NOW READ THIS! :: JULIUS KNIPL, REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHER
Of all the avenues weaving around and through comics, the comic strip has probably undergone some of the more significant changes in our lifetime. As production and readership of physical newspapers continues to diminish, so does the variety of printed content. Naturally, comic strips are one of the things that inevitably ended up on the chopping block. When I was kid, I knew the work of Charles Schulz, Gary Larson, Hank Ketcham and more, but even in the eighties, the relevance of the strip started to wane. With the exceptions of Calvin and Hobbes and Cul de Sac, there haven’t been too many truly great strips that captivated large audiences in recent decades. But, alas, this post isn’t meant to mourn the passing of the comic strip as a form. No, today I want to turn your attention to a lesser known strip that many of you have probably never even heard of: Ben Katchor’s Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer.
I discovered a collection of Katchor’s strips by accident at Heroes a few years back. If there is an unfortunate aspect of my stumbling upon Katchor’s work, it’s that I never read the actual strips as they initially appeared. Regional papers never carried his strips and even today, you won’t see his latest strips in Metropolis magazine very easily (though you can link HERE for a look at a few of them). It was sheer curiosity that lead me to pick up this random collection. How exciting can a book be when its chief character makes a living taking pictures of various odd buildings around the city? As it turns out, it’s not especially exciting, but it is a brilliant example of how the comic strip remains a fascinating form of entertainment.
The first thing you’ll notice about Katchor’s work is that the strips are simple, usually following an eight panel grid, and almost always crafted with pen, ink and gray tones. These look like the product of the monochromatic city whose stories they capture. Katchor might not have the skilled pen of someone like Richard Thompson or Bill Watterson, but his art is unique among strip artists. Most of the characters appear as short, pudgy and a little broken down. That’s not to say there’s not joy present in the series, only that frequently it appears as a side note. When a character does seem to find a kind of simple happiness, there’s a feeling that it might be the result of a simple-mindedness, or a failure to see a larger picture. Yet, there’s a kind of ebullience that a reader can feel by getting lost in the mundane elements of these strips.
This is one of the great strengths of Katchor’s work. It offers opportunity to observe the tiniest of objects and situations, which enables something akin to escapism, but also an appreciation for the minute detail. Like many strips, it’s probably best to read these one at a time, capturing the essence of their original publication. However, I find Katchor’s work to be quite accessible in a larger coalesced setting. It’s more like reading a series of vignettes than a dense narrative. The result is something that might be the literary equivalent of observational comedy. Katchor’s city is populated with plenty of eccentric characters, but they seem to live with the conviction of their actions. There’s a level of acceptance that these characters show, where seemingly pointless tasks (like a diner’s analysis of soda crackers) are celebrated regardless of their miniscule impact on the world around them.
I’ve always liked the X-Men as characters, but their comics always intimidated me. Between the dense continuity and the scope of the X-corner of the Marvel Universe, it’s hard to know where to start. What other major Marvel characters comprise so many story elements? From the political sphere to magic, time travel, intergalactic adventure, and alternate realities, mutantdom, truly, has it all.
RICO’S PICK :: HAWKEYE #4: It’s still a great time to start following the new Hawkeye series. Javier Pulido is drawing a two issue story arc starting this issue. It’s great when the regular series artist takes a couple months off and someone with a unique visual style steps in. Pulido had great runs on Spider-Man, Robin and Catwoman and he’s going to be a perfect fit on Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye.
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ANDY’S PICK :: NEXUS OMNIBUS TP VOL 01: One of the most influential (and BEST!) comic book series of the late eighties/early nineties was NEXUS written by Mike Baron and drawn by Steve Rude. Dark Horse has released a very affordable soft cover Omnibus edition that collects the first 14 issues of Nexus’ adventures. Nexus tells the epic story– set in our distant future– of a man who is given immense super-powers so he can dispense justice upon known serial killers throughout the galaxy. The plots are exciting and the writing is crisp and very witty, the characters are original and memorable but it is the art by Steve Rude that makes this series (and this omnibus) truly essential reading. Rude is able to pack each panel with so many details of the alien worlds that Baron creates, but it never, ever bogs down the fluid story telling. The story moves across the page as if you are watching a movie. These are terrific comics and know this–Volume 2 will be even better.
HEATHER’S PICK :: DEADPOOL#2: I find myself completely shocked to be selecting a Deadpool title to recommend this week. I mean, this is a character that previously fought a vampire cow, for goodness sake. (AND ate that vampire cow when he turned into a burger after being staked…) However the Marvel NOW team on Deadpool made me decide to give this title a chance and I am glad I did. Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn’s writing is funny and on-point. Tony Moore’s art matches the playful spirit of the story very well. Geoff Darrow’s covers are wonderful and we can’t ignore the bang up coloring job by that sweet guy, Val Staples. I would also be remiss if I failed to mention that ex-president, Teddy Roosevelt, punches a bear in this issue. That’s right, punches a BEAR right in the face. Now that’s a leader a free world!
JUSTIN’S PICK :: BRAVEST WARRIORS #2: Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward trades in the fantasy tropes for sci-fi in this charming new series. Hearkening back to the halcyon days of 80s team adventure (think SilverHawks or Voltron), the action is undercut with a quirky and disarming sense of humor. Great for readers young and young-at-heart, Bravest Warriors should please any fan of Ward’s, Adventure Time, or cartoons in general.
Looking Ahead is our monthly column where we talk about some key things you’ll find in the most recent issue of Previews. You can order any of these books and more by simply looking through Previews and letting us know which ones you’d like. Just make sure you get your orders to us by November 18.
What is the Great American Comic Strip? Does such a thing exist? Like trying to figure out what book is the Great American Novel or which songwriter is the Great American Composer, it is a fun exercise but there are too many diverse (and worthwhile) opinions. It is a no-win argument. But still…. Many would choose Peanuts, Pogo or perhaps Little Orphan Annie and those are fabulous choices, but in my own opinion, there is one clear cut leader for that elusive title: Gasoline Alley
