Lucca, Italy; unspoiled beauty and comic book hot spot; The End
Lucca is a medieval walled city not far from Florence. We arrive in the evening and I go straight to a panel being held about the importance of different formats in comics publishing…
On the far left is Igort Tuveri , the independent cartoonist/publisher of Coconino Press . He publishes many wonderful art comics including his own BAOBAB. He is very passionate about the format being in service to the art of the comic. I agree. At the far right is my friend Dark Horse editor Diana Schutz. The two of them engage in an earnest exchange of questions about knowing when to concede to certain market realities. When should an artist give in to a format that the marketplace dictates? Suddenly, I realized this panel was not about the size and shape of a comic at all. If I understand what the conversation was really about, I think the European publishers are not only looking over their shoulders at Manga, but at the new Graphic Novel format. The size of many GNs, like BONE and BLANKETS and many others, including new works by European artists like David B. are closer to standard book dimensions than the traditionally larger European albums. This is an interesting new twist.
The next day I make my way to my Italian publisher's booth, Panini Comics …
From the left is Francesco, me, Marco Lupoi the Publishing Director, and Matteo. Thanks, guys, the book looks great!
Inside the Panini booth, I meet my German (!) translator, Monja Reichert, who happens to live in Lucca.
Panini hosts a couple of great signings, and as a festival Guest of Honor, I also take part in a spotlight panel, where Marco Lupoi agrees to interview and translate for me.
It's a lively crowd, and we all laugh a lot. Someone asks about the shifts in BONE from humor to darkness and back.
My favorite books are the ones that start out like a kid's adventure story like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and grow more complex and dark as the story unfolds. After the interview, I sign books for everyone.
The signings take what little is left out of me - - as soon as I finish, my right arm starts to spasm. But I don’t care, I’m done! The final signing of the European leg of the tour! BEEEYOW!!
Outside, I run into cartoonist Kikuo Johnson.
Kikuo is the author of the award winning book The Night Fisher. You can read an excellent review at Bookslut. And another one at The Onion's A.V. Club. He and ten other cartoonists are staying in a villa just outside of town in the Tuscan mountains. I’ve been talking about Kikuo Johnson for some time now, because almost every journalists wants to know what other comics I recommend, and The Night Fisher is on the top of my list. And for the record, the other books on my current must-read list are: Louis Riel by Chester Brown, Little Nemo in Slumberland: So Many Splendid Sundays, Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley, and the FLIGHT anthologies edited by Kazu Kibuishi.
For lunch, I have a big, hot bowl of local white bean soup known as Farro , drizzled with olive oil. This is the best soup on earth, and if you don’t believe me, ask anyone who has tasted it. They’ll back me up.
At long last we're finished. The tour is over. Panini has done a great job with the books, and has sold out of all the copies of BONE they brought to the show. The festival's organizer Giovanni Russo has taken care of our every need from the moment we arrived until we depart. We're very grateful. Tonight we catch a flight to Frankfurt and then head back home to Ohio. Just time for a quiet stroll along the top of the medieval wall that circles this beautiful city. Next time you see me will be back home in the States. Ciao!
It’s been a joy following your european tour on your blog. So many places, sight, people…and food! It all looked so good.
I’d love to travel to one of the Italian shows one day, in the hopes of meeting Leo Ortolani and throwing myself down at his feet. Love his work!
Have a safe trip back!
Comment by Johane Matte — November 16, 2006 @ 3:27 pm
Thank you for sharing your journey. Its been inspirational and entertaining. I hope you’re trip home is relaxing and you guys get to have some quiet fun. Keep smiling!
Comment by Will Terrell — November 16, 2006 @ 5:00 pm
Yes, thank you very much indeed for having us along. I absolutely loved taking a peek at your adventures. Very entertaining, insightful and incredibly inspiring.
You and the missus have a safe trip home!
Best,
Scott Brown
http://scottbrown71.blogspot.com/
Comment by scott — November 16, 2006 @ 11:36 pm
Grande Monja!!! the best german translator!! ciao!!
