February 27, 2006
The Pleasures of Urban Comics
Ben Katchor's comic, "Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer" is set in New York, but I have always seen more St. Louis in it than Manhattan. For instance, his book The Beauty Supply District always reminded me of the Miss Elaine Nightgown Factory downtown and the Ill-Mo Cosmetics Factory off Broadway, down by the floodwall.
Now, tell me if I'm crazy, but: Doesn't this remind you of our dear departed Salad Bowl Cafeteria on Lindell? This one reminds me of my ENT's office on Chippewa; this one reminds me of the large manufacturing concerns down in Carondolet, where god knows what is routed off the barges and poured into little aluminum gutters that feed into the pasta factory's silos. And this one reminds me of Soulard in the dead of winter.
I hope that certain aspects of this city's lovely, dark and magical urban landscapes are never snuffed out. I'll take chocolate toasted ravioli and fried brain sandwiches over double-espresso mochachinos and discoteques any day of the week.
Mr. Crone: Stumbled on your blog via another that I regularly read featuring an ex-RFT writer (I Blame The Patriarchy). Good to see you are doing well, writin', supportin' Saint L, buyin' a house and all that jazz.
Take care,
Anna Breshears (Giuliani)
It's heartening to know that I am not the only one who sees St. Louis in Katchor's comics!
Posted by Michael Allen on Tue., Feb 28, 2006 at 10:01 AMYessss Ben Katchor's stuff is awesome, and it always reminded me of St. Louis, too--something about its quirky nature, and the old-and-slightly-rundown look of the places pictured just makes me think of StL.
And that Cardboard Valise one definitely reminds me of Carodelet (What is that one chemical plant? Astaris?), and also of North Broadway, which is not making it any easier for me to resist the urge to just go biking today (Riverfront Trail here I come!) rather than waiting for the-plumber-who-may-or-may-not-show-up.
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