One of my favorite parts of working at TFAW.com is going through Previews every month, looking for cool stuff to read and talk about. Here are two things that caught my eye this month:

I first got a glimpse of Julia Wertz’s work last April when I caught The Fart Party at the Stumptown Comics Fest here in Portland. I admit, the title made me cringe, but her sense of humor and simple-yet-expressive artwork charmed me–and the attendees of the festival, since the book won the Mystery Award that weekend. Now, Wertz has edited an anthology out this February, I Saw You... Comics Inspired by Real Life Missed Connections, from Three Rivers Press. The book, starring a number of up-and-coming cartoonists, takes on a subject matter well-suited to Wertz’s slice-of-life sensibilities: missed connection ads. Who doesn’t like to browse through these in the local paper, imagining that the cute guy (or girl) you spotted on the bus is trying to catch your attention?

If I were a little tougher (and more coordinated), I would totally be a roller-derby chick. Everything seems tailor-made for me–costumes, clever nicknames, performing for a crowd–except for the getting-knocked-on-your-ass part. So my roller-derby envy means I’m definitely going to check out True Tales of the Roller Derby: Doppelganger at the Hanger from Oni Press. Based on Portland’s own roller-derby team, the Rose City Rollers, and created by Lisa Titan and Dennis Culver, this looks like Scooby Doo meets the Stepford Wives and is also out this February.

So what are you guys looking forward to? Any new or underground titles you’d care to share with us? Post your comments and recommendations below!

Author : Elisabeth@TFAW