Panel Patter: The Newsletter, Small Business Saturday Edition
Maybe stop with all the dystopic novels in which one corporation controls everything because, you know, CEOs aren't really all that creative and we're just brainstorming ideas for them.
Welcome to this week’s iteration of Panel Patter: The Newsletter. We hope all of our American readers were able to celebrate Thanksgiving as best as possible. And to our swarms of international readers, especially our devoted Danish and Tanzanian fanbases, we hope you had a great week, too.
Hey, we’re on Instagram
Have you checked out our Instagram page yet?
No, I’m waiting for Sean to start a TikTok.
That’s fair. But the rest of us can follow @panelpatter on Insta for a different way to tap into Paneldom. Neil is doing a great job getting things kicked off.
Welcome aboard, Simr!
The Panel Patter team has grown again!
My name is Simr and I’m 19 years old. I’m currently a college student in New York City and an aspiring comic creator. I love writing, drawing, and reading comics. I’m a big fan of independent comics and crime comics such as Death or Glory, Southern Bastards, and Criminal.
Recent Patterings
Department of Truth Issues 1-3 by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds
James explores the firs three issues of Tynion and Simmonds epic of the post-truth era and dissects how the book functions not only as an assessment of disinformation and propaganda that surround our current conspiracy theory-laden media landscape, but also as a historical analysis of what us to such a place as well as a polemic for what happens if we don’t course correct. A great blend of linguistics, political philosophy, and thriller, Department of Truth is just the kind of book that lends itself to the types of analysis James provides.
In a better, more just, more rational world, this would be an absolute absurdity that would exist purely in the realm of science fiction and fantasy. It would just be a fun, ridiculous concept. However, let’s look at the reality that we actually do live in.
Finding the Man in the Painter’s Room
Famous artists often tend to be compelling figures, and among them, Vincent Van Gogh has consistently earned a special level of intrigue. Graphic biographies of artists can be a tough sell - art about art can often feel diluted or too imitative. But kudos to Jamison Odone, who delighted Sean with this work because he was able to focus on the waning years of the famous Dutch artist’s life,. all while incorporating an art style that tipped the cap to the Fauvist master without descending into simulacra.
We as readers learn many things about the mysteriousness that surround Van Gogh in this graphic depiction of the final act of Van Gogh’s life and Jamison Odone does a fantastic job keeping things relevant to his voice and interesting to the reader. He knew what he wanted to say about Van Gogh without having to tell the entire story of his life
Catch It at the Comic Shop November 25th, 2020
Most of us had a hard time limiting our picks this week. It was a strong showing on the shelves, and if you’ve yet to make it to the shop this week, be sure to check out our picks before you go.
On the Information Superhighway (State Road 13, by the way)
Best Shots review - X of Swords: Destruction #1 a "big, loud, chaotic conclusion"
Over at Newsarama, fellow Patterer Scott Cederlund articulates mixed feelings at the conclusion of X of Swords, an Icarian event that showed incredible promise, but might have collapsed under its own weight.
It's really kind of predictable in an all too obvious way. Hickman and Howard navigated the hard and emotionally messy parts to get here in other comic books so this issue drops a lot of the conceits and crazy notions that have gotten us invested in the story up to this point and just give in to the baser instincts of these kinds of stories.
Utopia Canceled After One Season
Someone check on Kirk, please. Let him know The Boys got renewed. THE BOYS GOT RENEWED, KIRK. THERE’S EVEN GOING TO BE A SPIN-OFF. EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT!
Small Business Saturday Spotlight
We have profiled a few comic shops here on the newsletter. Consider patronizing their mail order services with your Small Business Saturday business.
Third Eye Comics
Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse
Anyone Comics
Floating World Comics
Vault of Midnight
The Million Year Picnic
It hasn’t been a great year for any small business, and we all know comic shops took an especially big hit with the temporary Diamond shut down. A few of these stores have had more personal hardships, others have been caught amidst the chaos surrounding the summer protests, and others are feeling the continued effects of additional lockdown measures. Avoid Amazon, and perhaps do some Christmas shopping at one of our profiled stores, or any of the small businesses in your area - be they comic book stores, traditional book shops, or another type of specialty store.
