In keeping with our theme of alerting you to books you will never own, here's the latest. It's Minerva's Wreck, an over-sized arts anthology from Austin-based writer Wayne Alan Brenner. It's full of comics, writings and about a dozen varied objects that spill out upon opening. There's even a piece by a young Paul Pope. If you'd like a copy, too bad. It's not for sale.
We contributed a two-page story which was emailed to subscribers of our newsletter. That last sentence is a subtle hint that you should subscribe, and then such wonders can be yours as well, albeit in PDF form.
Posted Thursday, 6.25.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Now you can fill our website with all kinds of typos, indecipherable acronyms and your terribly important thoughts. We've opened comments on the individual comics pages, like this week's comic. Please don't type jerky things or links to free diamond websites.
Posted Thursday, 6.18.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Saturday, June 6th is the day all your dreams will come true. Assuming you have only one dream, and that dream is to meet Jon Adams. And assuming you'll be in New York City attending MoCCA, because that's where Jon will be, probably spending most of his time around the Indie Spinner Rack table.
Also, debuting at MoCCA will be Top Shelf and Indie Spinner Rack's Awesome 2: Awesomer anthology, which Jon designed. It's 208 pages of comics with a Jeff Smith cover and mini comic inside. And if you're determined enough, the whole thing is edible.
Posted Friday, 5.29.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
With the help of several absolutely real scientists, historians, and gynecologists (and a friendly woman behind a gas station), we've been able to recreate this completely authentic depiction of what the birth of Marvel icon Stan Lee probably looked like.
Some may argue he would not have been a miniature old man when born. Others may say getting clothes inside a womb is too difficult, and onto a baby almost impossible. But are you really going to believe someone who doesn't have a drawing to back up their theory?
Posted Wednesday, 5.06.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Oh, Dear God, No. Help, I'm Trapped in Space.
Over on Rob Goodin's Covered blog we offer another in a series of recreated comic covers that probably shouldn't be recreated. Last time it was an ill-fated attempt at Jim Woodring's Frank. This time it's Al Columbia's Biologic Show.
Posted Monday, 5.04.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
826 Valencia is a place where Jon Adams has spent far too much time illustrating books on the spot, written by children attending as part of a field trip. Recently Jon completed his 100th book – a book about a rainbow, a dog composed partly of fire, and super monkeys. Past books have included all variety of pirates, monsters, skinless turtles, multiple-headed animals, and one ill-fated cow. Here's what a pile of 100 books looks like. (There are many underneath.)
Wednesday, 4.29.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
If you like comics, in particular comics by Jon Adams, then you're sure to enjoy the following photographs. The first is Jon's contribution to the Fluke anthology. It's a single page extolling the virtues of self-experimentation in the name of unintentionally incestuous goals.
Next up is Jon's contribution the comics anthology, I Saw You..., a book about missed connections.
Do with this information what you will.
Tuesday, 4.28.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Here's a little something we did to accompany this article on The Rumpus. It's not intended to endorse the Kindle or imply books are weak and can't defend themselves against knife attacks. It's just meant to say sometimes one needs to pee, and if there's a murder victim in the way, so be it.
Monday, 4.27.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Make Every Day Free Comic Book Day
It is our firm belief that Free Comic Book Day should not be limited to a single day of the year. So we've teamed with the non-profit Free Free Comic Book Day for Everyone (or FFCBDE for short) to create an instructional pamphlet explaining how to make every day Free Comic Book Day. It begins with you.
Thursday, 4.16.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Truth Serum webcomic, several artists with nothing better to do have joined together to create guest strips for one week, beginning April 1st. Those contributing their varied and unimitable talents include J. Chris Campbell, Al Columbia, Dave Johnson, Sean Murphy, and Rob Walton. (A new strip will appear each day whether you want it to or not. Sorry, mom.)
Wednesday, 4.01.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Most scientists will argue that an octopus is really just a seahorse in disguise, and this poster for musician Ryan Montbleau pretty much confirms that theory. Don't listen to those who say a drawing does not constitute "proof." That's like saying Santa doesn't exist because we only have drawings of him.
This irrefutable evidence comes in the form of a screenprinted poster we made, available at any of Mr. Montbleau's upcoming solo shows."
Wednesday, 3.11.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Jon Adams is dying and it's Gary Busey's fault. But you can help save Jon by donating even just a dollar to 826 Valencia's Save a Volunteer from Extinction fundraiser.
Find out how Gary Busey is responsible and make a donation here.
Saturday, 3.07.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Get ready to make your life slightly less unpleasant with the second Indie Spinner Rack anthology, Awesome 2: Awesomer. (You remember the first, dont you?) There are literally five reasons to pick this up, and here they are.
1. A cover by Jeff Smith. He draws way better than you!
2. Book design, and three short stories by Jon Adams (one drawn by Rob Goodin and another by Rob Walton). Jon has too much time on his hands!
