Very Near Mint
Very Near Mint is a series of independent self-published graphic novels and ashcan comic books created by MAD Magazine cartoonist and Tijuana Flats muralist[1][2] Justin Peterson. The series consists of three digest size black-and-white volumes.
Plot summary
Very Near Mint tells the story of a pair of comic book shop owners, Collin Turner and Sam Jones, who accidentally provoke the ire of a vengeful customer (Nate) from completing a mint collection of comic books and opens a massive rival shop across the street. Over the course of the series, Collin and Sam, along with their dependable frying pan-wielding friend Mack, embark on an adventure to set things right for their customers and themselves, while trying to protect the one thing keeping their lives held together: the comic shop.
Publications
| # | Title | ISBN | Release date | Page Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Very Near Mint Volume One | ISBN 978-0-615453-54-5 Search this book on  . |
March 19, 2011[3] | 149 | Contains pinups by Christopher Burdett, Marc Ellerby, Lee Bretschneider and Liz Prince. Lee Bretschneider and Andrea Wallace are credited with art assistance on pages 41 and 80 respectively. |
| 2 | Uncanny Very Near Mint #1 | N/A | 2012 | ||
| 3 | Very Near Mint Volume Two | ISBN 978-0-615622-93-4 Search this book on . |
2012 | 150 | Contains pinups by Jason Kieth Phillips, Christopher Burdett, Emi Lenox, Terry Blas, and Noelle Stevenson with some background art contributions by Paul Abbamondi. |
| 4 | Very Near Mint Volume Three | N/A | March 2014 | 250 | Contains pinups by Logan Faeber, Christopher Burdett, Andrew Maclean, and Jim Mahfood. |
| 5 | Very Near Mint Secret Files | N/A | May 2014 | 150 | Contains bonus materials and collects comic stories written by Peterson with guest art by Lee Bretschneider and Tara Abbamondi. |
| 6 | Very Near Mint: The Whole Enchilada Edition | N/A | August 2016 | 496 | Collects the first three volumes of Very Near Mint and contains bonus comics drawn by Peterson and guest artist Lee Bretschneider. |
Development
Very Near Mint was first published as a comic book written and illustrated by Peterson in 2007, but was relaunched in 2011 as a graphic novel funded by a successful crowdsourcing campaign on the Kickstarter platform.[4] Some of the characters in Very Near Mint can be traced to characters he created in high school in 1997, inspired to create “a comic book version of Seinfeld, but with teenagers.”[2]
Peterson describes his production on Very Near Mint as a "one man show" and citing technologies such as "on-demand printing, Kickstarter, digital distribution" as a crucial aspect to the series’ commercial success. [2]
Peterson again raised funds via Kickstarter for Volume 3, raising over $8,000[1] in the first week for the project.
Critical reception
In a review of Very Near Mint Vol. 1, website Den of Geek stated "Great comedic timing is combined with wit and sometimes harebrained antics of [Peterson's] loveable characters Sam and Colin," and considered it having a "highly enjoyable story that many readers can relate to" with the art as having "heavy inking lines, cartoonishly oversized eyes and heads," making a comparison to Scott Pilgrim. The website also praised Peterson for including homages to classic comic book covers, including parodies of The Dark Knight Returns and Crisis on Infinite Earths.[4] Comic Mix called it "one of the funniest comics out there" and made note of its "great character development and well-placed use of classic tropes."[5] In 2011, Comicbooked.com gave Very Near Mint Vol. 1 the recognition of "Indie Comic of the Year" from a field of ten nominations.[6][7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zack Rosenberg (Feb 7, 2017). "Peterson's Very Near Mint Vol. 3 Awaiting Your Grade". KABOOOOOM!. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "DIY Comics: Justin Peterson & Very Near Mint". Freak Sugar. Apr 25, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ↑ Greg Baldino, Samantha LaFountain, Rich Johnston (Mar 19, 2001). "C2E2 Artists' Alley Part One". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved May 21, 2018.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bridget LaMonica (Nov 27, 2012). "Very Near Mint, Graphic Novel: Review". Den of Geek. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ↑ Molly Jackson (Nov 2, 2016). "Molly Jackson: Happy, Cheery Me". ComicMix. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ↑ Jordamus Prime (December 29, 2011). "Best of 2011: Best Indie Comic". ComicBooked.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ↑ Ashley Belanger (May 23, 2012). "Orlando Mini Maker Faire". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
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