Tuesday, December 15, 2009

McSweeney's Quarterly Concern #13, Edited by Chris Ware

This issue of McSweeney's is edited by Chris Ware and, as you might guess, is focused on comics. The packaging, as usual, is incredible, with a comic by Ware serving as the removable dust jacket (author bios are on the other side, after you unfold it). There are even a couple of mini-comics by John Porcellino and Ron Rege Jr. tucked into the folds.

Underneath the dust jacket is this beautiful cover, with gold embossed black cloth spine. I can't decide which one I like better.

Just in case you like neither (doubtful) there's a third cover, drawn by Charles Burns, a couple of pages into the book.

Even the table of contents is extra stylish, giving a little nod to the advertisements in comics of yore. Speaking of contents, this issue features short pieces from such comic artists as R. Crumb, Daniel Clowes, Julie Doucet, Chester Brown, Gary Panter, Kaz, and so on, plus essays from Chip Kidd and John Updike, and appreciations of Philip Guston, George Herriman, and Charles M. Schulz. It's a pretty good volume of stuff.

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