to rattle things off. Thanks, Shannon!

7. Lisa / two loose teeth

…It’s meticulously crafted with vintage engravings in Photoshop, too. I know that because I recently watched part of a Let’s Make a Wondermark live stream. It was somehow funny, voyeuristic, fascinating, and slightly boring, all rolled into one.

I will also own “slightly boring.” In addition, Lisa previously blogged about my 2007 video, Me Vs. Comic-Con: Who’s Better?, so I’m glad she’s stuck around for the rollicking years since. Thanks, Lisa!

8. Carapace / Cara Geeks

…And if you like snarking on said Victoriana, Malki’s your guy. There are also strips where people ride Piranhamoose, so good news all around, there. And if you like excessive verbosity and a highly affected writing style, well, he’ll keep you occupied while I’m dealing with students and craft fairs.

Man, I am learning all about myself today. Shall I own “excessive verbosity and a highly affected writing style”? I would hardly be the pauper’s pedant that I claim were I to refuse this steaming, dribbling chalice. Thanks, Carapace!

9. Johnny Despair, Esq. / Not For You Studios

…his aesthetic sense is poised to pounce upon the exposed jugular vein of the steampunk/anachro-fashion movement like a beautiful, misunderstood vampire eager to drink it dry and not even give a shit and not even be beautiful but a disfigured old monster with horrible claws and barely human anatomy because that is how my vampires roll and jesus FUCK can I stop seeing Twilight ads in my fucking convalescence pretty pretty fucking please I know bitching about Twilight is now about as cool as bitching about Fox News but honestly I am sick and I do not need this shit all up in my eyes

An aesthete, a wordsmith and a Tweet Me Harder fan to boot! YES PLEASE. I particularly like this bit:

True story about Tweet Me Harder: I once listened to it so harder, that I was unintentionally talking like a weird Kris Straub/David Malki ! slash-fic lovebaby for days. It took three hours of listening to the Sex Pistols to cure it.

You’re welcome. Thanks, Johnny!

10. Adalee Velasquez / Velasquez Artistry

Again, I have a soft spot for folks who make cool stuff like this, plus:

Always silly, sometimes juvenile (yes, he does some poop-jokes…), and occasionally brilliant

If I pass on owning “occasionally brilliant” I think I may never get another chance.

Thanks, Adalee, and thanks again to everyone who wrote!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the Thanksgiving Project! I was thrilled to receive submissions from bloggers and libraries around this spinning globe of ours. Without further ado, here are my selections for libraries; each institution below will be receiving a free copy of my latest comic collection, Clever Tricks to Stave Off Death!

Bellmore Memorial Library, Bellmore, NY

Justin wrote:

The Bellmore Library has a lot of Kid/Teen programs that everyone loves. It has Mrs. G, also known as the nicest woman of all time. Really, she helps run most if not all of the programs, bakes food for them, buys books and supplies from her own pocket for the library, and will help you with any problem you have. They have an entire wall, albeit a small wall because it’s a small library, packed to bursting with all kinds of comics, manga, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, Bone, and maybe ten to fifteen “How to Draw Comics/Manga” books. They really do have a ton of things for anyone interested in the subject. They have a lot more then that, hell, my first D&D book was borrowed from them, but I would love if this really great library, run by a really nice woman, that really likes comics, could get a really nice book by a really great cartoonist.

Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library, Bloomfield, IN

John wrote:

I am the librarian at a small, rural public library in southwest Indiana.  As one of the few institutions in our town of 2,000 that strive to bring culture into this dim corner of our nation, your book has the potential to do much good here.  Our library attracts the worthy few in our community who are not wholly content to subsist on an intellectual diet of high school basketball and dancing celebrities.  Our Young Adult population, for whom we maintain a separate room and collection, would be especially well-served by your book, which is, in my opinion, exactly the kind of original humor that creates an appreciation for the printed page and its potential.  Please help me pry their minds loose from the iron grip of Maple Story.

Farmers Branch Manske Library, Farmers Branch, TX

Alicia wrote:

The Manske Library is, like so many other libraries, feeling the pinch of a reduced budget. We had 5 staff members laid off last September and 3 positions frozen since then. Our materials budget has been cut 12%. Wondermark books such as Clever Tricks are not going to make our list of books we can buy unless we get it donated from a patron or publisher. The children need new books! Think of the children! (or adults like me who cling tenaciously to the last remnants of youth) Plus, I can’t afford to share your work with all my librarian friends, who NEED to be introduced to the wonder that is Wondermark.

