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Blog of Sean Michael Wilson, a comic book writer from Edinburgh, Scotland now living in Japan.
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In August Sean Michael Wilson and Japanese artist, Akiko, will have an exhibition of their manga work in a Tokyo restuarant/art centre, THE PINK COW, in Roppongi. Sean is the only British professional comic book creator living in Japan and will give a talk about 'Ten reasons why comics books are better than movies.'The exhibition will be on the whole month, and on the 14th of August there is a special event - a party including a presentation talk about manga by both of them (Sean in English, Akiko in Japanese), with a dinner and three DJs afterwards (Sean himself, DJ ASA and DJ James).
It’s 2500 yen for the party, everything included - the talk about manga, the dinner (with a choice over 15 different dishes) and the DJ music. Akiko and Sean will be signing copies of their bilingual book THE 47 RONIN at the event.
Happy Hour 5-7pm event From 7pm until 12pm (food available from 7pm to 10pm), manga talk starting around 8pm:
It's here: www.thepinkcow.com/
8月、東京・六本木のレストランバー/アートスペース”ピンクカウ”にて、ショーン・マイケル・ウィルソンとアキコによる展示会を行います。
展示は８月を通して行っておりますが、8月14日にはスペシャルイベントとしてパーティーを行います！このパーティーは、ショーンとアキコによる漫画に関するトーク（ショーンは英語・アキコは日本語）、お食事（8品）、3人のDJによるミュージックなど、全て込みで2500円となっております。
イベント中、ショーンとアキコによるサイン会（二カ国語版”47RONIN”）もございます。
ピンクカウ：www.thepinkcow.com/
Sample Cal-Mex Buffet Menu at the Pink Cow:
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
MEXICAN SEAFOOD JAMBALAYA
MARINATED CHICKEN w/ CREAMED POTATO SALAD!
NACHOS w/ CHILI BEANS
CEVICHE with Fresh SHRIMP
COW CHIPS WITH 3 TYPES OF SALSA AND HOMEMADE GUACAMOLE
CHILI AND CHEESE QUESADILLA
CHICKEN BURRITO
BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITO
MIXED GREEN SALAD WITH LIME AND CILANTRO
COLESLAW SALAD
CREAM CHEESE WITH CROSTINI
PINK COW CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
FRESH FRUIT
....and more!
A short note about what anarchy IS, since most folks think its just CHAOS. Which it aint!
Anarchy definitely does not mean chaos, no. That is a myth thats has grown up, partly from a misunderstanding about its history and partly deliberately spread by folk who don’t want us to know or try anything different from capitalism (thats not a conspiracy idea, either. its easy to show how such miss-info is spread).
An anarchist society would, for 100% sure, have lots of organisation. The key point is that the organising would be voluntary cooperation between equals, not FORCED working together of 90% wage slave ordinary people (that's you and me) by 10% hugely powerful bosses (or 99% / 1% - whatever the split is), as we have now. That thing of being forced to work on what others say, when they say it, for what reasons they say, and having little control over your working life is one of the key things that people dislike now. People HATE that, don't they?
Anarchism is all about people controlling their own lives, communities and work places. In that way i think it fits well with a friends idea, told to me recently, that we should all work hard and sort ourselves out, etc, not rely on government. Anarchism has that at its very core. WE work hard to make ourselves, our communities and work places a success - but the big difference is that in anarchism we do it in a situation of equals agreeing in a democratic way, and in which the benefit of our hard work is shared all around (not mostly going to the rich bosses, as now).
That's it, basically. That's yer Anarchism for ye, gov!(or equal comrade, i should say!)
I'm up next on the 'Writers Blog Tour'
This is the way one writer put it to explain the Writer's Blog Tour, 'The idea of the Writers’ Blog Tour is for bloggers to answer the same four seemingly simple questions and then pass the challenge on.'
This lovely Irish guy Adrian did his here http://aidancourtney.blogspot.ie/2014/05/writers-blog-tour.html and noted me at the bottom, so I should do it next.
Though, as I've answered all these questions before i thought I would do a joke version instead:
How does my work differ from others in my genre?
SEAN: I spend more time with ‘the ladies’ than most comic book writers do.
Why do I write what I do?
SEAN: Mainly to get ‘the ladies’. As we all know they love comic book writers!
How does my writing process work?
SEAN: It works mostly around the time that I spend with ‘the ladies’. So that does not leave much time for actual writing.
What am I working on?
SEAN: What, apart from working on ‘the ladies’?
Well, at long last I hope this book will come out from Top Shelf: CIGARETTE GIRL, a 250 page book of stories by Masahiko Matsumoto, the 1950's colleague of reknowned gekiga manga creator Yoshihiro Tatsumi. This will be Matsumoto's first book in English, and will considerably extend understanding about gekiga style manga. I’m the editor of that, following on from the big success of our AX: alternative manga collection, also with Top Shelf.
Our MUSASHI graphic novel will come out in Autumn, its another of my now rather long, but lovely, line in historical manga. This time a biography of famed Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi - at 176 pages, September 2014, from Shambhala Publications. Art by Michiru Morikawa, and looking very good.
My first CHINESE themed history book will come out next year, we just finished it a couple of months ago. Called COLD MOUNTAIN graphic novel, about the odd and philosophical Chinese poet HAN SHAN, who inspired the Beat generation of writers, as Dharma Bums. This one mixes beautiful poetry with actual funny scenes. Also from Shambhala Publications. Art by Akiko Shimojima
Right now I'm writing a book about Science V Religion for New Internationalist in the UK, with the help of the British and American Humanistic Associations. I'm learning a lot about both areas! With art by Hunt Emerson and Carl Thompson. And planning to do a book about north Korea.... ganbaru!
 |
| Hold on, that's not a lady! |
So, now I'm passing the buck to Graeme McNee, my fellow Scot in Japan:
And Benjamin Dickson, who is neither Scottish nor in Japan, for some unfathomable reasons!
Various things I've been up to recently:
'10 Great Scottish Graphic Novel Creators'
It's nice to be nice - I am listed in the '10 Great Scottish Graphic Novel Creators' list of the Scottish Book Trust ( 'Scotland's leading agency for the promotion of literature, reading and writing'). Just behind Eddie Campbell and just ahead of Tom Gauld. A good group to be included in, though perhaps rather undeservedly on my part:
http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/reading/book-lists/10-great-scottish-graphic-novel-creators
Spanish and French books
We now have a Spanish publisher and a French publisher for our Japanese books, and two of our our lovely books have come out with them now:
In Spanish:
In French:
Sean Michael WILSON est un scénariste écossais qui vit aujourd'hui au Japon. Il a écrit de nombreux livres pour des éditeurs américains, britanniques et japonais, tels que : Les 47 Ronins, Le Livre des Cinq Roues, Hagakure et Le Sermon du Tengu. Il a également publié la célèbre collection AX : Alternative Manga et akuza Moon.
