Raquelle Jac’s debut graphic novel from Fantagraphics is a bit of a force of nature. Bimbo Agitprop is one of the most personally revealing books I have read in quite some time. It’s over 300 pages catharsis that just keeps you moving and pulling you in. I was really struck by this book and Jac’s ability to be so forthcoming about an intense and difficult upbringing. Her comics have an incredibly immediate feeling to them where she is able to bring across so much emotion and heart. One of my favorite books I have read in quite a long while. I think it’s an important work applaud her ability to
Jaik Puppyteeth is a Vancouver based artist who has been making some fantastic comics that occupy a beautiful place where Chester Gould meets Divine. His latest comic, The Cursed Ring: Part One, is the first part of a longer story. Jaik has gotten a lot of attention in the past for his striking singular images and gags, but more recently, he has been more focused on longer comic work. It’s been really neat to watch him take his practice in different directions and taking his level of skill and really diving into comics work that is both current and pulls from older traditions. This podcast is
Welcome to a special guest-hosted episode of Inkstuds. Our host, bailey macabre (they/them), is an transdisciplinary atrust, writer, and comic artist. They got to sit down with their friend Whess Harman, a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and comic creator. As two artists deeply rooted in comics, community-building, and storytelling, this conversation feels less like a formal interview and more like witnessing a warm conversation between friends. In this episode, they unpack Whess’s incredible artistic practice, looking at their inspiration, what they’re currently working on, what’s next – a
It’s been really excited to Adam De Souza‘s rapid development as a cartoonist. Over the post 5 years, he has been prolific in sharing deeply personal and thoughtful comics. His first big book is The Gulf, which came out from Tundra Books in 2024. It tells the story of a difficult life transition in a beautifully poignant way that showcases place and experience in a fantastic way. It’s a YA book that doesn’t feel like it’s trying hard to YA, it’s just the way the story fits organically. The past 4 years he has also been putting out his Blind Alley comic strip, a meditative work that captures th
With the return of Inkstuds comes a return visit with Katie Skelly. Katie’s latest work, Heaven, is a fantastic exploration of life, friendships and chaos. Her latest work feels very personal in a lot of ways, exploring a very awkward point in a young woman’s life. In some ways, it’s a coming of age comic, but it completely avoids any of the YA trappings and stays honest to her voice and comic work. We also discuss Katie’s fantastic Viscere anthologies. I was really blown away by the depth of the work in those collections. They provide a great snapshot of contemporary cartoonists making work o
Cam Collins is someone whose work really wasn’t on my radar. I haven’t really been keeping up on new cartoonists and thankfully the grant supporting Inkstuds has allowed me to bring on folks to help me see new work I should be more aware. One of the first suggestions was Cam Collins. Cam’s work is really fascinating to me. It sits in unique place where he is creating a really conceptual comic world. His work is spread between comics, comics that take place in comics and his video games. I really appreciate how he is pushing himself creatively to take his work in different directions, be from a
I have always really enjoyed Tillie Walden‘s comics. I read them as soon as I get them. Her work is really beautiful seamless cartooning. Her latest book, Charity and Sylvia is an historical narrative about their lives and love together. Charity and Sylvia were a queer couple in early to mid 19th century rural Vermont. Tillie brought their story to life utilizing a range of different historical records including their own letters. It’s a very personal and intimate book that honors their story in a way that shows a lovely respect for their lives and how they lived. But it’s also a comic, in the
Zoé Jusseret is a Vancouver based Belgian cartoonist that is currently published by Conundrum Press in Canada and Frémok in Europe. Zoé’s work is a complex form utilizing her own practice of mono-print to create these beautiful images that connect together as a complex narrative that explores ideas and places. Her first book came out in 2017, Qui Mange Des Couteaux (translates to Who Eats Knives) which is being rereleased in a larger format. Her latest book, About the Little Ones is out now.
Kim Deitch’s latest book, How I Make Comics, continues his tradition of great fantastic tales that he weaves his own history into a narrative that takes you to places you won’t expect. Kim has been professionally creative for 60 years now. in 1966, he pursued a career of art and hasn’t looked back. There is something about the imaginative wonders in Kim Deitch’s work that keeps pulling people in and engaging with his work. He’s also been interested in telling a good story. There is a lot to explore with Kim’s vast history of comics and the way his stories can interconnect, but it’s done in a w
In the process of restarting the podcast, I wanted to do interviews were I reconnected with guests that I haven’t spoken with in quite some time. I am sure it has been more than 10 years since the last time that I had interviewed Michael Deforge. Over those years, his work has continued to excite. His comics are never static, they are constantly forming and shaping, telling stories in a way that challenges the reader to take time to see the play between his language and art. Michael’s creative voice is beautifully singular and always refreshing. His latest work from Drawn and Quarterly, All th
Welcome to a new year of Inkstuds. This episode is the first of a year of episodes that are supported by funding by the Canada Council for the Arts. With this funding, I am able to pay every guest for taking the time to chat with me about their work. I have also brought on a couple of folks that are able to provide me with guidance in terms of curatorial choices. With their support, I hope to be exposed to newer cartoonists that are making exciting and forward thinking work. Every guest on the show is very specifically chosen. I will be focusing the podcasts over the year on direct conversatio
I was visiting Winnipeg in the fall last year to visit different Winnipeg based underground artists. Since I had a little bit of flexible time, I also did a couple of interviews in the off chance I got around to posting interviews again. This is the second of those interviews, the first being the previously posted Nick Burns interview. Robert Pasternak was a name that came up quite a lot in conversations with different artists in Winnipeg. His work is quite imaginative and exists in different facets of his lived experience. His home has 2 rooms on the floor that are dedicated to art making. On
I have been doing a lot of research into the history of Canadian comics, focusing on work from the late 1960’s to the early 1990’s. My research took me on a trip to Winnipeg, where I got a chance to visit different cartoonists and chat about their work. Winnipeg is an interesting town since the cost of housing is still quite minimal, especially compared to where I live in Vancouver. This means that artists have been able to focus on flourish. Nicholas was the first cartoonist I saw during my visit, giving me a good run down of the city and comics community. I had been in touch with Nicholas fo
German cartoonist, Aisha Franz joined me to talk about her latest comics work, Shit is Real, out from Drawn and Quarterly. She is also one of the people behind the fantastic Clubhouse anthology, beautifully printed by Colorama. The latest issue, lucky number 13 is out now and looks amazing.
