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The first and most comprehensive source of abstract comics on the web, tracing the history and surveying the contemporary landscape of abstract sequential art.
Andrei Molotiu, Administrator
Contributors
Articles:
Essays:
Projects:
Links:
- Abstract Comics Tumblr
- Абстрактный комикс | VK
Blog Archive
The coolest people on earth
On Abstract Comics: The Anthology (Currently SOLD OUT):
The artists assembled by Andrei Molotiu for his anthology ABSTRACT COMICS (Fantagraphics, $39.99) push “cartooning” to its limits... It’s a fascinating book to stare at, and as with other kinds of abstract art, half the fun is observing your own reactions: anyone who’s used to reading more conventional sorts of comics is likely to reflexively impose narrative on these abstractions, to figure out just what each panel has to do with the next.
--Douglas Wolk, New York Times Book Review, Holiday Books edition, December 6, 2009
The collection has a wealth of rewarding material... it is a significant historical document that may jump-start an actual new genre.
--Doug Harvey, LA Weekly
It becomes a treat to take a page of art - or a simple panel - and consider how the shapes, texture, depth, and color interact with one another; to reflect on how, when one takes the time, the enjoyment one ordinarily finds in reading a purely textually-oriented, narrative-driven written story can - with the graphic form - be translated into something completely different.
--Adam Waterreus, Politics and Prose, "Favorite Graphic Literature of the Year."
...this arresting book is like a scoop of primordial narrative, representational mud. Which is to say, it has vitaminic powers.
--Design Observer
For years, comics (at least American ones) have doggedly refused for one reason or another, to consider other schools of art and beyond mere representation. It's only now we see artists attempting to branch out and try to push at the edge's of the medium's definition. As such I found Abstract Comics to be a revealing, thought-provoking and genuinely lovely book that I'll be sure to be rereading in the months to come.
--Chris Mautner, Comic Book Resources
Previews:
20-page preview at Fantagraphics Books
Fanta preview on Flickr
Anthology preview on this very blog
Features and interviews:
Comic Book Resources interview with Anthology editor Andrei Molotiu
Artforum.com interview
Multi-part abstract comics feature at Action Yes online quarterly
Reviews:
First review of Abstract Comics: The Anthology at Comic Book Jesus
Blurb on list of "The Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2009" (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Jog's brief review
Douglas Wolk's brief review
Comicsgirl's review
Chris Mautner's review at CBR
Our first Spanish-language review
Review at Graphic Novel Reporter
Review at Comic Book Galaxy/ADD's blog
Review by Sara Cole at PopMatters
Review in Berlin daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel and Iffy Google translation of same
Further blog post by writer of Der Tagesspiegel review
Review by Pedro Moura, in Portuguese
Douglas Wolk in the NY Times Book Review
Book Soup blog
Craig Fischer and Derik Badman discuss the Anthology at Madinkbeard
Best-of lists:
Eisner Award 2010 nominee for best anthology
Politics and Prose
Doug Harvey in LA Weekly
Design Observer
Reviews of "Silent Pictures" exhibition:
Review at Dart: Design Art Daily
Japanese-language review of "Silent Pictures" and Google translation of same
Buy:
Order Abstract Comics: The Anthology from Amazon.
The artists assembled by Andrei Molotiu for his anthology ABSTRACT COMICS (Fantagraphics, $39.99) push “cartooning” to its limits... It’s a fascinating book to stare at, and as with other kinds of abstract art, half the fun is observing your own reactions: anyone who’s used to reading more conventional sorts of comics is likely to reflexively impose narrative on these abstractions, to figure out just what each panel has to do with the next.
--Douglas Wolk, New York Times Book Review, Holiday Books edition, December 6, 2009
The collection has a wealth of rewarding material... it is a significant historical document that may jump-start an actual new genre.
--Doug Harvey, LA Weekly
It becomes a treat to take a page of art - or a simple panel - and consider how the shapes, texture, depth, and color interact with one another; to reflect on how, when one takes the time, the enjoyment one ordinarily finds in reading a purely textually-oriented, narrative-driven written story can - with the graphic form - be translated into something completely different.
--Adam Waterreus, Politics and Prose, "Favorite Graphic Literature of the Year."
...this arresting book is like a scoop of primordial narrative, representational mud. Which is to say, it has vitaminic powers.
--Design Observer
For years, comics (at least American ones) have doggedly refused for one reason or another, to consider other schools of art and beyond mere representation. It's only now we see artists attempting to branch out and try to push at the edge's of the medium's definition. As such I found Abstract Comics to be a revealing, thought-provoking and genuinely lovely book that I'll be sure to be rereading in the months to come.
--Chris Mautner, Comic Book Resources
Previews:
20-page preview at Fantagraphics Books
Fanta preview on Flickr
Anthology preview on this very blog
Features and interviews:
Comic Book Resources interview with Anthology editor Andrei Molotiu
Artforum.com interview
Multi-part abstract comics feature at Action Yes online quarterly
Reviews:
First review of Abstract Comics: The Anthology at Comic Book Jesus
Blurb on list of "The Hottest Graphic Novels of Summer 2009" (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Jog's brief review
Douglas Wolk's brief review
Comicsgirl's review
Chris Mautner's review at CBR
Our first Spanish-language review
Review at Graphic Novel Reporter
Review at Comic Book Galaxy/ADD's blog
Review by Sara Cole at PopMatters
Review in Berlin daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel and Iffy Google translation of same
Further blog post by writer of Der Tagesspiegel review
Review by Pedro Moura, in Portuguese
Douglas Wolk in the NY Times Book Review
Book Soup blog
Craig Fischer and Derik Badman discuss the Anthology at Madinkbeard
Best-of lists:
Eisner Award 2010 nominee for best anthology
Politics and Prose
Doug Harvey in LA Weekly
Design Observer
Only The Cinema’s Best Comics of the Decade
Reviews of "Silent Pictures" exhibition:
Review at Dart: Design Art Daily
Japanese-language review of "Silent Pictures" and Google translation of same
Buy:
Order Abstract Comics: The Anthology from Amazon.
These are brilliant -- I really like how they mix in your various styles, and where you drag that panel across the spread is really effective.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Now imagine about 160 or 180 pages of tnis. Or thereabouts. I'm drawing this in a sketchbook, and I'm not going to count the pages until it's finished.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey! A comment! It's been a long time since this old blog has seen one... [sob!]
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I am happy to see posts and comments too!
ReplyDeleteI like the top spread the best. It makes me think of goings-on near the surface of the Sun. It's also the densest, most in-your-face. Lots of life in the others. I'll try & post, if it will let me.
ReplyDeleteThese are great! You should make a book of them.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see the whole thing when done!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is done, as of precisely three weeks ago. 200 page abstract graphic novel. What with the pandemic and the world economy going down a black hole and everything, though, I think I'll wait a bit before trying to get it published.
ReplyDelete