For a variety of reasons I've always been more than fond of dreams and dreaming. Dreams are the one psychedelic / transcendent experience that everyone has had. I used to have recurring dreams where I'd find a box of books, magazines or comics, none of which I'd ever seen before, all of which exuded such delicious otherliness, that I was thrilled at the prospect of reading and looking through them, each like a doorway into another world. I'd always wake up with my hands holding empty air, I never managed to drag any of my treasures into this world, the closest I ever came was when I was a teenager visiting friends in San Francisco. I went to City Lights Books and bought the first issues of Zap and Air Pirates comics, later I got stoned and read these amazingly weird and funny books that made these great little movies in my mind, even before I fell asleep. When I did sleep and wake; these irrational artifacts were still there in the real world! I clearly remember seeing E.C. Comics back in the 50's, but they'd only let me catch the odd glimpse of anything except MAD, which is probably just as well. When I finally got a good look at The Old Witch, I would dream of her looking in my window at night for months afterwards. When I got dragged sideways into the comics scene by R.L. Crabb in the late 80's, one of the first things I wanted to do was an anthology of dream stories. The first thing I did on my own was an anthology of first hand experiences of the '89 quake in the Bay Area called "All Shook Up" which I did for Rip-Off Press, the next project I got to put together was Rip Off Comix #28, (I'd previously contributed to #26, the really good Vampiric Cowboy issue edited by Bruce Hilvitz). #28 featured work by: Richard Sala, the Pizz, Ed Brubaker, Jaime, Mario and Gilbert Hernandez, Daniel Johnston, Steve Lafler, Crabb, Jonathan Richman, J.R. Williams, Julie Doucet, Mary Fleener, Dennis Worden, Judy Becker and Sharon Rudahl among others, all on the theme of dreams. I was quite proud of it and still am, unfortunately I'm one of the few people who's ever seen it. Mysteriously #28 went out of print before it was printed (or something like that, you ask Fred or Kathe Todd, of Rip Off, I could never understand it.) After such resounding success, I knew I was on the right track. Figuring I couldn't do any worse, I decided to try self-publishing my next "dream project". Being the financial genius that I am, I took the minor windfall I'd encountered and invested it in DREAM. I wrote a lot of folks who's work I liked, and got very nice notes from Chester Brown and Peter Bagge and a few others telling me why they couldn't participate and a lot of positive responses from others. I paid for the work as it was sent in, and then ran out of money. I finally got some friends to loan me the dough to print the thing, but it was a little bit too late (he says with great understatement). A lot of the participants let me know how happy they were with the finished product and some of them have never been in touch with me since.

DREAM

There are a limited number of this publication still available. $7.50 postpaid. Make checks or money orders payable to George Parsons, cash is fine if you're discreet, if you're ordering from outside the U.S., send $12.50 in U.S. cash (well concealed) and I'll airmail your copy to you.

You must be an adult to purchase this title, so please include a signed age statement with your order.

George Parsons c/o DREAM Magazine, P.O. Box 2027, Nevada City, CA USA 95959-1941

Editor/Publisher, George Parsons has written or done artwork for: Pictopia, Real Stuff, Op, Option, Sound Choice, the Rooster and the Raven, Dream, Ptolemaic Terrascope, Equator, Monkeywrench, Rip-Off, the Stranger, All Shook Up, Duplex Planet Illustrated, the Independent, Seattle Laughs, Screw, Pulse, Rockers, Goldmine, Monozine, The Broken Face, and many others. Edited two titles for Rip-Off Press; "All Shook Up" (anthology of Ô89 earthquake stories), and the stillborn, dream themed "Rip Off #28". In the 90's Edited and Published DREAM, anthology of dream stories by; Jim Woodring, Dan Clowes, Julie Doucet, Mack White, Roy Tompkins, Mary Fleener, Steve Cerio, and many others. He was an Editor and Co-Publisher of early 80's cassette magazine compilation, "The Other", which featured work by Zoogz Rift, Doug Khan, Steve Fisk, John Trubee, Plasticland, The Velvet Monkeys, Jandek, Philip Perkins, Paul Dresher, Lester Bangs, Frank Kogan, Lucky Pierre, Wendy Mae Chambers, Johanna Went, Forrest Fang, De Fabriek, Jumbo Zen, Rich LaBonte, Audio Leter, Scott Miller's 1st band Alternate Learning, C.W. Vrtacek and Lawrence Crane years before Vomit Launch or Tape Op.