3. A ton of other creators like Sarah Glidden, Ryan Dunlavey, Jeff Lemire, Alex Robinson, J. Chris Campbell, Alex Cahill, Joey Sayers, and Chris Schweizer. You're not in this!
4. A bonus mini comic. It's free, so you can't complain if the quality is poor!
5. Other stuff you can't even begin to imagine. Because your imagination is weak!
You can preorder it directly from Top Shelf, or through your local comic store via the latest issue of Previews.
Monday, 3.02.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Good news! There's yet another way for MySpace to insinuate itself into your life. MySpace Dark Horse Presents Volume 2 is in stores, and features art by your favorite friend, Jon Adams. Of course you could just read it online, but then you'd never get to lick or kiss the pages. And if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that you need more licking and kissing in your life.
Sunday, 3.01.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
'Bant' Probably Means Something
If you're in Turkey (you probably aren't), pick up a copy of the latest issue of Bant magazine. It's got a feature on (as well as front and back interior covers by) Jon Adams. We're not sure what it says, because it's all in some foreign language, but it seems favorable. (Does anyone know what 'çizimlerinin üstüne' means?)
Posted Monday, 2.23.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
There are a lot of lonely people in the world, as our Valentine's activity for the SF Chronicle proved. We offered unattached readers a selection of paper-doll lovers to help cure their romantic woes. Those brave enough to appear in public with their paper date were encouraged to send us a photo. A winner was chosen and received a hand-drawn "hostile ex" of their chosen paper mate.
And here is that lonley winner Tibora, with her paper-date Tad (who for some reason has a woman's body and carries two decapitated heads). There's no guarantee their relationship will last, but at the very least they aren't alone.
Posted Sunday, 2.22.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Oh God, Even More Social Networking
In celebration of President's Day, we're now on deviantART. You're probably wondering what deviantART even has to do with President's Day. Maybe it's time for you to stop asking so many questions and just move on already. You know?
Posted Monday, 2.16.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
Happy Valentine's Day, especially to those of you whom no one loves! At least not in the kind of way that makes them want to do things to you when you're naked. For all of you, and anyone who enjoys infidelity, we've got something you need. It's a full-page spread in Saturday's SF Chronicle – a paper doll activity that allows you to create your very own lover. Each one comes with a short biography, like this:
FRANCIS He won a bowling trophy once (in his church raffle), so you’ll literally be dating an award winner! When you introduce him, say, “This is my award-winning date.” But if anyone asks what the award was for, quickly change the subject. Because sometimes that trophy is all Francis seems to talk about.
So if you're in the Bay Area, pick up a copy of the Chronicle and fall in love with a paper-mate for only 50 cents!
Posted Friday, 2.13.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
As a contribution to Rob Goodin's Covered blog, Jon Adams created his own version of Jim Woodring's Frank #1. Why would one choose to directly compare one's art to that of a genius like Jim Woodring? Probably because of low intelligence, or delusions of grandeur.
See the much larger versions at Covered.
Posted Wednesday, 2.04.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
We've updated the site, for fear that it had grown stale and tasteless. Although most stale things have a taste, but you get the idea. Here's what we did:
COMICS
We've added a few comics to the comics page that had previously been scattered throughout the blog. If you've already seen them, pretend you haven't and it will be way more fun.
FUN
If you like things people say are fun, this is the page for you! Similar to comics posted only in the blog, we've added several downloadable PDFs and games to the fun page. It's a great way for you to validate the hours of work we've put into things that realistically probably no one cares about.
VIDEOS
We've posted a number of videos over the years, and now they're all collected into a single page. We're calling it the video page.
MINI COMIC
An unneccesarily titled mini comic sold out a while ago, but is now being offered in our store as a downloadable PDF. It's been slightly redesigned and even includes a brand new joke!
Posted Wednesday, 1.21.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
If you're worried about the very likely attack of literate, urban chimp-gangs, you're not alone. Citizens everywhere are frightened of this new threat. It's replaced terrorists as America's greatest fear (followed by that Jim Davis sex-tape). But we must stop running from our fears, and instead, embrace them. And there's no better way to start than by wearing a shirt depicting one of these chimp-gang members. (Seen here is gang leader Mista Bubblez.)
Drawn by Jon Adams, these shirts are available in colors and styles for both men and women, over on the Sex and War website.
Posted Sunday, 1.11.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
We received a number of wonderful holiday cards this season, and these are some of our favorites. Below, we have an amputated gingerbread man from Loud Dog, an enormous foil bird thing from Office, a revealing photo of Santa from our website-deficient friends Paul and Jess, a saddened snowman from Rob Goodin, and a terrifying but well-intentioned Santa robot from Kirk Van Wormer.
If you sent a card but don't see it featured here, rest assured we enjoyed receiving it. It's just that, you know, maybe you should try a little harder next year.
Posted Tuesday, 1.06.09 | digg | stumbleupon | del.icio.us
