anna bb comics

'Serve and Destroy' in Caffetteria Buchhandlung

2012-01-27T05:18:00.000-08:00

Mmmmmmmm.... cake and coffee and comics!!!

Here are some pictures of the 'Serve and Destroy' exhibition by Nettmann and me, which is currently adorning the walls of the Caffetteria Buchhandlung in the Tucholskystrasse 32 in Berlin Mitte.

Reminder! Saturday! You know what, right?

2012-01-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

Saturday is the opening of the exhibition SERVE AND DESTROY in the Berliner café 'Caffetteria Buchhandlung' where we will be showing work related to food in any which way. (Here is the post I did about it a while ago.)

On occasion of our first exhibition together, Nettmann and me made a cartoon with our combined special brainpower. Nettmann created the story and I made the drawing.

Translation: "You still have to put a thick layer of butter on it!" "But there it says 'low-fat'?!" "That's why you should put butter on it!"

I'll be showing work which was previously exhibited in Amsterdam, Buenos Aires and Turkey in 2010. So the work is mostly not new but this is the first time in Berlin. There will be a few newly created items, like the print of a cartoon called "Angry Mean Woman". I made this one-pager for the next edition of the Argentinean comic magazine 'Cabula' which will be completely screen printed.

I was inspired by the 'riot grrrl' spirit, something I've been reading into a lot lately. ...and then crossed that with the Maori 'Haka' war dance the rugby team of New Zealand does. Ha ha ha. So cool... HU!!

My Arbeitsplatz

2012-01-12T02:27:00.000-08:00

Last year comic artist Wittek called out on his blog to "Show us your Arbeitsplatz". 'Arbeitsplatz' being the German word for 'working place'. This was his call last year. And this year he did it again: Wittek.
A number of artists followed suit like Ulli Lust who posted her Arbeitsplatz on the Electrocomics blog. Or Lilli Loge, she presented the naked truth of her art on the 'Where They Draw' blog.
What I also enjoyed was 'From The Desk Of-' of 'Pizza Island' in New York. Comic artists like Julia Wertz or Kate Beaton posted pictures of their drawing tables along with hilarious texts.

I decided that this year, it was about time I finally revealed my four walls.

I work in a very small space I share with 2 other comics artists in a former factory building. The heating works exceptionally well, although it's either 'on' or 'off' because it's impossible to regulate the eager bastard. We've each got a corner. The rest of the space is hogged by a pretty large sized window. The view is lined by a group of poplars who keep me company and who I turn to for advice when I hit a difficult spot.

The wall over my desk is presently covered in photocopy images of cars, bikes, motorbikes and houses. Because these are the things I don't do a good job at when I have to 'imagine' them. I also try to get it right because the right set of houses or vehicles tells everything about the setting of a story. Or to put it differently: get it wrong and you really fucked up. Especially because comic readers are such nerds and always notice when you mess up on the details...

I keep my favorite pens and pencils in a Spiderman case I once bought in a comic store in Buenos Aires. I have a small triangle plate with a picture of a cross between an elf and Wonderwoman on rollerskates. My boyfriend was going to give it to a friend for their birthday but luckily I saw it in time and could intervene. Now it's mine and it's where I sharpen my pencils. (With the speed of lightning.) Then there's the feathers held together by some silver tape. I bought it about a decade ago in an art supply store in Holland- when it was still held together by wax. I don't know if it's a Dutch thing to do, but it's certainly not a German thing to do, because every German that's seen it has shrieked or fallen over or something else to show their remorse. Anyway, it's used to wipe the paper clean after erasing.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-08T10:00:00.001-08:00

Concepts of Time

2011-12-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

Serve and Destroy

2011-12-25T06:26:00.000-08:00

January 21st Nettmann and I are showing a selection of our works that were inspired by snacks, deserts, barbeques and other deep and thoughtful edibles.
We knew we'd found our target audience in the patrons of Caffetteria Buchhandlung in the Tucholsky Strasse 32. The Buchhandlung is one of the remaining refuges that are still standing in Berlin's 'Mitte' (city centre), after the so-called gentrification has leaned back and blatantly stretched it's arms out over most of our favorite venues. The Buchhandlung, meaning 'bookstore', is also right nextdoor to our beloved 'Renate Comicbibliothek', Germany's only comic library and one of my favorite hang-outs.
We'll be there, looking forward to seeing you! And Nettmann's sure to be laying on a few records, chiming in another wintry night.

