Cometbus #53 out now!


I did the cover art for Cometbus #53, which just arrived in the mail today! They're available from me for $3 ppd-- you can paypal me at harlanrecords@yahoo.com, and the webstore will be updated soon as well.
I also have some 2-color posters of the cover, which are $1 if you'd like em.

Universe show on Wednesday!

My band Universe is playing a show at Uncle Fester's on Wednesday, November 18th with Ludlow Lions and You're A Liar. Unfortunately, it's a shitty bar show and it's 21+. Hopefully this will be the only time I'll ever play a 21+ show. Come if you wanna stand in a sad social environment!

back from Lucca!

Thanks to all the wonderful folks I befriended in Italy, especially everyone at Lizard Books. It feels so good to build good relationships over such a short period of time and such a vast distance. I hope to return soon!

Here's a quick video clip of a little sketch I did over the weekend.

PORTAMI VIA available now!

There are exactly four copies of this book in the US for sale, and I've got 'em. If you're interested, they're just $15 to my paypal address at harlanrecords@yahoo.com, and I'll ship it right out to you. (I still have one lonely copy of the book in Spanish too, if you're looking for it; it's also $15.)

Italy bound!


* I'll be in Lucca, Italy for the Lucca Comics and Games Festival next weekend (October 29-November 1st), signing copies of Portami Via (the Italian translation of Swallow Me Whole, published by Lizard)! I believe I also have some kinda interview/discussion and some live drawing on the 1st at 1:00 pm, if you're around. And in Italy. See you there?

* The Your Heart Breaks/ Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death 7" is available now, from Don't Stop Believin' Records, or $5 ppd. to me-- paypal orders to harlanrecords@yahoo.com. It should be added to the store section of this site pretty soon too.

* I just finished a two-color cover for Cometbus #53, which will be out in about three weeks!

* I'll also be doing some illustrations for Fluke #8, featuring an interview/feature on Dogtown stalwart Alan Short. Alan was an early and powerful creative force behind the comics Mike Lierly, Nathan Wilson, and I did in the late '80's and early '90's, and has been a member of the Arkansas bands Seahag, Deadbird, Zucura, Soophie Nun Squad, Them of Delphi, Ridin' Dudes, and Entrance (among many others). It'll be available by the end of the year.

* I'll be doing the cover of We Will Bury You #2 by Zane and Brea Grant, published by IDW.

* If you live on the west coast, I'll be a guest at a con in Sacramento CA on January 9-10. More info soon! See you there!

* My band Universe is working our way through writing an LP to be recorded in the winter-- no other info yet on this puppy.

*Still workin' away at two new graphic novels-- I'm about 35 pages done with the 200-page book The Silence Of Our Friends (to be released February 2012 on First Second), and am feverishly editing, revising, and tweaking the finished pencils of my 250-page graphic novel Any Empire (to be released in 2011 on Top Shelf).

Ignatz win!


I just returned from the legendary SPX in Maryland, where I am honored to announce I received the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist! Thanks so much, fellow comic book folk. As always, I left SPX feeling energized about the comics community, and ready to tackle some new and exciting work.

Bloomington show, Sept. 10!


If you're around Bloomington IN, come to this show on Thursday, September 10th:

HUMANBEAST (epic noise/bodies/rope from Providence RI. folks from Soophie/Tem Eyos Ki)
UNIVERSE (iron maiden-meets-moss icon. from Bloomington.)
SKY THING (soundscapes/noise from Fort Wayne.)

at Rachael's Cafe (E. 3rd & Lincoln Streets). 8pm sharp! $3-5 donation for touring bands.

see you there!

2009 Ignatz Award nominee!

I'm a nominee for the Outstanding Artist category in the 2009 Ignatz Awards..! Follow the link here for the complete list of nominees in all categories! (I'm very excited to see the wizardly Gabriella Giandelli receive the recognition she plainly deserves.)

limited edition poster and package deal!


Microcosm Publishing just printed up a limited run of 200 signed-and-numbered color posters with brand new artwork from the story "Autopilot"! Here's the deal: the only way you can get your paws on them is by buying a sweet-deal package from Microcosm.

