On the Coffee Table: Far Arden

Title: Far Arden
Writer and Artist: Kevin Cannon

via Amazon

Kevin Cannon and I went to the same college, though not at the same time.  I know his business partner Zander Cannon (no relation) better as Zander was in my class.  However, I've gotten to know Kevin's work reasonably well over the past few years through the duo's collaboration on the online comic Double Barrel.  Kevin's primary story in that effort was Crater XV, actually a sequel to Far Arden. 

Also originally a web comic, Far Arden tells the story of Army Shanks, a pirate-ish guy who trolls the Canadian Arctic.  Far Arden is his quest: a mysterious tropical paradise hidden away somewhere in the frozen north.  He is joined by an old flame, an orphan in an arctic fox costume and two eager college students whose romantic involvement is not what it seems.  Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Arctic Navy (RCAN - is that really a thing?) is hot on his trail.

Kevin has developed a distinctive style.  His characters remind me of Don Martin of Mad Magazine fame but what sets Kevin's work apart is his use of sound bubbles.  Rather than the usual onomatopoeia - Pow! Wham! Kaboom! - he'll use more descriptive expressions: Listful Kick, Gesticulate, Hoodie String Pull, etc. 

I'll definitely be checking out more of Kevin's work and so should you - this is good stuff.  Far Arden is available in French, too.  The Cannons have done a fair amount of artwork for non-fiction graphic novels.  I think I'll try those next.

Double Barrel #12

Title: Double Barrel
Issue #12
Release: November 2013
Writers: Kevin and Zander Cannon
Artists: Kevin and Zander Cannon

via Top Shelf

With this, the twelfth issue, season one of Double Barrel finally comes to a close.  Both Zander's Heck and Kevin's Crater XV wrapped up nicely.  Both stories are available in graphic novel form for anyone keen to read from the beginning.

A second season is promised, eventually.  Both Cannons are full-time freelancers in the comics biz so their other projects are going to keep them busy for a while.  Zander's been doing a lot of DC work recently, including a Justice League book with Geoff Johns.  According to Zander, the second season of DB will be different - more episodic stories released maybe three times a year rather than monthly.  I'm looking forward to following the work of both creators in the meantime.

Double Barrel #11

Title: Double Barrel
Issue: #11
Release: July 2013
Writers: Kevin and Zander Cannon
Artists: Kevin and Zander Cannon

Image via Top Shelf Productions

The Cannons have been quite busy over the past few months with the release of the trade publications of their Double Barrel serials.  Zander's Heck and Kevin's Crater XV are both available wherever books are sold.  Due to the hectic schedule, it's been a couple of months since web issues were posted but #11 is now on sale.  I got my copy at comiXology.

In this, the penultimate installment, both stories race to the finish line.  Heck strives to rescue his sidekick Elliott while the stage is set for revelations about the key players in Crater XV.   Also included are The Clandestinauts by Tim Sievert, True Tales of Jin by Zander and How to Make Distinctive Looking Characters, also by Zander.  Frequent visitors already know that the How to: section is usually my favorite.  Zander opens his treatise with the assertion that Bruce Wayne is the most famous cartoon character in the world without a distinctive look.  I'd never thought of that before.

Double Barrel #10

Title: Double Barrel
Issue: #10
Release: May 2013
Writers: Kevin and Zander Cannon
Authors: Kevin and Zander Cannon

Image via ComicVine

Both Zander's Heck and Kevin's Crater XV are speeding towards their conclusions.   Only two more issues to go!  In Heck, the embittered Hector passes on the message his client/love interest Amy sent him to find.  In Crater XV, crucial details of the characters' pasts are revealed.  Extras include part two of Tim Sievert's The Clandestinauts, Kevin's Penny from the Front and Zander's True Tales of Jin.  In this month's How to: section, Kevin offers "Basic Design Concepts for Cartoonists." I will admit upfront that most of the material is way over my head, yet I am grateful for the insight into such matters as resolution, font and color.

