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“Mail Order Monsters” is a totally sick action-packed, laser-blasting, tentacle-wrangling battle game for the Commodore 64. Likewise, “Male Odor Monsters” is a highly titillating, testosterone-impregnated (rationale here) new group show at Echo Park’s Hope Gallery. Teeming with the lo-fi crayon-colored psychedelia/neon childhood-nostalgic nightmare vibe that has come to dominate the experimental comics scene— and maybe avant-garde art in general— “Male Odor Monsters” features the work of Lightning Bolt drummer (and co-founder of Rhode Island’s legendary Fort Thunder) Brian Chippendale, Matthew Thurber, C.F. (a.k.a. Kites in the music world), and Kramer’s Ergot contributor Carlos Gonzales.
I was initially lured in to the show by Chippendale, whose zines I’ve become familiar with at stores like Family, Ooga Booga, and Giant Robot— but after checking out all the work, I’ve totally fallen in love with Matthew Thurber’s adorable intensity (e.g. the endearingly terrified horse in the picture above, entitled A Degree in Time Travel). I ended up slapping down a crisp Lincoln on the first issue of his new comic book, 1-800-Mice, which reads kinda like a Sally Cruikshank cartoon watched in the midst of a Vietnam acid flashback.
Check out my photos from the show after the jump, and make sure to stop by the Hope Gallery at 1547 Echo Park Ave before August 5th to experience the odor intimately.


Matthew Thurber’s Grandfather Taught Me How to Hunt Snakes and Lizards

Untitled by Brian Chippendale


Covers from two issues of Slime Freak by Carlos Gonzales

C.F.’s Wasp Rider

Brian Chippendale’s Smurf Hunk

Elmo in Dress by Brian Chippendale






David Kramer of Family/Kramer’s Ergot/Hope Gallery accepting my payment for 1-800-Mice



My new-to-L.A. pals Nathan (above), who’s interning at Teenage Teardrops, and Blake (below, leaping in rhapsody in front of Brian Chippendale’s The Proud Planet Hunters) helped set up the show.


Love the photos. Thanks for the heads up on the show– looks totally rad.
ITS LIKE I DONT EVEN EXIST GRAHAM
Ah, right– my friend Andrew was there, too :P
loooove lightning bolt. and chippendale’s stuff.
dude really good stuff!! funny, clear, different! greets from COSTA RICA!
:) Keen!