New Collection Features Hamilton’s Finest
By Dan Brown Bonk’d Vol. 1 is “your new favourite comics anthology,” according to the blurb on the back cover. It features work from 25 Hamilton-based and -connected cartoonists. The 114-page collection is the brainchild of Hammer comic creators Joe Ollmann, Sunny Singh and Paul Palacios. You may know Ollmann from his many superlative graphic novels, including Fictional Father and The Abominable Mr. Seabrook. In the book’s brief introductory strip, Ollmann explains how the idea behind Bonk’d is to give local creators a showcase where they can “work out shorter ideas.” He also admits such collections don’t have an illustrious history: “Maybe we’ll be like those 80s and 90s anthologies in terms of a one-issue print run.” But based on this volume, Bonk’d should have much more staying power. This is a strong group of stories without any obvious weak spots. There are contributions from old hands like Seth, whose four-panel cartoon haikus – taken from his sketchbook – are a highlight. Then there are names that might be less familiar to readers outside Steeltown, such as James Collier, whose strip Kitty Finds Employment comes closest to capturing the feel of the underground comix of the 1970s. Some of the artists involved tackle the question of Hamilton’s identity in a direct way. Matt MacInnes’s piece LRT Buyouts is a visual record of all the structures “designated to be, or already have been, demolished to build the light rail transportation (LRT) system.” “Hundreds of low-income and working-class people have been displaced in this process,” MacInnes notes. It’s such a simple idea, yet it makes for a powerful statement. That’s in contrast to Kento’s I Need/Like/Thank you HSR, a warm tribute to the city’s public transit. “The bus makes me feel like part of my community,” the single-name artist/writer muses. “Riding the bus feels like riding through the bloodstream of the city. I like being a cell.” MacInnes is also responsible for a two-page spread about the Hamilton Tigers, who have the distinction of being the only NHL team to ever go on strike, a move that cost them the Stanley Cup. Palacios publishes under the name Rulito. His The Stranger in the Bowtie is dedicated to profiling a local oddball, one of those figures that every city or town has who embody the spirit of that community in a gnarly way. (For London, think local legends like Roy McDonald or Bill Paul.) Palacios grapples with Steeltown’s civic identity in What is Hamilton Anyways?, the second panel of which features a hand giving the finger to the CN Tower: “It’s definitely NOT Toronto, despite being close to it.” His conclusion would do the folks in Austin, Texas proud. In Hamilton, he writes, “You can be as weird as you want. And we will love you for that.” Are readers demanding an anthology like Bonk’d? Will it have appeal outside the Hammer’s city limits? Let’s hope so. Whatever happens, Bonk’d Vol. 1 is clear evidence that Hamilton has the talent to turn this project into a going concern rather than just a one-off. Dan Brown has covered pop culture for more than 33 years as a journalist and also moderates L.A. Mood’s monthly graphic-novel group.
Read Local, Shop Local, Attend Local Cons
By Dan Brown I’ll be honest with you: I don’t know how the Trump tariffs are going to affect the price of comics, if at all. But if you’re looking for ways to put your comic-book dollars back into the local economy, be it Southwestern Ontario or Canada, here are a few ideas for how to do so. For starters, you can patronize local comics stores like L.A. Mood, which employs Londoners and supports the local pop-culture ecosystem by hosting events like Godzilla Day. The Forest City has always been blessed with more than its share of places where you can pick up your favourite comic titles, and the same goes for all of Southwestern Ontario. Here’s a fun road trip idea for when the warm weather arrives: Make it your goal to visit all the comic stores in this corner of Canada, which will mean travelling to such communities as Sarnia, Windsor, Chatham, Kitchener, and Guelph. I did so a few summers back and it was a blast! Along the same lines, when convention season starts back up, you don’t need to go all the way to San Diego (or even Toronto) to hang out with other comic enthusiasts.London has cons aplenty, including Forest City Comicon – which this year moves to a new date (November 2) and venue (the Lamplighter Inn). Other shows to keep in mind include the Chatham Kent Expo, which happens April 26 and 27. I realize bigger cons get bigger names. That doesn’t necessarily make for a better experience, though. For example, almost every DC or Marvel panel I’ve attended at Fan Expo in previous years can be summed up in one sentence: “Our company has such cool stories coming out soon, but if we told you the details it would spoil them.” The difference at a smaller event is the friendlier vibe, which is much warmer. There is no substitute for meeting comic fans or cosplayers in your own backyard! And what’s that, you say you also want to read local at this moment in our country’s history? It’s easy to make that happen by throwing your support behind specific creators and publishers. There are guys like Byron’s Derek Laufman, the graphic novelist responsible for Bot 9, RuinWorld, and Crimson Fall. Fans can buy his books and art directly from his website. Laufman also has a Patreon page, which offers exclusive first looks at the projects he is working on. Other Forest City creators to check out include Diana Tamblyn, A Jaye and Alison Williams, Scott MacDougall and D.S. Barrick (who publish under the banner of River Donkey Adventures), Sam Maggs, and don’t forget Bryan Lee O’Malley. Among the cartoonists with connections to the wider Southwestern Ontario scene are Jeff Lemire, Seth, Scott Chantler, and Joe Ollmann. Or perhaps you want to support Canadian publishing houses. Done. There’s always Drawn & Quarterly in Montreal, the East Coast’s Conundrum Press, and Chapterhouse Comics (the publisher of Captain Canuck). They all do compelling work. If you don’t like my ideas and you need more suggestions, just consult with the staff at your comic-store or the nearest librarian. When it comes to comics, and pop culture in general, our dominion punches way above its weight. So if you have any other suggestions of other creators to support, or different ways to keep your pop-culture dollars circulating close to home, I would love to hear all about them in the comment box below! Dan Brown has covered pop culture for more than 32 years as a journalist and also moderates L.A. Mood’s monthly graphic-novel group.