Double Barrel is available anywhere electronic comics or eBooks are sold.  I got my copy at ComiXology. 

A Comic Book Scavenger Hunt, A-Z: Dirty Plotte

Title: Dirty Plotte
Issue: #2
Release: March 1991
Writer and Artist: Julie Doucet
Store: Drawn & Quarterly (Montreal, Quebec)

Image via Comic Book Resources

Dirty Plotte is for mature readers only: a journey through the author's own anxious adventures, both real and imagined.   Topics range from menstruation to breast cancer to cannibalism - and that's the lighter fare.  While not exactly my taste, the series met with great critical success, nominated for a Harvey Award for best new series.  Doucet did win the Harvey for best new talent.

My scavenger hunt was pretty straight-forward: find single-issue comic books off the rack with titles starting from A-Z.  Go check out the rest of the participants in this year's A-Z challenge.  The official site is here.

Today, a bonus offering, also beginning with D:

Double Barrel #9 by Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon

Image via Twitter

Double Barrel is a web-only comic.  I went to college with the Cannons (not actually related to each other) and while that makes me admittedly biased, I would not steer you wrong, fellow travelers.  This is good stuff!  Each issue is a bargain, too: $1.99 for the new issue, $0.99 for the past ones.  You should all go check it out.  And start from issue #1.  I got my copy at ComiXology but you should be able to find it wherever e-books or e-comics are sold.

Each issue contains chapters from two serialized stories: Zander's Heck and Kevin's Crater XV. Loads of extras are included each month as well: shorter comics and, my favorite, the How to: section in which the artists share insights into their chosen medium.  There's even a whole new story - part 1 of 4 - introduced in this month's issue: The Clandestinauts by Tim Sievert.

Yup, all that for $1.99.

Double Barrel #8

Title: Double Barrel
Issue: #8
Release: February 2013
Writers: Kevin Cannon & Zander Cannon
Artists: Kevin Cannon & Zander Cannon

Image via Top Shelf Productions

The latest installment of the Cannons' web comic launched this past Wednesday.  As always, this excellent work can be purchased wherever web comics or eBooks are sold.  I picked up mine at ComiXology for the bargain price of $1.99.

Both main stories are charging towards climax.  Zander's Heck includes a major twist which I must say, I did not see coming!  In Kevin's Crater XV, Army and Pravda go to visit the orphanage where they first met.  Extras include part 7 of Kevin's Penny from the Front, Zander's True Tales of Jin, a mini-comic from Kevin entitled "The Horse Head Killer" and a How to from Kevin on how to write your own mini-comic.  Yup, all for under 2 bucks!

Funny coincidence: in the issue's intro comic, Kevin mentions the French-language release of his graphic novel, Far Arden.  We had just been in a French bookstore in Montreal over the weekend where I spotted the new edition on the shelves!  Kevin is quite the Canadaphile (Is that a word?  It should be.) so it's great to see his work become available to the nation's francophones.

My usual disclaimer: I went to college with the Cannons and am therefore slightly biased.  However, I would not bother blogging about their work if I didn't think it was good.

Double Barrel #7

Title: Double Barrel
Issue: #7
Release: January 2013
Writers: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon
Artists: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon

Image via Comic Vine

After a month off to finish other projects, the Cannons launched issue #7 of their web comic this past Wednesday.  I got my copy at ComiXology, though it is available nearly anywhere e-books or web comics are sold.  87 pages for $1.99 - one of the best bargains around.

In Zander's Heck, Hector must continue on his underworld adventures without Elliott, his faithful sidekick.  In Kevin's Crater XV, truths are revealed about the Canadian space program and Army and Pravda are finally reunited.  As usual, lots of extras, including Penny from the Front and Here Me Is.  This month's How To: is an exploration of spotting black areas, a particularly important consideration in black-and-white comics, the Cannons' chosen medium.

Double Barrel #6

Title: Double Barrel
Issue: #6
Release: November 2012
Writers: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon
Artists: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon

Image via Double Barrel

In the Cannons' latest, Hector and Elliott have a dramatic encounter with Geryon (he's the guy with the big purple head on this month's cover) in Zander's Heck.  In Kevin's Crater XV, Pravda's memory has returned.  She now remembers Army from her childhood.  For anyone with curiosity about the technical aspects of comics, Kevin's use of word balloons is really interesting.  Extras this month are Kevin's Penny from the Front, Zander's Here Me Is! and How To: This final section, in which the creators provide insights into their process, has become my favorite part of Double Barrel.  In this installment, Zander offers reflections on his experiences as a freelance layout artist.

In other exciting Cannon-related news, Kevin is the cover artist for this week's Village Voice.

Double Barrel can be purchased wherever eBooks and web comics are sold.  I got mine at ComiXology.  I hope you'll join me in supporting this engaging work.

Double Barrel #5

Title: Double Barrel
Issue: #5
Release: October 2012
Writers: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon
Artists: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon

Image via Comix Experience

The fifth installment of the Cannons' web comic is now available.  I got mine at ComiXology and it is also available wherever web comics or e-books are sold.  The price is a bargain: $1.99.  Back issues are available for $0.99.

I also got my t-shirt for being a finalist in their caption contest.  Ain't it snappy?

In the new issue, we get two chapters of Zander's Heck.  Hector and Elliott must contend with the minotaur's daddy issues.  An intriguing new character is introduced, and with him a new perspective on the death of Greg, Amy's husband.  In Kevin's Crater XV, Shanks is trapped in a blockhouse with members of the High Arctic League.  Meanwhile, Wendy gets a little too curious about the Canadian space program.

For the extras, we have part four of Kevin's mini-comic, Penny from the Front, Zander's continuing family adventures in Here Me Is! and a How To: exploration of 24-Hour Comic Day, a terrifying (to me) combination of creative fury and sleep deprivation.  New this month is The Dead Living, a mini-comic by special contributor Steve Stwalley, another Minneapolis-based artist (have I mentioned that the Cannons operate out of the Twin Cities?).  I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of the current zombie craze, though Stwalley's story offers an interesting angle.

My usual disclaimer: I went to college with the Cannons and am therefore slightly biased.  However, I would not bother blogging about their work if I didn't think it was good.

Double Barrel #4

Title: Double Barrel
Issue: #4
Release: September 2012
Writers: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon
Artists: Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon

Image via Top Shelf Productions

I won a t-shirt!  I was a finalist in the caption contest in issue #3.  You're just going to have to read #4 to see what I wrote.  I shall wear it with pride.  I'll post a picture, too.

The Cannons demonstrated two advantages of the digital medium in this latest edition of their web comic.  First, they set the release date back a week so they could include the results of the caption contest.  Second, Zander's story Heck was set in a new orientation: landscape.  Essentially, this means the panels run over what would normally be two pages, the long way across.  Again, you'll need to read the comic to see what I mean but, let's be honest here, you should really be doing that anyway. 

In Zander's Heck, Hector and Elliott enter the city of Dis where they are taunted by the heretics.  In Kevin's Crater XV, we learn the details of Captain Sztab's diabolical plan.  Extras include Part 3 of Kevin's Penny from the Front and Zander's Here Me Is!, in which Zander's wife's dread fear of leprechauns is revealed. 

Kevin takes a turn with the How To: section this month.  He offers tips for sketch tourism, essentially replacing your camera with a sketch pad.  Clearly, this is targeted at people far more capable in the visual arts than I but it has me thinking.  Much of my discomfort in discussing art comes from my lack of ability in that area, or at least a lack of confidence. One of my goals for the year is to learn more about art.  Perhaps the best way would be to jump in and try it.

My usual disclaimer: I went to college with the Cannons so I am predisposed to enjoy their work.  That said, I wouldn't bother writing about Double Barrel if I didn't think it was good.