Finn and Charlie are HITCHED

OK, you may be asking yourself, why should you care what a webcartoonist likes for music? Well, some of us have pretty good taste. It was Jeff Rowland who introduced me to the Decemberists, and John Allison has been posting top 20 lists for years.

My list is posted over at the CHIRP web site. Go read it! All of my choices are well-reasoned and insightful.

I am a volunteer at the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP), which is working to bring a new independent radio station to Chicago. We are in the process of building a studio for a web-based station (FM version to come later), and whoah, nelly, but it’s turning out to be expensive.

So, in order to help CHIRP raise the funds we need, I’m offering special swag to any of my readers who donate to CHIRP — which is in addition to CHIRP swag you can get.

Anyone who donates $15 or more will get a mix CD made by me, with Finn & Charlie artwork on the insert. Donate $50 or more and you’ll get a signed original Finn & Charlie illustration.

[UPDATE: I'm adding one more option: $25 for a small drawing. So $50 will get you a large drawing, about 11"x14, and $25 will get you a smaller one, about 5"x7". In either case, I take requests... just about anything you want! ]

(CHIRP, meanwhile, will send you a tote bag for a $40 or more donation, a t-shirt for a $75 or more donation, or for $100 or more, a t-shirt plus an invitation for two to our exclusive launch event (details TBA, but of course it will be in Chicago.)

Here’s what to do: just visit the Chicago Independent Radio Project web site, and click on the the word “DONATE” in the left column. Then drop me a note at CHIRP at TONYBREED dot COM and let me know you did it so I can get you your swag. If you don’t want to use PayPal, you can also email to arrange a donation by mail. And if you have any special requests… email me and we’ll see what we can work out!

THANKS! And remember that you’ll be helping to bring a new independent radio station to life.

-Tony

P.S. CHIRP is in the midst of applying for 501(c)3 status. Unfortunately, that means your gift to CHIRP is not yet tax deductible, but it is very much appreciated!

New stuff I’ve found.

First, MS Paint Adventures. (Warning: includes some poop and pee jokes.) These are parodies of old adventure games, and the course of action is somewhat determined by the suggestions provided by readers. There are three adventures. Two, Jailbreak and Bard Quest, are rather short and manageable. The third (still in progress), Problem Sleuth, is very long a byzantine and 87% AWESOME. I literally lost a few hours reading it. So beware.

Box Brown’s Bellen just recently did a series of cartoons in the style of other cartoonists (web and print), which is what pulled me in. But I’ve been back lately, and I like it. It’s sort of quiet and poetic, reminiscent of Cat and Girl, Jimmy Corrigan, and James Kochalka’s work.

Finally, Gordon McAlpin’s got a good arc going on over at Multiplex, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this resolves.

I think I’ll expand my links section… maybe make a separate page. I read lot of comics.

I’m jumping on the Labor Day weekend bandwagon of recommending three comics I haven’t recommended before. These are really good and you should go check them out.

First, two long-format graphic-novel-type sagas. You really must go back and read these from the beginning; don’t do it all at once, just read a few pages today, a few pages another day:

Templar, Arizona
The fact that it’s written by a woman called Spike is enough reason to check it out, but stick around for the wild characters and imaginative alternate society. My favorite part is the interlude about the Sincerists, who never lie.

Girl Genius
It took me a few months to catch up on this one, but it’s been a pleasant few months. I’m almost sad to be caught up: now I have to wait for more pages to come out. The blend of fantasy and sci-fi set in an alternate version of Europe reminds me of Howl’s Moving Castle, and maybe The Golden Compass. Also: it’s funny.

And now, a daily that I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned before:

Little Dee
“Little Dee” is long-term webcartoonist Chris Baldwin’s foray into a newspaper-style daily comic. It’s got a great ensemble of characters, it’s quirky, and it combines the kind of cynicism mixed with hope and idealism that is my own world outlook.

Go read. And OH by the way: years ago I recommended Medium Large, but the site went offline soon after. The site is back up and new comics are being created, and dammit, go read.