Restricted Frequency #159
Comicbook Cover Design, Octobriana 1976, #FreeMustafa, The Shock of Victory
1. On Cover Design For Comic Books
Cover Design isn't solely an aesthetic endeavor but involves a great many practical considerations as well, which differ as per what the cover design is for. Not solely because of the content it is meant to reflect/package, but more importantly how it is retailed and displayed. Ultimately, a cover design's most important function is to sell the product, so how the product is sold must inform how the product is designed.
When it comes to comicbook covers, I used to think that the approach to design that has dominated the industry for decades was largely due to a failure of the imagination: cornerbox featuring company logo, issue number, date, price, next title.
Notice, I'm focusing here on what is often referred to in the industry as “cover dress”, not the illustration that goes on the cover (which also has its share of redundancies across the comicbook industry).
(also, just realizing there are an awful lot of guns in the above selection, huh?)
2. Print Your Own THE SOLAR GRIDs
As a hopeless print-head, I had to go ahead and make my own copies of THE SOLAR GRID #5. Not to sell (just yet), but just to make sure everything looks good in print before proceeding with the next chapter (and I did spot a typo *facepalm*). For a limited time only, hi-res downloads of all chapters to date are now available for download. Happy to see other zinesters, makers, and readers make their own bootleg copies while it’s still possible.
3. Review: Octobriana 1976
A comic about a mythical public domain revolutionary created in hiding by underground cartoonist networks in Kiev? Brought back to life by Jim Rugg in glorious fluorescent black-light inks?
This, without even thinking about it for a split second, blows all my whistles. From the subject matter to the character's peculiar history, to the unique printing treatment, to the very cartoonist behind this revival, I was all in, and jumped at the chance to back this comicbook on Kickstarter as soon as it was announced.
Fluorescent inks aside however, the end result is largely underwhelming.
4. Hands Up (Vol. 2)
Thanks to everyone who emailed about my installation HANDS UP (VOL. 2). It has been saved and is now en route to a collector based in Italy.
5. #FreeMustafa
On August 15, I received a message from Mustafa Sameh Hassanien, currently held in Egypt's infamous Tora Prison.
I met Mustafa in passing, on January 25 of this year in New York City. A student of cinema studies at the College of Staten Island, Mustafa struck me as a passionate, bright, and incredibly creative young man. On May 14th, he boarded a flight to Cairo to visit family he hadn't seen in a long time, but upon his arrival at Cairo International Airport, he was taken aside and questioned, likely about an opinion or two he might've expressed online in regards to the Egyptian regime (helmed by Trump's “favorite dictator” Abdel Fattah Al Sisi). He has since been in custody.
6. Restricted Radar
The Shock of Victory — Short essay by David Graeber and eulogy for him by CrimethInc.
Magicians Against Fascism — A manifesto by Andrea Nicosia.
The Last of the Zoroastrians — A funeral, a family, and a journey into a disappearing religion.
BLINDSIGHT by Peter Watts — a novel available for free download in multiple formats.
After six months of mostly isolation, we’re headed to a nearby beach town for a few days. Of course, the universe conspired against us and has decided to bring rain and storm where we’re going. No matter though. A good book and a small journal ought to do the trick.
Yes, wear a mask and take all necessary precaution when venturing out, but remember there’s a difference between social distancing and complete isolation. If you’re starting to lose your mind, there are ways around it without being totally reckless.
Take care and thanks for reading,
Ganzeer
Houston, TX