Time Warp Comix #7
Reviewed by R. Krauss
Edited by Dan W. Taylor
Weird Muse Productions, Dec. 2008
8-page traditional mini comic
$1 per copy
Website: http://weirdmuse.ecrater.com/
Clay Geerdes (1933-1997) didn't invent mini comix, but during the 70s and 80s he published more of them than anyone-literally hundreds. Geerdes was at the center of the newave comix era of that period. His formula for a mini comix was a single sheet of paper printed on both sides, cut in half, folded, and stapled into an 8-page comix. And he loved to print his comix on colored paper, even mixing them up on the same issue.
Geerdes' newsletter, beginning in 1973 was part of the glue that held the newave cartoonist community together. Each 2-page issue of Comix World was packed with news and information about the latest underground and newave comix along with Geerdes' enthusiasm and encouragement about the medium of mini comix and self-publishing.
In 2007 Dan W. Taylor decided to begin publishing a tribute to Geerdes, through his Weird Muse Productions. He titled it Time Warp Comix and put out word to as many of his old newave buddies as he could find. Initially he considered a larger book, but in the end he decided to emulate Geerdes' format of 8-page issues printed on colored paper.
Issue #7 is the latest edition which sports a cover by Taylor. Taylor, like all of the other contributors was one of the original newavers. A prolific and lifelong artist, Taylor published many of his own titles such as the Book of Art and Badgirl; contributed to many of Geerdes' mini comics including Babyfat; and today publishes the Weird Muse line.
Bob Vojtko's 2-pager is a tribute comic that features Clay himself still publishing mini comics in heaven. Vojtko was big part of the newave era and still manages to contribute comics to projects like this one in between his ambitious output of gag cartoons for Reader's Digest, the Saturday Evening Post, Women's World, etc.
Bruce Chrislip's 3-pager is a tribute as well, but I don't want to give away the punchline, so we'll leave it at that. Chrislip was another very active member of the newave scene, published the long running City Limits Gazette, Paper Comix, The Wit and Humor of (Richard Nixon) and many other titles.
The final 2 pages are full page illustrations by Tom Brinkmann. Brinkmann contributed to dozens of Geerdes' titles and published several of his own during the newave. Since then he's continued to produce amazing artwork and written a book called Bad Mags, which also has a companion website http://www.badmags.com (Adults Only).
As a single issue, Time Warp Comix #7 provides a quick glimpse into the flavor and talent of the newave comix era. But if you really want to get a taste for it, check out the whole series at the Weird Muse Productions website. At only $1 a copy, they're a great value.
Reflections on Clay Geerdes
David Miller http://www.thescreamonline.com/photo/photo4-1/geerdes/bio.html
Par Holman http://claygeerdes.blogspot.com/
Howard Cruse http://www.howardcruse.com/loosecruse/2008/05/26/this-ones-for-the-trees-hills-gang/
Take A Look Inside
Reviewer Bio
R. Krauss reviews small press and mini comics on Midnight Fiction, Poopsheet Foundation and Comic Related.
Name: Richard Krauss
email: arkay@midnightfiction.com
Been reading comics: since I started reading Marvel comics in Junior High School.
Review Bio: After several years I discovered titles like Zap and Bijou at a headshop and was seduced by the freedom and variety they offered. When the new-wave comix era sprouted from the seeds of the undergrounds, I quickly joined the ranks of other struggling cartoonists with phenomenally low print runs. After almost a decade of small press comix, I retired and made a solemn vow never to return. Several years later the Internet happened and over time many of my favorite new-wave cartoonists got online. The bug bit again and I started exploring the new crop of small press cartoonists. Today's explosion of small press comics is more exciting than any time I've ever seen.
Favorites: Papercutter, Not My Small Diary, Slam Bang, Comic Eye, stuff from Main Enterprises and Weird Muse, to name a few.
Website: MidnightFiction.com
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