A good portion of the CCS student body will be heading to the MoCCA Fest this weekend to sell their latest comics. Several top-notch publications will debut there, including the smash hit anthology Sundays 3.
I wanted to share a few of the thesis publications that will be available at the CCS table at MoCCA. Of course, they are available at the Schulz Library.
These Things Happen by Sam Carbaugh
Sam experiments with the medium in each issue of These Things Happen, yet he tells stories that are consistently personal. It’s the common thread that connects these stories, and makes it feel like a true series despite the varied content.
I especially enjoyed These Things Happen Volume 3. I found Mabel’s voice to be very authentic, and this voice carried the story for me. In general, the voice Sam gives his protagonists, through dialogue (with real or imagined people) or inner monologue is balanced and has a light touch.
There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles with Sam’s book design, but there doesn’t need to be. The small book size makes the work feel intimate (perhaps reminiscent of poetry chap books?) With volume 3, Sam plays with the design in and inventive way. By making the book a flip book (a book with two covers, the page orientation flips half way through) its design strengthens the content – you literally see both sides of the story.
Beauty Patrol by Kubby Barry
Beauty Patrol is a substantial work, a stand-alone piece that’s fully realized. I like how Kubby used various aspects of the artwork as narrative devices. An address on a letter or text on a receipt acts a chapter title.
This story explains just enough to be understood but keeps enough hidden to encourage a deeper contemplation on the part of the reader. It is well drawn, the characters are nicely designed and consistent.
The book itself is a great package, the screen-printing is remarkable. It’s a challenging, multi-color “fountain” print. The cover image and title seem random, but somehow this doesn’t bother me.
Both excellent works! Hunt them down at MoCCA.
— Robyn Chapman
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