We present the butchest shit ever having anything to do with Secret Acres at all: the CrossFit 845 Podcast with Dave and Turbo. Seriously. Press play and you’ll hear Logan Nichols-Chestnut aka L. Nichols, ripping off his MIT sweatshirt and busting out that Texas drawl, on the way to a discussion of L.’s graphic memoir of growing up queer in the deep south,Flocks. Of course, L. being the smartypants that he is, he drops a dime on every degree he holds - and there are a lot. No dummies allowed, these guys get into the math of Flocks on the quick. L. plays hard in just about everything, and CrossFit is no exception - but, really, who the hell does CrossFit and is not obsessed? He’s been at it for two and a half years, running away from a lousy gene pool, health habits-wise. Homeboy is mad competitive, even building a battle bot (that surrendered). Okay, they do talk about the book, and how it came to be, and the origin of L.’s signature ragdoll avatar. Still, the moral of the story is L. gives shape to everything, including himself. And he’s surrounded by fellow obsessives building nuclear reactors, so look out. We listened to this thing, which made us want to go get some Flocks, but, like, a really heavy stack of them to deadlift. Check it all out right here. Thanks, CrossFit 845! Get your swole on, Logan!
We are so excited to kick off our 2019 Spring season with Little Teeth, the new graphic novel from the Seattle-based team of artist Rory Frances and writer Jae Bearhat. Little Teeth tracks the relationships and struggles of a group of young queers living in the fictional Pacific Northwest city of Woodlands. Told as a string of vignettes and anecdotes, the reader follows the various subgroups of friends and lovers as they interact with each other and do their best to grow. As serious as that may sound, their vulnerabilities are covered up with humor, and it’s very easy to laugh even as we relate to their struggles.
Little Teeth will be released generally in April 2019 in time for convention season, with plans to be sold at MoCCAFest, TCAF, CAKE, and more. In anticipation of the release, Little Teeth will be available to pre-order online beginning November 1st through November 20th, 2018 at czapbooks.com/product/little-teeth. Pre-ordered copies are expected to ship as early as December 2018.
Little Teeth was first published online in installments on Hazlitt from Fall 2015 to Summer 2016. According to Czap Books publisher Kevin Czap, the comic was noteworthy for the “humor, inventiveness, and humanity” in its depiction of the ensemble cast. Bearhat explains, “Little Teeth has been a labor of love, but specifically a collaborative one, a work born intentionally through the back-and-forth between us. I feel like the process is essential to the stories we wanted to tell, stories that are told at the intersection of multiple narratives.” “Little Teeth is our baby,” says Frances. “We put a lot of ourselves into it and we wanted to create a world with queer characters that feels really lived in.”
On choosing to publish with Czap Books, Frances cites “they really care about their artists and what they’re trying to put out into the world,” while Bearhat adds “I’m glad that we are working with a publisher who understands the joy of communal creation, joining a library of other works that celebrate inter-dependency, community, cooperation.” The Czap Books edition includes the entirety of these installments, retouched and reformatted for print, as well as an additional 80 pages of story.
“Little Teeth is a total feast. It’s warm, biting, devastating in both hilarity and realness, raucous and sweet like a hard-partying old friend. Jae Bearhat and Rory Frances have brought to life a lush and lovingly rendered world of gay antics that is as comical as it is compassionate.”
– Sophia Foster-Dimino, author of Sex Fantasy
“Little Teeth pulls you in with its impeccable grasp on how different personalities work and banter that never feels contrived. The ongoing glimpses of the lives (both outward and inner) of these critters will have you feeling their embarrassments, yearnings, and knowing all their inside jokes.”
– Jen Lee, author of Garbage Night, Thunderpaw
“Some of the juiciest, messiest, realest gay animals that I’ve ever seen.”
