edits, titans, birkenstocks

August 4th, 2008 | Uncategorized

editing

I’m slowly re-entering the work on my new memoir, which has been set aside for a long time due to other pressing activities. It’s really hard to get my focus back. I made myself a little outline chart the other day, trying to make sense of all the strands I’m trying to weave into the book. Dr. Winnicott edited it rather severely last night, see above.
Here’s another thing I’m working on. I’m doing a talk with Harvey Pekar this fall at the Novello Festival of Reading, which they’ve titled “Titans of the Graphic Novel.” I can’t tell if they’re being ironic or not. They want me to do some art for it, so I’m working on this drawing of me and Harvey as superheroes. This is me posing as a superhero holding a giant, um, pen.

superheroine

And here’s the drawing so far:

titans sketch

Also, did you know you can compost ANYTHING, as long as it was alive at some point? Like for example a pair of Birkenstocks? Holly just made a very educational video on this topic.

39 Responses to “edits, titans, birkenstocks”

  1. --MC says:

    Hijo de!

  2. Joe Code says:

    I like the idea of you and Harvey as super heroes.

    What is your cat doing? Defending her home against hostile Kleenex?

  3. Aunt Soozie says:

    Is that actually your outline that the Doctor attacked? Nice.
    Great drawing of you and Harvey…. I like how it’s taking, uhm, shape.
    Gotta go learn about the birks now…

  4. Jen says:

    Our puppy just took care of our journal organizational system in a similar fashion to your cat. A little bit of shredded cardboard = a giant mess.

    Speaking of giant, holy bazoombas graphic novel woman!

  5. Mame says:

    they do say that high heels change a girl’s form…..

  6. Ginjoint says:

    All of that, held by a mere jogbra. I’m also liking the star on Harvey’s dick.

  7. BigNerd says:

    It would be hot if you switched the bodies–and put the cat in as a mini titan! Seems to have super outline-shredding powers, at least.

  8. cleanskies says:

    I was thinking a bustier and thigh boots might be more you ;P

  9. MikeSTL says:

    Amen Jen! Our Alison has a(n) heroic bosom! I guess all human characteristics are enhanced by transformation into a superhero! 😉

    Dr. Winnicott is not pleased, nor amused by Student Bechdel’s efforts!

  10. Nele says:

    Your cat seems to be, well, a bit of a gourmande… 😉

  11. June says:

    Spooky! I just took an out-of-town visitor to Brooklyn’s Superhero Supply Store yesterday. Let me know if you two need anything from there!

  12. Ng Yi-Sheng says:

    You could actually just leave it like that – raw and unfinished. The Delible Alison Bechdel.

  13. Cate says:

    That’s wonderful.

  14. Ian says:

    Hmmmm, I always figured you as more of the Xena, Warrior Princess or Wonder Woman type somehow AB.

  15. sk in london says:

    AB, might you have been around too many tri-athletes this weekend?
    that bod is mental!

  16. C. says:

    Reminds me of Harvey’s story in DC’s “Bizarro World” where he plays “Bizarro No. 1024″…

  17. a lurker says:

    I’m pretty impressed with Holly’s “science show” voice-it reminds me a little of 3-2-1 Contact, which I used to watch avidly when I was little. (3-2-1 Contact, of course, featured neither Birkenstocks nor compost piles).

  18. Sonya says:

    That is an awesome cat picture. Heck, it’s an awesome cat.

  19. The Cat Pimp says:

    I’m admiring the Star of Approval on Harvey’s package. But… Gauntlets. You and Harvey need big gauntlets. Yours should have a lambda on it and his, a Mogen David. Or something. The boots? Stilettos, dear, not Cuban heels. And a whip.

    OK. Time to splash some cold water on my face.

  20. DeLandDeLakes says:

    OMG your BOOBS XD That is seriously so funny. I confess that I am not really a fan of Harvey Pekar’s comics, but I LOVED the American Splendor movie.

  21. Aunt Soozie says:

    How about stiletto crocs? Thigh high stiletto crocs…

  22. Footyfoot says:

    Awesome cover- but it could really use some Jack Kirby-style Energy Motes. Comics are always better with energy motes!

  23. Khatgrrl says:

    We too have a cat that is rather fond of shredding paper. My partner is a science teacher and ofter finds herself explaining to her students that “my cat ate your homework/long term project”. (Usually just a few nibbles and tooth marks.)

    I also have to add that your head appears somewhat frightened to be on the superhero body.

  24. ksbel6 says:

    I think it was Jack Kirby who extended The Dark Knight’s ears up to about 2 ft from his head. I always figured Bats would have a terrible time going through doors with those things!
    Well done though, I would buy a comic with that cover!!

    Ginjoint…jfyi…I was born in Texas, so Missouri is quite an improvement. If I continue my northward migration as planned, I should be living in Canada by the time I’m 50 🙂

  25. Ginjoint says:

    Nunavut, here she comes!

  26. --MC says:

    ksbel6, I believe Marshall Rogers drew the highest ears on Batman in his take on the character.

  27. --MC says:

    Thing removed my html tag!
    ksbel6, I believe Marshall Rogers drew the highest ears on Batman in his take on the character. [/asperger’s]

  28. verbalathleticism says:

    I love how your cat’s tail is all fluffed up. Did she freak herself out or did something scare her?

  29. andrewo says:

    That drawing of you looks an awful lot like Mo. Am I really that slow on the uptake?

  30. ksbel6 says:

    MC…you could be correct, I actually haven’t read the Batman line in quite awhile. I just remember the ears growing…remember Batman Beyond? That costume also has really long ears…

  31. Dr. Empirical says:

    I think it was Neal Adams who was first with the extra-long ears and cape look. That was in the early ‘seventies; around the time Jack Kirby moved over to DC for a while, but as far as I know, Kirby never drew Batman.

    Later artists took the costume exaggerations to absurd lengths.

  32. --MC says:

    Neal Adams, right, right. He drew the Man-bat, as I recall.

  33. Woodstock says:

    That is one extra fine looking kitty cat. I’m just happy that even though you seem to have gone [ehm] superhero proportions on the drawing you’ve gotten the “no capes!” meme.

  34. Dr. Empirical says:

    Capes are optional. Fabulous boots are a necessity.

  35. priorities says:

    Alas, I’m in the change-of-costume camp for your Titan self, AB. Right now you strike me more like Tomb Raider Goes to Calligraphy Class. If bowling-ball-sized bazooms are a necessity, and they may be, though the comic industry’s getting better as we all know–maybe more of a Witchblade shredded-armor look, or that bustier, totally. And up the thigh muscles. Much like Barbie, yer superheroine there couldn’t support All That on those little legs. How does she stand up?

    Tongue in cheek that’s had far too little caffeine pass by it this morning,

    priorities

  36. Therry says:

    About that compost video….will references be made from this blog to future videos of the progress of these dubiously compostable Birkenstocks? Can industrial glue be composted?

    I dunno about the costume changer — I like the ironic take of the whole enterprise. Reminds me of a chum of mine who went to a Halloween Party dressed as the First Amendment, Pen similar to yours in hand, fending off swords right and left.

  37. Tabatha Atwood says:

    harvey has a bobblehead doll for sale.

    will you? the superhero you maybe?

  38. Richard says:

    I mean this kindly, but, Brunhilde you’re not …..

    isn’t there some Superhero of wit and intelligiance somewhere?

  39. Kristen says:

    The “Titans” picture is the greatest thing ever. Especially the “How did I get here?” look on your face!