World War 1 connected comic book Was featured in the Independent newspaper. One of my stories is in this, alongside our brave fighting heroes Pat Mills, Charlie Adlard, Joe Gordon and a bunch of other good folk:
"One titled “Live and Let Alive” explores the phenomenon of trench-weary British and German soldiers engaging in “mock attacks” rather than attempts to inflict real harm."
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/acclaimed-comics-artists-publish-powerful-anthology-of-stories-to-combat-michael-goves-jingoistic-interpretation-of-ww1-9228582.html
Video by meJust a wee introduction I filmed (in shaky unprofessional style!) that was included in an Italian online hi-tech magazine thing, talking about our historical manga book HAGAKURE, out from Kodansha, and also now in Italian, French and Spanish. And about several of my other books with various lovely artists and publishers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4bTib5JLOk&feature=youtu.be
You think too much!“This is something we should avoid saying, if we want to be intelligent, open minded. If someone makes some ‘serious’ point it’s not a good idea to react with:
"Take it easy and don't think so seriously" or “You think too much!”
Of course thinking TOO much is bad - too much ice cream is bad, too much water is bad. Too much anything is bad, right? But as to THINKING about things – considering them deeply, trying to understand, etc. Well, that’s something we are very far away from having too much of. More like way too little of it!
Generally what the person who we accuse of being ‘too serious’ of is doing is simply: 'Trying to make an intelligent answer to an interesting question'
or simply 'Try to make an interesting point'. That is not taking its SO seriously, or TOO seriously. It is being intelligent, in a normal, good, positive way – or trying to anyway! If we say to people when they make ‘serious’ points "Take it easy and don't think so seriously " what it means, in effect, is: don’t THINK, don’t discuss, don’t try to understand. That’s not TOO good, is it?”
– the legendary Gandry Macallan.
PATREON
The PATREON web site seems to be growing a lot as a place to support comic book creation (becoming a patron, hence the name).
"Patreon is empowering a new generation of creators to make a living out of their passion and hard work."
So I thought I would give it a bash. Here is my page if you feel like helping me out with a dollar or two and becoming a patron:
http://www.patreon.com/Sean23
Cats love mangaI was just sent this photo from a reader in Bangkok, who's cat clearly has good taste in manga.
Our books THE DEMON'S SERMON and THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS:http://www.amazon.com/The-Demons-Sermon-Martial-Arts/dp/1611800218
IrelandHere is an piece in a well known Irish site, about me and our great book FIGHT THE POWER!, focusing mainly on the chapter on Ireland that is in it, with art by Adam Pasion:
http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/a-novel-approach-to-exploring-irish-history-1362363-Mar2014/
Noam Chomsky
PoetryI decided to put up some of my old poems on my web site also, and great wee things they are too. Like this prose poem:
The unveiling
Wraps of traditional clothing hiding sensous body. Many years of waiting, movements all a practise for this great unveiling in the sight of the handsome young man. Dream filled nights of romantic ignorance. You caress your thighs, feelings of incredible indulgence, outrageous nakedness. Some feeling of shame overcomes you, so that you partially cover up. Yet the feeling is too strong, irresistable after all those years. So now the layers are completely cast aside, all culture has been stripped off you - now what separates you from the beasts? You twist and moan, sigh in undulations, and in your dark eyes, a spark of liberation!
By Carl Thompson, hard working artist.
Did a bad translation contribute to dropping the bomb?
The Potsdam Declaration was issued on 26 July 1945, Japanese Response. The initial response by the Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki, was 'mokusatsu', which has the literal meaning "to kill with silence." Allied translators interpreted this to signify a contemptuous rejection, but there is controversy over whether this correctly captured the nuances of the word,which may mean:
take no notice of:
pass (over) ((a matter)) in [with] silence
refuse [do not deign] even to comment ((on..))
ignore (by keeping silence)
Suzuki later told his son that mokusatsu was meant to be equivalent to a Western "no comment" but there was no Japanese phrase carrying that precise meaning. On the other hand, Suzuki reportedly told a senior Cabinet official that "for the enemy to say something like that [the Postdam Declaration] means circumstances have arisen that force them also to end the war. That is why they are talking about unconditional surrender. Precisely at a time like this, if we hold firm, then they will yield before we do" (Miscamble 2011).
The controversy over the meaning of mokusatsu reflects the wider controversy over whether Japan was already on the verge of surrender, making the use of nuclear weapons unnecessary. If mokusatsu meant merely that the Japanese Government was not prepared to make an immediate response, so the argument goes, then the nuclear attacks were a tragic mistake resulting from a mistranslation.
http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/P/o/Potsdam_Declaration.htm
US bully or hero?I used to wonder if there was a key point in which the USA went from an idealistic country supporting democracy to a bully supporting corrupt regimes. I guess it's not as simple as that and it's always been a mix of positive and negative aspects right from the beginning, and still is even now.
But the new book 'The Untold History of the USA' seems to say that the period 1946 to the mid 50's was the key period of moving towards 'bully boy' status. In 1954 President Eisenhower admitted: "Everybody seems to think that we are skunks, saber-rattlers, and warmongers." Secretary of State Dulles complained: "Comparisons are now being made between ours and Hitler's military machine." (see page 271 of the book).
How glamorous! Wow!
That is: "glamour in its old Gaelic sense meaning enchantment with the look of things, rather than the soul of things." -Kenneth Anger
Speaking as a Gael, its illuminating how this has become one of the key practices of our modern world. Keeping its negative aspect of being 'under a glamorous spell' of outer beauty and image, but without the deeper element of developing, transforming through magick. And that 99% of folk don't know the words deeper meaning/origin also tells us about several elements of culture - even though, like this cover, they still often use the words 'magic', and 'power' and even 'cast a spell over him/her' when they do articles about being glamorous . One last interesting point - that the US folk still keep the U in it, when they dont in most other words of that spelling (honor, labor,etc). I wonder why...