– Robert Yang, author of The Tearoom
About the Artists
Rory Frances is a Seattle-based cartoonist and illustrator, and is the author of the critically acclaimed webcomic Boys Are Slapstick. roryfrances.com
Jae Bearhat is a Seattle-based writer and is Editor-in-Chief of the video game and culture website ZEAL. jbearhat.itch.io
About Czap Books
Czap Books is dedicated to publishing comics that celebrate the poetic, the personal, and the weird. Their goal is to support and nurture a growing family of artists who pull from a wide net of influence and explore what the comics medium is capable of. They’ve published a collection of the Ignatz-nominated Bug Boys, work by Liz Suburbia and Jessi Zabarsky, as well as co-publishing the Ignatz-nominated Ley Lines series with Grindstone Comics.
Today’s my 33rd birthday, and while I haven’t given much thought about how I’m going to celebrate, I have been thinking a lot about how I got this far.
I just walked the stage with the class of 2018 at the Center for Cartoon Studies, concluding my Fellowship here, and I’m about to return to Providence and start another chapter. As an artist with some ambition, the distance between where I am and where I want to be (to paraphrase Osker) seems infinite.
Of course the reality is that I’ve made some significant strides in my career already, the CCS Fellowship being the most recent. When I look back, what stands out the most are all the faces of the people who have continually helped me along. I just wanted to give a shout out to those in comics who stuck their necks out for me time and again.
No such list could begin without thanking my parents, who have always unquestioningly stood behind everything I’ve ever done. Thanks also to my dear partner Cathy G. Johnson who always believes in me especially when I’m not able to believe in myself. Annie Koyama, who I’m convinced is doing more for me than she even tells me about sometimes. The faculty and staff at CCS who chose me to spend nine months here to incubate and reignite my fire. The people behind CXC who decided I was worth investing in. The SPX and TCAF crews (with special shout outs to MDT and Andrew T) who see value in what I do enough to keep having me back and putting me on panels when they can. John G. Neil Brideau. Everyone who helped promote my Kickstarter. My bestie Liz Suburbia who I started the whole thing with (LYLAS). Tom and Jordan for publishing my book. My Providence community. All of my beloved friends in and around this business, and those outside of it. Every artist who I fangirled over who regarded me as a peer. Everyone who reviewed one of my projects. And finally, everyone I’ve learned from.
Three Questions with 2017-18 CCS Fellow Kevin Czap!
Kevin Czap, creator of Fütchi Perf, founder of Czap Books, and winner of the CXC ‘16 Emerging Talent Award took the time to answer a few of our questions about life as a CCS Fellow so far:
Q: How’s life at CCS so far? Have White River Junction and the school inspired/delighted/challenged you in any unexpected ways?
KC: Life is going well at CCS! It feels fulfilling to be in such a
comics-soaked environment after focusing more on other aspects of my
life while I lived in Providence (not that I ever strayed far from my
beloved comics haha). I probably should have predicted feeling this way,
but I have been a little surprised at how quickly I’ve developed
familial, should I say motherly, feelings about the whole crew here. I
definitely feel tender about the class of first years and have been
learning first-hand why everyone loves the individual faculty members.
I’m most thankful for the studio and storage space the school has given
me access to - I can’t remember the last time I had so much space, it
really feels great to have different places to go when it’s time to
work! Also I’ve been sketching so much whenever I can attend a Visiting
Artist talk. As far as challenges go, just missing people back home, but
I knew I’d feel like that.
Q:
Is there a certain quality that makes a Czap Book? What are you looking
for in the books you make and the books you publish?
KC: There’s a visual point of view and a commitment to a specific artistic
voice, I think that’s the most succinct way I’ve been able to put it. I
came up in comics at a time where I saw a conversation going on about
“fusion,” or work that combined various comics traditions from around
the world, and that informs some of what we look to publish. I think
most if not all of the artists we work with are students of comics, so
to speak. It also matters a lot to me who is making the comics - there
needs to be a mutual trust in place, and everyone’s heart should be in
the right place. I want whatever we contribute to comics to help move
things in a better direction. Q: Can you tell us what you’re working on during your Fellowship year?