Milk Carton

2011-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

I did this one quite some time ago but never posted it. The silent cartoon quietly bears to witness that young people have mind gaps too. I drew it and then I guess I must've forgotten about it.

24 Stunden 2011 in Lasshop in Friedrichshain

2011-11-28T07:55:00.000-08:00

The 12th of November, "Lasshop" in Friedrichshain, Berlin invited comic artists from the comic library Renate to join in a 24 hour marathon drawing comics.
Originally, after an idea by Scott Mcloud, you arrive without plan and draw a page per hour, ending up with a 24 page comic story. I didn't even get close to doing it properly, arriving with an A-4 scribbled full with character sketches, story lines and dialogues. Also, and I could've seen this coming, I created 3 pages instead of 24. My record skew outcome since first doing one of these marathons in 2008.
Here's a panel of my story called, "Renate and Rudolf" which 'll most likely be appearing in screenprint in the fanzine Renate next spring.

But in my defense I want to say that I came there to enjoy myself and I did. We must've been about 15 comrades steaming up those shop windows of Lasshop. The best way to get an idea of the day is by taking a look at this hilarious 'making of' comic by Mawil which he did for the newspaper Tagesspiegel Berlin last Sunday, here. (You have to scroll down to the bottom.) I'm totally chuffed that I appear in it too, with the purple shirt and short blonde hair.

Panel Studies

2011-11-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

Here are two panel studies. I am doing them because once I start using a certain style I have to continue this way for the whole length of the story. There are so many ways to fill in the tones between the blacks and whites. I might still use different styles for different parts because the main character often switches between the real world and her imagined one.

You don't smoke.

2011-11-16T04:18:00.000-08:00

Randy: “Mrs. B got soooo mad about Terry’s black eye. She couldn’t believe we had been fighting for fun. Then she found the mushrooms and the shit hit the fan.”

Nicky: “Just think how many hours I have to work here before I can buy a ticket home?”

Kim: “Why don’t you spend the holidays with me and my family?”

Nicky: “Em…"

Randy: “128 hours!”

Kim: “Why not?”

Nicky: “It would be weird.” “You don’t smoke.”

Kim was taken aback. Just settling into the drama her life had taken on since moving to the boarding house, she had overseen the stifling simplicity that could sometimes underlay it.

“If it weren’t for the boarding house we would’ve never hung out. One day we’ll leave this place and we’ll never see each other again,” Kim thought.

“You don’t smoke.” How could that ever be a reason? And yet, Kim had understood. There were differences that lay deeper but became apparent in seemingly trivial details.

Jet Boy Jet Girl

2011-11-08T05:06:00.000-08:00

Burlesque Ediciones in Argentina has published their second batch of titles and I'm one of the lucky authors!

A Real Prince

2011-10-13T02:07:00.000-07:00

What am I working on now?

2011-09-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

Since the beginning of this year I've been working on a comic story, which will probably be about 60 pages. For me, this is kind of a long haul. It's the first time I do something this long and sometimes I get a bit tired of not coming with any results. So yesterday, while I was having my usual bout of concentration problems, I decided to enjoy myself by doing a splash page. It became more of a type of cover for my working title, which is "Who you are". Scroll down for a peek synopsis.

"Who You Are"
This is the working title of the comic I am currently busy with. It's a coming of age story, taking place in a boarding house in a boring suburb.
The main character, 'Kim' is in an identity crisis. Nothing is left untried in her attempt to figure out who she really is. Starting to be more and more attracted to the idea of being born in the wrong gender, it's her ability to fantasize that leads her on her way.

Sketches: Scenes from the Boarding House.

2011-09-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

With the risk of producing the false impression that the story I'm working on is neither serious, depressing nor sad, I am showing you here another silly scene with silly characters. Mostly because they're fun to draw, but also because I hope to keep you engaged with light fare. In this scene characters Nicky, Masja and Randy from the boarding house pester the family living next door from the window of one of their rooms.

17 and 18 Sept: SHOWING COMICS at SCHOKOLADEN and MORE

2011-09-15T04:22:00.000-07:00

We will be showing some of our comics in slideshow projections and if the beer works her charm we'll be reading them too. I'm showing "Wie Jodie einmal sich zu Tode schämte" and "Schnelle Frauen, schöne Autos". But that's not all. There will be performances, sculptures, bar, grub and live T-Shirt making. Saturday and Sunday from 5pm in Schokoladen, Ackerstr. 169-170.

