What is a “Hot Pants” pick? Quite simply, it’s a book that all five reviewers on this site believe is worthy of your time. It may or may not be one of our favorite books, but it’s that rare breed of comic that struck all five of us, with our different tastes, as a good read. True Story, Swear To God is our latest “Hot Pants” pick.
The day of the romance comic is long gone, right? Well, sort of. Romance comics may not be the comics powerhouse they once were, but there is still some life left in the genre, as Tom Beland proves with his autobiographical series. This isn’t movie romance- this is love the way Tom has lived it, from the moment he met his Puerto Rican beauty Lily at a bus stop in Disney World, through the difficult decision to leave his roots in Napa and follow her to San Juan, to his adjustment to living there and the life they live together. It isn’t always pretty, and it isn’t always fun, but it’s genuine, and it feels like it. Tom and Lily’s love radiates off each page, and so does every other emotion, as master storyteller Beland conveys through pictures what words alone could never say. It’s touching, it’s funny, it’s heartwarming, it’s scary, and it’s a True Story, Swear To God.
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Here here, I love True Story. And it is even more readily available since the move to Image. I got a friend to preorder the trade, hoping to get her hooked on this great read.
05 May 2007 at 8:37 am
QuoteI am proud to wear the Hot Pants.
Thanks guys! This was very cool to see. I was worried that you haven’t been able to find the books.
Issue #6 is all ready for press and this means the trade is set too. Glad you all enjoy the book and if you’re trying it for the first time…. thanks for giving it a shot!
05 May 2007 at 1:55 pm
QuoteGood to hear about the issue and Image trade, Tom. Any news on when the complete trade of all the AiT stuff will be available?
05 May 2007 at 3:53 pm
QuoteThe AiT stuff only went as far as issue #11. Technically, I own everything I’ve made under the pubisher name “Clib’s Boy Comics” and those issues ran to issue #17. THOSE seventeen issues are what Image is going to collect. So, trade paperback-wise, figure it’s “Chances Are,” “This One Goes to Eleven” and then the following six issues that remained under my label.
I’m not sure when it’s going to ship, but I know we’re looking into the date. I can let you know as soon as they tell me the details.
I’ve written a 38-page one-shot Fantastic Four script that’s for later this year and I’m writing a ten-page story for Bart Simpson Comics. It’s been a very fun year, creatively.
05 May 2007 at 6:23 pm
Quoteme and my wife hope to read the complete TSSTG vol.1 (issues #1-17) within the year Tom….so crank the thing out already…=)
07 May 2007 at 11:23 am
Quoteone more thing…
i hope you could offer the thick collection in two formats:
1. same as the savage dragon archive (500+ pages for $20)
2. HC edition for $25 (if feasible)
07 May 2007 at 11:29 am
QuoteI’ve been wanting to pick this series up in trades.
The art looks fun and the subject of course to (who doesn’t love romance and slice of life stories? :)).
But which trade at which publisher marks the beginning of the series?
Did Tom say, in his reply above, that the beginning will be re-collected bij Image Comics?
I’m looking forward to the Fantastic Four one-shot, I really liked his Spider-Man/Mary Jane one-shot from 2005.
08 May 2007 at 5:30 am
QuoteHi Médard.
It’s really romance from a guy’s point of view, complete with everything that makes us vulnerable and worried when we fall for someone. Image is, indeed, going to collect the entire initial run in one book. That will be later this year.
The first six issues of the Image run will be collected in July/August.
Web of Romance was really a fun book to write. The F.F. book has been a blast to work on also!
08 May 2007 at 9:55 am
QuoteThanks for the reply, Tom!
I’m looking forward to the collection of the initial run, I’ll be sure to order it.
08 May 2007 at 1:03 pm
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