KC: I’m working on tempering my expectations! Half kidding - I have a big,
paid, colorist gig that I’m working on. I’m also making time to work on a
medium-length comic about friendship that I’m calling “Four Years.”
There are a few other mini-projects I’m taking on in addition to making
sure I take full advantage of this opportunity!
*** We’re proud to announce that subscriptions are now available for the 2018 lineup of our acclaimed comics series Ley Lines. ***
Called “gorgeous… flawlessly curated” (- Nick Francis Potter), Ley Lines titles have been included among the Notable Comics in Best American Comics 2016 and 2017.
Our slate for 2018 will continue to push comics’ boundaries and include new work from the following artists:
Jia Sung on Madame White Snake and Belkis Ayón (February 2018)
Oliver East on “Langweile” (Boredom) (May 2018)
L Nichols on Ludwig van Beethoven (August 2018)
Whit Taylor on the Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (November 2018)
From March 1st until the 31st, the 2018 subscription bundle will be on sale for $20 at leylines.storenvy.com*.
The subscription begins immediately with Jia Sung’s “Skin to Skin”, and include a 2” vinyl sticker featuring art from the issue. Each issue will ship when it becomes available.
Brooklyn-based artist Jia Sung is the art director of Guernica, and teaches at the Museum of Chinese in America and the Children’s Museum of the Arts. Oliver East, based in Manchester UK, is an innovator in comics known for work like Swear Down and Rolling Stock. L Nichols is a cartoonist, designer, mixed-media artist, and co-publisher of the Ley Lines series. Whit Taylor is the author of the recent Ghost Stories, co-editor of Comics for Choice, and has contributed to Critical Chips.
Ley Lines is co-published by Grindstone Comics and Czap Books, printed by Issue Press and will have a run of 500 copies per book thanks to assistance from Koyama Press. Subscriptions are available now throughout the year on leylines.storenvy.com.
*** We’re proud to announce that subscriptions are now available for the 2018 lineup of our acclaimed comics series Ley Lines. ***
Called “gorgeous… flawlessly curated” (- Nick Francis Potter), Ley Lines titles have been included among the Notable Comics in Best American Comics 2016 and 2017.
Our slate for 2018 will continue to push comics’ boundaries and include new work from the following artists:
Jia Sung on Madame White Snake and Belkis Ayón (February 2018)
Oliver East on “Langweile” (Boredom) (May 2018)
L Nichols on Ludwig van Beethoven (August 2018)
Whit Taylor on the Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (November 2018)
From March 1st until the 31st, the 2018 subscription bundle will be on sale for $20 at leylines.storenvy.com*.
The subscription begins immediately with Jia Sung’s “Skin to Skin”, and include a 2” vinyl sticker featuring art from the issue. Each issue will ship when it becomes available.
Brooklyn-based artist Jia Sung is the art director of Guernica, and teaches at the Museum of Chinese in America and the Children’s Museum of the Arts. Oliver East, based in Manchester UK, is an innovator in comics known for work like Swear Down and Rolling Stock. L Nichols is a cartoonist, designer, mixed-media artist, and co-publisher of the Ley Lines series. Whit Taylor is the author of the recent Ghost Stories, co-editor of Comics for Choice, and has contributed to Critical Chips.
Ley Lines is co-published by Grindstone Comics and Czap Books, printed by Issue Press and will have a run of 500 copies per book thanks to assistance from Koyama Press. Subscriptions are available now throughout the year on leylines.storenvy.com.
Three Questions with 2017-18 CCS Fellow Kevin Czap!
Kevin Czap, creator of Fütchi Perf, founder of Czap Books, and winner of the CXC ‘16 Emerging Talent Award took the time to answer a few of our questions about life as a CCS Fellow so far:
Q: How’s life at CCS so far? Have White River Junction and the school inspired/delighted/challenged you in any unexpected ways?
