SOWS EAR ONE
SOWS EAR. The title is taken from an old saying: “like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Meaning that whatever you are trying to do is impossible. It ends up that making silk from a sow’s ear is not actually impossible: “In 1921 the management of Arthur D. Little, Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., issued a small report describing the methods employed by the firm’s chemists to create “silk” from pork byproducts. The idea behind this surprising and not very practical experiment was to prove that something said to be impossible was, with sufficient effort and ingenuity, attainable. As the report notes, the old adage “you can’t make a silk purse of a sow’s ear” had been used for years to discourage inventiveness and enterprise. “We resolved...to prove that it was false, and we have done so. We have made a silk purse of a sow’s ear.’” -from On the Making of Silk Purses from Sows’ Ears. SOWS EAR. A collection of comics made by Alaskan artists. Some of the artists here would identify themselves as (among other things) cartoonists. Other contributors made their first (and possibly last) comics for this issue. Some of what follows is not a comic at all. Everything in this issue was made by Alaskan artists (whatever that really means). This is not guaranteed to be the case in future issues. Though I imagine a lot of them will be, as it is being made in Alaska.
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Here is a bit of info about each contributor. It is listed alphabetically by artist. Each artists name can be found at the bottom of the first page of each piece.
Samuel Bair Excerpt from The Adventures of Sport All American Hero. Written and illustrated in 2011 while serving a 3month sentence for a misdemeanor. Originally printed in color (the drawings were made using a blue ballpoint pen), Sam donated all proceeds from the book to www.blackandpink.org.
Karenina Brooks During a dream Enigma has a conversation with Elder Ma.
Peter Dunlap-Shohl Zombie Rodeo is a short piece originally presented in color on Peter’s blog www.frozengrin.blogspot.com. Peter worked for more than 25 years as the in house cartoonist for the Anchorage Daily News and is now working on, among many other things, a graphic novel dealing with the subject of Parkinson’s disease.
Ted Kincaid Lonely Star More about Ted can be found on his website www. gutterserf.com
Jesus Landin Torrez III Jesus’ recent artwork has focused on the human soul. He has recently discovered a way to transcribe the individual souls into music through a complicated mash up of tests. The musical scores presented here are early examples of these transcribed souls. More about Jesus at www.jesuslandintorrez.com. He was included as a character in Held Up #3. Keren Lowell Tattoo Taboo Keren has learned to consider the consequences of her actions.
Chad Meyer A series of strips originally posted in color on Chad’s website www.jeybork.com. This site is no longer in commission, but Chad intends to start a new site soon (once he decides on a title). We will keep you posted.
Betany Porter Betany is a painter who makes work based upon memories, photographs and drawings of personal experiences I have had traveling and living in Alaska. Snow Diving Is her first comic.
Anna Raupp What we have all been waiting for! The Adventures of Shaman Pig!
Jimmy Riordan Glove Bunny is an excerpt from Jimmy’s comic Held Up. Seagull Library is the first in a series of short comics documenting a year in Jimmy’s life. Both relate to His Le Roman du Lievre project. www.leromandulievre.com and www.leromandulieve.owrdpress.com (Held Up’s blog).
XXXXXXXX A selection from a much larger series of “Unupropeit (inappropriate)” drawings by a couple of anonymous 7-year-old children from Homer. Printed with parental permission of course. THANKS. Thanks to all the contributing artists and to Minuteman press in Anchorage for doing the printing. The second issue of SOWS EAR will hopefully be released in December.. Any one interested in submitting work to that, or any future issue should feel free to contact me at riordanjimmy@gmail.com. That goes for businesses that would like to carry copies of the comic, or individuals interested in purchasing issues. -Jimmy
Betany Porter
Chad Meyer
Keren Lowell
Peter Dunlap-Shohl
THE ADVENTURES OF S Shaman Pig thought back on the times he was the happiest and felt the most at home in himself.
There was that time at the old folks home when he got to meet Hildegarde and Ruben, a German couple in their 90s who told stories of old Europe.
Anna Raupp
Then there was the tall dark stranger Shaman Pig met waiting tables at his hometown diner. Talk about a coming of age!!!
But ever since that day at the mall when Shaman Pig was discovered by the modeling agency it’s been Go! Go! Go! with no time for his former spontaneous pleasures.
Most recently Shaman Pig was in a warm climate.
He was worn out from a hectic schedule of modeling.
It was very hollow having so many public appearances (being devoured) When no one really knows the true Shaman Pig.
He needed a retreat to find out who he was inside.
But no matter how much yoga and meditation he did, he still felt like his soul was asleep.
Not knowing where he found the courage to do so, one day Shaman Pig just said NO. No more dinners! No more interviews! No more photo shoots!
Shaman Pig collected all of his old airline tickets from his travels, went to his travel agent and found that his frequent flyer miles could send him to Cuba!
And that is where he lay for three months. Tanning, salsa dancing, drinking rum and waiting for a call. Be it Ja or God or the Great Spirit. One day Shaman pig was listening into a conch shell when all of a sudden his next great purpose lay before him.
He was going to put an end to his tiresome narcissism and use his hard earned fame and know how to help some old friends.
Yes, Shaman Pig would help, just as soon as he could get out of Havana! But things are not always as easily said as done.
Things just kept coming up!
And before he knew it, Shaman Pig was recognized and asked to performthe big Havana Day production.
Who knew it would be such a scene! Super models, musicians - and all the wonderful Cubans!!
Finally through the lens of a fierce hangover Shaman Pig decided it was the right time to leave.
Life is only so long and you can’t just sail from one sensual narcissistic pleasure to the next!
To be Continued... Continued...
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Theodore Kincaid
Samuel Bair
To be continued...
Jesus Landin Torrez III
Jimmy Riordan
Karenina Brooks
SEAGULL RY L I BRA by Jimmy Riordan
Jimmy Riordan
Chad Meyer
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$6.00 US / MORE IN CA Rabbit Rabbit Press, August 2013