MBR: The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Midwest Book Review
PS Comics
Minty Lewis
Secret Acres
75-22 37th Avenue, #452, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
9780979960932, $11.00, www.secretacres.com
Critically acclaimed award winning comic series "PS Comics" is now
available in a simple and easy to follow format. Following the
adventures of anthropomorphic fruit and animals, the characters of PS
Comics face the problems any other adult would face, as readers relate
to the stories even if they don't share the same species or biological
kingdom with said character. "PS Comics" is an endlessly entertaining
read, and quite the treasure.
Manga Kamishibai
Eric P. Nash, author
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
9780810953031 $35.00 www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190
Filled with over 250 gorgeous, full-color illustrations, including
some reproduced for the first time from Japanese archives, Manga
Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater is the amazing history
of this nearly-extinct Japanese art form that predated modern-day
Japanese comic books and manga. In the 1930's, storytellers would
journey to villages during the day and set up butais (small wooden
prosceniums), then use illustrated boards combined with lively
narration to spin tales ranging from Westerns to period pieces,
traditional folk tales, melodramas, and even nightly news reports on
World War II. Skilled storytellers would apply their talents to acting
out the parts of each character, with different voices and facial
expressions. The text of Manga Kamishibai includes a wealth of
research and interviews, revealing the history of this amazing art
form. An indispensable "missing link" of manga history, highly
recommended especially for college library and other shelves dedicated
to the history of manga and comics.
Modern Masters V. 20: Kyle Baker
Eric Nolen-Weatherington, Editor
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1605490083, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com
Cartoon artist Kyle Baker is known for his funny comic productions,
but he does do serious works too - and this collection blends black
and white examples of his work with detailed interviews on how he
works with characters, plots and properties to produce exceptional
results. Any library strong in modern cartoon artists needs this
survey of the extent of his works, which will interest any enthusiast
of either Baker or cartoons in general.
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Midwest Book Review