Unbelievable Unknown Origins & Untimely Ends

 

Finishing up this Indie month, I chose to go out with Unknown Origins & Untimely Ends, a collection of 32 unbelievable but true tales of bizarre phenomena and cold cases, edited by Emi Gennis.

One thing I love about anthologies is they expose readers to dozens of authors and artists. And this is no exception. I found several writers and illustrators whose work I would like to see more of.

As choosing a favorite would be purely a matter of stylistic preference, I will refrain from doing so.

In this collection, contributors present the known facts about their cases. Some add embellishment, others offer a possible explanation, but in each case, the “truth” is left to the readers’ speculations.

The tales come from around the world and span over 400 years. Likewise, the authors also come from around the world, (although most are from North America) with their styles varying as widely as their locations.

Some stories, readers may be familiar with, such as D. B. Cooper or Harry Holt, but I doubt any will have heard of all the cases.

Filled with intriguing tales for which one can’t help but offer one’s own theory, this book is for anyone who likes a good unsolved mystery.

Unknown Origins &amp: Untimely Ends, is available from Hic & Hoc Publications.

Alone with a Really Good Story

Continuing with Indie Month, I have another little gem I picked up at RIPExpo. It’s hard to believe this talented storyteller is still a student.

A self-published collection of an on-going web comic, Alone, by Olivia Stephens, started as a class project, but has since taken on a life of its own.

While her influences include manga and anime, Olivia has a style of her own. Furthermore, her diverse world is a refreshing change from the typical love story.

Jack, a Latino widower, and Sarah, a single woman of color, seek to build a relationship together, but things from their past have a way of interfering.

Each “chapter” examines a point in their lives — some before, most after they meet — with more chapters available on-line.

My favorite chapter is “Listen” in which Sarah shares her music with Jack for the first time. There are so many things right with how this moment of trust is depicted and how the music is shown.

As this project is still a work in progress, there is a bit of jumping around the timeline, although I trust (when she has created more) Ms. Stephens will compile a volume that intersperses the back-story chapters just about the time the reader wonders what happened.

Still only a student, Olivia Stephens looks to have a promising career ahead. Alone is worth checking out.

Read Alone or check out Olivia Stephens’ portfolio.

In Praise of Being a Tomboy

I discovered Tomboy at RIPE 2015. Actually, to be more precise, my con/expo travelling companion, Julia, discovered it, remarking it was really good.

Tomboy, an autobiographical comic written and illustrated by Liz Prince, recounts what it was like growing up a Tomboy.

The graphic format gives the story a life that would be lost in prose. Liz’s cartoony illustrations are appropriate for the humorous narrative style, but there is nothing childish about either.

The message is an important one: what is the trade off between fitting in and being true to one’s self. Fortunately for Liz, she has a supportive mother, unlike many outcast kids whose parents tell them to “try and fit in.”

Growing up at a time when gender was determined by the delivery room doctor, Liz refuses to act like a girl. She hates dresses, likes playing Ghostbusters and being a Jedi.

While her gender is in question, her sexuality is not: she likes boys. Watching her former tomboy friends get “girly” and get the boys, she worries no boy would ever want her.

Still, Liz feels she wasn’t supposed to be a girl — until a mentor asks her why. She then realizes being gender non-conforming does not make her any less of a woman.

An amusing memoir, Tomboy will ring true not only for anyone who has endured similar torment, but for everyone who has ever questioned what it means to be “me.”

Tomboy is available at Liz Prince’s website: http://lizprincepower.com/store.

Big Lessons from Small Town Americus

I met and interviewed MK Reed at RIPE 2015. As I recall, she said it only took her a few months to write, but it took Jonathan Hill 2-3 years to illustrate it.

Americus could be any small town and Neil Barton could be any eighth-grader who avidly reads a popular fantasy series. But the anguish of being a teenager starting high school is made worse when his best friend is shipped off to military school and a group of parents wants that popular fantasy series, The Chronicles of Apathea Ravenchilde, banned from the public library. MK Reed shows a little escapism can be a big help when it comes to finding the strength to do the right thing.

On the surface, Americus is a criticism of censorship and self-righteous ignorance: those leading the charge haven’t even read the books. Yet, on a deeper level, it is about broadening ones horizons and by doing so, standing up to bullies, who can come in all shapes, sizes, and ages.

Interspersed throughout the Americus are excerpts from The Chronicles of Apathea Ravenchilde. While the protagonists are complete opposites, Apathea’s struggle is not so different from Neil’s. Her story offers him words of encouragement as he battles his own ‘dragons.’

Jonathan Hill uses different drawing techniques for the two stories: Neil’s life is line drawing, while Apathea’s is grayscale. Both styles clearly convey their respective stories.

Not just for teens, Americus has a message for everyone.

Published by First Second Press.