Anthologies 2009

[Colin Tedford]

We need to figure out our 2009 anthology themes. Suggestions so far are Work / Labor, Nukes (energy & war), and some sort of box set (the box set advantage being that contributors print their contribution and T&H collects them in a fancy box - it occurs to me just now that "TV" aka "the box"would be a good box set theme, and would further the "Comic, Not TV" program Marek has boldly spearheaded). I had originally thought a box set would come out at the same time as the Offshore book to balance things out, but maybe a box set would be better at MoCCA, and something more Ignatz-suitable for SPX. Work / Labor has nice broad applicability. The Nukes book has timely relevance to the furor around Varmont Yankee's potential relicensing in the heart of Trees & Hills territory, and I have kicked around some ideas for it with Dan and Anne. Shelter could be a good one, especially given current (& probably continuing) housing market turmoil.

 

The International Cartoonist Conspiracy (http://www.cartoonistconspiracy.com/) does a box set called "Lutefisk Sushi", and they have suggested that it can be impractical to produce more than 150 copies of a box set. On the plus side, we can probably charge more for one. If each contributor submitted an 8-page quarter-fold mini, it would cost them about $0.10 per comic times 150 would be $15 (though we'd want a lot of these to have an appropriate amount of comics content, and certainly some people could contribute longer work). T&H would need to procure boxes and do them up nicely. We'd only be able to give out 1 box set to each contributor. Possibly we could set aside some portion of proceeds for a charitable cause (besides T&H), such as a tiny CCS scholarship, award to an artist we like, contribution to an organization that deals with the theme (TV or whatever), etc. The Conspiracy donates all proceeds to CBLDF, but we will need to keep a good portion of our proceeds since we have higher operating expenses (Lutefisk Sushi and in-person gatherings are the Conspiracy's main colelctive projects - there is also an art exhibit they put on with the box set).

 

We will also want to think about packaging and "extras". Extras are a little gimmicky and a little hassle, but they seem to work. The latest Always Comix antho comes with trading cards, so we might consider more "paper" extras. For example, a Nukes antho might include, among other things, block-printed postcards for each of the three nuclear reactors (one decommisioned) in T&H territory.

 

Current standard plan is to release one anthology at MoCCA and the other at SPX (plus the Offshore book at SPX).

 

-Colin
--
www.colintedford.com
www.treesandhills.org

[Daniel Barlow]

I wonder now if war/energy as we discussed, Colin, might just be too heavy of an issue that attract a lot of people? Part of the appeal of SEEDS, I thought, is that the subject matter is so universal, but also that it was light, fun and educational. I'm afraid we would lose that hook with a NUKES book.

 

And I need to mention again that any book too political, I'll have to step away from. I wouldn't be comfortable with cards of VY in one of our anthologies. I just wrote about the plant on Thursday!

 

I really like the idea of centering an anthology around the "Make Comics, Not TV" theme. Possible extras: Instant mini-comic (just add drawings) and a step-by-step guide on DIY comics publishing. This could be a great book for MoCCA.

 

-Dan

[Marek Bennett]

CONCEPT:

 

Re: Anthologies... Each copy is numbered and the number is entered into a big raffle drawing for... I don't know, an appearance in a comic / character named after you / signed original artwork by (name of famous artist here)? 

 

Henniker Rotary sells calendars that are also entries into a big monthly raffle (winner every month!  twelve chances to win!) and honestly, I know it's a gimmick, but it just makes the calendar seem like a goldang heckuva deal.

 

-- Marek

[Colin Tedford]

It would be difficult, but I think we could do the Nukes book in a way that might not be too heavy, and I think we have some leeway as to how heavy we can get and still draw people in. I agree, though, that it is a heavy topic and though I think it could bring us a lot of respect, it would not have the same appeal (or likely sales) as Seeds. And it would be tough to have it be not too political. I'd still like to do something with the topic - maybe as a personal project (I've already started building connections with area anti-nuke groups through my own comics) or maybe as a future Offshore project if we could still have it be timely for V-Y.

 

Maybe Offshore could borrow a page from World War 3 Illustrated & serve as a flyer & pamphlet resource for activist groups, or just produce topical material for posting.

 

Yes, we should definitely include self-publishing how-to (& why-to) material in a "Make Comics, Not TV" thing! I forgot to mention for those who aren't familiar, but doing the TV thing as a box set, beside the theme resonance and cheapness, would further an idea Marek had, which was to create a series of small minicomics addressing different aspects of television (corporate control, illustration of variosu disturbing statistics, etc. all in a friendly easy to read comics format) and the "Comics Not TV" equation, adn among other things serve as models for kids to emulate. Ooh, bundled sets could be an included material cost in "Comics Not TV" programs...

-Colin

[mo...@simons-rock.edu]

I had thought of the Nukes book as a possible Offshore project, if it
proved too 'heavy' for T&H, but it seems to be something that's so much a
next step from SEEDS, plus the geographic issues are too salient to
ignore.

Remember, not everything in SEEDS is light and fun though it is all
educational.