KC: Life is going well at CCS! It feels fulfilling to be in such a
comics-soaked environment after focusing more on other aspects of my
life while I lived in Providence (not that I ever strayed far from my
beloved comics haha). I probably should have predicted feeling this way,
but I have been a little surprised at how quickly I’ve developed
familial, should I say motherly, feelings about the whole crew here. I
definitely feel tender about the class of first years and have been
learning first-hand why everyone loves the individual faculty members.
I’m most thankful for the studio and storage space the school has given
me access to - I can’t remember the last time I had so much space, it
really feels great to have different places to go when it’s time to
work! Also I’ve been sketching so much whenever I can attend a Visiting
Artist talk. As far as challenges go, just missing people back home, but
I knew I’d feel like that.
Q:
Is there a certain quality that makes a Czap Book? What are you looking
for in the books you make and the books you publish?
KC: There’s a visual point of view and a commitment to a specific artistic
voice, I think that’s the most succinct way I’ve been able to put it. I
came up in comics at a time where I saw a conversation going on about
“fusion,” or work that combined various comics traditions from around
the world, and that informs some of what we look to publish. I think
most if not all of the artists we work with are students of comics, so
to speak. It also matters a lot to me who is making the comics - there
needs to be a mutual trust in place, and everyone’s heart should be in
the right place. I want whatever we contribute to comics to help move
things in a better direction. Q: Can you tell us what you’re working on during your Fellowship year?
KC: I’m working on tempering my expectations! Half kidding - I have a big,
paid, colorist gig that I’m working on. I’m also making time to work on a
medium-length comic about friendship that I’m calling “Four Years.”
There are a few other mini-projects I’m taking on in addition to making
sure I take full advantage of this opportunity!
And so we’ve come to the end of the road! We’re packing up for our final convention of the year, the fabulous Comic Arts Los Angeles (CALA). CALA has quickly become one of our favorite shows, and so we’re super excited to be tabling at 43B this weekend, 12/9 & 12/10 from 10am – 5pm. Like CAB, the show has a new venue this year, Homenetmen Ararat (Elevate Fitness Center) at 3000 Dolores St. LA 90065.
We’ll be in town a little earlier in the week, though, for the Fütchi Perf Release Party at Other Books on Thursday 12/7 starting at 7pm! This will be the last stop on my (Kevin Czap) mini-tour for the new Uncivilized Books edition and it’s going to be great!
We’re particularly blessed on the floor this year, sharing elbow room with Czap authors Jessi Zabarsky and Laura Knetzger, Cathy G. Johnson and E Jackson from Drawing a Dialogue, and Beatrix Urkowitz. We won’t be too far away from Evan Dahm, and we’ll have copies of his issue of Ley Lines. “Weird Territory” is a walk through the strange, inspired by the work of the Surrealists. Find it next to the rest of the 2017 schedule at our table!
(Hot tip - Rory Frances is going to have a print edition of Little Teeth, his comic with Jae Bearhat and it’s one of our favorites!! Find Rory near us at 39B - shhh)
As the days get darker and darker, events like this that are organized so lovingly and attract so many heart-powerful people provide a saving light. Really excited to see you there soon, and to help usher in a joyous new year to come ♥
We’re very excited about this year because we’ll be debuting the 13th issue of Ley Lines, this one by longtime favorite of ours Evan Dahm. “Weird Territory” is a walk through the strange, inspired by the work of the Surrealists. This will be the first time you’ll be able to get the full 2017 schedule all together! This is also the fourth year we’ve debuted an issue of Ley Lines at this show - in fact, the line debuted back in 2014 with Annie Mok’s beautiful “Unholy Shapes.” Though that book is now out-of-print, there are plenty of ways to support Annie, so please do.
For once we’ll all be in one big room together, so come check us out at K3, towards the middle. L Nichols will be nearby at J2, and Uncivilized Books will be along the wall at B7. There’s going to be so much to check out at this show, we’re looking forward to seeing you there! ♥
12th December 2018
Reblogged From secretacres
Notes: 3