Various bits and bobs from over the last few months:
1.Here's me giving my best of the year over at the lovely Forbidden Planet:
http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2013/best-of-the-year-2013-sean-michael-wilson/
2. There's a nice wee article about myself in THE GLASGOW HERALD newspaper, for anyone back in bonnie Scotland. The features writer there is a comic book fan, so good on him.http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scot-tastes-success-in-heart-of-japanese-comic-industry.22717253
3. The various FIGHT THE POWER book event went well. Here's a pic from
special new Comic Art event at Falmouth Arts centre, October 27th. With Hunt, John and Ben - and me joining in via skype, all the way from Japan:4. I did a long interview with 'Deconstructing comics.com' in which various of our books are mentioned in detail, especially the 47 ronin. The podcast has me sniffing a lot, sorry - due to an allergy that I had then. But we go into interesting things nevertheless. Oh yes: http://deconstructingcomics.com/?p=3794&cpage=1#comment-99194
5.We had a book party here in Japan on saturday the 7th, with a talk by myself, the artist Akiko Shimojima and Kodansha editor, for our 47 Ronin book. Lots of folk came, and they also made me a surprise cake - with my face on it! - to note ten years as a comic book writer (my first book came out in Dec 2003). Nice!
私の本を買ってください。バイリンガルのマンガで「忠臣蔵」が読める！ 吹き出しの中は英語、その日本語訳は枠のすぐ外に置き、無理なく英語でマンガが読み進められます。動作や表情と一緒なので、英語もすんなり理解できます。そして、史実に沿いながら、イギリス人の原作者による新たな視点も盛り込んだ、今までにない忠臣蔵がここに姿を現します。忠と義、愛と友情を描いた本作は、深い感動をもたらす作品です。 イギリス人原作者による新しい視点を加え、「忠臣蔵」がバイリンガルのマンガとして生まれます。http://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/11889748/6. And the next event up is this on in Tokyo, where Akiko and I will be talking about the creative process of making comics. come along if you wish
私の次のイベントです。私の漫画について話をします。
来れる方はどうぞお越しください::
Our new book, THE 47 RONIN. written by Sean Michael Wilson, art by Akiko Shimojima, a Japanese artist from Tokyo. USA version from Shambhala Publications, 160 pages. Japanese version (see below) from Kodansha.
The true story (or close to it anyway) of how and why the 47 ronin get revenge for their dead master. Now a 'major movie' as they say, staring Keanu Reeves - but their version is very FAR from the true story! Buy our book and compare the two.
"In the eighteenth century, forty-seven samurai avenged the death of their master in a plot that would take over two years to complete. After succeeding in their mission, the masterless samurai—known as ronin—all committed ritual suicide. The story, which is a national legend, remains the most potent example of Japan's deeply rooted cultural imperative of honor, persistence, loyalty, and sacrifice.
The historical event has inspired many writers and artists over the years and numerous fictionalized versions and adaptations have emerged. In The 47 Ronin, Sean Michael Wilson has created a historically factual portrait, enhanced by evocative and often lyrical drawings by Akiko Shimojima. While there are other depictions of the story in manga form, this version stands out as being the most accurate and most compelling. Wilson and Shimojima have made the characters nuanced and relatable."
“A masterful retelling of one of the greatest stories in Japanese culture. An engrossing, engaging, emotional and unforgettable epic.” - Jonathan Ross, BBC television presenter
http://www.comixology.com/The-47-Ronin-A-Graphic-Novel/digital-comic/48882
10月24日に新刊発売！ 『バイリンガルコミックス忠臣蔵』（講談社刊・160ページ、1500円）の原 作はショーン・マイケル・ウィルソン、作画は東 京出身のアリス・フィッシュ。主君の仇を討つ四十七士の真実の物語が、バイリンガルのマンガ――吹き出しの中は英語で日本語訳はすぐそばに置いた形――で 描かれます。
I took the book to Sengakuji temple in Tokyo, where the 47 ronin are buried, to show our respect.
On Reviews:
I've seen some reviews of this book already and mostly it’s been good. One thing I’ve been surprised about is how some readers over at 'Goodreads' felt that the book had too many abrupt changes between panels. Here are some and my comments:
“It seems less like a smoothly-flowing story and more of a series of standalone panels. It doesn't flow, to my eye. The emotion shifts from one panel to the next are jarring”
- This is normally what I am supposed to be the best at, making smooth transitions and having the whole thing move along nicely. Odd to see the opposite said here. One reviewer said “The art and writing are both spare, perhaps too much so.” Obviously I don’t agree – the book was made that way deliberately in order to tell the story with a minimum of captions and text. To have it as a far more visual based book than my other Japanese historical/martial arts books. To tell it in a more sophisticated fashion. No need to hit the reader over the head with over simplified story. But it is not so subtle as to become difficult to follow.
“The panels became very jumpy…”
- Again, it seems to flow fine to me, although the jumps between panels are sometimes considerable, but never so much as to confuse. sometimes they add in in a montage type way, or that link things in a fragmentary way that adds up to a total picture – all of which is very different from confusing.
“it was difficult to distinguish who was on which side, particularly during the final battle scene (hint: the 47 ronin are wearing helmets)”
– That’s a HINT? Seems like a very clear indication to me. The ones with helmets are the ronin, the ones without are the other side. Though its true that in other scenes, because samurai often wear the same type of clothes and hair styles it can get confusing about who is who, yes. That's something to take into account for the future.
“when the ronin finally exact their revenge ... the artwork, to me, looked like the illustrator started to draw the act of seppuku, cutting across the belly, and then switched to having Kiro's head cut off instead. It seemed like a very ... wide cut to decapitate someone. Not that I am a connoisseur of such things”
- This is a baffling confusion by this reviewer. It’s very simple and clear in the book: they WANT Kira to commit seppuku, but he refuses, he is to scared to do it. So they decide to cut his head off instead. Which is apparently, according to some historians, what actually happened.
“But the adaptation is hampered a bit by some pacing issues and a lack of contextual information.”
- As I say the pacing is deliberate, there are no mistakes there, it’s just done differently from what these readers seem to be used to. The lack of explanation is also a product of the subtle, poetic, sophisticated approach – one of the elements of which is that things are not spelled out at a dumbed down level. I think that is a strength of the book, no?. As to context, that is something I partly agree with. I can't expect all readers to have as much experience of Japan as I do. So, what we've done to give more context is to write a prologue for the next book coming up, 'Musashi', and we've added a few explanatory captions here and there.
Another point made: "It bugged me that the author misspelled "sake" as "saki," - Opps! They are quite right, what a silly mistake for us to make, which even the Japanese artist did not spot. Gomen nasai! But at least this reviewer went on to say that she thought the pacing was right: "Overall, I disagree with other reviewers who didn't like the pacing of the book--I felt that the author provided the right scenes to tell the story, and that more would have been too much."
So, just to confirm that all the English was deliberately and carefully chosen to reflect the formal ways that samurai then would have spoken to each other, we think, based on our experience in present Japan and research into Edo era Japan ('we' being me, the Japanese artist and Japanese editor). And the panel to panel flow style is also chosen very deliberately. It may seem to jump around abruptly sometimes, but there is no element of accident or mistake in that - it's the style I've chosen.
