NOW #13: The New Comics Anthology

by Eric Reynolds (Series Editor), Eric Reynolds (Series Editor)

The multiple Eisner and Ignatz Award nominated comics anthology NOW is the perfect primer of the very best of contemporary art and literary comics from around the world. In our latest issue, NOW #13 , cartoonist Kayla E. (USA) returns with an all-new “Precious Rubbish” strip exploring childhood trauma through her darkly humorous lens; she also contributes this issue’s cover. Nathan Gelgud (USA) makes his NOW debut with two strips adapting dialogue from interviews with filmmaker Paul Schrader, while indie humor phenom Josh Pettinger (UK) also appears for the first time. Anchoring the issue is Caitlin Skaalrud’s (USA) inspiring and beautiful “How to Make Comics,” a 40-page poetic howl about the need to make art and the sacrifices that come with that need (“LEARN THE COPPER TASTE OF HUNGER”). And NOW regulars Noah Van Sciver (USA), Roman Muradov (Armenia), Josh Simmons (USA), Cynthia Alfonso (Spain), Steven Weissman (USA), Emil Friis Ernst (Denmark), and Stacy Gougoulis (Australia) are back with new stories. The New Comics Anthology is still the best value in every issue is a self-contained cross-section of the best short comics stories the globe has to offer and it has established itself as the preeminent anthology of first-rate international comics talent. With all-new, never-before-seen material from a mix of emerging and established talent, NOW is the perfect answer to the question, “Why Comics?” Full-color illustrations throughout

Genres: Comics

120 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2024

About the author

Eric Reynolds is a Seattle-based cartoonist, critic and comics editor who is the Vice-President and Associate Publisher for Fantagraphics Books. His work has appeared in The Stranger, The Comics Journal, The New York Times, The New York Press and other publications. He has edited or co-edited The Complete Crumb Comics, Angry Youth Comics, Dirty Stories and MOME and has inked some of Peter Bagge's comics.

Reviews

[Drew Canole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this issue was pretty lackluster. The narrative stories were a bit boring for me. There's some cool artwork including one comic that was quite experimental (basically just cool shapes). Nothing very memorable unfortunately.

Caitlin Skaalrud’s “How to Make Comics" is perhaps the standout. Full page panels with a poetic musing on living as a creative person.

--Apparently I was way off because 3 of these got nominated for Eisners...--
“Anything Sinister,” by Ross Murray, in NOW #13 (Fantagraphics)
“Pig” by Stacy Gougoulis, in NOW #13 (Fantagraphics)
“You Cannot Live on Bread Alone” by Kayla E., in NOW #13 (Fantagraphics)

[Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

All three of the Eisner nominees in here are so good, how will I choose?

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent selection of comics round out this years issue of NOW, though the hit or miss aspect of the anthology seems even more pronounced now. Personal highlights for me in this issue were Roman Muradov's "Conceptual Illustration", Nathan Gelgud's "Paul Schrader: Man of His Word", and Josh Pettinger's "Laird Bell" - all three of which are humor pieces that land their respective jokes well enough.

The longest piece in here is Caitlin Skaalrud's "How To Make Comics" which was an impressive feature that utilizes a crisp fine red line to flesh out the drive to make art in a quaint and poetic way. Cynthia Alphonso's "Escape from the Center" is an intriguing parable using abstract shapes and figures, but it's more indecipherable than not. Most of the other pieces in here are unfortunately quite forgettable.

[Bill Hsu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as #12. But not every issue will have Bhanu Pratap in it.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read NOW #13: A Comics Anthology, edited by Eric Reynolds, because three of the 2025 Eisner Awards for Best Short Story arein this volume:

“Anything Sinister,” by Ross Murray
“Pig” by Stacy Gougoulis
“You Cannot Live on Bread Alone” by Kayla E.

Okay, I did like these, but I am not even sure I liked them as well as others in this very volume, including:

*Nathan Gielgud making comics out of Paul Schrader interviews (cuz I like Schrader and the stories are funny, such as one where Schrader, working with George C. Scott on Hardcore in my hometown Grand Rapids, Michigan, won’t come out of his trailer until Schrader promises him he will never direct a film ever again--he lied and Scott finished the movie);

*Caitlin Skaalrud's "How to Make Comics," sweet and crazy and funny and lightly done: "Learn The Copper Taste Of Hunger"

*Roman Muradov’s “Conceptual Art”--interesting!

*Josh Pettinger's "Laird Bell"-- funny and well drawn

These are the other nominees I found and read:

“Day 1703,” by Chris Ware, in Smoke Signal #43 (Desert Island)
“Spaces,” by Phil Jimenez, in DC Pride 2024 #1 (DC)
“Water I’ve Loved: Moving Day” by Pam Wye, in MUTHA magazine, https://www.muthamagazine.com/2024/05...

[Andrew Metadrouid · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5