From: "Jeff Mason" Subject: (cbiz) NEWS: Ignatz Nominees Announced Date: 01 Aug 1997 07:01:10 -0400 (EDT) August 1, 1997 PRESS RELEASE: Ignatz Nominees Announced -- Comics Award Winners to be Determined at Small Press Expo in September The 1997 Small Press Expo (SPX) will inaugurate a new award for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz, named after George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse, recognizes outstanding work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an artform and as a means of personal expression. The Ignatz is a festival prize, the first such of the comic book industry. Winners will be determined by ballot at the Small Press Expo, a weekend convention and tradeshow showcasing creator-owned comics. The Small Press Expo will be held the weekend of September 19-21 in Silver Spring, MD, just outside Washington, DC. The Ignatz Awards voting will be open to all attendees of the Small Press Expo and Awards will be presented at 9pm, Saturday, September 20 at the SPX. All attendees of SPX will have an opportunity to cast their vote in seven categories: Outstanding Artist Outstanding Story Outstanding Series Outstanding Comic Outstanding Minicomic Outstanding Graphic Novel/Collection Breakout Talent The ballot consists of five nominees for each category. A jury of five artists worked independently to arrive at the Ignatz ballot. Jury members were precluded from nominating themselves and none knew who the others were. Each jury member provided three nominations, and a second round of voting established the final ballot. 1997 Jury Members were: Jessica Abel (ARTBABE), Chester Brown (UNDERWATER), Ed Brubaker (DETOUR), Mark Wheatley (RADICAL DREAMER), and Joe Zabel (TRESSPASSERS). 1997 IGNATZ NOMINEES (in alphabetical order): Outstanding Artist - Gilbert Hernandez for NEW LOVE, published by Fantagraphics Books (7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 http://www.fantagraphics.com) - Dylan Horrocks for PICKLE, published by Black Eye Productions (5135 Parc Ave, #5, Montreal, Quebec H2V 4G3, http://www.blackeye.com) - C. S. Morse for SOULWIND, published by Image Comics (1400 N. Harbor Blvd., #305, Fullerton, CA 92635, http://www.fantasyideas.com/crazyfish) - Gary Panter for JIMBO, published by Zongo Comics (1999 Avenue of the Stars, 15th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067) - Seth for PALOOKAVILLE, published by Drawn & Quarterly Publications (PO Box 48056, Montreal, Quebec, H2V 4S8, http://www.eggcite.com/quarterly/home.html) Breakout Talent - Debbie Dreschler for NOWHERE, published by Drawn & Quarterly - Tom Hart for THE SANDS, published by Black Eye - C. S. Morse for SOULWIND, published by Image - Walt Holcombe for KING OF PERSIA, self published through Accordian Press (PO Box 49751, Austin, TX 78765) - Steve Weissman for YIKES!, published by Alternative Press (611 NW 34th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607-2429, http://www.indyworld.com/ap) Outstanding Story - "A Death In the Family" in SILLY DADDY by Joe Chiappetta, self-published (2209 Northgate Avenue, N. Riverside, IL 60546-1339, http://www.redweb.com/sillydaddy/) - "Ghost World" in EIGHTBALL by Daniel Clowes, published by Fantagraphics - "Hicksville" in PICKLE by Dylan Horrocks, published by Black Eye - FROM HELL by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, published by Kitchen Sink Press (221 Pine Street, Florence, MA 01062) - "It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken" in PALOOKAVILLE by Seth, published by Drawn & Quarterly Outstanding Series - ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY by Chris Ware, published by Fantagraphics - BERLIN by Jason Lutes, published by Black Eye - EIGHTBALL by Daniel Clowes, published by Fantagraphics - PALOOKAVILLE by Seth, published by Drawn & Quarterly - STRANGEHAVEN by Gary Millidge, self-published through Abiogenesis Press (http://www.cix.co.uk/~recombo-dna-lab/retina/) Outstanding Comic - EIGHTBALL #17 by Daniel Clowes, published by Fantagraphics - HEY MISTER #1 by Pete Sickman-Garner (PO Box 4085, Fayetteville, AR 72702) - KEYHOLE #2 by Dean Haspiel and Josh Neufeld, published by Modern (105 Edgewater Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, http://www.suba.com/~keyhole/) - KING OF PERSIA by Walt Holcombe, self-published through Accordian Press - PALOOKAVILLE #10 by Seth, published by Drawn & Quarterly Outstanding Minicomic - HEY MISTER #4 by Pete Sickman-Garner (PO Box 4085, Fayetteville, AR 72702) - KING-CAT COMICS #52 by John Porcellino (PO Box 18510, Denver CO 80218) - MAGIC WHISTLE #9 by Sam Henderson (14 Bayard Street #3, Brooklyn, NY 11211, http://www.grinmedia.com/~whistle) - OUT THERE #5 by Alan Hunt (116 Garnet Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6G1V7) - THE PERFECT PLANET by James Kochalka (PO Box 8321 Burlington, VT 05402) Outstanding Graphic Novel or Collection - AT THE SEAMS by Ed Brubaker, published by Alternative Press (http://www.indyworld.com/ap) - IT'S A GOOD LIFE IF YOU DON'T WEAKEN by Seth, published by Drawn & Quarterly - JULIUS KNIPL, REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHER: STORIES by Ben Katchor, published by Little, Brown - L'ASCENSION DU HAUT MAL by David B., published L'Association (100 rue de