Why all this? We tried to make a version of the 47 ronin story that was not a 'join the dots' over simplified one. Also to avoid the cliched, hyperbolic, exaggerated style of hollywood… instead to make a version that was stark, ambiguous, subtle. One that focus not on sex, violence, explosions, blood, etc. One that focuses on the human drama, the culture of the time and tries to be close to the historical tale. I thought folk would ‘get’ that, but it seems that some don’t. Thankfully many do, shown in the several very good reviews we’ve had so far.
Also, although the publisher noted that this was the first true historical account of the 47 ronin, that is claiming too much. Some elements are closely based on what historical research considers the true story, some elements are based on the Chushingura fictional versions, and other elements are made up for our version. So, it’s more modest and accurate to say: ‘our version is not the definite historical story, but it’s perhaps QUITE close to it’. That is hardly a pithy back cover statement though, is it!
Please check it out with these thoughts in mind - ta!
Myself, artist Akiko, and Kodansha editor Mio...at the Tokyo International Manga Festival.
To end on a positive note, the influential Bleeding Cool website just gave the book a glowing review - in which the reviewer (with the very Scottish sounding name of Alasdair Stuart) really DID get what the book was trying to do:
"The 47 Ronin is a dignified telling of a dignified story. It’s violent when it needs to be, precise and calm when it’s called for and never once loses focus. This is a tightly focused, perfectly pitched retelling of the story and a perfect entry point for anyone coming to the story for the first time. The Keanu Reeves version may have all the spectacle, but this version has all the heart."
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/10/26/the-47-ronin-storm-shambhala-press/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BleedingCool+%28Bleeding+Cool+Comic+News+%26+Rumors%29
And the, also very influential, 'School Library Journal' in the US gave the book a good review, too: " Wilson uses exactly the right scenes to tell this famous story, creating a quick, engaging read." (Nov 2013)
"If you enjoy works like Lone Wolf and Cub, you will probably enjoy this graphic novel as well.
I'd give it four out of five stars." - Angel Rivera, Librarian
" In stark contrast to the upcoming Keanu Reeves film of the same title and very, very, loosely based on the same incident, this book promises to be more historically accurate. Where Reeves’ film features fantastical elements such as witches and giants, the manga focuses on historical drama, and the humanity of the characters, rather than spectacle fantasy...readers interested in accurate Japanese history rather than Hollywood embellishment will enjoy this well-done retelling of this legendary event..." - The Japan Times
Lastly, by far the most indepth, intelligent and fair (about both the books good and bad points) is this account at the Samurai Archives Japanese History Group. They, being a group that REALLY knows Japanese history and samurai's well, note our mistakes (accurately, we admit), but nevertheless conclude:"...if you’re looking for an adaptation of the Chushingura legend that sticks to the story and doesn’t include fantasy monsters, witches, giants, or gaijin actors shoehorned into the tale, you won’t find a better executed one than Wilson’s and Shimojima’s “The 47 Ronin”. It’s an adaptation that manages to infuse both the Ronin and their foes with humanity. Author Wilson makes you feel Asano’s outrage, Kira’s panic, the conflicting views of Asano’s retainers, and the excitement of the raid. Artist Shimojima gives us a period-accurate Japan laced with dynamic action and quiet moments in turn. They’ve taken what is often depicted as a morality tale filled with two dimensional characters and given it depth and texture."
http://www.theshogunshouse.com/2013/11/tis-season-for-ronin-shambhalas-47.html
The FIGHT THE POWER book 'mini UK tour' is off and running, after a nice wee start at the excellent GNASH COMICS shop In Devon on Sept the 28th.
Next up is the Lakes International Comics Art Festival starting on friday 18th of October, with Benjamin Dickson and Hunt Emerson in attendance, showing of the FIGHT THE POWER book. Lakes looks like being a wonderful new convention for the UK. http://www.comicartfestival.com/
Then after that an special new Comic Art event at Falmouth Arts centre, October 27th. A FIGHT THE POWER event will take place on sunday the 27th at 1pm, with Hunt, John and Ben - and I will join in on this via skype, all the way from Japan:
22 Panels Comic Art ShowCelebrating Comics as Art
Con: Sat 26 & Sun 27 Oct
The Poly Arts Centre, Falmouth | 24 Church St.
Tickets: £8 Adult / £6 Concession (Weekend Pass)
More info: falmouthcomicartshow.tumblr.com
And the London COMICA event has just been sorted, Nov the 9th at Foyles Bookshop - with Ben, Hunt and John Spelling chatting with Paul Gravett - and me chiming in again from Japan via skype:http://www.comicafestival.com/index.php/festival/festival_detail/fight_the_powerNice! - come along if you are nearbye, and buy this book.
And this weekend, sunday 20th October, I will be at another great festival on the other side of the world, the 'Tokyo International manga festival'. With Akiko Shimojima and our new book THE 47 RONIN in its Japanese version, called CHUSINGURA, from Kodansha. It is, of course, much better than the film of same name just come out with Keanu Reeves. http://kaigaimangafesta.com/en/
NEW!
According to Gandhi, the Four Stages of Protest are as follows: First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they fight you. Then you win!
In Fight the Power!, comics authors Sean Michael Wilson and Benjamin Dickson team up with illustrators Hunt Emerson, John Spelling, and Adam Pasion to show how this process has been played out again and again throughout history--and has slowly but surely led to hard-won rights for the people along the way. Focusing on the English-speaking nations, Wilson and Dickson chronicle the struggles of the Luddites and Swing Riots in the early 1800s, through the Irish Rebellions that lasted through 1922; from the suffragettes in 1918 to Rosa Parks and the bus boycott of the mid-1950s; from the trial of Nelson Mandela to the Occupy movement that has only just begun. By illuminating the variety of protests--and the valuable connections among them--through an accessible art form, Fight the Power! shows that there is a point to the struggle, fight by fight, win by win.
With an intro by long standing social activist, and pal of The Beatles, Tariq Ali. This is a great book,
I'm very pleased with it.
US version from Seven Stories
UK version from New Internationalist
This comic book covers 14 cases of such struggle over the last 200 years and in several English speaking countries including not just the US and UK but Australia, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, India and Jamaica.