James E. Walker Library, MTSU, Murfreesboro, TN

Jacob wrote:

Tennessee is going through a financial crisis right now, and Middle Tennessee State University is facing SEVERE budget cuts. MTSU also has one of the largest libraries in the state. We have a woefully small comics section in our library and, as a big fan of yours (and comics in general) I think it would be a privilege to have one of your books in our library.

Groton Public Library, Groton, NY

John wrote:

Hello!  We’re a small public library with a limited budget.  I’m a new director here and one of my goals is to open up some sections I think would be popular but have not received a lot of attention over the years.  One of those areas is humor.  Our humor collection consists of under 10 books.  1 Foxtrot collection, 1 Far Side book, and 4 Peanuts books.  I’ve picked up some humor for free lately at local charity booksales, but not very much, a couple of headlines from the Onion books.  I would really appreciate more for our humor collection, if you can.

Sophie B. Wright Charter School, New Orleans, LA

Gina wrote:

I am the first-time librarian at this school in New Orleans. It is a great school and the kids LOVE, and I do mean LOVE, to read. My biggest problem is that I have no budget to add new books to the shelves. However, the shelf that is most plundered is my comic bookshelf. (Yes, they have their own shelf. I love comics! And, so do my students.) They rarely have books left on that shelf on Fridays. I think that your book would be a valuable addition to my shelves, and since I am unable to purchase any books this year (due to financial cuts in education) — this would be a special donation to a library that is truly appreciated by its patrons.

East Carolina University Special Collections, Greenville, NC

L.K. wrote:

ECU Special Collections has a reference collection. The addition of a Malki ! item to our collection would:
– show researchers ( esp undergraduates many of whom are approaching primary materials for the 1st time) how primary materials can be adaptively relevant
– be an example to other librarians how special collections are fun too. Historical materials are not just old ledgers and dry spinsters’ diaries. But you knew that.
– put you one up on Jeph Jacques who gets a lot of attention, because his little brother is/was enrolled at ECU. He is cool enough, but giving us a book with make you #1 in our hearts by a mile.

Sidney McMath Library, Little Rock, AR

John wrote:

Not only is my profession dominated by women, but women make up some 3/4 of my patrons as well. One thing guys of all ages check out is “graphic novels” display which is eating away at the high-traffic Reference section like a beautiful cancer. They gravitate over while they wait for their computer reservations and walk out with a half dozen trade paperbacks. I am proud to say that I have built one of the best collections in my system, but comic-strips anthologies are still dominated by Garfields and little more contemporary than a volume of Mutts or Pearls Before Swine. I would love for the first David Malki book in our system to live at my branch, so that people can see that intelligent and hilarious need not be mutually exclusive, and that you don’t need tights and capes to tell a great story.

The Churchill School, Mexico City, Mexico

Sebastian wrote:

I’m the Head Librarian of the Churchill School, a bilingual School in the retrochaoticfuturistic Mexico City… (a blob of urban infection, where postmodern strains of mutant virus mix fight the ancient warriors of  herbomedicine traditions… where the electropolice eyes follow the ways of banned subcultures, hidden in underground bunkers of concrete mayan style…) I guess down here, our overbored secondary students could make good use of these “Clever Tricks to Stave Off Death”… but I leave it to your discretion… and as Emily Bronte wrote: “vain are the thousand creeds /that move men’s hearts, unutterably vain, /worthless as withered weeds…”)

Health Sciences Library, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, GA

Erin wrote:

Everybody thinks of public libraries first, and then maybe about school libraries. That’s where most people stop thinking about libraries at all. I work in a different kind of library, though — one inside a hospital. In addition to helping doctors and nurses find the information they’ll turn in to high-quality care, we provide a peaceful place for patients and families of patients to feel whole again. They can check email, learn about a new diagnosis, or pick up a good book that has nothing to do with being sick. I would love it if your book were one of those.

Thanks again to everyone who wrote — I wish I could award more books, and perhaps I’ll be able to again in the future! I didn’t get anyone buying books specifically for donation, so these ten are what I will be sending out. Library folks, expect to see these coming your way in a couple weeks.

I would also encourage everyone out there — authors, readers, or just people with too many books in their homes — to consider your local library for donations. Even if they can’t put everything on the shelves, they earn revenue from selling donated materials at book sales, and in this time of slashed budgets and job-seeking and increased media literacy, it’s more important than ever that libraries stay open and available.

STILL TO COME: Results from the bloggers!