(the unreleased 3rd issue featured exclusive work by Ken Nordine, Legendary Pink Dots, Hafler Trio, American Music Club, Fred Lane, Charlie Burton, Deep Feeze Mice, Mark Tucker and The Twinkeyz among others)

Parsons was a vocalist and lyricist with late 70's band The Negatives and was active as a broadcasting DJ, and record librarian for 21 years, was also Music Director at a Nevada City FM radio station for a few years, in the early 90's.

P.S. My quote for "DREAM" is: "This is the grooviest mag in the entire history of the Universe!"

---John Trubee

I don't think I ever thanked you for the DREAM (I was probably too busy searching in vain for a mention of us). Anyway, thought you'd enjoy one of these Jonathan Richman cards that a Japanese fan sent us.

Best, Ira Kaplan+YLT

I hope this finds you well. While visiting my amigo Wayno in Pittsburgh back in November, I read Wayno's copy of your unique publication, DREAM. Enclosed is $10 for a copy. It's great! Thanks---Best,

Stephen R. Bissette

ACH! YOU DONE IT! AND IT LOOKS GOOD TOO! LOVE THE COVER AND ALL THE HAND-WRITTEN INTRO PAGES. THE WHOLE THING HAS A DENSE, SMOKEY QUALITY... MOST APPROPRIATE. I'D PLUG THIS BOOK FROM BUM TO BRISKET EVEN IF I WEREN'T IN IT... GODDAM IT! YOU DONE GOOD!

Jim Woodring

George- thanks for sending DREAM incredible stuff in there! I hope these 6 issues of DreamWorldNews plus a few miscellaneous dream comics of mine, give you a similar dose of enjoyment... Don't forget to share them with Jojo. Who knew he could paint so well?

from the hearts of molten men, Luke

Nice to hear from you+ even nicer to get DREAM book! Well, it is a beauty, well done friend! Now I am glad I waited (my story never was published elsewhere), I am proud to be in this edition and happy with my story (after not looking at it for about 3 years) still, which is unusual for me. I hope it succeeds for you, however you measure it. See Ya,

Roy Tompkins

Dear George, I read DREAM all the way through & some parts several times. It is such a great + worthy anthology! Your personal stories (+ Bio!) were moving & relatable. I am a fan of yours now. I hope you can find the $+ strength to do another one. Dreams are an untapped source of inspiration+ direction.

Barbara Manning

I honestly think it's the best graphic manuscript I've seen in a long time, truly a classic work. I especially enjoyed "Dad", and I think that story is among the very best autobio comic pieces of all time. If you ever do another such project and think that I could contribute something, I'd love to do so.

Dennis P. Eichhorn

Well, that was a good surprise to see that book, finally! I think you did a good job, it's a very nice selection of people, a real family..... some really nice work of yours in it, like the December page.... I am not in Montreal anymore, I moved again....To Berlin!

Julie Doucet

Hiya George, Thanks for sending a copy of DREAM, and here is Vertigo #6 in return. As ours is only a small xeroxed offering and yours is big and well printed, we put in Vertigo #5 as well. I hope you're satisfied... We all enjoyed reading DREAM, I love the subject matter, dreams are fascinating. I was recently made aware of a comic artist named Aleksandar Zograf, who recently put out an amazing anthology on Slab-O-Concrete Publications. I don't know if you've heard of him, but I'll fill you in anyway, as the book Dream Watcher, completely blew me away. He draws strips of his dreams to show the reader what REALLY goes on in his home country, the former Yugoslavia. Like War Art, but not heroic trenches shit, this is the day-to-day lives of his people.Truly fascinating insights. He smuggled out his mini comics, as they were all that could get through the border. My friend published Dream Watcher and there was quite a story as to how they got all the original material out of the country... It all adds to the impact of the comic though, almost like the old marijuana cliche- "ThatÕs hot stuff- four men died to make that joint!" Anyway, I digress...

