An Interview with Steve Bissette

The Onion's AV Club has a fascinating interview with Steve Bissette, who will be speaking with Phil Godenschwager at Korongo next week. Steve grew up in Duxbury, Vermont, and was one of the first graduates of the Kubert School; he now teaches at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction—his newest book is Teen Angels & New Mutants. Steve is a brainy guy and the interview covers a multitude of subjects, most of them relating to his great love: horror comics. "Part of what defines the horror genre to me is exploring the deepest crevices of who and what we are," he told interviewer Chris Dahlen. "I am always drawn to anything that takes me to or over the edge." What follows is an excerpt. To read the full interview, click here.

"Horror is one of the few genres—romance and comedy are the other two that come to mind—that’s all emotion-driven. It’s not a rational genre, like science fiction is. It’s irrational by nature. And it is capable of exploring all aspects of human experience. And that was my belief from the time I was a little kid, and I don’t know why I understood that. I couldn’t have articulated it. I couldn’t even articulate it while I was at Kubert School. I just knew that the fact that [horror comics] kept pouring that old wine in the same bottle was frustrating to me, because it’s like 'Man, so much more can be done!' Some of my favorite books, short stories, songs, movies, that to me were clearly horror genre, others weren’t defining as that. Jerzy Kosinski’s The Painted Bird, an award-winning novel about being a war orphan during World War II, and the atrocities he survived. It’s one of the most horrific books I ever read. B. Traven, who’s best known for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, did an incredible book called The Death Ship that my friend Tim Viereck loaned to me. And it’s this grueling narrative about a man who’s been shanghaied and put into the most dangerous, crap job on a ship he cannot escape from. It’s another ordeal. These vivid narratives, to me, were clearly horror, but no one was calling them that. They would reserve that term for something that had fangs in it, or a werewolf. And to me, that was restraining what was possible, not just in horror, but in comics in general." —Excerpt from a 2009 interview with Chris Dahlen. Steve and Phil Godenschwager will talk about the cartoonist's art at Korongo on June 2 (Thursday) at 7 p.m. Call the gallery for reservations, as seating is limited.

The Cartoonist's Art: An Evening With Phil Godenschwager & Steve Bissette

What happens when a couple of master cartoonists get together to talk shop? Find out on June 2, when the Korongo Gallery hosts an informal discussion with Randolph-based artist Phil Godenschwager and Steve Bissette of the Center for Cartoon Studies. A legend of modern horror comics, Steve Bissette made his name as the artist on The Saga of the Swamp Thing. His latest book isTeen Angels & New Mutants. Phil Godenschwager's phantasmagorical 2D and 3D works use cartoon imagery to depict the social and political horrors of our time. His current exhibit, "Scattered Art," is on view at Korongo until June 5. Reservations: 802-728-6788 or korongotex@aol.com ($10 in advance; $12 at the door).

Through June 5: Scattered Art by Phil "Flipper" Godenschwager

It's been a busy week at Korongo, with many visitors popping in since the opening of Phil's show last Friday (see below). This Saturday (May 7), the gallery is hosting a special event: A public reading from 2 to 3:30 pm of "Farm Girls": short pieces by women young and old about life on the family farm—how it was and how it is. All are welcome. The gallery is open from 11 to 7, as usual. Above: Author Jean Merrill at the opening of Phil's show; on the wall are Jack Rowell's photographs of Phil's chapel windows at the veterans cemetery in Randolph Center. The above photograph is also by Jack. So: Phil by Jack, by Jack. To visit Phil's website, click here.

April 29 Reception for Phil Godenschwager

It couldn't have been better. Great crowd, plenty of food and drink, sunny spill-out-onto-the-sidewalk weather, good vibes. Below: Phil at the opening of his one-man show. Photographs by Phil's friend—and ours—Braintree photographer Jack Rowell.