SCHOKOLADEN KUNST-ATELIER AKTION

mit Investorengruselkabinet von Chris Keller, Stadtödnisläufer von Manga, Hausverteidiger von Illu, Zetazelt von Aino Stratemann und Jan Ungerer, Comiclesung con Clem Guichard, Anna Bas Backer und Ulla Loge, T-Shirt Drucken von Päm, Objekten con Sofie B. Rost, Collagen von Katja Friedmann und Lichttechnik von Stefan Wolf.

(Wie Ihr vielleicht schon gehört habt, ist unser wunderbares Schokoladen-Projekt in Berlin vielleicht schon bald Vergangenheit. Die Räumungsklage läuft…)
Unterzeichne eine offenen Unterstützerbriefes an den Berliner Senat

Sketches (more)

2011-09-12T02:36:00.000-07:00

More people from my comic. Ejoying fooling around with colors.

Sketches

2011-09-02T01:39:00.000-07:00

These are just a few sketches of characters from the comic I am working on.

Out of Office

2011-08-04T23:35:00.000-07:00

The 'Theme'

2011-08-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

Young Man

2011-07-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

Out the Nose

2011-07-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hunger Sigh

2011-07-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

More teenage boarding house drama. Especially for you.

2011-07-07T02:27:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting you... I'm working on another teenage youth boarding house story. I dream teen soap drama at the moment. So I'm having a little trouble concentrating on the cartoons. But I'm all effort. Until then, here's two sneak preview pages from my new story.

Coffee Mug

2011-06-18T03:44:00.000-07:00

Beer and the Greeks

2011-06-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

Listen to Hank Bobbit on myspace: here.

-„Alkoholfreies Bier?! Was is denn mit Dir los?“
- „ Hast Du nicht gemerkt, dass das alle wirklich coolen Leute trinken?“
- „Übe Dich, um Himmels Willen, in den kleinen Dingen - erst dann wende dich Größerem zu.“ Epiktos. Ein Griechischer Philosoph
-„Und ich wette, das findest du jetzt „cool“!“

"The Break Out" : Out in Electrocomics.

2011-05-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

You can now download The Break Out from the wonderful online publication platform Electrocomics! Many thanks to Ulli Lust, the founder of Electrocomics. For an advised donation of €1,50 per e-book you support the project plus also yours very truly.

"The Break Out" is short story of 15 pages sporting the frustrations of a certain teenager - who you might have come to know by now (Oh, the woes of the autobiographical genre!) - living in a boarding house. When the walls cave in on her, she - quite literally, breaks out.

I hope you enjoy!

Summer Reading

2011-04-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

Or don't I look suspect?

2011-04-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Wrong End

2011-04-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

For too long now I've failed to give proper credits to Nettmann who stars in a whole bunch of my cartoons (like this one). His running commentaries are a ceaseless source of punchlines.

Spring in Cloudy Countries

2011-03-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Never Grow Old

2011-03-21T11:46:00.001-07:00

Concert Loser

2011-03-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Chicks on Comics in Missy Magazine

2011-03-14T03:57:00.000-07:00

This month, a nice little article about online comics by women appeared in the German feminist pop-culture magazine, 'Missy Magazine', mentioning the Chicks on Comics. Of course the Chick's authors were all really chuffed about this! To read the English translation click here. This edition is worth paying a visit to your local kiosk for with its many comic-related contributions.

Disorganized

2011-03-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

For a reminder of who Freaky Monster is, when and how he first appeared, click here.

Tiny Black Hole

2011-03-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

Puppy-eyeing

2011-03-04T04:45:00.000-08:00

More sketches

2011-03-03T02:21:00.000-08:00

More character-, environment- and atmosphere sketches for my new story.

Sketches for a short story

2011-02-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

I am currently working on a short story. Practically finished with the sketches and storyboard, I'm now trying out ink, paper, brushes, gray tones and that ol' lot. The story is based on a minor semi-adventurous experience I initiated in my depressed puberty days way back when and i lived in a boarding house set on castle grounds in a provincial town park. Correspondingly it doesn't really 'rock' but I think it will be a nice comic anyway.
(B.T.W. The above panel is not an actual panel. There is no scene where the narrator goes, "Ya di ya di, bla bla tratsch")

Inner Child

2011-02-19T05:41:00.000-08:00

"Beautiful Cars, Fast Women" in: Revista Larva #12

2011-02-10T03:47:00.000-08:00

Arrived in the mail today: Revista Larva #12 from Colombia!!!!! The special all-women edition edited by the lovely Powerpaola; with comic-contributions by (in order of appearance) Camila Torre Notari, Keki, Weng Pixin, myself, Mariana Gil, Delius, Muriel Frega, Katie Turner, Aisha Franz, Alejandra Hernández, Gemma Correll and Tatee. Also an essay by Jezabel y Mythos and an interview featuring Caro Chinaski, Clara Lagos, Elenor Davis, Debbie Dreschler, Laura Vázquez Hutnik and Ulli Lust!!!
Thanks to the Larva team and Paola for their great work!