la Folie-Ericourt 75011 Paris France) - LOST IN THE ALPS by Cosey, published by NBM (185 Madison Avenue, Ste. 1504, New York, NY 10016, http://www.nbmpub.com) For more information about the Ignatz or Small Press Expo, contact Chris Oarr at 301-565-8340 or coarr@erols.com or visit the Small Press Expo Web site at: http://www.indyworld.com/spx97 Jeff Mason -- Geoffrey R. Mason | Editor - indy Magazine E-Mail: jrm@grove.ufl.edu | 611 NW 34th Drive Phone: 352-373-6336 | Gainesville, Florida 32607-2429 -- URL = http://grove.ufl.edu/~jrm # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info comix-biz" in the message. # Postings must go to comix-biz@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jim Drew / Ciao! Publications Subject: Re: (cbiz) NEWS: Ignatz Nominees Announced Date: 03 Aug 1997 22:00:47 -0800 "Jeff Mason" writes: >The 1997 Small Press Expo (SPX) will inaugurate a new award for >outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. (As though we need another award, but that's a secondary matter. TV and music and such certainly have too many as well.) >All attendees of SPX will have an opportunity to cast their vote in >seven categories: > Outstanding Artist So where's the recognition of the full creative team, if one exists. You can argue that "artist" isn't limited to the pictures, but I don't believe the public can make that separation, so I don't believe it exists. If a writer and artist choose to work together, or if a creator decides to have someone else ink his work (Wagner and Kieth on Mage I, for example), why are they made apparently ineligible for the award? Jim # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info comix-biz" in the message. # Postings must go to comix-biz@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Jeff Mason" Subject: (cbiz) Small Press Expo: An Extension of a Cultural Phenomenon Date: 11 Aug 1997 08:17:14 -0400 (EDT) Small Press Expo -- An Extension of a Cultural Phenomenon In 1994 a group of colleagues and friends gathered just outside of the nation's capital to discuss new ways to enhance the artistic vitality of the American comic book. The result of that meeting was the Small Press Expo (SPX), dedicated to the support and development of emerging creators of vision, and to the national and international exhibition of new, independent comic books. The Small Press Expo, now in its fourth year, serves as the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books and the discovery of new creative talent. This year's Expo has been expanded from a one-day artists' exhibition to a weekend trade show, which will be held in Silver Spring, Maryland the weekend of September 19-21. Over 160 artists and publishers are coming to SPX to meet their readers, as well as booksellers, distributors, and each other. Why do so many artists gather in one place from all across North America? "Cartooning is a really solitary occupation," explains Jessica Abel, who will be at SPX to promote her award-winning comic Artbabe. "You spend most of the year alone working, and it's really good to get out and meet the people reading your stuff. Plus it's important to meet face-to-face with the distributors and retailers who sell your book." But maybe the most fun for participating artists is the chance to meet with their peers, who themselves are working alone in studios across the country. "SPX is one of the only places you can go that has every good alternative artist there with their stuff. It's a living library," according to Joe Chiappetta, who self-publishes Silly Daddy, a semi-autobiographical comic centered on the author's relationship with his 6 year old daughter. "SPX is like a Woodstock for comic artists, without the music." Just like independent film or music, "indy" comics don't fall into a set genre or type. If anything, the opposite is true. Superheroes and evil masterminds are the bread-and-butter of mainstream comics publishing, but they inhabit only a portion of the small press. Today's indy comic is just as likely to feature a 20-something underachiever as a costumed vigilante. And if a superhero does show up it's a fair bet he won't look or sound like the supermen you grew up reading. The only thing typical of indy comics is a willingness to experiment with established convention in pursuit of a personal artistic vision. Small press comics "aren't often escapist fare. A lot of them are confrontational, and if they're not confrontational they're thought provoking, just because you're getting a person's unfiltered opinion---literally their vision of the world," according to Ivan Brunetti, the creator of Schizo. "It's a very intimate medium between the artist and the reader." The impact of small press on the publishing scene has steadily grown over the past decade, as more and more artists follow their muse into indy comics. According to Bill Schanes, the executive in charge of purchasing for Diamond Distribution, the nation's top comics distributor, "The small press publisher has been vitally important to the diversity of material currently available to readers. Many produce breakthrough projects and achieve critical acclaim. In fact, small publishers account for a good number of our nation's top award nominations, including more than a few