Meltdown, Inc.

About the Meltdown Comics EXTRAS edition

Included in this pack will be a commemorative Meltdown Comics envelope and letterhead, Meltdown Comics sticker, vintage Baby Melt ribbon (yeah, we made this), a tiny 1:6 scale T-Shirt (Sized-to-Fit the DEATH RAY ACTION FIGURE, the Hi-Fashion Enid DOLL or to class-up your child’s BRATZ doll if you will), a little silkscreen print, a pin, plus other surprises. All using the Meltdown Comics Mel Mascot and logo designed last century for Meltdown, Inc. by Dan Clowes. That is like back in the 1990s,man! ONLY 200 sets will be made. FUN! Will cost us more that 10 bux to make all of these bits but will only add 10 bux over the cover price if you buy the book from us. Pre-order Meltdown Comics EXTRAS edition here

The book

Throughout his 25-year career, alternative cartoonist/screenwriter Daniel Clowes has always been ahead of artistic and cultural movements. In the late 1980s his groundbreaking comic book series Eightball defined indie culture with wit, venom, and even a little sympathy. With each successive graphic novel (Ghost World, David Boring, Ice Haven, Wilson, Mister Wonderful ), Clowes has been praised for his emotionally compelling narratives that reimagine the ways that stories can be told in comics. The Art of Daniel Clowes: Modern Cartoonist is the first monograph on this award-winning, New York Times–bestselling creator, compiled with his complete cooperation. It includes all of Clowes’s best-known illustrations as well as rare and previously unpublished work, all reproduced from the original art, and also includes essays by noted contributors such as designer Chip Kidd and cartoonist Chris Ware.

About the author

Alvin Buenaventura recently started the publishing company Pigeon Press. He previously published artistic and insightful graphic novels, books, and prints under the imprint Buenaventura Press from 2003 to 2009. Buenaventura also edits the monthly comics section for McSweeney’s literary magazine, The Believer. He lives in Oakland, California.

Authors: By Alvin Buenaventura with an introduction by George Meyer, interview by Kristine Mckenna, with essays by Susan Miller, Ken Parille, Ray Pride, Chris Ware, and Chip Kidd.

Publishing Date: 4/1/2012 Page Count: 224 Cover: Hardcover with jacket Illustrations: 300+ color illustrations. Regular edition available here

LA WEEKLY: Q & A With Simpsons Exec Producer @MattSelman: The Food Wife (airs tonight on FOX)

food truck, Friends of MLT, GIRLS WITH GLASSES, Meltdown on the Simpsons No Responses »

Nov 132011

Read the full story here: LA WEEKLY SQUIDINK

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Food on Television Q & A With Simpsons Exec Producer Matt Selman: The Food Wife, Food Blogging + Dining at Jitlada With Matt Groening

By Margy Rochlin Wed., Nov. 9 2011 at 2:27 PM

Categories: Food Blogs, Food on Television, Interviews

Just a few weeks ago Fox Studios and the voice actors and producers of Simpsons were engaged in a financial tug-of-war that threatened the existence of the long-running animated series. If you need to remind yourself why we should celebrate the resolution (two more years!), watch The Food Wife this Sunday at 8:00 p.m. on Fox.

Early in the episode, Marge, Bart and Lisa start a food blog called The Three Mouthketeers, an act then followed by a culinary reference tornado that is so unrelenting that to catch them all requires DVR slow-mo or, barring that, multiple viewings. If neither are possible, pay very close attention when Marge, Lisa and Bart’s blog profiles are revealed — (on Bart’s list of grossest foods eaten? “Blood Cheese”) — and for fleeting cameos by every food world celebrity from Paul Prud’homme to The Muppets’ Swedish chef as well as a pointed reference to our own Jonathan Gold’s Essential 99 L.A. restaurants.

If you want to sing along with the foodie rap belted out by Amuse Bruce and Fois Garth (Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show, Great Job), it is printed in its entirety on Grub Street. If you’d like to read our conversation with the writer of The Food Wife, Simpsons executive producer and food blog scourer Matt Selman, turn the page.

COMEDY MELTDOWN 23 – THE END?

EXIT INTERVIEW

Marz Richards (www.renfield.com) interviews Linda Pine!

Linda Pine is the impresario behind Comedy Meltdown, the super-successful comedy revue that took place at the Melt Gallery at Meltdown over the past two years. As Comedy Meltdown comes to a close and a new chapter for the Melt Gallery begins, the ever-inquisitive Marz Richards bothered Linda over a period of hours via electronic communiqué to establish this informative dialogue which we now present to you.

thesnakend Q. Aggggggh! It’s over? It’s really over? This is the last Comedy Meltdown? What are we to do with ourselves?

A. Cry into your respective pillows.

Q. Booking anything in Los Angeles is a whirlwind gig, crushing your email and phone lines and consuming your focus. What was the toughest evening you produced during the run?

A. Andy Kindler & Ron Lynch were sick one night and I had to replace both of them on SHORT notice. Of course about 100 people came to the show expecting Lynch and Kindler… I prevented a riot by plying them with Asahi.

This_is_the_end Q. Comedy Meltdown introduced quite a few comedians to myself and the nerderati that enter the store. Were there any breakout performers from the show?

A. Howard Kremer hands down wins that award. www.myspace.com/dragonboysuede

Q. The quality of performance at CM was, to my mind, astonishing. Was there something about the room or the booking that contributed to consistent success, or are we just blessed with a lot of kick-ass comedians at this moment?

A. Thank you, to me too. I was lucky to have amazing headliners before the show really had legs, Dana Gould was on our second show for example… If good headliners build it, they will come. www.danagould.com

Q. Do you have secret plans for the future? Divulge them now and ruin the surprise! We won’t tell anyone!

A. Comedy Meltdown World Tour is looking for sponsors. I am also pitching CM as a show for the TV.

Q. I’m big on learning. What is the primary lesson to be learned from your experiences producing this show?

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A. Comedians work their asses off.

Q. Could you expand on that a little bit? Are they better promoters? Do they always do more than expected as entertainers?

A. I just mean they go up every night, and sometimes more than once a night. Matt Braunger is a good example, many of the shows he’s done at CM were his second set of the night, but he always has the energy and just kills. www.mattbraunger.com

Q. You’re an actor, but you’ve been quite busy with Comedy Meltdown. Are you going to get back into the great game?

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A. Yes, watching these guys and gals instantly produce once they get in front of the mike was inspirational to me.

I need to use that skill at every audition, and remember to roll with the punches.

Q. What did booking this many shows teach you about Los Angeles?

A. That there is always something great going on… and if people show up to CM it means that they passed on any number of awesome screenings, gallery openings, comedy shows, you name it! It’s been very humbling and I am truly grateful that CM found an audience.

Q. This drama may be over, but it’s really not the end. You are curating more than a few art shows at the Melt Gallery at Meltdown through 2010. Tell me about your current installation and what’s next on the agenda?

A. My current show is called An Aurora of Polar Bears: A Children’s Primer. and it’s 26 original works based on terms of venery. My dad, a zoologist, wrote the introduction. I am hoping to make a children’s book (for smart children) out of it. February 27th will be Night of the Knick-Knacks or Return to Oz, all works inspired by the film. http://gallerymeltdown.wordpress.com