The End.

The other day Anders Nilsen announced that the last issue of Big Questions will be out this fall. A mere fact that makes me want to cry. But supposedly one can expect a forthcoming collection of all 15 issues from Drawn & Quarterly in the future? After all, the first two BQ's are since long out of print. And I need - 

Endings, beginnings; since spring I've mostly been boxing, swimming and reading academic papers. It shows, I know. This fall will, however, be all about Literature, with a focus on gender perspectives. 

Big Questions #14 by Anders Nilsen: Title and Deed

The Idiot. The tears. The drama. 

Next issue will be the last. How will I ever-

Buy/preview.

Red Book by David Shrigley

I spent the whole afternoon in that coffee bar reading a few pages at a time, to even out the laughter. Having been a great fan for half a decade or so, I must say Red Book turned out to be one of Shrigley's most brilliant works. 

Read this red book. And visit the artist's website. 

Big Questions #13 by Anders Nilsen: A House That Floats

Back to the thin paper quality but more life-saving than ever before.

Read two pages here. 

Hundra procent fett by Liv Strömquist

Liv Strömquist is a genius. 


In fact, I'd say she's the funniest Swedish comic book artist of all time. Or, let me rephrase that, even: Strömquist's the funniest comic book artist of all time period. 


And Hundra procent fett is just the beginning. 

Zelda by Lina Neidestam

I looooove Zelda. 


And am really looking forward to Lina Neidestam's next project, feminist sex comic Maran. 

Allt är allrajt by Emma Rendel

I was amazed by Emma Rendel's Motherkiller work in Swedish comics mag Hjälp, wanted to take every page and frame it. Most stories in Allt är allrajt are also genius, the only thing I have a slight problem with is the font used inside and the cover design that seems a little cheap and out of place (for such great content).

Fulheten by Nanna Johansson

Oh, Nanna Johansson.

Till mina vänner och ovänner by Loka Kanarp

As Café Edenborg was closing, they had all books on sale (except the Vertigo ones). And between Nanna Johansson's Fulheten that I've been wanting to get for a long while, a Tafdrup that seemed nice, the newly translated version of Kafka's The Trial and some novel about masculinity (!), Loka Kanarp's comic book album from 2006 caught my eye. Why haven't I read it before?

I've been reading her great blog for at least a year, her contribution to the Samtidigt anthology and the comics in Hjälp.

Some of the stories in Till mina vänner och ovänner (To My Friends and Enemies) remind me a lot moodwise of my favourite Adrian Tomine - however told from a feminist standpoint, which of course, is a plus. Broken hearts and friendships, working at Mc Donald's, turning hetero and the stuffed animals at The Swedish Museum of Natural History (that I recently visited, seeing the same things) - it all makes for a great read.

In September Loka's new album Pärlor och patroner (Pearls and Bullets) will be out, a collection of single page comics on the subject of historical women. I'm looking forward to that one a lot.

Oh, and I forgot to mention: Loka is a wonder of style. Look here.

Big Questions #12 by Anders Nilsen: A Young Crowe's Guide to Hunting

Enter the crows.

And I am, as always, in awe of Nilsen's long running series Big Questions. One issue/20-30 pages per year, as it's been the past few, is never enough but still quite - it is with the tiny gestures; the turning of a head, the widening of an eye, that Nilsen's drama becomes what it is. Perfect.

Cover here.

Have a look at his website.

The Next Anders Nilsen!

It's coming! Soon!

And Mr. Nilsen says there are three more issues of Big Questions to go, I thought this would be the last. Fantastic!

Martha Washington Goes to War by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons

Just can't get enough.

Give Me Liberty by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons

Oh, Martha.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

What is left to say about Watchmen these days? That finishing this extraordinary graphic novel and watching Synecdoche, New York on the same day can make just about anyone depressed?

Even though my firm belief still is that Hollywood started filming all our favourite comics far too early (believable 3D still takes years to make), I will definitely go see the movie. And most probably hate it.

Maggie the Mechanic by Jaime Hernandez

I love love love love Hopey Glass.

Moomin by Tove Jansson

What could be better than starting 2009 with Moomin and his friends? Have been looking for these stories in the larger size hardbacks, since that's what they looked like when I was a kid. Luckily Swedish publisher Alfabeta took after Drawn and Quarterly's beautiful hardback editions recently.



Drawn and Quarterly's Moomin page here, with a preview.

Det är bara lite AIDS by Sara Granér

You can't handle the truth.

Dotterbolaget Antologin

Dotterbolaget - the anthology: all the hilarious girls and a few more!

Except for my usual laugh out loud favourites Liv Strömquist, Sara Granér and Lina Neidestam, others worth mentioning are:

Berit Viklund
Erika Eklund
Nanna Johansson
Sara Hansson (invitation is needed)

Time to visit your local comics dealer.

Krokodilstaden by Knut Larsson

Something like five years in the making, Knut Larsson's latest is finally out. Wordless and wonderful as ever.

Go get it.

Big Questions #11 by Anders Nilsen

Yesterday was a good day.

Got up at 4 to get to the shooting location, had friend J.S. for assistant, had the pleasure to see a very frustrated man get even by running like mad into the shot during a take, wrapped at 2.30, did all the returns, picked up two CdG garments from H&M, had ice cream. And yes, passed by Comics Heaven to get my ordered issue of Big Questions #11 that I've been thinking of since summer.

It is as perfect as ever. I wonder how he does to make a little bird's emotions visible by just a head shake or a tiny line for an eye.

Listen to a newly made interview with Anders Nilsen over at Inkstuds.