Auntie Tattoo

2011-02-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

The Underwear Trilogy: Part III

2011-01-26T10:40:00.001-08:00

Some places in Berlin where you can get 'boy briefs for girls' are Super Schlüpfer and American Apparel. Enjoy!

The Underwear Trilogy: Part II

2011-01-24T10:37:00.000-08:00

The Underwear Trilogy: Part I

2011-01-22T09:10:00.000-08:00

I had to take the short story "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think" off the blog because I'm re-doing parts of it. If I'll put it up again when it's done, I can't say yet. Anyway, you'll be informed. To cheer you up I made "The Underwear Trilogy". Here's part one. Part two and three will follow in the next days.

Good Bye Vulti's!!

2011-01-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

"One the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me".... A lay off. Ulla wrote an endearing account of the Vulti's multi-faceted reaction, which you can read here. Her text roughly translates to English like this: "Look here, who's hanging out on the streets, making a racket? New Year's Eve is already over! You might have guessed by now: the Night Vultures solve their conflicts the same way as ever. Aggressive behavior, causing racket, sipping their beers. That and a few other reasons, which were more information than you asked for - like economizing on the night-life page, have led to the dismissal of our well-fed drunkards. You can imagine the way things will develop for them. Hartz 4 (German unemployment scheme), the gutter, one-Euro jobs (another ingenious German unemployment scheme), hustling poultry. We'll refrain from chaperoning them during their nose-dive because we care to spare you and society the sight of it. So, till then take care, we'll see each other again with some other series, or the same one. In any case: Best wishes for the new year! (And don't just gulp your feelings down!)" The drawing is by Ulla.

Night Vultures at the Soylent Bar: our last contribution to Exberliner's night-life pages.

Manly Things

2011-01-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

Rouge

2010-12-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

Philistine Flirt

2010-12-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

Night Vultures experience the Christmas Carol

2010-12-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

As always: the charming storyboard and coloring was made by Ulla. But- only - especially - now - extra - with guest appearance by Nettmann who made that ghastly friendly ghost.
(The cartoon appeared in Exberliner's December issue)

Short hair

2010-11-29T08:23:00.001-08:00

You don't own them

2010-11-25T14:05:00.000-08:00

What I fathomed becoming..

2010-11-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

Greens

2010-11-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

Night Vultures weilen in Wedding: Kamine & Wein

2010-11-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

(As appeared in the November issue of Berlin's English language city magazine, 'Exberliner'. Coloring and storyboard by the best: Ulla Loge.)
Also, very soon coming up: Night Vultures will have their own page on the Exberliner website.
Oh yeah, and even though it's, like, real and we're journalists and this all really happened.... I didn't reallllllllly cry..... (ehem...)

Pictures of Chicks on Comics in LDF

2010-10-04T01:02:00.000-07:00

The Chicks on Comics show in Buenos Aires turned out beautifully!
Thanks to the hard work of the Chicks and guest-Chicks in Buenos Aires!
Especially thanks to Delius and Clara!
Thanks LDF Galeria and Vinetas Sueltas for providing the space and supporting us!

The fanzine made for the show revolves around the theme 'work-life balance'. I contributed this single panel cartoon which is published in grey-tones, but here in color. The cover art is by Powerpaola.

Night Vultures at Madame Claude's open mic' night

2010-10-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

As appeared in the October issue of Berlin's English language city magazine, 'Exberliner'. Coloring and storyboard by the lovely Ulla Loge. On her her blog you can admire her research sketches. The drawing is by me.

Chicks on Comics in LDF for Vinetas Sueltas!