- The Luddites and Swing Riots (1811-1832)
- The Battle of Peterloo (1819)
- Colonial Rebellions (1837-1865)
- Irish Rebellions (1791-1922)
- The Suffragettes (1903-1918)
- The Australian General Strike (1917)
- The Boston Police Strike (1919)
- The UK General Strike and the Battle of George Square (1918 & 1926)
- The Battle of Toledo (1934)
- Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott (1955-1956)
- The Trial of Nelson Mandela (1964)
- Fragging (1969-1971)
- The Poll Tax Riots (1989-1991)
- Occupy (2011-)
The book can be got from many book shops or online at the US or UK publisher, or even Amazon (if you like supporting capitalism, dear boy):
UK and Australia version:
http://newint.org/books/politics/fight-the-power/
North American version:
http://catalog.sevenstories.com/products/fight-the-power-a-visual-history-of-protest-among-the-english-speaking-peoples
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Fight-Power-History-Protest-Speaking/dp/1609804929
This is probably one of the best reviews I've ever had (despite them getting my name wrong). A martial arts/Samurai expert at the 'Samurai History Archives' strongly recommending our Japanese historical series:
http://www.theshogunshouse.com/2013/08/a-graphic-approach-to-musashi-and.html
As to the Book of Five Rings:
"The finished work is multilayered and will yield greater insights with each reading. In fact, it DEMANDS to be reread. Make no mistake, this is no simple comic that can easily be blown through in a few minutes and then forgotten..."
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Five-Rings-Graphic-Novel/dp/1611800129/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377491592&sr=1-2As to our Demon's Sermon book: "Wilson’s presentation of the stories (again, based on a translation by William Scott Wilson) is excellent. As previously mentioned, the narrative flows smoothly from one tale to the next, and the center point of each is brought out in a subtle and effective manner. There’s a fine line between simplifying things to the point of making them kid’s stories and making them so complex as to defy comprehension, and Wilson navigates it well. The book is warmer, charming, and more endearing than “Five Rings”. How could it not be with all those talking animals? Wilson allows their personalities and foibles to shine through rather than just make them into another ‘Musashi’. As with “Five Rings”, readers will be rewarded with greater insight on each reading. "http://www.amazon.com/Demons-Sermon-Martial-Arts-Graphic/dp/1611800218/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377491592&sr=1-4As to the forthcoming 47 ronin: "We have to admit to being skeptical that the end result will indeed stick to the historical facts and not mirror the fictional Chushingura version of the Ako ronin. However, based on the excellent job Wilson has done to date, if anyone can pull it off, he can."- Thanks. I'll give it a good go! (but dont't forget that I don't do these books only myself,they are a collaborative effort). http://www.amazon.com/The-47-Ronin-Graphic-Novel/dp/1611801370
Moving on to volume 2 of our acclaimed mature manga series.
THE STORY OF LEE, VOLUME 2 - HELP US TO FUND THE MAKING OF THE NEXT VOLUME IN THIS MANGA SERIES.
Volume one of THE STORY OF LEE was published in 2011, and then we saw that: Lee, living in Hong Kong, meets Matt, a fine young Scot. Their relationship becomes stronger by the day, despite their deep cultural differences. But there is Lee’s Dad to contend with who views this affair very suspiciously. And there is another contender for Lee’s heart, a Chinese young man, whose jealousy takes on twinges of xenophobia.Two worlds collide creating good sparks... and bad ones.
And now we are working on VOLUME 2, in which Lee and Mat move to Scotland and proceed to find out about the reality of living together, being in a different culture and of pursuing your dreams. We are working on the script and art now, and building up volume 2, bit by bit. We're enjoying taking the next step in THE STORY OF LEE.
Who are we?: Chie Kutsuwada, a Japanese artist who lives in the UK, and Sean Michael Wilson, a British writer who lives in Japan!
Of course, making manga takes a lot of time and effort, but are you surprised to hear that most of the time it does not bring in a lot of money? Often very little (but we do it anyway, for the love of the creative process and the beauty of the end product). Therefore, we need the support of you nice people while we work on making volume 2 of THE STORY OF LEE. And we have various good little rewards listed on the kickstarter page, so please hop in and check it out, there is a video there too:
Here is what folk said about volume one:
"Recommended. The cultural tension is beautifuilly written, and the story is told well in the small moments between Lee and Matt."
- Library Media Connection
"There is much here to like. Lee is quite sympathetic and her straightforward romance with Matt is sweet and believable. Readers will look forward to the next volume in this gentle series." -VOYA
"Made me feel warm and fuzzy. [The authors'] familiarity with the turf wars gives this unpretentious East-meets-West, boy-meets girl story an easy, breezy sense of verisimilitude."
-Andrew 'Capt. Comics' Smith, Scripps Howard News Service
"Handles its appealing cross-cultural love story with a deft sweetness."
-Bill Sherman, Blogcritics and Seattle PostIntelligencer
"A pretty strong outing. Young women should eat this one up."
-cxPulp
A rather big thing from my little world: 'BITS+BOB: the short strips of Sean Michael Wilson'.
This year sees not just the Queen's anniversary, but also my own - of ten years as a comic book writer!
So, I decided - just for fun - to celebrate that by putting together a big collection of my short comic book strips, with various artists, from various anthologies, magazines, etc over the last ten years. Featuring stories on: the tsunami disaster in Japan, Adam Smith, various strips on Japanese history, a fictional story set in the 60s, corruption in Thailand, trouble in Palestine, Franz Kafka, a sample for a gangster story, a children's story about Newts, various poetical pieces... and, as they say, a lot more!
Featuring art by: Neill Cameron, Michiru Morikawa, Jorge Heufemann , Colin Upton, Robert Brown, Juan Chavarriga, Pedro Belushi, Rejena Smiley, Adam R Grose, Akiko Shimojima, Hanna Stromberg, Carl Thompson, Mick McMahon, Haruka Miyabi, Robert Wells, Mary Hutchison and Sean Azzopardi.
Its available digitally on kindle, 242 pages for just $2.99. Super cheap as this is a simple collection done mainly for the joy of it. Please check it out, and here's to ten more years!: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D83YBNSFrom the Newts Tale story, art by Michiru Morikawa.
Parecomic: the Story of Michael Albert and Participatory Economics' with an introduction by Noam Chomsky.
Officially out this week, after 2 years of work - good stuff!
Parecomic had it's public debut in the MoCCA event of NY (April 8th/9th) at the booth of the publisher Seven Stories Press. It's by myself, Sean Michael Wilson and Carl Thompson, with the permission and close collaboration of Michael Albert himself. Basic description: "...a graphic novel about something that affects us all: the system we live in - what's wrong with it, and how we might be able change it for the better! The recent upsurge in popular protest in the USA and around the world shows that people are not happy with the state of things. The Occupy movements show us that many people would prefer a better system, a model that will work for the 99%, not just the 1%."