Comment by Alessandra — November 17, 2006 @ 6:33 am
I’m sorry! I don’t met you in Lucca, I arrived
only sunday at festival with my bone book and a bottle of wine for you!
I hope I’m going to meet you next time. Ciao.
Comment by Gianfranco — November 17, 2006 @ 8:20 am
I’m sorry for my bad english too.. “I’didin’t meet you” gianfranco!
Comment by Gianfranco — November 17, 2006 @ 9:47 am
Thanks for the ride Jeff ! It was wonderful to see all thos peoples with all those smill in all of those country !
And Louis Riel by Chester Brown is one of my latest «Lecture de chevet» Your point on the children story progress in a more complex thing is a great advice for me Troglo comic !
Best !
Paul
Comment by paul — November 17, 2006 @ 10:34 am
Ha ha ha! You are being mobbed by all of Italia! These are great photos. Looks like a neat combination of breakneck pace and idyllic surroundings.
Comment by ~raina — November 17, 2006 @ 12:55 pm
Ciao Jeff,
I’m your fan! Bone is fantastic!
Your pics of Lucca are great…but the name of Publishing Director of Paninicomics is not Marco Lupis but it’s Marco Lupoi! Eheheheh…
Bye!
Giovanni
Comment by Giovanni — November 18, 2006 @ 9:58 am
Thank you everyone, and thanks Giovanni for pointing out my misspelling! And sorry, Marco! Sometimes these blogs are smashed out under stranges conditions, where I forget to double check what I've written. I hope if I have misspelled or incorrectly identified anyone over the course of these journals, please let me know! I'll correct it immediately!
Comment by Jeff Smith — November 19, 2006 @ 11:48 am
What a lovely surprise to see the photo in your blog! Thanks so much for sharing those nice memories! It was really such a special day and full of new findings for me… and I was so happy to finally meet the “father†of Bone that I didn’t even remember to give my compliments to your wonderful comic (although I suppose that at this point you already know how much I like it)!
Even though I already have the English and German versions (both in color and in black and white), I couldn’t help buying it in Italian as well. At least I can give myself the “healthy†excuse of reading Bone three times in a row.
I feel really lucky to be able to immerse myself in the fabulous world of Bone, not only when I read it but also when I translate it… which is something that I really appreciate! Each time it’s like going on a wonderful journey.
And speaking of journeys, I hope you don’t mind if I make a small correction about one thing you wrote under the photo…I don’t actually live in Lucca, but near the Adriatic coast, in the lovely town of Ravenna, 250 km from Lucca… and I hope that you will have the chance to pass through this part of Italy on your next world tour. (We know of some really good typical restaurants of the region and it will give us the excuse to take a lot more photos!!!).
Please send my kind regards to Vijaya, whom unfortunately, I did not get to meet. Once again, many thanks, especially for the drawing you made for me in the album. Sending you my best wishes…
Monja
Comment by Monja — November 20, 2006 @ 2:21 pm
Hi Jeff,
I just saw a big crowd at Panini’s booth maybe while you were signing.
I was in Lucca for the Con too. But I couldn’t meet you.
I was there premiering my new book. Too much meetings, too much artists, too much friends
Now, I can’t wait to read yr Shazam! series.
A big smoky ciao from yr favourite smoky man
Comment by smoky man — November 21, 2006 @ 11:43 am
Hey Jeff, glad you’re back home safe, and good to hear you had a great time.
Just wanted to tell you to watch out for that sore wrist of your’s - I’m an amateur cartoonist myself, as well as violinist and certified Internet junkie, and I’ve been struggling with a chronic carpal tunnel syndrome for a good 8 months or so now.
I wanted to mention that my physiotherapist has me lifting small, 2 lb. weights in my hands, rotating them and doing curls up and down with my arm out straight to strengthen the muscles in my wrist. It really does seem to be helping my condition, and after months of painful attempts at drawing, I may finally have my mobility back. You may already be doing something similar, but in any case, I hope your condition doesn’t keep you from your art. If it persists, try weights!
Take care!
-Sean M.
Comment by Sean — November 23, 2006 @ 4:54 am