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WORK TITLE: Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1/24/1963
WEBSITE:
CITY: Hamilton
STATE: ON
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY: Canadian
Married with a son.
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born January 24, 1963; married Jennifer Hambleton (an artist); children: James.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Cartoonist. Featured in an episode of CBC Radio program Wiretap, 2013.
MIILITARY:Served in the Canadian Army.
AVOCATIONS:Long-distance running and biathlon.
AWARDS:Doug Wright Award for Best Book, nominated for The Frank Ritza Papers, 2005; Pigskin Peters Award, Hamilton Illustrated, 2013.
WRITINGS
Comic contributor to numerous periodicals, including Weirdo, Globe and Mail, and Saskatoon StarPhoenix. ; comic contributor to numerous anthologies, including Duplex Planet Illustrated, Drawn and Quarterly, The Comics Journal, and Zero Zero, and comic book series, including Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor. Featured in Fantagraphics in a series titled “Collier’s.“
SIDELIGHTS
David Collier is a Canadian cartoonist. He is best known for his alternative, fact-based comic strip-style essays. Collier was exposed to comics at an early age. He was drawn to the work of Robert Crumb, who has been very influential on Collier’s style. Indeed, Collier’s cross-hatch comic style is notably similar to Crumb’s style.
Before pursuing a career in cartooning, Collier served in the Canadian Army. While in the army, he drew comic strips for the army newspapers. In 1986, one of Collier’s comics was published in R. Crumb-edited magazine Weirdo, initiating his career as a cartoonist. Collier’s work has been featured regularly in Canadian newspapers Globe and Mail, and Saskatoon StarPhoenix. He has also contributed to numerous anthologies, including Duplex Planet Illustrated, Drawn and Quarterly, The Comics Journal, and Zero Zero. He contributed illustrations for Harvey Pekar’s autobiographical comic book series, American Splendor, most notably in the three-issue American Splendor: Unsung Hero. In the 1990s, American comic book publisher Fantagraphics put out four issues in a series titled Collier’s, featuring the comic artist’s work.
Collier rejoined the army at age forty-one. His book, Chimo, details this experience. He was featured in an episode of CBC Radio program Wiretap in 2013, wherein he described his experiences in the army. Collier lives with his wife, artist Jennifer Hambleton, and their son James, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Collier’s Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey, is an illustrated memoir of an adventure he took with his wife, Jen, and son, James. The story starts in Hamilton, Collier’s hometown, at the western end of Lake Ontario. The plan is to travel east to Montreal, Quebec, and then up north, before heading back down to Toronto, northwest to Winnipeg, and then to Churchill on Hudson Bay before going home.
The trip is a much needed vacation for Collier and his family. Collier had been butting heads with his publisher, Drawn & Quarterly, and wanted to get away. On top of that, Collier learns that his grandmother has passed away. Collier and his wife decide to take a family trip, leaving their worries behind, for a time. Collier’s grandmother, “Nana,” loved traveling by train, as did Collier when he was a child, so they decide that the trip will be taken by rail.
As the family embarks on the winding route, it becomes clear that Collier is a bit of a disorganized planner. The family must make due when excursions do not turn out as planned, but they remain upbeat. Collier and his wife choose to forego hotels in preference for staying with friends or camping. This choice, while fun in its rustic nature, is more a sign of Collier’s stinginess. In once instance, his son asks to go on a $ 1.50 cable ride in Quebec City, and Collier refuses him due to the expense.
The cities that Collier and his family visit are spots with which he is familiar. As they move from city to city, he reflects on his past experiences in the different locales. Additionally, sections of the illustrated book detail historical moments in the various cities. By the end of the story, the identity of the title’s “Morton” is revealed.
Ray Olson in Booklist labeled Collier as “Canada’s best-kept comics secret,” describing the book as “an artful, oddball paean to Canadian train travel.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly agreed, adding that most readers “will not be terribly familiar with his work, but that won’t stop them from enjoying this unexpectedly engrossing and almost offhandedly poignant graphic memoir.” The contributor added, “Collier’s love of historical sidebars, easygoing narration, self-deprecating humor, and a slightly askew Crumb-inspired drawing style overcome the occasional self-absorption of this quirky tale.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 15, 2017, Ray Olson, review of Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey, p. 32.
Publishers Weekly, August 28, 2017, review of Morton, p. 113.
