More Things Like This: More of Everything

I recently received my copy of More Things Like This from the good people of McSweeney's (though the book was published by Chronicle), and I was trying to figure out how to summarize it. I can't. But at the very least I'll say it's overflowing with work by people I grew up admiring, and seeing a cartoon of mine on the same spread with Shel Silverstein's art is humbling (to put it mildly).

The book is an expansion of the aforeposted gallery show and catalog Lots of Things Like This and includes works from Marcel Duchamp, Kurt Vonnegut, Edward Gorey, Henry Darger, David Mamet, David Byrne, Basquiat, Leonard Cohen, Robert Crumb, and too many others to list. Fellow Holy Consumptionites Jeffrey Brown and Anders Nilsen are in there as well, on pages 199 and 187 respectively. Pick up a copy at your earliest convenience, then buy another when you damage the first from passing out and falling on top of it, ruining the spine and dog-earing the pages.

Punk's Not Dead, Just Its Best Magazine

Dan Sinker, the publisher of Punk Planet, is one of my personal heroes, in addition to being one of the nicest guys in the city of Chicago. When I received the e-mail from him saying that Punk Planet magazine (for which I drew the cover of issue 56 (above)) would be closing up shop (due, in large part, to distribution collapses affecting many independent publishers (see the McSweeney's post below)), I couldn't help but be depressed. Punk Planet was one of the better publications out there, showcasing the best in punk art, music, and all around culture, and consistently debunking the falsity that punk is dead or that punk is some prepackaged three chord structure or clothespin through a jean jacket. Punk Planet was a good magazine, steered by good people, and it helped engaged individuals connect over the past thirteen years. I can't urge people enough to purchase books and magazines from them, because, though the magazine is gone for now (and will be sorely missed), Dan is one of my heroes for a reason: he will continue promoting the best elements of independent culture in any way he can. And that dedication will always have inspiring results.

Punk Planet is dead, long live Punk Planet.

Wholphin and the Necessity of McSweeney's

I've been meaning to post something about the DVD magazine Wholphin, produced by the fine people at McSweeney's, and now is as good a time as any. Actually, scratch that: now is a better time than any. McSweeney's needs your help.

Many small publishers have been hard hit due to recent bankruptcies in the distribution realm, and McSweeney's is among those publishers. And I do mean hard hit: to the tune of $130,000. For more information on the reality of this loss and its ramifications, please read more here.

McSweeney's is, in my opinion, one of the most important publishers of the past decade. They have help to found and promote writing centers across the country, they have given a publishing vehicle to the voice of prisoners, educators, young writers, the underprivileged, and other voices with so much to say, but so often without a way to be heard. Please help out. And helping out is as simple as buying amazing books and DVDs. Who loses there? Not you, and certainly not McSweeney's.

I bought the first issue of Wholphin based simply on the good taste and reputation of the people of McSweeney's. But they, as they so often do, only outdid themselves. I immediately bought a subscription to Wholphin. I heavily recommend you do the same. Great film. Great literature. Great design. Great comedy. Great people. Long live McSweeney's.