I like 'shelter' but I don't know that there's *any* theme that will
duplicate the success of SEEDS: it's a right-time-right-place kind of
book, the design helps (I think it's a nice change from our other recent
covers).
What if we did something explicitly about community? Aren't there already
a fair number of anthologies about work? What about something like DIRT?

Okay, now I need more coffee.

Anne

> --
> www.colintedford.com
> www.treesandhills.org
>
> >
>

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[Marek Bennett]

C --

 

Good to see that thinking along the DCNTV lines; I have several episodes in various stages of completion, but it's a huge topic and it feels like other voices/perspectives would give it that much more of a "movement" feeling...

 

Here's the proto-page I set up months ago, and should re-visit to make more relevant:

http://www.marekbennett.com/comicsworkshop/comics-workshops/do-comics-not-tv/

 

 

-- M

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Colin Tedford

To: treesa...@googlegroups.com

[Marek Bennett]

 

I also experience this thrilling little glimpse of Offshore expanding beyond its original genre to include all things that must not be mentioned in the refined company of your Great Aunt Agnes -- Nukes!  Armageddon!  Boobs! -- but such topics would have to be handled with care.  Here are some impressions I've had, listening to the plans:

 

I LIKE how August's "smut" label has morphed into October's "Socially Conscious Adult-Oriented Book."  I'd hate for that concept to go back to being "Wicked NASTY Stuff!  Sex 'n' Bombs!"  The original concept, if I recall, was erotica, with the thrust of bringing sex away from "the Forbidden" and more into the realm of "Healthy Wholesome Adult Art"... adding social consciousness makes me (as an artist/creator) think of Family Planning Comics and population control topics too ("Reproductive Health Comics"?), which may or may not be what you intend.  Tacking on Nuclear Armageddon as VOLUME TWO IN A SERIES makes me think that maybe the whole thing has come away from the healthy, wholesome erotica concept and gone back to NAUGHTY NAUGHTY NASTY ...

 

Anyhow, talking about nuclear power and energy and nuclear safety is SCARY STUFF... BUT (and a UNDERLINE, EMBOLDEN, and ITALICIZE that But...) BUT BUT BUT!  But: Should we perhaps be dreaming up some ways to address it IN A COMIC THAT IS SUITABLE FOR OUR TREES AND HILLS (ALMOST)ALL-AGES AUDIENCE?  We might limit the charred fields of bones and smoking ruins of cities, but really engage an all-ages audience in what it means to get our power and security from these things. 

 

Is there a developmentally-appropriate approach that wouldn't just scare and disempower younger readers (i.e., stories from the NH resistance to Seabrook, community stories of organizing alternatives to Nuclear power, etc.)?  Now THAT would be something that would get some attention and reach a big audience.

 

-- Marek

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Colin Tedford

To: treesa...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 11:32 PM

Subject: {Trees & Hills} Re: Anthologies 2009

[Daniel Barlow]

<(i.e., stories from the NH resistance to Seabrook, community stories of organizing alternatives to Nuclear power, etc.)?  Now THAT would be something that would get some attention and reach a big audience.>

 

Again, if this is the route everyone wants to take, I'll need to step aside because of my job.

 

I'm fine with a theme that links energy and war. That's nonpartisan. But any book that specifically tackles nuclear power or Vermont Yankee, I can't have ANYTHING to do with.

 

-Dan

[Daniel Barlow]

I still leaning toward war/energy being too serious an issue for us to sell to an audience. We're coming off of eight years of WAR and there could possibly be FOUR MORE YEARS of it coming up. People could be turned off by reading comics about it.

 

What about focusing simply on energy independence or effeciency? Could we transform a home weatherization instruction into an easy-to-read comic? Talk about the new jobs that could be developed through more wind or solar development? In Vermont, we are generating energy from cow shit. These seem to more positive themes to tackle. I like looking on the sunny side of things. Comics about war and energy seem to me like staring into the abyss.

 

-Dan

[Marek Bennett]

 

 

Dan --

 

Yeah, good point.  That would be sad.  You see how I feel about "adult-themed" or "[insert taboo subject here]-themed" comics... Not even possible under a pen-name for you, though.

[Marek Bennett]

----- Original Message -----

From: Daniel Barlow

To: treesa...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 10:28 AM

Subject: {Trees & Hills} Re: Anthologies 2009

[Marek Bennett]

(Oops -- Sorry for the previous empty message.)

 

Yes, GOOD!  Excellent!  THAT is exactly what I mean by "Developmentally appropriate" -- something that focuses on positive aspects and empowers readers to take part or appreciate, rather than despair and get pissed.  I'd much rather read about (and poopticipate in) the POOP 2 POWER movement than read about how dumb coal power is.

 

Hmmm... "poopticipate"... I oughta TM that one.

 

-- Marek

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Daniel Barlow

To: treesa...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 10:28 AM

Subject: {Trees & Hills} Re: Anthologies 2009

[Marek Bennett]

Anne --

Yes, community is a stimulating focus, although it's broad... perhaps we
could focus on more specific (but open) topics, like "dirt" or "shadows" or
"power" or "movement" (or "shelter") (or heck, I'll just say it: "change")
and see what cross-pollinates in the mixture of interpretations?

