| Scheduled for
January 2002 release from Alternative Comics, 9-11: Emergency Relief is
a collection of these cartoonists` personal non-fiction accounts of their
experiences related to the tragedy. 'Cartoonists have been contacting each
other regularly since the tragedy and have come up with this project,'
said editor Jeff Mason, 'The cartoonists wanted to create a collection
of thoughtful, introspective stories.'
From Booklist
The most compelling early
books on September 11, 2001, are pictorial works (see "The Day the World
Changed" [BKL F 1 02]) depicting the World Trade Center attack as history-in-the-making.
This collection of "comics" reports how its contributors, many of them
New Yorkers, reacted physically and emotionally. In Cleveland, all autobiographical
comics writer Harvey Pekar could think was, "I bet it don't get any easier
from here on." Evan Forsch was at work in Suite 8901, One World Trade Center
that day; "Down and Out" shows how he got out. Brooklyner Jenny Gonzalez,
who has had psychiatric problems, wound up wishing she had flipped out
again and "that none of this were true." Michael Kupperman, creator of
the terminally droll Snake 'n' Bacon's Cartoon Cabaret (2000), re-envisions
Goya's Sleep of Reason. Others tell of reacting from afar, and some candidly
disclose their poor reactions. The range of drawing styles runs from polished
mainstream comic-book-like to rough "underground" individualist to painterly.
The publisher says all its profits from this book will go to the American
Red Cross.
Ray Olson
Copyright ©
American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Library Journal
Publisher and editor Mason
has put together an impressive black-and-white anthology recording the
responses of many members of the comics community to the crisis in New
York City on September 11, 2001. Contributors include comics legends such
as Will Eisner, whose one-page statement is heartbreaking, while others
are relative newcomers such as Jessica Abel. Some stories record the actions/reactions
of the cartoonists on that fateful day, while others are impressionistic.
What shines through this collaborative effort is individual reaction to
a collective sense of terror. Of particular interest is the piece "Down
& Out," which takes place on the lower level of the World Trade Center.
The comics industry has had a strong response to the events of September
11, with DC Comics and Marvel Entertainment also producing tribute books,
perhaps because heroism is one of the focal points of American comics.
9-11 tellingly depicts an uncertain and hesitantly optimistic worldview.
Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.
Stephen Weiner, Maynard
P.L., MA
Copyright 2002
Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-More than
60 sequential art pieces address the responses of their creators to the
events of September 11, 2001, in a collection conceived as a fund-raiser
for the American Red Cross. Harvey Pekar, Jeff Smith, Jessica Abel, Ted
Rall, Peter Kuper, and Will Eisner are among the dozens of creative artists
who share their feelings, thoughts, and activities in the wake of the destruction
of the World Trade Center and the other airline attacks on that day. While
some, including Sam Hester, Josh Neufield, and James Kochalka, provide
simple and explicit reports of having an ordinary day in the life of a
working artist turn into an extraordinary confrontation with politics,
bloodshed, and emotional upheaval, others offer complex tales and scenarios
fraught with psychological peril or personal responsibility. Brian Clopper
spent the day teaching elementary school students whom he had been told
not to inform of national and world events, while Jenny Gonzalez, newly
released from a psychiatric hospital, had to contend with her own breakdown
and dental surgery. Most of the pieces here provide reportorial accounts,
but a few offer brilliant metaphor instead. With so many viewpoints, the
surprise is that the collection as a whole is even in quality and absorbing
from beginning to end or as an anthology to be consumed in any order. This
is important for school and public library collections, as well as for
book discussions and auxiliary reading in social science curricula.
Francisca Goldsmith,
Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright 2002
Cahners Business Information, Inc.
James Cramer, Founder, TheStreet.com
A brilliant use of the medium.
Ken Kurson, Money Magazine
...The black-and-white morality
of comics makes the ideal canvas.
James Poniewozik - Time
It is fair to say that this
tragedy--and probably more important, the ensuing conflict--will change
the culture.
Carol Sanders - Winnipeg
Free Press
They tell real stories and
they tell important stories.
Mike Vogel - New York
Metropolis
The comics community is
rallying together to tell their stories and help the victims of the tragedy.
From the Publisher
Jeff Mason is the Publisher
of Alternative Comics, a company billed as `publishers of cool comic books.`
Alternative Comics releases some of the most original and intelligent titles
being created today including work from Graham Annable, Nick Bertozzi,
Ed Brubaker, Tom Hart, Dean Haspiel, Sam Henderson, James Kochalka, Dave
Lasky, Jon Lewis, Josh Neufeld, Jen Sorensen, and Steve Weissman. Alternative
Comics` flagship title INDY MAGAZINE started its critically acclaimed publication
in 1993, went exclusively to the web (indyworld.com) starting in 1999 and
has been THE independent comic guide ever since. Indy Magazine covers independent,
alternative, and self-published comic books, featuring news, interviews,
reviews, convention reports, and articles about the incredibly diverse
world of independent comics. When Jeff is not working on Alternative Comics`
latest release, he is working diligently to protect everyone's rights as
a criminal defense lawyer in Florida.
About (some of) the Authors
Josh Neufeld has been drawing
comics since he was four years old. With his friend of almost 20 years,
Dean Haspiel, Josh co-created Keyhole, where Josh does stories about his
travel experiences in Southeast Asia and Central Europe. Keyhole has run
for six issues with two different publishers. Josh has contributed artwork
to Harvey Pekar's American Splendor (Dark Horse), the SPX anthologies,
The Big Book of Urban Legends (DC/Paradox Press), and Duplex Planet Illustrated
(Fantagraphics), among others. He resides in Brooklyn and makes a living
mixing freelance illustration with web design.
Dimensions (in inches): 0.60 x 10.18 x 6.68
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comics, characters, and related indicia are copyright © their respective
creators, unless otherwise indicated.
