Restricted Frequency #155
TSG #5 Progress, Paul Pope's 100%, and Mail re:Warren
1. TSG #5 Progress
Y’all know about the unholy love I have for black and white comix (and art more broadly), but I’m really digging how these “Mars pages” are shaping up in Ch. 5 of THE SOLAR GRID. Quite happy with how I managed to maintain clear storytelling while simultaneously injecting each page with what can only be described as information overload.
This is gonna be some groundbreaking comix, at least as far as my own practice is concerned.
2. Review: 100% by Paul Pope
Paul Pope isn't my favorite writer, but he may very well be my favorite storyteller in comix. And 100% may just be my favorite of Pope's work to date. As someone who's followed Pope since his indie THB days, I suppose that's saying a lot. 100% strings three stories together into one by way of overlapping characters in a somewhat similar vein as Quentin Tarentino's PULP FICTION, albeit far more linear in its telling. Like Pulp Fiction, one of 100%'s “stories” even centers around a boxer. But more specifically, his relationship with a woman named Strel who manages a strip club but would rather start a coffee roasting company instead. The other story involves Strel's cousin Eloy and her friend Kim who begin to take a liking to one another. Eloy's a conceptual artist who lives in a former bread factory where he's been toiling away on an art installation that involves an array of teapots he's been amassing. Kim, with the help of Strel, buys a gun after a young girl was found murdered near the club. Throughout the story we are made aware of the gun's presence on Kim's person, but—in complete defiance of Chekhov's principle—the gun is never used. In fact, most of 100% would drive Chekhov up the wall, for the majority of plot points are rather pointless. Less so with the third of the book's stories, which revolves around a new dancer at Strel's club and—more importantly—a busboy she gets involved with. I suspect this one to be somewhat autobiographical and possibly for that reason the most genuine of the lot.
3. Mail
From: Charlie Twist
Hey,
I just wanted alto say thank you, I’ve been following restricted frequency for years (found you via Ellis funnily enough).
I’m a sexual abuse survivor and this whole mess has been so very triggering, to the point that I’ve not been able to verbalise why I’ve been so uncomfortable with the response I’ve seen. You’ve put it into words beautifully.
We have to allow people the option to change, learn, grow. Victims don’t, but that’s a very different space.
Regards,
Charlie
Charlie,
Thanks for writing. It pains me to know you’ve been through such a traumatizing experience, and I can only imagine what this sort of thing might trigger for you. I’m glad to know my post spoke to you though. I hope you’re in a good space now, and I’m glad to have you with us.
From: Derek Beecham
Thank you for your thoughts on Warren and the trouble he seems to have brought to these women and on himself. I don’t know about any of it - I was just introduced to his writing a few years ago. I read Normal and then started reading his newsletter. The whole thing makes me really sad since all I know is the generosity of his spirit he shared online. So again, thanks for your perspective and my heart goes out to all involved.
Peace
Hey Derek,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ve gotten quite a few responses from people who—like myself—are longtime readers of Warren’s work, dating back to the 90’s. You’re the first I’d describe as a “newcomer”. The news seems to have shaken a great many people. Some have even described it as “grieving”. It’s my understanding that that’s how some people are feeling about JKR and her sentiments right now (given that a lot of people have read her since childhood). Not me though, I’ve never bothered with a Potter book. Warren though…
From: Max Brewer
Hey, I've seen quite a few responses to the Warren Ellis mess on the republic of newsletters lately. This is the only one that rang true. Thanks for that
Thanks, Max. I’m glad it spoke to you.
I’m not able to respond to or share all the mail I’ve received on the matter, so I just chose a random three. To everyone who’s written, I' hope you’re cool with that, and please know that I’ve read every single one of your emails. 🙏
4. Tick Tock
We are now in the baby-will-emerge-any-day-now phase, and I’m racing against the clock working on TSG #5 pages before the destined day is upon us. My plan was to be done with the thing by July 1st already, but some of these pages involve new art-making dimensions completely non-existent in chapters 1 though 4, which has totally messed with my time-assessment abilities. 😬
Even still, gotta try to speed through these pages before baby, because I suspect post-baby will put me out of work for a month or so. After all, it’s just the wife and me in a new city suddenly overrun by cough of death. No chance of family flying in to lend a hand any time soon.
Oh, I should say, reason behind the 100% review above (aside from my wanting to) is I ran a little poll on Twitter which resulted in 100% and Jack Kirby’s NEW GODS ranking highest in a tie. So next review will be New Gods but after that I’ma try and focus on more small press material if possible.
If you enjoyed this edition of Restricted Frequency, let it be known by liking and sharing below. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can also toss a little somethin’ somethin’ in the tip jar.
Thanks for reading and talk soon,
Ganzeer
Houston, TX