Posted in: Comics | Tagged: adventure time, darth vader and son, eisners

Countdown To The Eisners by Cameron Hatheway – Best Humor Publication

Published Wed, 29 May 2013 14:00:51 -0500

Last updated Thu, 30 May 2013 07:28:02 -0500

Cameron Hatheway writes;

Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven is a registered six-offender. While my own brand of humor should probably never be illustrated in a graphic novel or comic strip format, there are those creators out there who make humor look easy. At a very early age I had a daily helping of humor through the newspaper strips, a tradition I still uphold every morning with my breakfast. In the age of the internet, one can seek out humor in multiple forms with ease; webcomics, online syndication, digital comics, etc. While everyone laughs at different things, humor is one of those universal languages that can be shared in a medium such as comics. Before I'm offered a writer's position on Deadpool, today I'll be focusing on the Best Humor Publication category. If you need a reminder of what's been nominated, you can find the entire list right here, and see what I chose last time right here.

Keep in mind I cannot vote for who wins (nor can you, probably), as per the rules. However, that's not keeping me from being vocal regardless!

Who is not eligible to vote?

Comics press or reviewers (unless they are nominees)
Non-creative publisher staff members (PR, marketing, assistants, etc.)
Fans

Before I get back to practicing pieing Dan DiDio for the "lolz" so I can be eligible for next year, let the games begin!

Best Humor Publication

Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!)

A wonderful comic spin-off from the animated show, Adventure Time offers great fun for diehard fans and casual observers alike. Featuring a main story that spans several issues (first being about the Lich King, the second revolving around time travel) and several back-ups by a whole roster of talented individuals, this series is totally mathematical for readers of all ages. Be sure to look carefully for Ryan North's commentary at the bottom of almost every page.

BBXX: Baby Blues Decades 1 & 2, by Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman (Andrews McMeel)

Collecting the best from two decades worth of the syndicated strip, Baby Blues entertains all who read it; whether you're a parent, a sibling, or just a person who enjoys daily comic strips. It's so much fun to revisit the MacPherson family from the very beginning, and see what kinds of trouble Zoe, Hammie, and Wren have gotten into over the years. A very solid 'Best Of' collection hand-picked by the creators themselves.

Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle)

It's the perfect What If? book for Star Wars fans who would have loved to seen more father-son interactions in the movies. The gags I enjoyed the most were taking iconic lines of dialogue from the movies, and applying them elsewhere for increased comedic effect. You can tell that Darth Vader really loves Luke, but has a hard time conveying his feelings when he has to also appear to be the evil Sith Lord we all know and fear.

Naked Cartoonists, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)

From the collection of Mark J. Cohen and Rose Marie McDaniel, this book features some of your favorite cartoonists in the industry baring it all. Illustrating their own self-portraits, it's highly amusing seeing how they depict themselves whether it is muscular and dashing, to honest and meek, all while maintaining their funny bones. Sergio Aragonés' self-portrait was my favorite of the bunch, hands down.

Who I think should win:
Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle)

After a successful career of his autobiographical comics, it's great to see Jeffrey Brown getting the respect and attention he deserves on a much larger scale. His illustrations on Darth Vader and Son are crisper-yet-reminiscent of his style on Incredible Change-Bots than his earlier comics like Clumsy and Bighead.

What helps make the book so wonderful and relatable is that Brown is a father of two young boys, so surely he found inspiration by simply watching and interacting with his own Padawans.

Who I think could win:
BBXX: Baby Blues Decades 1 & 2, by Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman (Andrews McMeel)

In a beautiful format that reminded me slightly of the Bloom County collected editions, BBXX was successful in highlighting the struggles of parenthood for a new couple. It was great reading the commentaries for certain strips, and seeing what got them fan mail and what got them in hot water with parents (cotton diapers vs disposable).

Feeling like I grew up with this family, I cherished the walk down memory lane as I laughed aloud almost every page.

Who I think should have been nominated:
Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity by The Usual Gang of Idiots (Time Home Entertainment)

What, me worry?

Who do you think should win / been nominated?

Cameron Hatheway is the host of Cammy's Comic Corner and Arts & Entertainment Editor of the Sonoma State STAR. You can see his illustrated nude self-portrait on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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