The Comics Interpreter
The Comics Interpreter is a zine of comics criticism, published and edited by Robert Young. It focuses on alternative comics, and is characterized by interviews and reviews of greater length and detail than most comics-oriented publications, resembling the long-running Comics Journal in these particulars. Though it has generally low production values, well-known artists have contributed cover art.
Notable Issues
Early issues featured interviews with seminal indy comics creators including brothers Asaf & Tomer Hanuka, Brian Ralph, Jordan Crane, Jesse Reklaw, David Choe, and even a brief chat with Neil Gaiman. There have also been lengthy reviews of Frank Miller's 300, the work of Alex Ross, and the first reviews of works by Kurt Wolfgang, Kevin Huizenga, and Martin Cendreda.
With issue #6 the magazine went to offset printing for a "Tribute" to The Brothers Hernandez complete with interviews of Jaime Hernandez and brother Gilbert Hernandez and commentary from sources as wide-ranging as Nick Abadzis, David Choe, Andi Watson, and Marvel Publisher Joe Quesada. Also featured is an interview with British scribe Jamie Delano focusing on his work with Frank Quitely on 20/20 Visions.
Following that issue TCI re-emerged after a long layover with TCI #1 Volume 2 featuring a cover by underground cartoonist Hans Rickheit and an interview with iconoclastic artist Paul Pope. Subsequent issues have demonstrated the magazine's eclectic interests with essays from former Comics Journal stalwart Gene Phillips, reviews of works ranging from Alan Moore to obscure minicomics by Jamie Tanner and Dave Shelton, and interviews with George Pratt, Kozyndan, James Jean, David Rees, Alex Maleev, and Tak Toyoshima.
Covers by a who's who of artists who were cutting edge at the time and have subsequently gone on to huge success including David Choe TCI #4 Vol. 1, Tomer Hanuka TCI #5, Nick Abadzis TCI #6, Hans Rickheit #1 Vol. 2, Kozyndan TCI #2, and James Jean TCI #3.
Notable Contributors
- R. Young (publisher/editor)
- Gene Phillips (essayist)
- Chad Parenteau (interviews)
- Hans Rickheit (cover),
- Tomer Hanuka (cover)
- David Choe (cover and articles)
- Nick Abadzis (cover and articles)
- James Jean (cover)
- Kozyndan (cover)
- Mark Staff Brandl (theoretical article)