Take care + enjoy reading Vertigo. Cheers, Mark

{Small world of Dream explorers, Sasa/ Aleksandar wrote me before his Flock of Dreamers collection came out, because he was using a Jim Woodring story that had appeared in DREAM, years before. We've been sporadic pen-pals ever since, and he contributed greatly to this project, with his Peter Blegvad, Jim Woodring and Terry Jones interviews.}

Hi George! It's Flavio Steinbach, one of The Go-Luckys from Germany, who's writing you. Excuse my small writing but I feel there's not so much space on this card. Next time it'll be a letter! Anyway. Why I contact you? Well, I've been reading through the comic book DREAM that you released. And I must tell you I really liked some of the stories very much, especially the Bad Spell and Dad story. Of course many others are also very good, but I liked your style most. To be honest, I don't know much about the comic scene, but when Barbara showed me the Dream book I really was interested in it and it wasn't too hard to read. Maybe by not being native speaker I miss out on some details but understood almost everything. Just let me thank you for having created this nice comic book. I guess you have many other comic stories too. When we come to the USA this summer we will visit you and I hope I can buy some more of your stuff! So see you soon! And really I wanna read more stuff from you! Ok?!

Ciao, Flavio Steinbach

{Flavio wrote on the back of a very cool Hundertwasser postcard, and it made my day.}

Nov 13 90 George, Thanks for asking me to participate in your Dreams book but I have to say no. If I said yes to all the projects I'm asked to participate in I'd never get any issues of Yummy Fur out. It just makes more sense to me to concentrate on my book rather than other people's books.

Take care Chester

{I sent Chester a copy of DREAM when it came out and never heard from him again.}

George, Ooooh do I love that kooky Helena! Thanks for the photo! Are there more? Hey, hasn't your ex found me a woman yet!? Tell her to hurry it up! I need her help and I ain't getting any younger! Actually I've been fairly at peace with my womanless state lately. Having no woman is better than having the wrong woman. I hardly try anymore. To want is to invite misery. Got a part in a gallery show at La Luz de Jesus in L.A.. The opening was fun. They had a keg of beer and I had lots of friends there so it seemed just like a party. Sold some shit too!

later, Dennis Worden

This one comes as artistically and orientedly challenging. Some of the artistry, mostly that of George Parsons, our friendly editor and correspondent, is very skilled. George insists that this is of adult content and I'd agree that kids should keep out of this. Nothing to do with Nudity, believe Me. It is the intentional thwarted approach of a few of the celebrants / participants that makes it of an adult nature. As a free society you may let it be circulated and left to anyone to favor or disapprove of any topics, herein. Some women in it are pretty daring I may say.

The Affiliate

Yes, it did take a while, but it was worth the wait. From surreal cover to surreal cover, it is a Trip- one of the best comix anthologies to come along in a while. Everyone I have shown it to has been as impressed as I am. It seems that the "dream" theme brought out the best in every contributor- and what a fantastic line-up of contributors! I can't imagine this book not being well received. It is a classic.

Mack White/Villa of the Mysteries

Dream was 1st rate- you're a fine cartoonist & as an editor you've chosen good work all the way. I'm a reviewer for Zine World and I seldom see cartoons this polished & professional (with no clinkers or filler). Best Wishes,

Tom Hendricks/Musea

I think I may have heard about Dream, but got it mixed up with Flock of Dreamers. The biographies worked excellently as a companion to the dream pieces, which surprised me, since most editors who try to do that end up focusing too much on the bios and it gets distracting. Inter-mixing dream texts, reviews and letters made the black pages even more effective---real, but fragmented and disassociated just like dreams. Strange that the collection as a whole, despite being comprised of various artist's work, had a singular feel to it, not unlike that evoked by your own autobiography. Dads and loss and time. Alienated, yet connected to some abstract community of like-minded aliens. I guess. I've been looking for Rip Off Press #28 for some time, trying to augment my own dream-comic collection. If you know of any way I can get a copy, please let me know. Best,

Jesse Reklaw/Concave Up

Professionally produced comix compilation featuring plenty of big names, including Mary Fleener, Joe Coleman, Daniel Clowes and many more. Taking their cue from the title, most of the artists here illustrate dreams they've had and, while many are just plain trippy, there are plenty of fine moments that make this well worth the price of admission. Highlights: Mack White's Twilight Zone-ish dream-within-a-dream, John Howard's Where We Used to Live, M. Schafer's Operation on My Thumb and Julie Doucet's dream featuring a sex-change and the Monkees' Mickey Dolenz. I loved Coleman's sickly fascinating collage of religious images and editor George Parsons' poignant recollection of his father. A nice sampling of the tons of talent out there today.

Ruel Gaviola/ Amusing Yourself to Death

Dear George, Thanx for the DREAMS book-it's all-around terrific- some major stuff w/only a few clunkers (most notably that Clowes shit!) ...hope you make a million bucks on it!

Best, Dan C.