David Collier (cartoonist)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Collier
David Collier self portrait.jpg
David Collier, a self portrait
Born January 24, 1963 (age 55)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada[1]
Nationality Canadian
Area(s) Cartoonist, Writer, Penciller
Notable works
Collier's
Just The Facts
Surviving Saskatoon
David Collier (born January 24, 1963)[1] is a Canadian alternative cartoonist best known for his fact-based "comic strip essays."
Contents
1 Biography
2 Awards
3 Bibliography
4 References
5 External links
Biography
As a child, Collier was introduced to the work of Robert Crumb, whose work has been a significant influence. (Collier's cross-hatching style is particularly reminiscent of Crumb's work.)[1] Before breaking into comics, Collier served in the Canadian Army, where (among other activities) he drew comic strips for the army newspapers.[1] His Army training also introduced him to long-distance running and the biathlon, in which he has competed nationally.[1]
His first comic strip was published in 1986 in the R. Crumb-edited magazine Weirdo, and his work has been published in numerous other comics anthologies, including Duplex Planet Illustrated, Drawn and Quarterly, The Comics Journal, and Zero Zero. Most of the material from his anthology submissions was collected in Just the Facts: A Decade of Comic Essays.
Since 1990, Collier has done comics and illustrations for Canadian newspapers such as The Globe and Mail and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. He has illustrated stories for Harvey Pekar's American Splendor, most notably the three-issue American Splendor: Unsung Hero.
Fantagraphics published four issues of the aptly titled series Collier's in the 1990s. Much of this material was reprinted in Portraits from Life. Drawn and Quarterly later published volume two of Collier's, lasting two issues.
Collier's Surviving Saskatoon documents the true story of David Milgaard, a man who spent over 20 years in prison after he was wrongfully accused of the brutal rape and murder of a nurse in 1969.
Collier featured in a 2013 episode of CBC Radio program Wiretap, describing his experiences rejoining the army at 41, also the subject of his book Chimo.[2]
Collier lives with his wife, Ontario artist Jennifer Hambleton, and son James (born in 1999), in Hamilton.
Awards
Collier's The Frank Ritza Papers was nominated for a Doug Wright Award for Best Book in 2005.
Hamilton Illustrated was awarded the Pigskin Peters Award for 2013 at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival. The award recognizes the best in experimental or avant-garde comics.
Bibliography
Comic books
Title Date Publisher ISBN Notes
Collier's 1992-1998 Fantagraphics 4 issues
Collier's Seattle Sketchbook 1995 Starhead Comics
Humphry Osmond: Psychedelic Pioneer 1998 Drawn and Quarterly Collected in Portraits from Life
Surviving Saskatoon 2000 978-1894937559
Collier's Volume 2 2001–2003 2 issues
Hamilton Sketchbook #2 2010
Collections and graphic novels
Title Date Publisher ISBN Notes
Just the Facts: A Decade of Comic Essays 1998 Drawn and Quarterly 978-1896597256 Collects work for various publications
Portraits from Life 2001 978-1896597355 Biographical strips
Hamilton Sketchbook 2002 978-1896597485
The Frank Ritza Papers 2004 978-1896597911
Chimo 2011 Conundrum Press 978-1894994538
Collier's Popular Press 2011 978-1894994606 Collects work for newspapers and magazines
Hamilton Illustrated 2012 Wolsak and Wynn 978-1894987707
Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey 2017 Conundrum Press 978-1772620122
David Collier
Search for 'David Collier' on Amazon
Bio:
David Collier is a Canadian alternative cartoonist best-known for his fact-based "comic strip essays."
As a child, Collier was introduced to the work of Robert Crumb, whose work has been a significant influence. (Collier's cross-hatching style is particularly reminiscent of Crumb's work.) Before breaking into comics, Collier served in the Canadian Army, where (among other activities) he drew comic strips for the army newspapers.[1] His Army training also introduced him to long-distance running and the biathlon, in which he has competed nationally.
His first comic strip was published in 1986 in the R. Crumb-edited magazine Weirdo, and his work has been published in numerous other comics anthologies, including Duplex Planet Illustrated, Drawn and Quarterly, The Comics Journal, and Zero Zero; as well as Harvey Pekar's American Splendor, most notably the three-issue American Splendor: Unsung Hero. Since 1990, Collier has also done comics and illustrations for Canadian newspapers such as the The Globe and Mail and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
Fantagraphics published four issues of the aptly-titled series Collier's in the early 1990's. Most of the material from his anthology submissions as well as Collier's was collected in Just The Facts (Drawn and Quarterly, 1998), a comprehensive look back at a decade's-worth of his "comic strip essays". In 2002, Drawn and Quarterly began publishing volume two of Collier's solo comic book title Collier's.
