Trevor Alixopulos’ Mine Tonight

Trevor Alixopulos’ Mine Tonight

Those that follow the minicomics scene will observe that geography plays a large part in forming artist support groups. These groups provide encouragement and critique for young artists and play a part in their development. The recent development of a sustained book publishing beachhead in the...

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Hellen Jo’s Jin & Jam – Review

Hellen Jo’s Jin & Jam – Review

There’s little that’s quiet about Hellen Jo’s Jin and Jam, a Sparkplug Comic Books release. In the tradition of cartoonists like Charles Schulz, she’s clearly exploring different aspects of her self through her various characters. Jo’s characters are very much...

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David King’s Danny Dutch – Review

David King’s Danny Dutch – Review

In small press comics, the output from a publisher tends to reflect their own personal aesthetic, even when they exert no editorial control over them. That shows through in things like design and format, creating a sort of house style, especially when a publisher puts out a limited number of...

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“Are You Crazy” By Dylan Williams

“Are You Crazy” By Dylan Williams

From Horse #1 a mini-comic created by Dylan Williams in the early 1990s. Posted on Reporter56.com many years ago, retrieved from the Wayback Machine. All of the Horse covers were based on Black Sabbath album covers. Dylan passed away seven years ago today. Dylan’s press Sparkplug Books is...

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Sparkplug at CAKE!

Sparkplug at CAKE!

Hello y’all!  Sparkplug is heading to the Midwest for one final show. We’ll be exhibiting at CAKE Chicago with Suzette Smith.  This is one of our favorite fests and it’s free and open to the public, so be sure to check it out!  Info below: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE)...

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Sparkplug Highlight: Windy Corner Magazine #2

I must say that I’m incredibly impressed and endeared by this issue of Windy Corner Magazine. I read it in two sittings because I spent so much time slowly reading and paying attention. Often it’s hard for me to take breaks from a book or comic, but there was a lot that I wanted to...

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New in the Store: The Big Feminist But Anthology!

The Big Feminist But is the newest anthology in our store, edited by Shannon O’Leary and Joan Reilly. It’s a multi-faceted, thoughtful reflection upon modern feminism that entertains, provokes, and demands attention. Featuring a wide variety of talented artists and writers, including...

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Celebrate Alternative Free Comic Book Day

Celebrate Alternative Free Comic Book Day

We are offering three titles for free comic book day today – none of which are on the official FCBD roster. One of which is a year old now. There is the second book from a group of Portland publishers – Master P’s Theater (Last year they gave us Brad’s Trip… now...

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Stumptown Comics Fest and Beyond!

Hey folks!  We are gearing up for Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend and hope to see you there!  It takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Oregon Convention Center here in Portland.  We also hope you will join moderator Milo George for the Dylan Williams Tribute panel on Saturday...

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Wow Cool @25 CNN’s Boom or Bust 1994

Wow Cool @25 CNN’s Boom or Bust 1994

Wow Cool was paid a visit by CNN in mid-1994 for a feature on the venomous werewolves of Generation X and their sinister plan to devour the sad old hippies and their filth. It was called Boom or Bust? and originally aired on Sunday, August 14, 1994. Baby Boomer Culture withering under the wave...

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Wow Cool @25: Pieces Of APE 1994

Wow Cool @25: Pieces Of APE 1994

Happy birthday to us! Sometime in 1988 the editorial crew behind School of Visual Arts off-Campus publication Tuna Casserole changed it’s name from The Art Dicks to Wow Cool. Tuna Casserole was launched by Sam Henderson and Tom Hart in the studio that Tom and I shared at the SVA dorms in...

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SPX, Reich #9 and Some News

A couple things: -Sparkplug will be at SPX in Bethesda, MD this weekend!  Katie Skelly, Tom Neely and Ben Marra will be running things, so be sure to stop by.  Get more info about SPX here.  We’ll also be debuting the new issue of Reich. –Reich #9 by Elijah Brubaker is...

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Donate Today to Sparkplug’s Fundraiser

Hi friends, don’t forget to donate to our fundraiser on Indiegogo.  We’re in the last couple weeks and we are getting closer and closer by the hour, but we need to keep up the momentum!!  Be sure to share the site with your friends, family, and small press lovers...

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Sparkplug Books Publishing Fundraiser

Sparkplug Books Publishing Fundraiser

Our fine friends at Sparkplug Books are getting set to publish three new titles – the first big batch since founder Dylan Williams’ passing last year – and they need your help to make it happen. There is an excellent array of reward items, including original art and t-shirts...

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Never Could Get The Hang of Thursdays

Never Could Get The Hang of Thursdays

Yes, it is I. The irregular Wow Cool link dump. Usually posted on a Monday or Tuesday, often in two parts, often skipping many weeks. We are well back from the holidays, and therefore it is time to obliterate every open tab and share the good bits that emerge. We open with the fight song

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Monday Morning Massive Link Dump

Monday Morning Massive Link Dump

Vital nuggets gleamed from Twitter and elsewhere over the past week. This photo set of Michael Kupperman at New York Comic Con 2011 promoting his new book “Mark Twain’s Autobiography 1910-2010” is utterly bonkers. “Twain” is pictured here with Sam Henderson. Me and...

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The Future of Sparkplug

Dear Friends: Some of you have been asking what will happen to Sparkplug now that my husband, Dylan Williams, is no longer with us.  This is to let you know that Virginia Paine, Tom Neely and I will be continuing to run things as best we can.  Our immediate plans are to continue online...

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