Nov. 14 – VORTEX GN & Reich #12 release party with William Cardini & Elijah Brubaker

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Leading up to Short Run weekend in Seattle, we will be hosting a release party for two of Sparkplug‘s new publications– VORTEX by William Cardini and Reich #12 by Elijah Brubaker! Join both creators for a signing Friday, November 14th!

WHO: William Cardini and Elijah Brubaker
WHAT: VORTEX & Reich #12 release party
WHEN: Friday November 14th, 5-7pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St

VORTEX by William Cardini

Welcome to the psychedelic space fantasy cosmos of the Hyperverse, a realm filled with immensely powerful beings who battle over worlds with strange geologies and hoard advanced technologies left by ancient starfarers. Bold, mystical, expertly designed and engrossing – Vortex follows the powerful sorcerer the Miizzzard as he travels to a mysterious planet and battles a strange, regenerating monster.  The story gets more complex as the Miizzz finds himself sympathizing with the monster and her kin.  Cardini’s art is stylish and stylized in a way that is entirely unique and absorbing, just like the alien beings the Miizzzard interacts with.

“Goopy alien wizards melt, battle and stab their way from each others’ stomachs in cosmic landscapes forged from bold halftones and thick wacom lines. The contrast between low-res digital textures and organic shapes is a real eyeball melter.” Jack Hayden, Comics Workbook.

REICH #12 by Elijah Brubaker

Reich is a thrilling biographical account of psychoanalyst and sex researcher Dr. Wilhelm Reich, a protégé of Freud. He courted scandal throughout Europe, where he became known mostly for his controversial and radical ideas. Reich claimed to discover a palpable sexual energy, which he called “Orgone.” Reich was forced to move to America in 1939. In America, Reich founded Orgonon, a commune/laboratory located in Rangely, Maine. There he continued his research into Orgone energy. Reich claimed the energy was a panacea and was determined to prove it to the world, but he was­ abruptly persecuted by the United States government. Reich tells the story of a man who lived with unwavering conviction in his beliefs and shows the potential danger of that conviction.

The final chapter of Reich’s story finds him in court trying to defend his research, a fellow scientist and his own sanity. After some deliberation and psychiatric review, a verdict is reached and he is sent to live out his final days in Lewisburg Penitentiary.

Here’s hoping you’re all reading along and giving this guy as much money as possible, he’s one of the many artists out there who should have complete freedom to do whatever the hell he feels like.” Optical Sloth

“Brubaker’s shadowy, sketchy and angular style is a deft match for the bizarre world of Reich. There’s an almost haunting, static quality in each of the panels, even when there is movement involved. Brubaker wants the reader to focus in on each character’s body language in each panel as a counter-point to the dialogue. The sketchiness of the line allows the reader to focus on the expressionistic qualities of the character design, and the extensive use of shadow effects contributes to the downbeat mood of the comic. … Reich is one of the more impressive feats of comic biography that I’ve read and certainly the most interesting since Chester Brown’s Lous Riel, which was obviously a huge influence.” Rob Clough, Foxing Quarterly.