FreakAngels

Robin says,

Warren Ellis launched a new webcomic today. Too early to tell if I'll be a fan, but at first glance, the art is nice and the design of the site seems very correct somehow.

Update: So, the site was designed by Ariana Osborne, whose own blog design is sort of totally amazing. It's split exactly down the middle between her own posts and the murmurings of her community. Mostly Twitter stuff, which as always eludes my affection, but still. There's something really interesting there.

The Old Cement Bridge

Matt says,

With ample and heartfelt apologies to Franklin Christenson Ware. (Bookslutty.)

After You're Done With Persepolis, Try These

Robin says,

I love the comic/art/sketch blog Drawn -- what's up with the .ca domain, though? -- so I am paying special attention to this favorite comics and art books of 2007 post. Lots of stuff I'd never heard of.

Shaun Tan

Matt says,

Blog of a Bookslut has been posting links to the work of Shaun Tan. Pure gorgeous. Check out the wordless panels (courtesy of New York Magazine) from Tan's The Arrival.

Ryan Larkin

Matt says,

Street Musique, Syrinx and Walking: three works by the incredible Canadian animator Ryan Larkin. I think this is what you'd get if you mashed up Fantasia, The Science of Sleep, The Earthly Paradise, a Bill Plympton cartoon, and some pot brownies.

Then there's the also-amazing short 3D documentary about Larkin's life, Ryan (part 1 | part 2). (MetaFilterrific.)

Intellectually Acceptable Comics

Matt says,

Khoi Vinh's pretty astute observation about the ubiquitous Chris Ware:

In spite of his many and frequent innovations, Ware’s name, to me, has become synonymous with ‘intellectually acceptable comics’ produced for people who basically think comics are crap. His works — especially his commissions — reflect not so much an appreciation of the comics art form, but rather a keen understanding of how it can be parodied, satirized and even ridiculed in the service to the intellectual flattery of an audience that would otherwise be offended by less self-conscious practitioners of the medium.

This is the pattern of culture, though, right? The novel, jazz, the blog ... Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, Art Spiegelman, Joe Sacco -- these folks are the Daniel Defoes, Bob Dylans and Louie Armstrongs of their medium. Which, hey, you know, I totally wouldn't mind.