Collier's Surviving Saskatoon (D&Q, 2000) documents the true story of David Milgaard, a man who spent nearly 25 years in prison after he was wrongfully accused of the brutal rape and murder of a nurse in 1969.
Collier lives with his wife, Ontario artist Jennifer Hambleton, and son James (born in 1999), in Hamilton, a remote town about an hour north of Ottawa, Ontario.
Date of Birth: January 24, 1963
Birthplace: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
View a chronological listing of this creator's work
Writer:
The Best American Comics (2006)
Collier's (1991)
Collier's (2001)
Comic Art (2002)
The Comic Eye (2007)
The Comics Journal (1977)
Comix 2000 (1999)
Drawn & Quarterly (1990)
Drawn & Quarterly: Twenty-Five Years of Contemporary Cartooning, Comics, and Graphic Novels (2015)
The Frank Ritza Papers (2004)
Hamilton Sketchbook (2002)
Just the Facts: A Decade of Comics Essays (1998)
McSweeney's Quarterly Concern (1998)
Portraits from Life (2001)
Surviving Saskatoon (2000)
Weirdo (1981)
You and Your Big Mouth (1992)
Zero Zero (1995)
Penciller:
Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special (1990)
American Splendor: Bedtime Stories (2000)
American Splendor: Portrait of the Author in His Declining Years (2001)
American Splendor: Unsung Hero (2002)
The Best American Comics (2006)
Collier's (1991)
Collier's (2001)
Comic Art (2002)
The Comic Eye (2007)
The Comics Journal (1977)
Comix 2000 (1999)
Drawn & Quarterly (1990)
Drawn & Quarterly: Twenty-Five Years of Contemporary Cartooning, Comics, and Graphic Novels (2015)
Duplex Planet Illustrated (1993)
The Frank Ritza Papers (2004)
Hamilton Sketchbook (2002)
Just the Facts: A Decade of Comics Essays (1998)
McSweeney's Quarterly Concern (1998)
Portraits from Life (2001)
Surviving Saskatoon (2000)
Weirdo (1981)
Zero Zero (1995)
Inker:
American Splendor: Bedtime Stories (2000)
American Splendor: Portrait of the Author in His Declining Years (2001)
American Splendor: Unsung Hero (2002)
Collier's (1991)
Collier's (2001)
The Comics Journal (1977)
Comix 2000 (1999)
Drawn & Quarterly (1990)
Drawn & Quarterly: Twenty-Five Years of Contemporary Cartooning, Comics, and Graphic Novels (2015)
Duplex Planet Illustrated (1993)
The Frank Ritza Papers (2004)
Hamilton Sketchbook (2002)
Just the Facts: A Decade of Comics Essays (1998)
McSweeney's Quarterly Concern (1998)
Portraits from Life (2001)
Surviving Saskatoon (2000)
Weirdo (1981)
Zero Zero (1995)
Colorist:
Just the Facts: A Decade of Comics Essays (1998)
McSweeney's Quarterly Concern (1998)
Zero Zero (1995)
Letterer:
Collier's (1991)
Collier's (2001)
The Comics Journal (1977)
Drawn & Quarterly (1990)
Drawn & Quarterly: Twenty-Five Years of Contemporary Cartooning, Comics, and Graphic Novels (2015)
The Frank Ritza Papers (2004)
Hamilton Sketchbook (2002)
Just the Facts: A Decade of Comics Essays (1998)
McSweeney's Quarterly Concern (1998)
Portraits from Life (2001)
Surviving Saskatoon (2000)
Weirdo (1981)
Zero Zero (1995)
Cover Artist:
American Splendor: Unsung Hero (2002)
Collier's (1991)
Collier's (2001)
The Frank Ritza Papers (2004)
Hamilton Sketchbook (2002)
Just the Facts: A Decade of Comics Essays (1998)
Portraits from Life (2001)
Surviving Saskatoon (2000)
David Collier
(b. 24 January 1963, Canada) Canada
Those Tenacio, by David Collier
David Collier may very well be the only cartoonist to have had the unlikely experience of serving in the Canadian Army. During this period, he drew comic strips for the army newspapers. Collier's first professional comic strip was published in 1986 in the Crumb-edited magazine Weirdo, and throughout the years, his work has appeared in numerous comic anthologies, including Drawn & Quarterly, The Comics Journal, and Zero Zero. Most of this material was collected in 'Just The Facts' (1998), a comprehensive look back at a decade-worth of his "comic strip essays".