* for $15 you get Sounds of Your Name and the poster!
* for $30 you get Sounds, Swallow Me Whole, and the poster!
* for $33 you get Sounds, Swallow, Please Release, and the poster!

The deal should be posted soon on their site, if it's not already. If you have any questions or problems accessing it, just email me and I'll see if I can help.

new stuff in the store!

Hey there! These new items are up in the store: a Universe shirt, the Madeline Kissing And Dancing LP, and the 2nd pressing of the Your Heart Breaks/ Paul Baribeau 7"!

Also, thanks to everyone who helped out on the Universe tour! See you soon.

SWALLOW ME WHOLE is an Eisner winner!

Hi! I just returned from the San Diego Comic Con, and am thrilled to announce that Swallow Me Whole won the 2009 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Novel! Holy Shit! All I can remember is getting kissed on the cheek by a member of the Go-Go's upon receiving the award.
Thanks, all readers and supporters of comics-- I'm honored beyond words.
It was a wonderful weekend, and I made some sweet friendships with other Top Shelfers and non-Top Shelfers alike. Go, Comic Book Summer Camp!

Gallery Show in Columbus, OH!

My work will be presented along with Anders Nilsen, John Porcellino, Lauren Weinstein, Lee Mei Yan, Mike Taylor, Ron Rege Jr., and others at the Mahan Gallery in Columbus OH.
The show opens the evening of August 1st, and continues until the 28th!

looking for SOOPHIE NUN SQUAD and TEM EYOS KI photos!

I'm on an eternal archiving kick. If you have any photos or video of SOOPHIE NUN SQUAD, TEM EYOS KI, BOOMFANCY, GIOTEENS, WAIT, or UNIVERSE, I would love to get my hands on them. You can email them to me at seemybrotherdance@yahoo.com, or you can mail them to:
Nate Powell/ PO Box 3382/ Bloomington IN 47402.

I'll gladly trade comics, music, or throw down some cash! Thanks so much..

Summer Update!

Bring it on, summertime! here’s a quick run-down of projects to look out for, and events I’ll be attending:

• I’ll be at San Diego Comic Con from July 23-26 at the Top Shelf Productions table, eating your snacks, signing/hawking books, and I’ll have some original pages for sale too. Keep your fingers crossed for the Eisner Awards too—Swallow Me Whole is up for three of em!

• The Your Heart Breaks/ Paul Baribeau split 7” is back in print, this time on white vinyl! I have some for sale—they’re $4 ppd. I also have more copies of the Madeline Kissing And Dancing LP ($9 ppd). The store will be updated soon!

• Here are the comic shows I’ll be attending for the next few months:

Comic Con International—San Diego CA. July 23-26
Windy City Comic Con-- Chicago IL. Sept 19.
Small Press Expo—North Bethesda MD. Sept 26-27
Alternative Press Expo—San Francisco CA, Oct 17-18
Lucca Comics & Games—Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. Oct 30-Nov 2
L’Angouleme—Angouleme, France. Jan 28-Feb 1, 2010.

• Swallow Me Whole will have a Dutch translation out in the next few months, as well as an Italian translation from Lizard (out in October), and a French version from Casterman (out in January!).

• I’ll be finishing up the art for a Your Heart Breaks/ Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death split 7”, due out on Don’t Stop Believin Records by autumn!

• Just got started on artwork for the FIYA Magic Words LP, which'll be out in the fall on No Idea Records.

• Microcosm Publishing is printing up a full-color poster for special deals with Sounds of Your Name—they’ll only be available in conjunction with the book, and are limited to 200 copies! It’s new artwork with characters from the story “Autopilot”.

• Illustrations for Michael Hoerger and Mia Partlow’s Edible Secrets are done—the book should be out by the end of the year on Microcosm Publishing.

• Rachel Bormann and I are working on a story called “The Uncomfortable Gaze of Carlos Santana” for Papercutter #13, to be published sometime in the next year.

• I’m currently in the revising/editing stages of my new graphic novel Any Empire. It should be finished next spring, and out in late 2010 on Top Shelf!

• Just finished rough pencils on the graphic novel The Silence Of Our Friends, written by Mark Long and Jim Demonakos. Will be out in 2011 on First Second Books!