Dean Haspiel's Newsletter #6
Me and mom love The Miami Book Fair. She got to meet Joyce Carol Oates and I got to meet Patrick McDonnell, and we both got to give Brad Meltzer our annual hug. A fun and necessary event celebrating cartoonists and authors (with a dip in The Standard hot tub!). Big Ups to Nicole, Joan, & George!
WHEN YOU CAN'T UNSEE WHAT FLASHES BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES.
I recently saw a meme of something that ABSOLUTELY spoiled something.
A thing I've yet to put into context but spoiled nonetheless because now I'm anticipating something I didn't know to anticipate. Something I believe to be a cool twist and/or narrative aspect that I would've preferred to arrive at via the source material. Sometimes the worst offenders are the very people who produce said source material in their own advertising. It's as if they don't trust their own material. Insecurity at its most expensive.
Alas, too many stories revolve around mystery. And, so certain reveals ARE important to the narrative. Listen, I crave intelligent dissection but too many people love, JUST LOVE, to kill a story no matter the crutches that makes the story stand (good or bad).
I wish there was a way to design a blind spot for images and headlines that immediately and inescapably spoils fiction in public forums. There seems to be a presumption that "we" are all consuming the same things the moment they're made available. IMPOSSIBLE. I do my best to never spoil story unless a private discussion warrants it and, even then, I ask permission. And, NO, there is NO time limit. NO embargo. Story is sacred. Why diminish it?
I'm convinced there is a large section of society who just want to know the end of stories sans context so they don't have to do the work of experience. To y'all who respect the sanctity of story, thanks for incorporating "spoiler alerts" into your social media parlays, and THANKS for understanding.
(Tom and I debate comix at MoCCA Arts Fest 2013. Photo by Brigid Alverson)
COMIX WAS ROBBED RECENTLY. I can't imagine a comix industry without Tom Spurgeon. An advocate of the form, Tom tackled every aspect of comix in an intelligent, insightful, and passionate way, even if it meant sparking spirited, sometimes caustic debate. We lost a beautiful giant. RIP Tom Spurgeon.
SPEAKING OF THIEVERY (AND ONLINE PIRACY): Please support creative work the best you can. It's greatly appreciated. Don't steal. Thanks.
You're invited to the Night Watchman / Red Hook release party!
Weds, Dec 4th 2019, 6pm - 9pm
Anyone Comics
1216 Union Street, Brooklyn, New York 11225
Come join the ENTIRE creative team at Anyone Comics as we celebrate the release of Tales of the Night Watchman / The Red Hook: The Untold Legend of Luna! Published by So What? Press / IT'S ALIVE.
ENIGMA: Adam McGovern reviewed a recent production of the DITKO play at HiLoBrow, and interviewed Tom DeFalco and me. Here is an excerpt from something I said about Steve Ditko:
“The last time I was near his studio, I elected to not go, because I felt like I would have bothered him at that point. I was just trying to say thank you. Thank you for all the great work, and for influencing me in some way. And then just trying to talk to a person; get to know this person that famously no one really knows about. … And that’s his right. In a world where everyone is just exposing themselves, 24/7 — he didn’t need to do that.”
--Dino
Jen Ferguson's DUMBO mug is back in rotation just in time for the holidays!
Listen to SCENE BY SCENE WITH JOSH & DEAN, the podcast that breaks down American Splendor the movie, Josh Neufeld & Dean Haspiel's relationship with the late/great Harvey Pekar, and growing up in NYC learning to make comix.
Read THE RED HOOK saga for free at Webtoon:
Season 1: THE RED HOOK
Season 2: WAR CRY
Season 3: STARCROSS
THE RED HOOK vol.1 New Brooklyn is also available at ComiXology
THE RED HOOK series published by Image Comics
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