With a deluxe hardcover retrospective of his supremely elegant and quirky comics work slated for publication by Fantagraphics, "Clear Line" virtuoso Joost Swarte (best known in the U.S. for his RAW strips and covers in the 1980s, and his frequent New Yorker illustration work since then) is ready for his turn in the Journal hot seat; in a far-ranging (and amply illustrated) interview, the voluble Dutchman talks about his graphic idol Hergé, storytelling, why his comics work has slowed down to a trickle this last decade while he's done things like design record covers, furniture and (no kidding) a genuine full-scale theater, and much more. Also in this issue, Johnny Ryan, the creator of 2005 Rolling Stone "HOT Comic" Angry Youth Comix, dumps a load of his trademark irreverence on the Journal. Plus — expanded Web content, one of our amazing comic sections, and columns from the usual gang of... you know the rest.
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