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One of the great secrets of American comics is how rich the Athens, GA comics scene is. A gathering of University of Georgia and SCAD alumni, there’s a deep bench of diverse talent from the college town that counts cartoonists as varied as Drew Weing, Eleanor Davis, Joey Weiser, and Lee Gatlin among its numbers. It may not be the biggest comics making center in America, but it certainly ranks among its best. And best place to discover this treasure trove of talent? That would be the semi annual mini comics anthology put out by the community, Bezoar.
Bezoar serves as the perfect document for the kinds of comics being produced not just in Athens but the American southeast. Regional showcases like this are a great reminder that the best art is made in communities as rich in talent and diverse as this. This Halloween saw the release of Bezoar #5 with this theme being monster romance!
There’s the regular assembly of Athens best like Gatlin, Weiser, Abby Kacen, David Mack, and Klon Waldrip. Also on display is a variety of cartoonists from across the southeast, such as Rich Tommaso and Josh Nickerson. Newcomers to the anthology in this issue include Audrey Meeker and Sara Kilpatrick.
Maybe the most exciting contribution comes from the late, great Patrick Dean. Dean was one of the shining lights of Athens comics before he died in 2021 from complications due to ALDS. He was a prolific artist throughout life and helped to organize the FLUKE Mini-Comics and Zine Festival with Robert Newsome. He may be gone, but his spirit remains a huge part of the Athens comics scene. Two never-before-published illustrations in here demonstrate what a tremendous artist he was.
Bezoar #5 is out now, and below is a preview of what to expect.
Art by Joey Weiser
By Sara Kilpatrick and Jay Domingo
Art by Rich Tomasso
Art by David MackBezoar #5, as well as with previous issues, is available to purchase here.
English (US)