The Theater of Comix
+ Sea of Terror, The Red Hook Film Festival & more!
Whenever I'm drawing a comic book that I've already scripted and laid out, my subconscious seeks a new story to craft. Sometimes it's another comic book story but often I'm compelled to write for other story telling mediums: movies, television, theater and novels. Sometimes memoir.
In the last decade I've heard my words performed by me and professional actors. I've even recruited spontaneous readers to speak my text at public readings. Hearing my words said out loud has changed the way I write for the reader. Knowing the potential for my text to be heard has altered how I write comic books. It's my weird and sneaky way of bridging the gap between theater and comix.
When I read cartoonists like Will Eisner, Steve Ditko, The Hernandez Brothers and Kyle Baker (←specifically Why I Hate Saturn), I see theater. Not that they aren't innovators of the form, but they also knew how to access the ancient power of the stage in their comix. If I were to close my eyes and have someone read to me a Stan Lee, Harvey Pekar, Joe Matt or Bob Fingerman comic book, I can hear theater.
Lots of comics can, essentially, be heard and not seen. How many times have you just read the text and glance at the art to remind yourself of who is saying what and where? I think one of the reasons we add action to a story is to disrupt exposition. Allow for gesture to give gab a rest. Unless you're Spider-man who tells jokes every time he spins his web (yarn?). A classic hybrid of words and pictures that intentionally slows down the pace so the reader gets more bang for their buck -- literally.
But the distinction I try to make as a cartoonist is how to best exploit the narrative real estate of the blank page while incorporating the things I love about performance based art. It's an ink splashed dance I do and I'm considering illustrating some of my plays. Especially since only a healthy handful of people have ever seen them. It's a shame to keep these stories locked up in the memory of the few.
Sam Catlin and I used to hang out after our shifts working at Nick & Eddie restaurant in the early 1990s and got up to no good roaming Soho NYC streets and beyond. We watched NYPD Blue every week together and made impromptu short films on my video camera. We shared the same sense of humor and dreams but, eventually, Sam split for California to carve a new path. Years later, Sam would be writing and directing and co-producing one of the best TV shows ever made: BREAKING BAD. Sam also was the showrunner on the commendable and outrageous, PREACHER, based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's groundbreaking comic book series from DC/Vertigo Comics. And now Sam's got this new play he wrote and directed called SEA OF TERROR. I've read it and it's great! I wish I were in LA to see it. But if you're in California, please go see it mounting Sept 29th - October 29th, 2023 at The Hudson Theater.
You can read more about it via Broadway World.
Buy tickets HERE.
Calling ALL cartoonists (rookies AND veterans)! I can’t think of a better way to spend 7-hours with two masters of the comix form. A dynamic duo I call mentor, collaborator and, more importantly, friends.
Mark Waid and Howard Chaykin will debut Comic Book U, an intensive, all-day seminar on the craft and process of creating comics at UCLA’s Ackerman Hall on Saturday, November 18. This in-person, seven-hour event will feature targeted segments on comic book creation, a catered lunch in the middle of the day, take-home supplies and lessons, and a dedicated networking event at the end. Tickets are on sale now for $150 at Eventbrite, and seating is limited to only 120 attendees.
Register HERE.
SAVE THE DATES!
October 6th @6pm - 8pm
My pal/artist, Peter Rostovsky is having a book signing for his debut graphic novel, Damnation Diaries, at Philippe Labaune Gallery, located at 534 West 24th St., NYC. The “brilliant and hilarious” John Menick will ask Peter a few questions, and there will be lots to see—including the incredible work of Peter de Sève.
Listen to Peter talk to Gil Roth about his comix and career on The Virtual Memories Show episode #553.
October 6th @9pm
My best friend Mike Hueston’s garage band, Holey Sweater, will be rocking out at Otto's Shrunken Head, located at 538 East 14th street, NYC.
October 7th @6pm - 8pm
On the heels of Red Hook Open Studios, The Red Hook Film Festival 2023 will be showing five (5) films I’m involved in at BWAC (Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition at 481 Van Brunt St, Door 7A, BK/NY). Featuring There Is No Try, Prelude To The War Of Woo, Denny Barracuda, The Tip, and Continuity Errors, by me, Whitney Matheson, Shannon Goldman, and our fabulous actors and crew. Please join us and we’ll probably grab grub and drinks at Sunny’s Bar, afterwards.
Check out all 3-days of the community cinema program: https://redhookbiz.com/red-hook-film-festival
October 11th @8pm - 10pm
I’ll be signing copies of IDW’s Godzilla Library Collection vol.1 of which I drew a story for while selling copies of Covid Cop and Billy Dogma, next to Peter Rostovsky who will be signing copies of Damnation Diaries at St. Mark’s Comics in Industry City, BK/NY.
October 12th -15th (4-day bonanza!)
Come see me and Peter Rostovsky at table F16 in Artist’s Alley at New York Comicon. Plus a panel Friday nite @9pm! More details soon.
October 21st & 22nd @noon - 6pm
Come see me, Whitney Matheson, and Jason Goungor at Nightwork Studio during Gowanus Open Studios. More detail soon.
Check out my “Dino Fall 2023” music mix on Spotify:
Happy Birthday Christa and Opal!
love, Dean
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Hope you're staying dry!