From the Archives
James' 2016 Favorites Part 1: Favorite Books and Writers
As we wind down the 27 months that have made up 2020, we’ll remember some of our favorites from years past. Check out the favorites James cooked up for 2016 and recall just what a great year it was for comics.
Extra Patterings
What did you read this week?
Steven
I'm still a pretty new comic book fan. This week I've been reading Transmetropolitan, which you can read with Comixology Unlimited. I've really been enjoying it so far. The setting is so full of life, the art is intricate and gorgeous, and I think Ellis walks the razor thin line between depressing nihilism and hopeful humanism with grace and ease.
Sean
I’ve been doing a lot of back issue reading of early 2020 titles to refresh for my year end list. But recently I’ve been LOVING Department of Truth. That comic has the potential to be a very big force in the comic industry. Visually imaginative, stylistically inspiring and much more timely than I’m comfortable admitting.
Beth
I just got caught up on the latest series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'm not sure if its still politically correct to like Joss Whedon, but, man, I'm enjoying the heck out of this updated take on Sunnydale.
James
I've been really enjoying all of the X of Swords books; it's been fun to have something to follow and engage with on a week-to-week basis.
Rob
More of Hickman's X-Men and oh boy is it good.
Mike
I thoroughly enjoyed the whimsy that was Eight Lane Runaways. I’m still thinking about the book days later; I’m not sure if I’ve read anything like it before. I also appreciated Goiter #5, and I remarked to the crew that it feels like an even more absurdist take on Chris Ware.
What’s on your reading pile?
Steven
Well, more backlog. I'd like to finish Gotham Central, and I just picked up Vol, 1 of Lumberjanes.
Sean
More rereads of early 2020 titles. Also, Shuri: Wakanda Forever & Three Jokers.
Beth
Getting caught up on Strange Adventures.
James
With a new volume of Gideon Falls out, I'm going t0 reread the series from the beginning. Also, some DC books (Doomsday Clock, Legion of Super Heroes, Wonder Twins)
Rob
Anything and everything 2020.
Mike
Rodeo 1 and 2 just arrived in the mail, and I’ve been itching to crack both those open. I’m also starting to re-read all of Coffin Bound.
Give a hint or preview about your end of year list.
Steven
Unfortunately, since I've only been reading comics for a month or so, my end of the year list so far has Rorschach and Commanders in Crisis, mostly because those are the only two I've had the chance to read.
Sean
There’s two lists. The long box and the short box. Other than that.. you get nothing. [wink]
Beth
TBD. :-)
James
I'm selecting a top 25, and I'm very happy with the variety of choices in that top 25. Some choices will not be a surprise (e.g., Immortal Hulk) but some are not my typical picks.
RobI
I think there's going to be a bit more in the Mighty Marvel Manner than usual, as this year found me going back to familiar faces.
Mike
I’m toying with doing a core list and a specific DC list. One way or another, Daniel Warren Johnson’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is showing up.
Name something your thankful for in comics.
Steven
A rich and varied history, which means you never run out of quality things to read.
Sean
Is it cheating to just say *comics*? Cuz that really sums it up for me.
Beth
Jody Houser's writing on the Doctor Who comics. Her lively tales of 10 and 13 are getting me through this year of no new series of Who on TV.
James
The number of talented artists and writers out there telling interesting stories. The industry can always do better, but there's a lot of great comics to choose from.
Rob
That many of my friends are being so successful in their careers, despite all the crap going on this year.
Mike
My favorite thing in comics is the Panel Patter crew. We’ve become such a tight group. Our new friends are adding to the family, and I always feel supported by this team. Also Jeff Lemire.
That does it for this week of Panel Patter: The Newsletter. Follow us on Twitter, and be sure to check out the Instagram page.