I lived in Toronto for eight years, and was a comic maker while there. Of course I supported the scene. Let me know if these are of interest. I’ve written about them where I know something worth writing.
Out There by Alan Hunt. A contributor to Exclaim, and someone who wanted to be a comic maker until Drawn & Quarterly offered to publish him and he learned what they offered. He still shares illustrations on his Insta
Assorted Bumblenut books by Marc Ngui. I considered him the most technically skilled and hard-working artist of that time. Very prolific and very precise cartooning. Also on Insta
Shrimpy and Paul by Marc Bell, who has gone on to larger success
A book by prolific creator Lorenz Peter
A zine by Chris Hutsul, who was a cartoonist for Eye Weekly for a while. Last I heard he was in advertising, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he had art shows going on occasionally too.
A book by Amanda Crawford
Stay As You Are by Brad Yung, a smart, social comic.
Spork by John Perlock. He went on to be a magazine illustrator, to the best of my knowledge
A comic by Patti Kim, who was a major zinester in the 90s. Her zines were an influence on me making zines myself during high school.
One-Way Glass by Ryan James. His book was mentioned in the letters pages of Peepshow, which gave him a solid profile
Books by Tim McGregor. He had a neat retro rockabilly sensibility
Don’t Touch Me, a comics zine by Dave Howard, who ran the Toronto Comic Jam, and still might
Random copies of the Comic Jam collections. Al Bunce was a star, and still posts on Insta
My own book, Square. Ultimately I made 20 issues, but only four while in Toronto, and a decade between issues 4 and 5
And a bonus pic, Joe Matt’s Sketch Jam Book, chock full of famous 90s alt cartoonist he roped into contributing.
Comics for Life
