SOWS EARONE

SOWS EAR. The title is taken from an old saying: “like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Meaning that whatever you are trying to do is impos-sible. It ends up that making silk from a sow’s ear is not actually impossible:“In 1921 the management of Arthur D. Little, Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., issued a small report describing the methods employed by the firm’s chemists to cre-ate “silk” from pork byproducts. The idea behind this surprising and not very practical experiment was to prove that something said to be impossible was, with sufficient effort and ingenuity, attainable. As the re-port notes, the old adage “you can’t make a silk purse of a sow’s ear” had been used for years to discourage inventiveness and enterprise. “We resolved...to prove that it was false, and we have done so. We have made a silk purse of a sow’s ear.’” -from On the Making of Silk Purses from Sows’ Ears. SOWS EAR. A collection of comics made by Alaskan artists. Some of the artists here would identify them-selves as (among other things) cartoonists. Other con-tributors made their first (and possibly last) comics for this issue. Some of what follows is not a comic at all. Everything in this issue was made by Alaskan artists (whatever that really means). This is not guaranteed to be the case in future issues. Though I imagine a lot of them will be, as it is being made in Alaska.

C O N T E N THere is a bit of info about each contributor. It is list-ed alphabetically by artist. Each artists name can be found at the bottom of the first page of each piece.Samuel BairExcerpt from The Adventures of Sport All American Hero. Written and illustrated in 2011 while serving a 3-month sentence for a misdemeanor. Originally print-ed in color (the drawings were made using a blue ball-point pen), Sam donated all proceeds from the book to www.blackandpink.org. Karenina BrooksDuring a dream Enigma has a conversation with El-der Ma. Peter Dunlap-ShohlZombie Rodeo is a short piece originally presented in color on Peter’s blog www.frozengrin.blogspot.com. Peter worked for more than 25 years as the in house car-toonist for the Anchorage Daily News and is now work-ing on, among many other things, a graphic novel dealing with the subject of Parkinson’s disease. Ted KincaidLonely Star More about Ted can be found on his website www.gutterserf.com

Jesus Landin Torrez IIIJesus’ recent artwork has focused on the human soul. He has recently discovered a way to transcribe the individual souls into music through a complicated mash up of tests. The musical scores presented here are early examples of these transcribed souls. More about Jesus at www.jesuslandintorrez.com. He was in-cluded as a character in Held Up #3. Keren LowellTattoo TabooKeren has learned to consider the consequences of her actions. Chad MeyerA series of strips originally posted in color on Chad’s website www.jeybork.com. This site is no lon-ger in commission, but Chad intends to start a new site soon (once he decides on a title). We will keep you posted. Betany Porter Betany is a painter who makes work based upon memories, photographs and drawings of personal experiences I have had traveling and living in Alas-ka. Snow Diving Is her first comic.Anna RauppWhat we have all been waiting for! The Adventures of Shaman Pig!Jimmy RiordanGlove Bunny is an excerpt from Jimmy’s comic Held Up. Seagull Library is the first in a series of short com-ics documenting a year in Jimmy’s life. Both relate to His Le Roman du Lievre project. www.leromandulievre.com and www.leromandulieve.owrdpress.com (Held Up’s blog). XXXXXXXXA selection from a much larger series of “Unupropeit (inappropriate)” drawings by a couple of anonymous 7-year-old children from Homer. Printed with pa-rental permission of course. THANKS. Thanks to all the contributing artists and to Minuteman press in Anchorage for doing the printing. The second issue of SOWS EAR will hopefully be released in December.. Any one interested in sub-mitting work to that, or any future issue should feel free to contact me at riordanjimmy@gmail.com. That goes for businesses that would like to carry copies of the comic, or individuals interested in purchasing issues. -Jimmy

Betany PorterBetany Porter

Chad MeyerChad Meyer

Keren LowellKeren Lowell

Peter Dunlap-ShohlPeter Dunlap-Shohl

Shaman Pig thought back on the times he was the happiest and felt the most at home in himself.

There was that time at the old folks home when he got to meet Hildegarde and Ruben, a German couple in their 90s who told stories of old Europe.

Anna Raupp

THE ADVENTURES OF S

Shaman Pig thought back on the times he was the happiest and felt the most at home and felt the most at home in himself. in himself.

There was that time at the old folks home There was that time at the old folks home when he got to meet Hildegarde and Ruben, when he got to meet Hildegarde and Ruben, a German couple in their 90s who told stories of old Europe. stories of old Europe.

Anna Raupp

THE ADVENTURES OF STHE ADVENTURES OF S

Then there was the tall dark stranger Shaman Pig met waiting tables at his hometown diner. Talk about a coming of age!!!