A very delayed inkstuds. Apologies to everyone! here is an interview with the Great Eric Kostiuk Williams. His latest work is Our Wretched Town Hall from Retrofit. I love love love Eric’s work. It’s political, funny and beautifully drawn. He is able to work out some really complicated topics while also keeping things strangely stunning and outrageous. Eric also has Condo Heart Break Disco from Koyama Press.
Sometimes life is hard and you try to find things that get you through. Energy drinks seem to be that thing for me. I love comics. Dearly. But they are hard. It’s hard to keep up and understand what’s going on. A nice can of monster can be the only thing that gets me up and out the door in the morning. I’ve been thinking really hard about who i am and my place in the world, and i think it’s important to try and do for energy drinks, what i have been doing for Inkstuds for the past 14 years. Expect deep talk on life and the challenges it brings. I am joined by my friend Simon, who has similarly
I was able to meet up in person with Liam Sharp while he is Vancouver for a local comics show. I have always been really into his work and fascinated by his approach. He’s currently the artist on Green Lantern with writer Grant Morrison. His most recent work includes Brave and the Bold Wonder Woman/Batman which he wrote, and the Wonder Woman work with writer Greg Rucka.
Karl Stevens joined me to talk about his painting and comics work. His latest book, The Winner from Retrofit/Big Planet, is a great move forward in his work and shows some amazing growth and introspection. I am really excited by his work and where he is taking it.
Breakdown Press Co-Founder, Designer and Cartoonist, Joe Kessler joined me to talk about his new collection, Windowpane and shine a light on a bit of the history of Breakdown Press. Breakdown is one of the most interesting publishers in the UK right now, putting out some top notch forward thinking comics. I am a huge fan of all they do and Joe’s comics are pretty great too.
Vancouver cartoonist, Steve Skroce joined me to talk about his latest book, Maestros. This is Steve’s first book written for himself, having previously worked with a wide range of writers like Alan Moore on Youngblood, Brian K Vaughn on We Stand on Guard and The Wachowskis on Doc Frankenstein. Steve is someone whose work I had been following since back when I worked in a comic store as a teenager, so it was nice to finally get an interview done.
David Small joined me to talk about his latest book, Home After Dark. While his previous work, Stitches was a memoir, his latest is a work of fiction that still captures a similar feeling and emotion. I really liked the book and this conversation.
Here’s another in a run of interviews with dedicated folks who put together independent comics shows in North America. Los Angeles’ CALA is about to hold their fifth annual event, and guest ‘stud Kit Brash talked to two of the team behind it, Jen Wang and Jake Mumm, a couple of weeks after last year’s show. This yearâ€s CALA will run on December 8th and 9th, from 10am til 5pm each day. Guests will include Taneka Stotts, Sophia Foster-Dimino, Marinaomi, Laura Lannes, Cathy G. Johnson, Landis Blair, Ezra Claytan Daniels, and Hartley Lin. The venue, a gymnasium at 3000 Dolores St in Glendale, has
Last year I joined the board of Directors for the Vancouver Comic Art Festival. It’s been really fun getting more involved in supporting local events and comics happening. The first event we did outside of the regular festival, was this talk with Anna Haifisch, Olivier Schrauwen and Marian Churchland. We did the event in the new theatre in the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library. Many thanks to Fantagraphics for facilitating the visit from Anna and Olivier and to the VPL for hosting.
Leif Goldberg joined me to talk about his new book from 2dcloud, Lost In The Fun Zone. We also cover a range of work including his time in Fort Thunder, recent mini comics, yearly calendars and animation. Leif makes some really great fun and inspiring work.
This week, I was joined by writer John Harris Dunning to discuss his latest book, Tumult, created with artist Michael Kennedy. Dunning has been really active in the UK comics scene, most notably, the Comics Unmasked exhibition in 2014 at the British Library. One of the largest shows of its kind in the UK at that point.
