A few recommendations
1. I loved Meghan McCarron's The Magician's House in Strange Horizons--it's probably my favorite story in the archive. It's not the most flawless one, I suppose, but it feels honest to me. Really honest, potent, subtly erotic. It actually reminded me of... well, it's funny--I think she captures that same thrilling feeling of desire as the scene in Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns when Haru dances with the Baron, even if the latter is possibly more innocent. It's specifically that feeling that I want to transplant into my adaptation of The Nutcracker.
2. I picked up Dash Shaw's Bodyworld at the reading last night and listened to him say thoughtful things about animation and comics, photo-referenced composition and composition from the brain, linework, etc. I wasn't a huge fan of Bottomless Belly Button but Bodyworld is probably my favorite comic of 2009.
3. You should really be following Ta-Nehisi Coates's blog. TNC is pretty accessible (especially to white folks), and I think he has less of a power-structure-based take on race (the kyriarchy is a useful framework but pretty arcane), more common sense/empathy/insight. Plus, he's an amazing writer.
2. I picked up Dash Shaw's Bodyworld at the reading last night and listened to him say thoughtful things about animation and comics, photo-referenced composition and composition from the brain, linework, etc. I wasn't a huge fan of Bottomless Belly Button but Bodyworld is probably my favorite comic of 2009.
3. You should really be following Ta-Nehisi Coates's blog. TNC is pretty accessible (especially to white folks), and I think he has less of a power-structure-based take on race (the kyriarchy is a useful framework but pretty arcane), more common sense/empathy/insight. Plus, he's an amazing writer.