Hey Nobrow fans,
The independent comics scene is a constant source of inspiration for us here at Nobrow, so we thought each month we’d highlight a few books we’ve been reading lately—titles we’re putting out ourselves, as well as exciting releases by fellow indie publishers. Our March picks were chosen by Jacob Shapiro, U.S. Sales & Marketing Assistant based out of our New York office!
Sports Is Hell by Ben Passmore (Koyama Press, 2020)
Sports Is Hell is the latest from Philly-based cartoonist Ben Passmore, exploring the racial and societal baggage of American football as a cultural institution—through the lens of the anarchy that ensues in a city after its NFL team wins the Super Bowl. Passmore’s art and storytelling style have a raucous, goofy, manic, punk energy to them; anyone who’s interested in the racial politics of sports in a post-Colin Kaepernick era should pick this up.
Maids No. 4 by Katie Skelly (self-published, 2020)
Maids is a self-published ongoing series by NYC cartoonist Katie Skelly adapting the real-life story of the Papin sisters, French orphans who become live-in maids for an upper-class family who they eventually murder(!!!). Skelly’s 1970s Italian horror cinema influences are on full display in Maids, with minimalist panel layouts and a subversively feminine violent edge to its sensuality, along with a healthy dose of Catholic guilt. Skelly’s work is like no other.
Stig & Tilde: Leader of the Pack by Max de Radiguès (Nobrow, 2020)
Katie Skelly’s “siblings on a surprisingly violent adventure with a clean art style” got me thinking about one of our new releases, Stig & Tilde: Leader of the Pack. It’s a kids’ book, but Belgian artist Max de Radiguès’ survivalist quest comes from a similar indie comics sensibility as Sports Is Hell and Maids. In this latest installment, titular 14-year-old twins Stig and Tilde find themselves stranded on an island full of wolves, and must fend for themselves with nothing but their wits and a surprising dose of humor. De Radiguès employs a classic Franco-Belgian ligne claire style, and Stig & Tilde evokes Tintin while still feeling distinctly modern.