Crossover alert!

Madinkbeard鈥檚 smart-as-hell Derik Badman and my fellow Balloonist Craig Fischer have just posted a dialogic post a veritable conversation in writing regarding Abstract Comics the anthology of non-narrative(?) comics edited by Andrei Molotiu and recently published by Fantagraphics: surely one of the loveliest and maximumpsychoactive comics collections of 2009. Check it out! Derik and Craig鈥檚 back-and-forth addresses Abstract Comics from a assortmentof angles offering a provocative prismatic and very personal take on what will surely be remembered as a monumental book.

I came to the party late so I鈥檓 posting my own review of Abstract Comics here on TB in hopes that Craig and/or Derik will comment. In turn I plotto comment on their post. You鈥檒l look that I鈥檝e cited and linked to them in several spots under while they have done the same in their post. We鈥檙e hoping to get you to bounce back and forth between our sites! So again check 'em out!

Here we go...

<span style="color: #c00000;">Abstract Comics. Edited by Andrei Molotiu. Fantagraphics 2009. $39.99. 232 pages.

I was struck by how enticing this book is as an object. Its entiredesign by Fantagraphics stalwart Jacob Covey resonates beautifully with what it contains. I liked the way its paratexts for instance its bewildering page numbers are done up in geometric symbols 脿 la Wingdings:

As Derik says "oh-so annoying abstract markings." Surethey run the risk of being a distracting gimmick but I love them because they defamiliarize typographic and design conventions so as to draw attention to the way books -- not just this one but all books -- are artfully constructed. I grant that it鈥檚 strange to see the entire Introduction printed in this hermetic code but thankfully there鈥檚 a parallel English text printed in red (rather Biblical eh?) running underneath. I actually worked out the code!