Sorry for the slow response. Been v. busy- away alot. Thanks much for yr letter & drawings (I particularly liked the flowers & the bird's eye view)-& for your kind words re. my humble oeuvre. Sasa sent me a copy of Dream which I much enjoyed. Especially the beautiful UFO painting by Jonathan Richman, whom I now have additional cause to admire. Hope this finds you well.

Bests, Peter Blegvad

...Maybe I could trade you some Duplex Planets for one. Best wishes, David Greenberger I think this is a book, not a zine. (Maybe not, I'm not sure.) It has the feel of a zine I guess, because it was obviously done by someone who wanted to do it (as opposed to being paid to do it). It's basically a collection of black & white work by a wide variety of artists from the comic world and beyond; all nicely reproduced. I thought the hand-lettered bios of each artist was a really nice touch. All together a good package and worth checking out.

Leslie Goldman/Carbon 14

....Anyway, since you edited a book based on the same subject, Bob Kathman gave me a copy of "DREAM", which I liked very much! Your stuff is great, as well. Can I see more of it? I'm enclosing some of my mini comics for trade. Those "Spell" dreams which you described are really interesting! The whole story is wonderfully rendered. I enjoyed to see how your dream life, your imagination and the reality merged all together in a strange way...

Best Regards, Hope to hear from you soon ---Sasa Rakezic / Flock of Dreamers

Incredible comic compilation draws from the top of the artist pile; Clowes, Doucet, Woodring, Fleener, Coleman, et. al., all interpreting their visions re; the titular topic. An outstanding project, with nary a dud in the bunch. Comic fans must indulge- highly recommended.

Brian Johnson/Funhouse

Amazing- there are still top quality comix books being independently published in the U.S.. At nearly 100 perfect-bound pages between full-color cover paintings, Dream is a fitting museum for the nocturnal inspirations of around twenty well-known comix artists. As the title indicates, most of these stories deal with dreams. Some are confusing, some haunting and wistful, some frightening, and some just plain odd, but all capture the perplexing allure of the mind's unconscious interpretation of random neural impulses. Eddie Campbell's My Little Girl Said:, Mack White's The Chuck Carson and Boy Howdy Show, and Bad Spell by George Parsons are some of the more sorrowful entries, balanced by more comical bits by J.R. Williams, Dream-O-Rama and Dennis Worden, The Evil Puppet Dream. The surreal is represented exceptionally well by Jim Woodring, This Is the Meat That Changed Me, Dad!, and Steven Cerio, Pudding Green Son, and some strange nighttime encounters by Julie Doucet, Regret, Danny Hellman and Geoff Gilmore, Coffee Drinkin' Man and Mary Fleener, Hot Jungle Loins, give you that archetypal deja vu feeling. Roy Tompkins and the Pizz use their artistic excellence to craft my two favorite tales in the book, the violent nightmares Where Dumpsters Dwell, and Bad Dream Story. And there's still work by Joe Colman, Daniel Clowes, Pit, John Trubee, Scott Cunningham, M.Schafer, Erol Otus and even more to examine. In between stories are biographical notes on the artists, random dream ramblings, and brief reviews of inspirational listening and reading material. An Admirable rally of artists and their inner and outer workings, Dream is great anytime but especially well read before bed.

Tom Crites/Paniscus Revue/Malefact

12-28-98 Dear George: Thanks for Dream, and for your letter. I read about Dream in Amusing Yourself to Death. Dream was cool, particularly the Woodring contributions. ÒBad SpellÓ was a nice piece of work as well. Anyone who's into Jim Woodring and Peter Blegvad is all right with me. (Have you checked out his latest CD, "Just Woke Up"? ItÕs nearly as good as "King Strut".)

yours, Stepan Chapman

Hi George, Thank you Very Much for All the Cool Stuff you sent me. You've Got A Lot of Great Contributors in DREAM, They Blew Me Away. Plus I enjoyed your Drawings in the Other Comix you sent- Definitely Mind-Expanding. Thanx Also for the Nice Stuff You said About Art Vandal + Whirlygig- Yes, I Love Mark Beyer + Finster + Paul Klee, as well as 100 other folks (Nowadays I'm heavily Into Remedios VARO). I Don't Mind Admitting I Am Basically A Huge Rip-Off Guy- It is Great To Be in TOUCH With people Like you WHO Know About ALL this Cool Stuff TOO. For Now I AM Sending you what I've Got, As Soon As i make it to the Copy Place, I'll Load You Up With More Shit-

Take Care, Tim Winkler

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