PARECOMIC is about Michael Albert and his life's struggle as a US left wing activist, reaching right back to the heady days of 1960's student demos and lifestyle rebellions. From the development of the anti war movement, civil rights, the woman's movement, and the black panthers to the establishment of alternative media like South End Press and Znet. PARECOMIC shows us Michael's story, and at the same time the ideas and issues that influence both our society and the better alternative that we can build via the anarchist influenced system of participatory economics. Or PARECON for short - hence the title for our book, which rather started out as a joke - but has stuck: PARECOMIC.
Michael Albert himself has worked closely with us to check the authenticity of the scenes and info. He will be contributing a substantial text section at the back of the book about Parecon ideas, and the introduction is by his long term colleague, Noam Chomsky. We think this is the first comic book/graphic novel that Chomsky has ever associated himself with. The recent upsurge in popular protest in the USA and around the world shows that people are not happy with the state of capitalism. The Occupy movements indeed shows us that many people would prefer a better system, a model that will work for the 99%, not just the 1% - Parecon is one such model.
We also wish to thank everyone who helped make the PARECOMIC kickstarter funding drive a success. 'Rewards' to all those who pledged will go out this month. That has given us a lot of encouragement - we've had lots of nice support about our plan of going into the ideas of parecon and Michael Albert's life in graphic novel format. We've had several good mentions and interviews, such as in Carl's local newspaper, the industry magazine Publishers Weekly and hundred's of people noting it on their blogs, facebook and web sites... great stuff.
 |
| Carl, pretending to be smart. But, after reading this book you will be! |
Recently, I've been chatting on facebook with a UK guy who supports capitalism. Which is, of course,a crime somewhat worse than mugging old ladies, as far as I'm concerned. It's got to be too long for twatbook, so I'm continuing it here:
He (MD) notes:
I disagree with your "alternative explanations". The benefits accrue precisely because of capitalism, not despite it, and I think the historical record of the last century strongly supports this view.
The problem with all these points you make is that they are ideology pretending to be factual. They are from a position (as are mine of course) and then the position exclaims ‘oh, and any other idea is mad’. Which is the favourite tool of those in power in order to ridicule alternatives. Ok, so then IF the alternatives are s hopeless why is it that the POB (powers that be) in almost all capitalist countries in almost all historical periods have reacted with such force of violence to repress any attempts at building alternatives? Of what are they afraid if the alternatives are so idealistic and naïve? Only if something is a real threat do we react with such force. We don’t set up guard dogs to protect us from butterflies.
Secondly, a huge amount of effort is made to persuade and cheat us that the big C is the only way. The violence of police and army etc comes only at extreme times, but the propaganda is all around us, everyday. Why so much, if the alternatives are so silly? The answer, I think, is that the alternatives ARE far more real and doable than they would have us believe, and the LAST thing our masters want is for those alternatives to be given a chance.
Chomsky gives us an example of a factory that was losing money, in argentina I think. The workers decided they would get their money together and offer to buy it from the owners (the capitalist scumbugs, that is!). but the owners refused the money. That is, they refused the profit right on the table in front of them, choosing instead to actual pay OUT money to close and destroy the factory. Why? Because the last thing they want is to give even the CHANCE of those workers running the factory in a successful way themselves, as a co—operative. An alternative that would inspire other factories nearbye, and set a very dangerous example.
Now, why, if your dear capitalism is so strong, and right and the best, would it run scared, like a little girly, from at least trying out alternatives? Surely they should do some kind of peer testable scientific type experiment? To TRY the systems, to establish in some generally agreed way, the good and bad points of the various possibilities? After all the aim is just to choose a good system, no? The best one we can do, right? Sadly, not – the aim of POB is mainly to maintain their own power base and the present system, no matter what. Use of propaganda, persuasion and even pure violence is geared towards that.
So, for me, most of the benefits such as good healthcare and education etc that we have is DESPITE capitalism, not because of it. Capitalism, at core, does NOT want the majority to have such good welfare/commonwealth. It’s not its first concern or even it fifth. When it can get away with it, as it still does much of the time in much of the world, it will only allow the most basic of provisions for all aspects of wellbeing. They consider ‘too much’ welfare/wellbeing/commonwealth to be unnecessary and unaffordable. And the scumbag Tories in the UK are now making a big effort to DECREASE good healthcare and education and unions, working conditions, pensions, etc. Using the pretext of ‘austerity’, and the poor economic situation (caused BY capitalism itself, as most people know realize).
No, its quite the contrary - almost everything we people (not just HK) have beyond that basic provision that is the default position of capitalism has been won by people collectively pushing for improvements in their situation, inspired largely by ideal of socialist origin.r ight back to the late 19thC and gathering pace throughout the 20thC right up until the late 70s when capitalism began rolling BACK these things. Is this incorrect? What has led to increased wellbeing for most people: the basic logic and drive of capitalism, OR the collective efforts of people to win more despite that basic drive?
MD: "By contrast, anarchism is an electoral no-hoper. I've browsed your proposed alternative, "participatory economics". All the decisions are made by boards of producers, boards of consumers, etc. It sounds bureaucratic and inpractical imo."
You say that Parecon is very bureaucratic. Isn’t an accountant (MD's job) an example of a bureaucratic type job? “As in: An official who is rigidly devoted to the details of administrative procedure.” An accountant plays a key role in that admin, no? The key negative points of 'bureacratic' are: inefficient and un-elected. A parecon admin need not be either of those. But a capitalist one often is both! Since the parecon admin would not be distorted by the artificial focus on profit making it could deal directly with the main job of organizing what we need and want. It would be more efficient! And it would directly involve local people in a system of interlocking groups, so would not be un-elected. Accountants would be very much needed in an anarchist society. Obviously it would not be a society without order or organization. so people with skills like accountants would be needed to work out the input and output related to local production and consumption. But with a big difference, that would benefit accounts a lot – your job would not be to calculate the results of exploitation, decided by the few, as in capitalism… it would be to calculate the results related to decisions democratically agreed upon by the whole community you live in. a far more satisfying job!
The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts, written by Sean Michael Wilson, art by Michiru Morikawa, afterward by William Scott Wilson. Shambhala Publications, 160 pages, March 2013.
Our new book is out next week, and its a real beauty. The mix of Eastern philosophy and animal visuals is an appealing one, with Michiru's artwork her best yet.
"A graphic novel version of this classic collection of martial arts parables, written by Issai Chozanshi, an 18-century samurai, brings these tales alive in a captivating and immediately accessible way. The stories, which feature demons, insects, birds, cats, and numerous other creatures, may seem whimsical, but they contain essential teachings that offer insight into the fundamental principles of the martial arts.