But ever since that day at the mall when Shaman Pig was discovered by the modeling agency it’s been

Go! Go! Go!

with no time for his former spontaneous pleasures.

Then there was the tall dark stranger Shaman Pig met waiting tables at his hometown diner. Talk about a coming of age!!!

But ever since that day at the mall when Shaman Pig was discovered by the modeling agency it’s been by the modeling agency it’s been

Go! Go! Go!

with no time for his former with no time for his former spontaneous pleasures. spontaneous pleasures.

Most recently Shaman Pig was in a warm climate.

It was very hollow having so many public appearances (being devoured) When no one really knows the true Shaman Pig.

He was worn out from a hectic schedule of modeling.

Most recently Shaman Pig was in a warm climate.

It was very hollow It was very hollow having so many public having so many public appearances appearances (being devoured) (being devoured) When no one really When no one really knows the true knows the true Shaman Pig. Shaman Pig.

He was worn out from a hectic schedule from a hectic schedule of modeling.

Not knowing where he found the courage to do so, one day Shaman Pig just said NO. No more dinners! No more interviews! No more photo shoots!

He needed a retreat to find out who he was inside.

But no matter how much yoga and meditation he did, he still felt like his soul was asleep.

Not knowing where he found the courage to do so, one day Shaman Pig just so, one day Shaman Pig just said NO. No more dinners! No more interviews! No more photo shoots! No more photo shoots!

He needed a retreat to find out who he was inside.

But no matter how much yoga yoga and meditation he did,and meditation he did, he still felt like his soul was asleep.

Shaman Pig collected all of his old airline tickets from his travels, went to his travel agent and found that his frequent flyer miles

could send him to Cuba!

And that is where he lay for three months. Tanning, salsa dancing, drinking rum and waiting for a call. Be it Ja or God or the Great Spirit.

One day Shaman pig was listening into a conch shell when all of a sudden his next great purpose lay before him.

Shaman Pig collected all of his old airline tickets from his travels, went to his travel agent and found that his frequent flyer miles

could send him to Cuba! could send him to Cuba!

And that is where he lay for three And that is where he lay for three months. Tanning, salsa dancing, drinking rum and waiting for a call. Be it Ja or God or the Great Spirit.

One day Shaman pig was listening into a conch shell when all of a sudden his next great purpose lay before him.

Yes, Shaman Pig would help, just as soon as he could get out of Havana!

But things are not always as easily said as done.

He was going to put an end to his

tiresome narcissism and use his hard earned fame and know how to help some old friends.

Yes, Shaman Pig would help, just as would help, just as soon as he could get soon as he could get out of Havana!

But things are not always But things are not always as easily said as done. as easily said as done. as easily said as done. as easily said as done.

He was going to He was going to put an end to his put an end to his

tiresome narcissism tiresome narcissism and use his hard and use his hard earned fame and earned fame and know how to help know how to help some old friends. some old friends.

And before he knew it, Shaman Pig was recognized and asked to performthe big Havana Day production.

Things just kept coming up!

And before he knew it, Shaman Pig was recognized and asked to performthe big Havana Day production.

Things just kept coming up!

Who knew it would be such a scene! Super models, musicians - and all the wonderful Cubans!!

Finally through the lens of a fierce hangover Shaman Pig decided it was the right time to leave.

And before he knew it, Shaman Pig was recognized and asked to performthe big Havana Day production.

Who knew it would be Who knew it would be such a scene! such a scene! Super models, musicians Super models, musicians - and all the - and all the wonderful wonderful Cubans!! Cubans!!

Finally through the lens of a fierce hangover Shaman Pig decided it was the right time to leave. right time to leave.

Life is only so long and you can’t just sail from one sensual narcissistic pleasure to the next!

To be Continued...

Life is only so long and you can’t just sail from one sensual narcissistic pleasure to the next!

To To be Continube Continued...ed...

To be Continued...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Theodore KincaidTheodore KincaidTheodore Kincaid

Samuel BairSamuel Bair

To be continued.. .To be continued.. .

Jesus Landin Torrez IIIJesus Landin Torrez III

Jimmy RiordanJimmy Riordan

Karenina BrooksKarenina Brooks

Karenina Brooks

Karenina Brooks

SEAGULLLIBRARY

by Jimmy Riordan

Jimmy Riordan

SEAGULLLIBRARY

by Jimmy Riordan

Jimmy Riordan

Chad Meyer

$6 .00 US / MORE IN CA Rabb i t Rabb i t P ress , Augus t 2013

RR