SFR Picks—Week of June 19

Comics and palindromes, Maltin and herbs

Panelists

Local comics creators share their wares

"The majority of us have more than one job, and you have your other jobs in order to make comics," writer Steph Alia says. Alia's Alcheringa, about a woman warrior who does battle in a land of dreams, is nearing its next issue, and Alia says she's written through yet another and is just waiting for one of the principal artists, Adam Frank, to complete his contributions.

Alia is one of many local comics creators scheduled to showcase work and wares at Big Adventure Comics this Saturday. In addition to the first issue of Alcheringa, Alia says she'll show off the artwork from the upcoming associated oneiromancy deck created in conjunction with Alcheringa's world. She'll also open up preorders for a hardcover edition of the comic's first four issues, and will have a number of other products based on her work available.

It's been a particularly good run for Alia and company. Last year found
Alcheringa at San Diego's Comic Con for the first time, she'll show there again this year; other products currently in the works are being considered for exclusive sale at popular shopping outlets.

Additionally, artists like Jeff Benham, Matt Duran, Mark Fenton, Turner Mark-Jacobs, Keith Jim, Brittany Sedillo, Andrew Van Luchene and Joel Zain Rivers are scheduled to appear, and at 2 pm, comic creator and musician Ryk Martinez offers a presentation on how he turns songs into comics. No, this isn't your average Marvel Studios, mainstream, superhero stuff, it's real people telling real stories through the comic medium.

"When people support it, it's affirming," Alia adds. "It's people showing you they care about you. I do this because I love it. If I didn't have it, I'd break apart."

Local Comics Creator Sale and Demonstration: 
1-4 pm Saturday June 22. Free.
Big Adventure Comics,
418 Montezuma Ave.,
992-8783

Palindromes

Hey, indie and pop-punk and rock and partying fans—your ship has come in, and its name is Tacocat. The Seattle quartet has what one might call a supernatural ability to write hooks and make pleasingly poppy jams that rock. Think of Tacocat's style like the third wave of pop punk, where the bright guitars and head-bobby bass meet infectious synthy keys and stunningly gorgeous vocals and harmonies. Thank goodness for this movement and for bands like Tacocat leading the way, and thank goodness pop punk diverged from the sadbros with asymmetrical hairdos for upbeat ruminations with actual lyrical and emotional content.

Tacocat: 
8 pm Friday June 21. $15-$18.
Meow Wolf,
1352 Rufina Circle,
395-6369.

At the Movies

Imagine my shock when the bulk of SFR's staff stared blankly back at me during my announcement that legendary and seminal film critic and writer Leonard Maltin was coming to Santa Fe. Screw them, though—Maltin's basically a legend. We're talking dozens of books, appearances on television and those trademark glasses. Ah, well, it's still a big deal whether these people know it or not. Maltin is joined by his daughter for a chat about his illustrious career. Following that, fans can lob some Qs Maltin's way, and then he'll sign some books in the lobby. Um, Santa Fe? The Jean Cocteau Cinema is killing it.

Leonard Maltin on Movies:
4 pm Sunday June 23. $10.
Jean Cocteau Cinema,
418 Montezuma Ave.,
466-5528.

Stems and Blooms

One weirdly enjoyable response to the rise of tech and the fall of … everything else is learning about back-to-basics movements in things like homesteading, farming and herbalism. Enter Emily Rose, a longtime Santa Fe herbalist and acupressurist whose company Roots and Roses has a mission to teach folks how to make their own tinctures and medicinals. Rose teaches these very things on Museum Hill this Tuesday, helping to identify plants, teaching when or when not to use alcohol extracts and providing information on what supplies are necessary to have on hand.

From Garden to Medicine Cabinet: How to Make your own Tinctures: 
10 am-noon Tuesday June 25. $40-$45.
Stewart Udall Center,
725 Camino Lejo,
983-6155; RSVP ahead of time.

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