Infused with Chozanshi’s deep understanding of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto, the tales elucidate the nature of conflict, the importance of following one’s own nature, yin and yang, the cultivation and transformation of ch’i (life energy), and the attainment of mushin (no-mind). Ultimately, the reader learns in a visually exciting way that the path of the sword is a path of self-knowledge and leads to an understanding of life itself."
Reviews“This poetic book immediately stands out as the best of Sean Michael Wilson's three graphic novel adaptations of classical works of Japanese philosophy. As a book of philosophy, it’s fascinating; a dreamlike exploration of consciousness, life, and death. Michiru Morikawa's artwork is the perfect match for the text, her eerie, detailed illustrations—especially the lovely renderings of various animals—perfectly fitting the poetic feel. Recommended.”-Jason Thompson, Otaku USA magazine "A beautiful transformation of martial arts philosophy as told through fairy tales. A recommended read, whether this form or the more standard text, for students of martial arts as a whole."
- Tegna, Good Reads reviewer The first 25 pages can be read for free here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/123164997/The-Demon-s-Sermon-on-the-Martial-Arts-A-Graphic-NovelMy first attempt at a PREZI visual presentation type thing. Not very good, but it's a start - showing some stuff about our Demon's Sermon book. Press the next arrow to move it along and the zoom in control to see detail:
http://prezi.com/l6vuadwv18te/japanese-historical-manga-no3/?kw=view-l6vuadwv18te&rc=ref-33575369Amazon link:http://www.amazon.com/The-Demons-Sermon-Martial-Arts/dp/1611800218
The above article positions me alongside the great Osamu Tezuka. Which is nice to see, but of course is without much justification! It's from an English language magazine in Nagoya, Japan, called AXIOM. An excellent magazine and this issue from 2012 features lots of other good stuff.
ショーン の くまにち しんぶん きじ
An interview in Jan 2013 in the main newspaper in this are i live in, called KUMANICHI, meaning Kumamoto's daily paper. Basically this article says: "Sean is 43 and British (it actually uses the kanji which most people think of as meaning 'England', but is also used to mean the whole of the UK, which is of course not good!). He has done a manga book about MIYAMOTO MUSASHI, called THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS, as Musashi is an interesting samurai from old Japan, who mixed philosopy with fighting skills and also an artistic attitude. The book is by an American company, first print run is 5000 copies. Musashi lived in Kumamoto (this town) and wrote the book here. Sean also works for Kodansha (a big publisher). He's done 15 books so far - and he is available to hire for dates for nice looking ladies at a reasonable price (ah, no, it doesnt say that!).
Quote for today:
"If you support capitalism then you are either being deceived or are yourself a deceiver. So, which is it punk?"
-the legendary Gandry Macallan
Sweeney Todd - The Graphic Novel, by myself, Sean Michael Wilson and excellent art by fellow Celt Declan Shalvey, was published by Classical Comics in Spring 2012.
It has just been shortlisted for the Stan Lee Excelsior Awards, 2013. An excellent series of events that promotes reading and understanding of graphic novels in British school kids. After reading the 8 books on the shortlist they vote for their favourites and the winners are announced in summer:
http://www.excelsioraward.co.uk/shortlist2013.html
Oddily enough, I WAS the character Sweeney Todd in my primary school play when I was 10 years old, and now here we have the graphic novel. Our one, as per normal for my style, stays close to the original story from the 1840s. It's pretty much a straight ahead mysterious thriller type story with various twists and turns and dramatic aspects, but also true to the historical aspects. Nice!
Quote for the day:"He is of that rare breed of men, who are so courageous, that they do not hesitate from talking complete bollocks."
- the legendary Gandry Macallan
My first interview in Italian, in an excellent magazine for ipad, COMX DOME. Which includes a video of me (and one by Dave Gibbons too), talking about my experience making manga style books in Japan as a Scottish creator. Alongside lots of other great stuff about Italian, French, US comics. With, great design, interactive features and moving parts! - and it's free:
https://itunes.apple.com/it/book/comx-dome/id585317968?mt=11
Our manga version of the BOOK OF FIVE RINGS with the US publisher Shambhala Publications, has just arrived with me yesterday and I'm very pleased to see it. We've made a graceful version, I think. Yokata!
Reviews of it have started to come in - one good, one bad. The good one is so both in terms of it having considered the book in detail and, thankfully, liked it a lot:
"Writer Sean Michael Wilson and artist Chie Kutsuwada deliver a stately and respectful adaptation of this classic work that is a truly a tribute to the original"
- That is a good general summary i think!
"complex themes to be conveyed in fascinating ways."
- Right, that is basically what we normally go for in these books.
"Kutsuwada's style is wonderfully resonant of Japanese art and design, and is often tremendously creative. That's particularly true in the end section that discusses the theme of nothingness in a cleverly symbolic and oblique way that made me smile hard at its matter-of-fact cleverness."
- Yes, that end section, the last few pages of the 'Emptyness' chapter, is a bit im particularly pleased with. Although it was actually my idea - that is one problem for writers of graphic novels, people can forget that many aspects of the visual look is often from the writers head in the first place. Which is not to put down Chie's wonderful job in bringing that to life. Please check out the book to see what we've done here.
"Interesting, almost playful scenes like those show that this book isn't dry"
- Again, good stuff. that is exactly what we tried for, to make this visually interesting as well as authentic to the original book, so its nice that he noticed this.
And now the bad review - both because it did not think highly of our book and because it's a badly written and thought out review. And here is why:
I’ve noticed how reviews that seem to set out to deliberately pick holes in some work of art are often riddled with holes themselves – ill put points, existing prejudice over-layed on the work under consideration without much reflection, basic inaccuracies and assertions with no proof attached. This above review is a case in point.
-Why so? There is little or no explanation given as to why it may be a disservice. Just the bald assertion. But, ok, reading on…
“The full text is like a diamond of compressed insight, almost bereft of narrative structure, to which Sean Michael Wilson has seen fit to apply a chisel.”
- I agree that Musashi expressed his insight s rather concisely (just under 100 pages in William Scott Wilson’s translation), and it’s certainly true that there is almost no narrative structure there. But why the dismissive or even rather sarcastic wording of ‘seen fit to apply a chisel?’, which serves to give the reader an impression of the graphic novel being invalid, again without saying why. Unfortunately such impressions can often stick in the mind of busy readers of reviews and can damage books that actually deserve deeper consideration. A further consideration might note that the words in the manga version that relate to conveying some of Musashi’s insights are 95% the same as those in WSW excellent translation of the original text. I say 95% rather than 100% as occasionally it was necessary to adjust them a little for the sake of the speech balloons.