Collier's Fantagraphics Books, by David Collier
Other comics by David Collier include four issues of the aptly-titled series 'Collier', from the early 1990's, and 'Humphry Osmond; Psychedelic Pioneer', from 1998. Since 1990, Collier has also done comics and illustrations for Canadian newspapers such as The Globe and Mail and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
Surviving Sashatoon
Collier's story 'Surviving Saskatoon', documented the true story of David Milgaard, a man who spent nearly 25 years in prison after he was wrongfully accused of the brutal rape and murder of a nurse in 1969. It was published by Drawn & Quarterly in 2000. 2002 saw the publication of Collier's sketchbooks, titled 'The Hamilton Sketchbook', in which he drew about moving with his family from Saskatchewan to Hamilton, Ontario. Collier's 'The Frank Ritza Papers' was published by D&Q in 2004.
comic art by David Collier
David Collier at Drawn & Quarterly
Lambiek, by David Collier
drawing of Lambiek during Collier's visit to Amsterdam,
August 2011
Artwork © 2018 David Collier
Website © 1994-2018 Lambiek
Last updated: 2012-07-25
Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey
Ray Olson
Booklist.
114.4 (Oct. 15, 2017): p32.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
* Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey. By David Collier. Illus. by the author. 2017.160p. Conundrum,
paper, $20 (9781772620122). 741.5.
Who is Morton, and why does his name tide Collier's comics memoir about an epic journey, primarily by
rail? The cover copy and the first two-thirds of the pages furnish not a clue. But read on and, meanwhile,
get acquainted with Canada's best-kept comics secret, Collier, whose way with thoroughly drawn sequential
narrative is as assured as R. Crumb's, Bill Griffith's, Kim Deitch's, or fellow Canadian David Boswell's,
whose documentarian style his strongly resembles. There's no Mr. Natural, Mr. Toad, or other caricature
here, though, just Collier, his wife Jen, and son James, and the real people they meet and Collier recalls.
Tracing a trip that heads from Hamilton, at the western end of Lake Ontario, east to Montreal, Quebec, and
points north, then doubles back to Toronto before heading west and north to Winnipeg and, eventually,
Churchill on Hudson Bay before going home, Collier begins in the daily jumble just before takeoff, with
news of his grandmother's death and a couple of water-heater hucksters at the door just as dinner's ready.
But home is left behind, somehow, and, ready for camping whenever possible, the travelers embark.
Collier's already familiar with many of the stops, so he relays plenty of his personal Canadian history before
and after Morton (no spoilers here) finally emerges. An artful, oddball paean to Canadian train travel.--Ray
Olson
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Olson, Ray. "Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey." Booklist, 15 Oct. 2017, p. 32. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A512776138/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=92571d03.
Accessed 4 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A512776138
3/4/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1520197323017 2/2
Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey
Publishers Weekly.
264.35 (Aug. 28, 2017): p113.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey
David Collier. Conundrum (Consortium, dist.), $20 (160p) ISBN 978-1-77262-012-2
Most readers outside of Canada, where Collier is considered a national treasure, will not be terribly familiar
with his work, but that won't stop them from enjoying this unexpectedly engrossing and almost offhandedly
poignant graphic memoir. The story starts at a clanging intersection of tensions, including
agitation over relations with Collier's publisher (Drawn & Quarterly) and the death of his grandmother.
Attempting to smooth things out and reconnect with his past (his Nana loved trains, as did his younger self),
he takes his wife and son on a long, looping, ad hoc railroad Odyssey across Canada. As they ride the rails
through Quebec and Ontario, into northern Manitoba and far west, Collier is a chaotic planner yet a stingy
taskmaster--hotels are spurned in favor of crashing with friends at the last minute or camping rough; even
his son's request for a $ 1.50 funicular ride in Quebec City is rebuffed as too extravagant. Collier's love of
historical sidebars, easygoing narration, self-deprecating humor, and a slightly askew Crumb-inspired
drawing style overcome the occasional self-absorption of this quirky tale. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Morton: A Cross-Country Rail Journey." Publishers Weekly, 28 Aug. 2017, p. 113. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A502652643/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=4ea36ed2.
Accessed 4 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A502652643