Somerville comic artist Liz Prince celebrates the release of her first feature length graphic novel Alone Forever (Top Shelf Productions) at Brookline Booksmith on Tuesday, February 11. She tells us about the book, OkCupid dates, Valentine heart captions, and fleeting and awkward MBTA romances.
DIGBOSTON: Hey Liz! Thanks for joining us today. Wow, Alone Forever is actually a thing now. Congrats! How excited were to to open your advance copies?
Liz Prince: It was really exciting. The books came while I was visiting my mom in New Mexico, but my boyfriend sent me a photo of a pile of boxes that arrived, so I made him open it and send me photos of the book. Kind of funny that I saw my book for the first time over the phone, but it was awesome to get off the plane and come home and have 3 boxes full of Alone Forever: The Singles Collection waiting for me.
Now I can’t wait to show the world my comics about sadness and cats.
DIGBOSTON: I love the idea of a Singles Collection for your webcomic. Is there any new heartbreak in the book or are these all on your site?
There are about 20 pages of new material, including a comic essay on all of the OkCupid dates I’d been on, that’s embarrassing enough to make you want to get pick up the book for sure.
There are also some comics from other anthologies and zines in the book that never made it online, but definitely fit into the Alone Forever oeuvre. Plus, it’s way easier to read my books on the toilet in paper form. If that isn’t the ultimate endorsement, I don’t know what is.
DIGBOSTON: From Boom to Top Shelf, to making art for one of the most popular break-in related pop punk bands, Masked Intruder, you’ve gotten some great attention lately! How are you coping with the fame?
Easy: I agreed to write and draw a 250+ page graphic novel in under a year, so I really don’t leave the house much. I’m almost done with that project, which is a graphic memoir (buzzword alert) about my childhood called Tomboy; it will be out in the fall (like how I slipped that in there?). There is also more Masked Intruder stuff going on, that band got huge and I couldn’t be happier for them. I’ve always wanted to be a band’s Chris Shary, so I’m trying to take the Masked Intruder thing in that direction.
DIGBOSTON: Did your convention schedule pick up a lot for this year and promoting Alone Forever?
Yeah, I put up the confirmed dates that I have on my website already, I’m trying to attend an even mix of comic cons and zine fests, because the atmosphere and audience at those 2 things can be radically different. I’m tabling at San Diego Comic Con for the first time this year; I used to go to SDCC every summer in high school, and I haven’t been back since 2004, and I’ve never tabled, so that will be a new, mind-boggling experience I’m sure.
If I see Danzig walking around I’m going to give him a copy of Alone Forever; it is my goal.
Liz Prince – Alone Forever (Top Shelf) – Cover and Spine
I also have a few art shows in conjunction with Alone Forever: in February prints of pages from the book will be up at some art galleries and coffee shops, both locally and abroad. Lorem Ipsum in Inman Sq. will have prints up for the entire month of February, and the prints will also be available for purchase, so if you’re looking for a great Valentine’s Day gift, that would be an excellent place to start. I’m also having an art show at Orbital Comics in London; they have a special edition bookplate for Alone Forever as well.
DIGBOSTON: Valentine’s Day — officially the worst time of the year to be single. What is your number one advice to single people trying to land an OkCupid date for Valentine’s Day?
Well, the official release is the 5th of February, that’s when the book will be in stores, but we’re trying to work a Valentine’s Day tie-in, because yeah, what’s more topical than being single on Valentine’s Day? This way, you can get the book ahead of time, give it to your friends, your enemies, your significant others, your divorced-and-proud-of-it mom. Really, there isn’t anyone who wouldn’t want to get this book, except for maybe my ex boyfriends…
My advice to anyone single on Valentine’s Day is CATS.
DIGBOSTON: Would coming to your signing at Brookline Booksmith be considered a good first date? In this scenario both dat-ees should buy a copy of Alone Forever, correct?
Coming to my Booksmith event would be the PERFECT first date; it shows that you’re cultured and you care about the arts, but also shows that you have just right amount of self loathing to be seen in public at a comic book signing. It is also quite probable that seeing the horrors of my dating experiences will make you cling to your date like grim death, creating a lasting and fulfilling relationship based on the premise that you just don’t want to end up like me. I believe that the event has a 2 book minimum, so if you come, you are obligated to buy at least 2 copies of my book, but I’ll have to check on that. (just kidding, you are allowed to come and not buy anything, but I am setting a precedent that you must laugh at at least 2 of my jokes or else I’ll fall into a never-ending shame spiral).
Liz Prince – Alone Forever (Top Shelf)
DIGBOSTON: One of my favorite strips is the Oblivious Recording Dude on the MBTA. I thought I was the only one with inner dialogue relationships on the train. Did you turn your headphones off, at the hope of a real conversation with this bearded beau?
I don’t think I turned my music off, but it’s possible that whatever album I was listening to had ended and I didn’t put anything else on, which happens a lot. I’m usually walking around with headphones on and nothing coming out of them! The interesting thing about that comic is that someone emailed me after I originally posted it, saying they think they were the guy. His description of the situation didn’t sound to me like a perfect match, but he must have been too creeped out by my questions about it because he just stopped responding after 2 emails. Now that I think about it, I should have drawn a comic about that part.
DIGBOSTON: On the topic of physical appearances, a quick question for you. Beard, Flannel or Both?
Both, neither, glasses or not: breathing is a must though. Not really into dating dead guys anymore.
DIGBOSTON: Tell us about the Alone Forever caption contest and what will happen at the signing!
Ah! The brilliant Jamie Tan at Brookline Booksmith had the idea to hold a caption contest in conjunction with my event: you can enter online here, simply come up with a witty phrase for the conversation heart to say, and the winner will get a FREE copy of Alone Forever, with one of the aforementioned limited edition Orbital bookplates (not available in the U.S., rare, collectable?), and a $20 gift certificate to Brookline Booksmith. I mean, those are fabulous prizes, you would be a fool not to enter, but if you want to be the winner, you have to be present at the event, that’s how we get you! to come! to the event!
Professor of comics and animation, Tim Finn (Hub Comics), will be interviewing me live. Some of the questions will be culled from there internet. There may be a live dating advice section, taking a page from Nicole Georges’ book.
It will be interactive and laid-back, fun and simple, like a long walk on the beach at sunset.
Liz Prince – Alone Forever (Top Shelf)
DIGBOSTON: Thanks, Liz! We can’t wait to come party with you a few days before Valentine’s Day!
TUE 2.11 – LIZ PRINCE “ALONE FOREVER” (TOP SHELF COMICS) AT BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH
TUESDAY, 2.11.13
7PM-9PM
LIZ PRINCE “ALONE FOREVER” (TOP SHELF COMICS)
BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH
279 HARVARD ST.
COOLIDGE CORNER, BROOKLINE
AN EASY BLOCK FROM THE COOLIDGE CORNER T-STOP ON THE C LINE
617.566.6660
FACEBOOK EVENT
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