However even at 95% the same this is far, far above the level of authenticity to original text that is common in most Hollywood adaptations of classics. It might be thought commendable that we have produced a book so close to the original, no? And in a more considerate review it might also be thought commendable that we have managed to produce a flowing visual narrative out of a book that has, as noted, almost no narrative structure. And that we have managed to combine BOTH such a narrative with a close authenticity to the text may seem even, dare I say, admirable? But no such effort is made to consider any of this in the review.
William Scott Wilson’s The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashiis indeed where some of the info came that gave us the material with which to construct the more narrative aspects. This review makes it seem like WSW was unaware of this. Actually he was fully aware of this graphic novel, and actively involved in answering my questions on various points. He is very happy with the resultant book and keen to do more with me.
“but it is no substitute for the original.”
– Of course, why is this necessary to state? The graphic novel does not indicate in any way at any point that it is a substitute for the original. So why note it as if it does? Just to further reinforce a bad impression, with no substance, in the readers mind? Of course people should go on to read the original, that would be great. The graphic novel is different, not a replacement. The valid question is: does it stand on it’s own right as something of interest? No effort is given to consider that.
“In daring to do away with some of the pith, and stretching the remainder over a narrative frame, the adaptor risks tampering with the wisdom of a man who seems to have intended, as the translator notes in the book’s afterword, for each line of his manual to be carefully mulled and put into practice.”
- If we take ‘pith’ to mean essence or core of Musashi’s point then the question becomes how much of the essence is conveyed, and how much is not there? Or, how much of it is misrepresented? As the words in the manga are so very close to the highly regarded translation and the actual translator is involved in the creation of the manga version then the risk of miss-representing them is rather small, no? And as to there being a risk, of course there is – any artistic effort risks failing when it tries to achieve something. The point is that a review should give some consideration to how well or not it’s been achieved. No effort is given to consider any of this, in fact there is not even a single attempt to judge any of the specific aspects of the graphic novel – did the reviewer actually read it at all?
Only, again, a vaguely negative impression created. I doubt Musashi would approve of such sloppiness! Readers: please check the book out for yourself and then decide how well we’ve done. I’m off now to Musashi’s grave (I live nearbye), to pray for the souls of bad reviewers…
http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2012/11/01/review-the-book-of-five-rings-a-graphic-novel/
S17 is upon us! - the one year anniversary of the US occupy movements.
This link tells us about the large amount of actions planned over the weekend and monday: http://s17nyc.org/
Get tore in NYC!
My next book, 'The BOOK OF FIVE RINGS' is now available for order from Diamond's September 2012 Previews catalogue.
"This manga version of Japanese classic The Book of Five Rings, the iconic book of confrontation and victory by the famed 17th-century duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi, reinvigorates the classic, making it more accessible and appealing to a wide audience. With atmospheric manga art by Chie Kutsuwada (Hagakure, Romeo and Juliet, etc) and a fluid script adaptation by Sean Michael Wilson (AX:alternative manga, A Christmas Carol, etc) the manga version works both as an engaging visual guide to Japanese swordsmanship and strategy, and as a view into Musashi's world. A fascinating book for manga fans, martial art fans and anyone who wants to apply the timeless principles of this text to their lives."
I think our manga version of The Book of Five Rings has a lot of beautiful, symbolic visuals in it as well as telling the story of Musashi in a dignified, graceful fashion. Looking forward to seeing it myself!
Diamond Previews details:
BOOK OF FIVE RINGS GN (C: 0-1-2), Shambhala Publications.
Diamond code : SEP121192
$16.95 (£12.95 UK)
Release date 11/21/2012
I was interviewed this week in the Edinburgh Evening News, the main daily newspaper of my hometown. The paper version is a nice two page spread, as you can see. The comics seen are from my upcoming autobio book, set in the Morningside area of Edinburgh, where I grew up. The article focuses on that book, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MORNINGSIDE, the connection to my childhood love of comics and my life now in Japan. They were thinking to call the article: 'Morningside goes Manga!' .
Rather nice to have this big article in the newspaper that I associate with my grandparents, who read it everyday. Feels like a kind of 'full cycle' type confirmation of my early plans, kinda thing! The light haired childhood friend featured in the strip below, Barry-John, is still my friend (via email now of course since im so far away from Scotland), and he has helped me in the story by taking photographs of the area for reference. Which is apt as he now works as a photographer.
Here's the online version:
Yet more showing off, lads and lassies: I'm a guest speaker at School Library Journal's August 9th online web cast event. It's called 'SummerTeen: A Celebration of Young Adult Books.' I will be on the "Classic Twists" panel from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
This is an ONLINE WEB CAST - about books for young adults. I'm taking part in this, talking about my various comic books. The first time ive done an online 'virtual convention' (ooh, hi-tech!) and its a bit complicated to learn about the technical stuff of doing it. But ganbaru! Its this if you fancy registering to take part in the web cast (meaning watch it live and send questions in): http://www.thedigitalshift.com/events/summerteen/speakers/
Someone has set themselves of reading and reviewing 365 comics in as many days. A catchy idea. They reviewed my old book IRAQ: OPERATION CORPORATE TAKEOVER, published in 2007 by War on Want, with great art by Lee O'Connor. They had this to say:
"There is no doubt that corporate greed and malpractice is a worthy cause to publicise. A graphic novel would be an excellent way to do it too. Unfortunately this is only a half hearted attempt to use the medium.
It starts well with a man returning to his family in Iraq from England. He learns of the poor situation there and starts to write a blog. It then becomes statistics heavy, then we tangent off into Israel, and we no longer care about the characters involved. This is propaganda. Fair play for being intelligent, artistic and even necessary but it could have been so much more.
It is published by the campaign organisation War on Want and there are ten pages of text about them and the work they are involved in. As a recruitment tool this is certainly one of the best. As a graphic novel then this falls a little short. With such sophisticated titles as Exit Wounds and How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less showing us the subtle route to education and information we know it can be done.
The art is black and white and really good making great use of tiny panels of random details that would stick in your mind if you were a stranger visiting Iraq. There are some fine silhouettes too. The lettering changes when transitioning from fiction to facts and there is a nicely stylised sequence of a public demonstration.
Because of its important content it just scrapes in as a Thumbs Up!"
A chap in, presumably, the USA has posted a youtube piece about our AX:alternative manga anthology, from the point of view of a manga fan. Thanks for the eloquent and enticing endorsement of our book!
Quote for today:
(reaction after seeing me with a moustache):
"Nice. Handsome - like Hitler."
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