What’s up 24 hour internet people. Welcome back to the Eye Trauma webcomics emporium and buffet.

This past weekend featured the fantastic opening of the Other Heroes art exhibition at Jackson State University. Got the cover of the Clarion-Ledger Weekend section and everything!

We had a great turn out for the opening, especially considering the school was closed the next day for Easter weekend. Thanks to everyone who came out, and to JSU for being such gracious hosts. Special thanks to Jen, Ken, and Quintin for helping us hang the work, and to Grif for coming out and filming the whole thing! We’ll have an Other Heroes website up and running with pictures soon, but in the meantime check out contributing artist and lighting ninja Ken Patterson’s blog post.

In other Other Heroes news (and yes, I just wanted to say “other Other Heroes”) Jeffrey Wilson over at The Daily Crosshatch has a nice interview up with OH! contributor and creator of Brotherman: Dictator of Discipline Dawud Anyabwile.

And hey, while you’re bouncing around the internet like a virtual pinball, why not get yourself a piece of this historic art show in the form of the fabulous Other Heroes catalog. 178 pages. $50. Essays by some of the premier comics scholars and creators in the field. Art from an unprecedented line up of close to 50 artists. And all our profits are going to a good cause, Gulf Coast disaster relief through Scholarship America. If you’re interested in comics, racial representation, or exploring the new frontiers of American art, check it out!

Meanwhile, there’s some new comics for you to read. We’re in a transitional phase here at Eye Trauma HQ. More than likely we’ll be dropping our current update model in favor of something that keeps people checking out the site, but doesn’t chop up stories like a plutonium powered cuisinart. It ain’t really working and, let’s face it, you’re probably not checking out the site each and every Monday anyway. So, while we’ll still be putting together our freaking awesome (and awesomely free) comics on a regular basis for you to enjoy, we won’t be doing it in the same way. I have no idea what that means as yet; you’ll know as soon as I do.

But these blog updates will continue on their weekly to semi-weekly basis, and I’ll keep you up to date on our various goings on, and probably add some sort of sketchbook thing or something to keep you ravenous bastards interested.

So this might be the last time you see this here update format. You’d better…

Keep an eye out:

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Updated Monday, April 10

Whisp Chapter 4: And Taking Names
by Damian Duffy & Dann Tincher
A surly whisp addict provokes an unhappy childhood memory from Ms. Surname. Ms. Surname is the old homeless lady kung-fu marksman who likes to pistol whip people to death. This ain’t gonna be pretty…

Division Shadow Chapter Five Part 1
Written by Patrick Meaney, Art by Nicolas Colacitti, Carlos Devizia, Marcelo Carmona, Shawn Decker, and Shawn Ross, Lettered by Damian Duffy
In America, David burns his bridges while Kate builds new ones. In the Borderlands refugee camp, the mole stirs poison around in a number of ways.

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Since there are a few things going on, let’s talk…

–EVENTS–

+Trapped Flowers Art Exhibition
While in Jackson, MS we were fortunate enough to learn of another great art show. Unfortunately, we won’t be there to see it. But, if you’re in the area, or know anyone who is, check out Trapped Flowers. Here’s some info:

Objective:
The objective of the Trapped Flowers Exhibition is to use literary, visual, and musical art to stimulate discussions about the difficulties women face in modern society with a specific focus on physical and verbal abuse.
One of the primary goals of this event is to celebrate the courage and strength of women who have been abused by giving them the opportunity to be pampered and entertained by those who recognize and understand what they have been through. We hope to partner with an area shelter produce a special event specifically geared toward women making their transition from unhealthy relationships.

Featured Visual Artists:
Shambe’ Jones, Ravin J. Hill, Jennifer E. Davis, Nathan Bruce, Tony Davenport, George L. Miles Jr., Juilet Johnston , Jennifer Campbell, Marques Phillips, Thabi N. Moyo, Latoriya Phillips

The Artichoke
1012 E. Fortification St.
Jackson, MS.
601.949-4000
April 11, 2007 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

For more information, please contact:

George Miles, Jr.
Trapped Flowers Artist Representative
662.418.0164
gmiles007@hotmail.com

+Fine Print: Alternative Media at P.S.1 Presents: Front Forty Press
Mr. Prof. John Jennings and I will be appearing with other fine artists working with the greatest publisher ever, Front Forty Press! This event in the prestigious New York gallery P.S.1 will feature Front Forty’s fine offerings Graffitecture, Short Stories Illustrated by Artists, Matt Volla’s Unruly Drawings, as well as a preview and talk on our overly gestating baby The Hole. Find out more about the event here.

+Other Heroes: African American comics creators, characters, and archetypes
Yeah, like I’m not gonna plug our show again. April 5-25, JSU Gallery, Dollye M.E. Robinson Liberal Arts Building, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS. By all accounts a show of similar scope has not been seen in over a decade. Also, from what we’ve been able to determine, there has never been a show that considers racial representation in and through comics with the breadth and depth of Other Heroes. Check out the catalog while you’re at it.

Say things to me at duff (at) eyetrauma (dot) net.

Thanks for reading Comics in Sharp Focus!

–Damian