The Nickelodeon Magazine comic strip "Scene But Not Heard" told the going-ons of a pink man and a bear who love to pull pranks on each other. As the strip's name suggests, the comic is made entirely of pictures, with no dialogue or sound effects. In the magazine's tenth anniversary issue, there was a "blooper strip" where the man and bear are talking. There was also an advertisement for a Scene But Not Heard musical in Nick Mag's "Grampa and Julie" comic:
Alternative Comics Announces 2013 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Releases
Long-associated artists Karl Stevens, James Kochalka and Sam Henderson scheduled for new books.
Steven Cerio, Elaine M. Will and Kevin Scalzo added to the roster. Alternative Comics anthology relaunches.
Cupertino, California; April 16, 2013 -- Alternative Comics, the independent comic book publisher operated from 1993 until 2008 by Jeff Mason, and since June 2012 by industry veteran Marc Arsenault, officially relaunches with a full publishing slate for 2013.
Debuting in May is Karl Stevens' Failure, the follow-up to his 2011 book The Lodger — a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist. Failure was originally announced for a February 2013 release but was postponed and remade to accommodate for changes and additions to the book necessitated by the cancelation of the strip by The Boston Phoenix and the closing of the paper mere weeks later. Stevens will be promoting the book at numerous events, including the Stumptown Comics Fest and the Toronto Comics Arts Festival.
Alternative Comics’ flagship anthology returns as a twice-yearly comic with more pages in June with the release of Alternative Comics #4. Alternative Comics—previously appearing as a Free Comic Book Day offering—showcases the best indie, web and zine artists of today's underground. Cover art by Mike Bertino (Trigger). Comics by Theo Ellsworth (The Understanding Monster) & Craig Thompson (Blankets, Habibi), Sam Alden (Eighth Grade), James Kochalka [...], Sam Henderson (Magic Whistle), Noah Van Sciver (The Hypo), Grant Snider (Incidental Comics), Alex Schubert (Blobby Boys), Andy Ristaino (Adventure Time), and Allison Cole (Never Ending Summer). The popular Inkstuds podcast launches a regular feature in the magazine with an interview with and comics by David Lasky. Alternative Comics #4 will debut at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival.
Next in the lineup is a pair of books by beloved funny man Sam Henderson. In August, Sam celebrates the 20th anniversary of his Magic Whistle series with the release of Volume 2, number 13. The long running comic has returned to bi-annual status and will regularly feature guest contributors. This issue’s guests are Lizz Hickey and David Goldin. Appearing in September is the release of the complete collection of Sam’s popular Nickelodeon Magazine comic strip “Scene But Not Heard “— which ran from the debut issue in 1993 until its final days in 2009. Scene But Not Heard is Co-Published with Top Shelf Productions®. Sam will be appearing at the Small Press Expo (SPX) in Bethesda Maryland, and other events to promote the books.
For many years Alternative Comics, Top Shelf Productions and Highwater Books supported the recipients of the Xeric Foundation grants by distributing the awarded books to the comic book direct market. The final Xeric grants were handed out in May 2012. One of the very last books to be released from that batch is Look Straight Ahead by Elaine M. Will; and it will be distributed through Alternative Comics. This is an astounding debut graphic novel from this young Canadian artist. DC Comics’ writer Gail Simone says of the book, “Look Straight Ahead is the comic I didn’t know I couldn’t live without”. Look Straight Ahead will be in shops in October, 2013. Elaine will be debuting the book at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival in May.
In November, Eisner Award winner James Kockalka releases the complete Fancy Froglin strips—previously available only to online subscribers and partially issued by Alternative in 2003. This is the entire dirty work — Fancy Froglin Uncensored. Fancy Froglin is an ineffably cute happy little frog that [...] purely innocent. And he loves bunnies. Most important, he's really funny. Sure to please fans of Kochalka[...].
Coming in winter 2013/2014 from Alternative will be Alternative Comics #5, the Complete Sugar Booger by Kevin Scalzo and Sunbeam on the Astronaut by Steven Cerio. Further details to be announced.
About Alternative Comics
Alternative Comics is an independent publisher of creator-owned graphic novels and comic books based in Cupertino, California. The company was founded by Jeff Mason in Gainesville, Florida in 1993. Alternative Comics’ creators and books have been nominated for and won multiple comics and publishing industry awards. Alternative Comics’ publications are distributed by Diamond Comics Distributors, Inc. and Last Gasp.
Cover images can be downloaded from: http://indyworld.com/dload/AC2013.zip (5MB)
Contact:
Marc Arsenault
General Manager
Alternative Comics
21607 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
http://www.IndyWorld.com
marc@WowCool.com
(408) 813 5919