winners." SPX showcases those artists who are breathing new life into the American comic book. "The Small Press Expo guest list is first class, with the best collection of new talent I've seen in years," said Scott McCloud, award-winning author of Understanding Comics. "If it's new and it's good, it'll be at SPX." "With all the hype surrounding the release of comic book related movies this summer, it is amazing how much attention this Expo is getting now," said Ed Brubaker, creator of the slacker classic Lowlife. Jeff Mason, editor-in-chief of indy Magazine, added "Unlike many mainstream comic book shows, the Small Press Expo is the ultimate independent show. I was at the first SPX in 1994, and I'm absolutely blown away by how big this thing is now but even more so by how well they've kept to their original focus of presenting cutting edge work." The Small Press Expo has grown from a one-day artists exhibition featuring nearly two dozen artists to a weekend trade show including hundreds of artists, publishers, retailers, distributors, and fans. 1997 will mark the debut of the Ignatz, a festival prize awarded at SPX for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. As always, proceeds from the Expo go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information about the Small Press Expo, contact SPX Director Chris Oarr at (301) 565-8340 or by email at coarr@erols.com. A complete itinerary of exhibitors and events, as well as registration information, is available at the SPX website: http://www.indyworld.com/spx97. -- Geoffrey R. Mason | Editor - indy Magazine E-Mail: jrm@grove.ufl.edu | 611 NW 34th Drive Phone: 352-373-6336 | Gainesville, Florida 32607-2429 -- URL = http://grove.ufl.edu/~jrm # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info comix-biz" in the message. # Postings must go to comix-biz@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Jeff Mason" Subject: (cbiz) NEWS: Alternative Press Tour in September Date: 22 Aug 1997 12:03:35 -0400 (EDT) Alternative Press, Inc. For immediate release: Contact: Jeff Mason - Phone: 352-373-6336 - E-Mail: jrm@grove.ufl.edu Alternative Press on Tour in September New Comic Projects to be Debuted on Tour Gainesville, FL, August 22, 1997: Every single creator under the publishing umbrella of Alternative Press will be on tour this September. Ed Brubaker, Jim Harrison, Jon Lewis, Jeff Mason, Dan Stepp, Chris Waldron, and Steve Weissman will be getting out of their studios and hitting the road for the Summer Alternative Press Tour. A number of projects have been timed so that they will be debuted on this tour. September 7 is the Gator Con in Gainesville, Florida where readers can meet Jim Harrison and Dan Stepp, where they will debut the first issue of their new series Humongous Man. Jon Lewis will be debuting the third issue of his popular Spectacles series, and readers of indy Magazine, the guide to alternative comics, will be able to meet editors Jeff Mason and Chris Waldron. September 17 will find Steve Weissman previewing his new Yikes series at Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Virginia along with Jon Lewis and Jeff Mason. September 17 will also be the debut of Ed Brubaker's new Detour comic book series at St. Mark's Comics in New York City. September 19-21 is the Small Press Expo in Silver Spring, Maryland where readers can meet every one of Alternative Press' creators. September 23 is the Cambridge Comix Circus, a festival celebrating great comix in a street party setting where readers can meet Jon Lewis, Jeff Mason, and Steve Weissman. "We see this as a way to get more direct interaction with our readers," said publisher Jeff Mason, "sure we get lots of mail about our comics and magazines, but there is nothing like this personal contact." Summer is the busiest season for the comic book industry and this season is proving to be the biggest in a number of years, "I am tremendously optimistic as we are just now seeing signs of an upturn in the comic book industry, especially for independent comics," said Mason, "This Summer is a time of revitalization for everyone and this Summer acts a benchmark and springboard for the rest of the year." The official Alternative Press Web site is: http://www.indyworld.com/altpress Gator Con can be reached at: http://www.indyworld.com/gator or phone: 352-378-0182 Big Planet Comics can be reached at: http://www.echomm.com/bigplanet/ or phone: 703-242-9412 St. Mark's Comics can be reached at: phone: 212-598-9439 Small Press Expo can be reached at: http://www.indyworld.com/spx97 or phone: 301-565-8340 Cambridge Comix Circus can be reached at: http://www.world.std.com/~myp/index.html or phone: 617-492-6763 If you are receiving this mail but are not the proper person to receive press releases, please let me know. If you need graphics, there are plenty available. I'll be happy to mail or e-mail graphics or send whatever review material you need. Geoffrey R. Mason | Editor - indy Magazine E-Mail: jrm@grove.ufl.edu | 611 NW 34th Drive Phone: 352-373-6336 | Gainesville, Florida 32607-2429 -- URL = http://grove.ufl.edu/~jrm # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info comix-biz" in the message. # Postings must go to comix-biz@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender.