DC Conspiracy[dots pattern]

3.20.2005

Things to love, from alternative newsweeklies

I've always loved the lovely art and weird, melancholy storytelling of Ben Katchor. For years, I read his strips (Hotel + Farm, Carboard Valise, Julius Knipl) in City Paper. Bram never really liked it though, not until he sat down and read the book of collected stories he'd given me for my birthday.

A few years back, Katchor began doing a full-page, full-color (!) monthly strip for Metropolis magazine. It seemed like he was given free reign to do whatever he wanted, as long as it had something to do with architecture or the built history of urban environments. I loved seeing what odd thing he'd come up with each issue. Ever since we've let our subscription lapse, I've been reading them online.

Recently, City Paper dropped the Katchor strips, but I don't mind much, since the replacement—Lulu Eightball by Emily Flake—is one of the most consistently hilarious things I've seen. Bad news: the Washington City Paper doesn't seem to offer any of its comics online. Good news: Baltimore City Paper not only carries the strip but also has an archive of them. Favorite so far: What your signature says about you.

monica at 12:29 PM  |  link to this     

2 Comments

I love Ben Katchor. I was bummed when he was pulled from the City Paper, but I also noticed that the print quality was often off...so it didn't do him justice some weeks.

Deb at 3/23/2005 10:28 AM   

yeah, sometimes I got a headache from trying to read all that tiny, fuzzy type... it was worth it, though!

monica at 3/24/2005 11:03 AM   

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