{"id":647,"date":"2009-01-14T17:55:14","date_gmt":"2009-01-14T17:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2009\/01\/14\/c-o-u-s-reflections-from-ricks-collection-12\/"},"modified":"2012-08-17T05:19:31","modified_gmt":"2012-08-17T05:19:31","slug":"c-o-u-s-reflections-from-ricks-collection-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2009\/01\/14\/c-o-u-s-reflections-from-ricks-collection-12\/","title":{"rendered":"C.O.U.S.: Reflections from Rick’s Collection #12"},"content":{"rendered":"

While "researching" a recent Nexus Graphica<\/a>, I had reason to look through my collection of Comics Of Unusual Size. This set of the big and small and odd of comicdom offers many gems. Deciding that I really should share some of these largely forgotten and sometime rare pieces, I’m taking you through a tour of the more interesting selections. <\/p>\n

\nClick on images for full sized versions.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\nBrian Biggs<\/a>‘s 7 3\/4" x 7 3\/4" graphic novel Frederick &amp; Eloise<\/span><\/a> (Fantagraphics, 1993) remains one of the prides of my collection. Biggs expertly uses his Gorey-esque stylings to relate this unusual, disturbing love story.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nPage from Frederick &amp; Eloise<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\nJudging from the book’s back cover, I wasn’t alone in my assessment.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\nThe quality isn’t the only reason I hold this copy in high regard.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nInscription from title page of my copy<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI first learned of Brian Biggs when he lettered "Scales" (written by Lewis Shiner<\/a> Art by Carlos Kastro) in my anthology Modern Perversity<\/span> (Blackbird Comics, 1991).<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nPage from "Scales", Modern Perversity<\/span> (Blackbird Comics, 1991)
\nWritten by Lewis Shiner Art by Carlos Kastro Letters by Brian Biggs<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSoon after, Brian sent me a proposal for Frederick &amp; Eloise<\/span>. Okay, actually, he sent me the entire book photocopied at the original art size of 3 3\/4" x 4 1\/2"! His initial plan was to produce the book with one panel per page as opposed to the two per page in the final version.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nSample page from original Frederick &amp; Eloise<\/span> submission<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nEnvelope from original Frederick &amp; Eloise<\/span> submission<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEven though Blackbird (where I was editing at the time) passed on the project (I don’t recall why), I managed to convince Brian to illustrate the second issue of my never completed series Wings<\/span>. Through no fault of the creators, the entire project fell apart. Brian completed six incredible pages. <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nUnpublished p.9 from Wings<\/span> #2
\nWords by Rick Klaw Art by Brian Biggs<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nUnpublished p.11 from Wings<\/span> #2
\nWords by Rick Klaw Art by Brian Biggs<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI did include a story by Brian in my Eisner-nominated anthology Weird Business<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nPage from "The Stranger", Weird Business<\/span> (Mojo Press, 1995)
\nby Brian Biggs<\/span><\/p>\n

Brian Biggs has gone on to a career as a successful, award-winning children’s illustrator. He’s currently developing Frederick &amp; Eloise<\/span><\/a> as a film.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While "researching" a recent Nexus Graphica, I had reason to look through my collection of Comics Of Unusual Size. This set of the big and small and odd of comicdom offers many gems. Deciding that I really should share some … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n