2010-09-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

October 1 the Chicks inaugurate an exhibition in the LDF Galeria in Buenos Aires! I wish I could be there but alas..
The exhibition is part of Vinetas Sueltas, the Buenos Aires comic festival. How cool is that?
Aside from works by the original Chick authors, including Sole Otero who was part of the group during the project's beginning months, there will be an array of 'posts' created by invited chicks especially for the show. They are: Ale Lunik, Camila Torre Notari, Daniela Kantor, Ernancita, Helene, Julieta Arroquy, Keki, María Alcobre, Sol Díaz, Sophia Pankenier and Tita.
The chicks are also launching the fanzine they just made about the theme, 'work-life balance', with an introductory text by yours truly, new stories by Delius and Powerpaola and cartoons by all the rest of us.
To top things off, the girls from Alegria Sueca radio, which our Chick Clara is part of, will be providing for your listener's enjoyment with an exclusive Chicks on Comics playlist!

Night Vultures at the Gartenshrank

2010-09-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

As appeared in the September issue of the Exberliner magazine.

Who killed the Newspaper?

2010-08-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

New Appartment, new Rules

2010-08-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

Insecurity strikes again

2010-07-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

My Life and Times in Berlin

2010-07-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

My View on Crime Prevention

2010-07-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

Night Vultures venture into Neukölln's questionably titled "Ä"

2010-07-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

Live to work

2010-06-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

My pet depression

2010-06-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

Swimming trunks made my day.

2010-06-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

Night Vultures at Baiz!

2010-06-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

For this month's Night Vultures we flipped our work strategy. Ulla drew and I colored. We intend to switch every month so each of gets a chance at drawing and coloring. However what we're sticking to is that Ulla does the storyboard and I the translation to English.

We understand each other

2010-04-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

In a matriarchy...

2010-04-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Buenos Aires #2

2010-04-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

interview with the Chicks on Comics

2010-04-04T18:06:00.001-07:00

"Avoid the Future" just published a full-length interview with all present members of Chicks on Comics. Its published in two parts, so be sure to scroll down for part 1/2 first.

Night Vultures in Smaragd

2010-03-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

As appeared in the April issue of Exberliner Magazine. Made together with Ulla Loge.

Buenos Aires

2010-03-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Dessert exhibition with Ernan in Buenos Aires!!

2010-03-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

Del viernes 12 de marzo al sábado 1º de mayo
Inauguración: viernes 12 de marzo, 19 hs.

MUSETTA CAFÉ
Billinghurst 894, Bs. As.

Horarios: Lunes a miércoles de 9 a 21, jueves a sábado de 9 a 24 hs.
www.musettacafe.com

Night Vultures at the Gluehlampe

2010-03-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

The lastest of the Night Vultures adventures. As appeared in Exberliner Magazine this month. Love from your authors U. Loge and me.

Night Vultures in Victoria bar.

2010-01-31T08:28:00.000-08:00

As appeared in the February edition of Exberliner magazine. By Anna Bas Backer and Ulla Loge.

Night Vultures in the Schoppenstube.

2010-01-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

As appeared in the January edition of Exberliner magazine. By Anna Bas Backer and Ulla Loge.

Memories of a 90's childhood

2010-01-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

At the therapist's

2009-12-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

In case your memory should wane: cheat

2009-12-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

Night Vultures at the Paloma bar

2009-11-30T11:28:00.000-08:00

© Ulla Loge + Anna Bas Backer

The monthly cartoon 'Night Vultures', as appeared in the December issue just out now in Berliner magazine, 'Exberliner'.

Night Vultures #4

2009-09-30T02:56:00.000-07:00

Night Vultures #4 as released in the October issue of the Exberliner magazine in Berlin.

(By U. Loge and A. Bas Backer.)

funny therapist

2009-09-18T01:54:00.000-07:00

Slower pussycat, chill chill. Page #4/4

2009-07-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

Slower pussycat, chill chill. Page #3/4

2009-07-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

Slower pussycat, chill chill. Page #2/4

2009-07-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

Slower pussycat, chill chill. Page #1/4

2009-07-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

nuthin' funny

2009-01-03T06:07:00.000-08:00

2008-12-21T06:20:00.000-08:00

Text based on a piece by artist Bas Jan Ader.

the daily fart

2008-11-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

and heres to the wee women

2008-11-02T13:37:00.000-08:00

the daily excretion: fuckin mens world

2008-10-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

the daily excretion: job hunting

2008-09-30T01:09:00.000-07:00

the daily excretion: ana extrangera

2008-09-14T07:36:00.001-07:00

the daily excretion: its a pity

2008-09-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

the daily excretion: freaky monster

2008-09-10T02:43:00.000-07:00

the daily excretion: i guess not...

2008-09-10T02:41:00.000-07:00

the daily excretion: its obvious

2008-09-01T04:22:00.000-07:00

the daily excretion: you coming with us to Romania?

2008-09-01T04:21:00.000-07:00