Booty #21

From the Random Stack of Unread Comics.

Title: Booty
Issue: #21
Publisher: My Monster Hat
Distributor: Trees & Hills, Microcosm Publishing
Writer:Anne Thalheimer
Artist: Anne Thalheimer

Anne Thalheimer's autobiographical minicomic. This issue covers April 2007 to June 2008, including three different jobs, some interesting side hustles and a "bizarre boy year". Plus a move to a now house, some discussion of motherhood, plenty of Radiohead lyrics, and an excellent overview of the basics of roller derby. The book ends with a "100 random facts" page that was impressive, although I definitely needed the reading glasses for it.

Anne's work is always heartfelt and introspective, and quirky enough to keep it fun.

Rating: 7/10

Chainbreaker #1

From the Random Stack of Unread Comics

Title: Chainbreaker
Issue: 1
Publisher: Microcosm Publishing
Writer: Shelley Lynn Jackson, Merry Death, John Gerken
Artist: Shelley Lynn Jackson, Merry Death

Not a comic. This is a zine, and in some sense a love-letter to the bicycle, covering bicycle history, culture, and repair. The author works at a bicycle repair shop in New Orleans, and volunteers at the Plan B, the New Orleans Community Bike Project.

The zine starts out with the historical impact of the bicycle, including short biographies of bike pioneers Marshall "Major" Taylor and Gyda Stephenson. The impact of the bicycle on womens fashion and feminism are discussed.

Other features in the zine include essays on bike maintenance and ideas about self-reliance and repair, plus a well-written guide to changing a flat tire.

A guest essay by John Gerken goes into more detail on the Plan B community project in New Orleans.

As someone who's spent a lot of time riding bikes, including commuting to work by bike, this was a great way of taking a further step into bicycle culture while also providing some great ideas and background.

The real highlight of this zine, though, is the shear joy and enthusiasm for the bicycle that shines through on every page.

Rating: 8.5/10

Booty #26

Picked this up from Trees & Hills at MICE this past fall. Read it on the Red Line train into Arisia tonight.

Title: Booty
Issue: #26
Publisher: My Monster Hat
Distributor: Trees & Hills, Microcosm Publishing
Writer:Anne Thalheimer
Artist: Anne Thalheimer

Anne Thalheimer can always be counted on for some really fun geeky autobiographical comics, a subgenre which is a personal favorite of mine.

The latest issue of her Booty series focuses on the loss of her 9-5 job, and her subsequent decision to devote her time to her monster hat making business, and to substitute teaching, tutoring, and a summer teaching opportunity at Yale to help with the bills.

There is a lot of emotion poured into these pages, and a lot of humor and fun as well. The scene featuring the Internal Monster Council of Doubt was particularly good.

This was a welcome addition to an excellent series.

Rating: 8/10

Booty #24

This was a Free Comic Book Day find, although it's not a freebie.I picked it up at the Trees & Hills table.

Title: Booty
Issue: #24
Publisher: Anne Thalheimer
Distributor: Trees & Hills, Microcosm Publishing
Writer:Anne Thalheimer
Artist: Anne Thalheimer

Booty is Anne Thalheimer's autobiographical minicomic series, and it's can always be counted on to be geeky and fun. Anne is a roller derby referee (!), and this issue has a good section on the mechanics of roller derby from an officiating standpoint, complete with a detailed set of diagrams. Also covered are road trips, life drawing at a Dr. Sketchy event, Halloween costumes, the ongoing battle against bad moods, and a detailed diagram of the contents of Anne's gear bag.

Anne's style loads every page with doodles, notes, and little fragments of thoughts. It's engaging and fun.

Rating: 7.5/10