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Sep. 14th, 2006 | 10:47 am
posted by: [info]4_eyez in [info]act_i_vate

I took a poem by memoirist/poet Nick Flynn and made it into a two-page comic. I find Nick's work really lends itself to this treatment, and this is the third time I've adapted one of his poems into graphic form. This poem in particular just blows me away.

The piece is a two-page spread, forming one complete image. Here's how it looks in spread form. The individual pages are displayed below the cut.

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Comments {28}

Steven Goldman

from: [info]sneakymonkey
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 03:09 pm (UTC)

Holy shit, Josh.

Dark, poetic, doomed, beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen you do anything like that, though I'd like to again.

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Man-Size

from: [info]man_size
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 03:21 pm (UTC)

I agree with Steve, here. These kinds of comix show off your best in creativity and intelligence of the form. Who knew poetry would work so well within the comix context?

I'd love for Act-i-vate fans to see your other two Flynn collaborations, come soon...

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 03:59 pm (UTC)

These kinds of comix show off your best in creativity and intelligence of the form.

Not to mention my striking good looks, right? thanks, mr. size.

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 03:56 pm (UTC)

thanks, dawg!

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Facetia Soubrette

from: [info]comfortslut
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 04:08 pm (UTC)

This is fucking amazing.

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 07:55 pm (UTC)

thanks, comfort! as i said, i find nick's work amazing — and inspirational.

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Jill

from: [info]polly_sings
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 04:20 pm (UTC)

this is absolutely stunning. really nice work, especially using the smoke for "your voice released into the night"

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 07:57 pm (UTC)

glad you liked the smoke effect. i was looking for the element that would really link the pages together, and that hit me like an epiphany as the perfect thing. i even tried to give the smoke puffs little tails to evoke word balloons.

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benjamin sTone

from: [info]benchilada
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 08:11 pm (UTC)

Wow. That's some mad bastard rockstar layout, that is.
Striking, as the kids down at the malt shop say.

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 08:44 pm (UTC)

keen, daddio!

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François

from: [info]neuroticme
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 09:48 pm (UTC)

This poem is from Nick's first book, Some Ether (Graywolf Press). His other books include Blind Huber (poetry, also from Graywolf Press) and Another Bullshit Night in Suck City (memoir, W.W. Norton, which is also being turned into a movie).

I remember Nick mentioning one of his poems being turned into a comic. I did not realize it was you.

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 09:56 pm (UTC)

yeah, as i mentioned, this is our third collaboration. the 1st one was published in crossroads: the magazine of the poetry society of america, the 2nd one ended up in the common review, and this one will be published in world literature today. he's the nicky-est!

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François

from: [info]neuroticme
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 10:05 pm (UTC)

Yes, he is an amazing poet, indeed.

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François

from: [info]neuroticme
date: Sep. 14th, 2006 09:50 pm (UTC)

Oh, and Nick is also the new Executive Manager of the literary magazine Gulf Coast (for which I used to intern).

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David Lasky

kickass

from: [info]dlasky
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 01:01 am (UTC)

this is one of your best!

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

Re: kickass

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 02:15 am (UTC)

thanks, d! since i always look to your fun, formalist work as a model, it means a lot coming from you.

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bertozzi

from: [info]bertozzi
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 03:10 am (UTC)

This is beautiful. One of the best, most interesting comics I've read all year.

And don't think I didn't notice how incredibly subtle and strong the coloring is!

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 04:51 pm (UTC)

aw, shucks! thanks, nickables. again, all props to the original material, which demands inspiration.

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Dan Goldman

from: [info]dangoldman
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 03:48 am (UTC)

You could keep doing dreamy pieces like this forever and I'd keep reading and reading and reading...

One of my favorite things you've ever done. Effortlessly self-assured and a thousand pounds heavy with truth and defiance.

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 04:51 pm (UTC)

you are too kind. too kind.

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zegas

from: [info]zegas
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 04:00 am (UTC)

This is one of my most favorite pieces of yours. Everything is solid: caption placement, color, iconic images, lettering. I'm not familiar with Nick Flynn, but this poem is great.

Can we see the other two adaptations?

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Four-Eyes: A Vagabond

from: [info]4_eyez
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 04:53 pm (UTC)

thanks, michel ma belle.

look for the other two in The Vagabonds #2, in your hands next month!

*plug plug*

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Andrew Lorenzi

from: [info]penrod_pulaski
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 09:08 am (UTC)

this was very well done.

nice job, man.

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Paul Maybury

from: [info]paulmay
date: Sep. 15th, 2006 02:22 pm (UTC)

Reaaaaally awesome story telling, and a fine example of sequential format exclusive story telling as well.

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Reid Harris Cooper

from: [info]lordrexfear
date: Sep. 16th, 2006 09:02 pm (UTC)

wagon jump! an amazingly beautiful piece and effort in art.

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Chris Beckett

loved this

from: [info]lucien75
date: Sep. 17th, 2006 11:56 am (UTC)

Wow. this is exactly why I keep coming back to ACT-I-VATE, for a new take on what comix can accomplish and to be introduced to something, or somebody, new. I'd never heard of Nick Flynn before, but this poem has me wanting to check out more of his work. And the adaptation was great. the inventiveness (text in the smoke) and the color palette combined with your use of shadows really helped to evoke the feel and tone of the poem nicely. Great work. Hope to see your other adaptations up her sometime as well. Thanks, man.

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Re: loved this

from: anonymous
date: Sep. 18th, 2006 09:41 pm (UTC)

thank YOU... for one of the best reader responses i've ever gotten!

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Scott Faulkner

from: [info]inkboy
date: Sep. 21st, 2006 12:32 am (UTC)

Fantastic!

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