-- M

----- Original Message -----
From: <mo...@simons-rock.edu>
To: <treesa...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 6:59 AM
Subject: {Trees & Hills} Re: Anthologies 2009

>

[Mattyoung]

<i>Regarding Box Sets:</i>
I think the comics not TV theme is excellent. The DIY aspect makes it
a great gift. It's not just a box, it invites participation, but at
the same time, sounds like it could do so with a light, entertaining
touch similar to what Seeds has. It certainly comes easier to an idea
like this than Nukes (which isn't to say it isn't possible, but when
it comes to the box set {Goggle box, Idiot Box, The Box} I think it
sounds like such a thing would be an easier fit.

I love the “make your own mini” comics, and the guide to distro-ing as
well. A “how to effectively table” guide would be a great addition to
this package. Sky's the limit. Were we talking MoCCA through the
holiday season for release of the set?

That said, Nukes has a lot of potential. I don't know if it's being
helped by that as a shorthand name. But for now, I think the biggest
fear about Nukes (the book) is a monotony of tone. What Marek said:

“We might limit the charred fields of bones and smoking ruins of

cities, but really engage an all-ages audience in what it means to get

our power and security from these things.”

I think begins to hit EXACTLY at what a comic on the topic of nuclear,
cosmic powers NEEDS to be about. Looking at Yucca Mountain storing
toxic waste but at the same time the wonder of man harnessing, for
even a split second, the powers that formed the universe, for
example. More than just "nukes = bad". I'd hate to exclude Dan on a
project though.

What's the V-Y, by the way?

> >> <barlowdan...@gmail.com>wrote:

>
> >>>  I wonder now if war/energy as we discussed, Colin, might just be too
> >>> heavy of an issue that attract a lot of people? Part of the appeal of
> >>> SEEDS,
> >>> I thought, is that the subject matter is so universal, but also that it
> >>> was
> >>> light, fun and educational. I'm afraid we would lose that hook with a
> >>> NUKES
> >>> book.
>
> >>> And I need to mention again that any book too political, I'll have to
> >>> step
> >>> away from. I wouldn't be comfortable with cards of VY in one of our
> >>> anthologies. I just wrote about the plant on Thursday!
>
> >>> I really like the idea of centering an anthology around the "Make
> >>> Comics,
> >>> Not TV" theme. Possible extras: Instant mini-comic (just add drawings)
> >>> and a
> >>> step-by-step guide on DIY comics publishing. This could be a great book
> >>> for
> >>> MoCCA.
>
> >>> -Dan
>
> >>> On Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 3:34 PM, Colin Tedford

> >>> <colintedf...@gmail.com>wrote:

[Daniel Barlow]

VY is Vermont Yankee - the nuclear reactor in Vernon, Vt. I write about it a lot for the papers.

 

-Dan

[mo...@simons-rock.edu]

I like this sunny side thing, but, man, a book about energy? I dunno, guys.
A.

**********************
www.mymonsterhat.com

one-of-a-kind
custom made
monster millinery

**********************

[colint...@gmail.com]

I propose we take Nukes off the table as a potential T&H anthology and
explore other comics projects we could do around that theme (working
directly with anti-nuke groups, producing flyers, informational minis
that could later be collected together, maybe trying to scare up some
funding to cover printing so we can give them away, etc.). I am
committed to doing something with it, but I hate to push an anthology
that Dan can't participate in, and other approaches might turn out to
be more effective. What do you think?

I think "Shelter" and "TV" sound like good themes for next year.
"Shelter" ties in with the housing crisis (not that we necessarily
need to address that), is a nice follow-up to Seeds (being, along with
food, another basic necessity), and is broad enough to bring out some
rich stuff ("shelter" in the metaphoric sense). If we went with those
2, I imagine TV might come first, as it would give us more time for
research and would come out just in time to kick off a "Do Comics, Not
TV" summer for kids. Also, if we do it as a box set, it would give us
more time for box production, and MoCCA might be a better show to
debut a box at. Thoughts?

-Colin

[Daniel Barlow]

Thanks, Colin, for agreeing to take Nukes off the table for now.

 

I like the idea of doing this TV box anthology for MoCCA and "Shelter" (love that title!) for SPX.

 

-Dan

[mo...@simons-rock.edu]

I like Shelter, esp. as a fall book--can we commit to the same schedule we
did this year? (Well, we'll have to, right?). Funky box set I think will
move better at MoCCA than SPX. And we could still do a cool cover....

And, for the record, I don't ever want to do a book as T&H that Dan can't
participate in. Seems antithetical to the whole vibe of the group, you
know?

A.

**********************

[Blake Parker]

Shelter sounds like a good idea because of it being broad.  Something everyone can relate too.  Are we going to try to make all the anthologies one word titles that start with "S"?
-Blake 
--------------
"When someone wants a sheep, that proves he exists."

----- Original Message ----
From: "mo...@simons-rock.edu" <mo...@simons-rock.edu>
To: treesa...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 6:53:18 PM
Subject: {Trees & Hills} Re: Anthologies 2009

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[Daniel Barlow]

Yes!

 

For MoCCA 2010, let's do SHEEP.

 

-Dan