Geof Darrow, the artist best known for creating the look of the Wachowski brothers’ breakthrough movie, is back in Chicago working on a new comic book series.
Author Archives: Zak Mucha
Posted inNews & Politics
Kick ‘Em Out and Keep ‘Em Out
Meet Rosanna Pulido, the face of the Minuteman Project in Illinois.
Posted inArts & Culture
Big Black Monster
Vassie Watts saw his life as a giant animal, plowing methodically ahead.
Posted inArts & Culture
White Dirt
“I can’t move my neck,” Vassie said, sensing the party going on behind his shoulder. He knew he was in Rachel’s apartment because he could see the Clash poster over the wicker chair and the ferret’s cage in the corner, but he couldn’t turn to see who else was in the apartment. When Vassie got […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Chi Lives: How Rich Seng found his true calling
Rich Seng started producing and distributing the monthly series of free CD and DVD compilations now called Cherry Bomb when he moved to Chicago in 1995. But for eight of the nine years since then Seng’s business has been stalled–by God. Seng dropped out of a business program at Miami University in Ohio to come […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Which Side Are They On?
Forget what you know about unions: the organizers I met were a bunch of snobs.
Posted inArts & Culture
Active Cultures: still a place for polka
Stas Bulanda and Dyno-Chicago has taken the stage at Polonia Banquets on South Archer, a regular venue for the band and one of the only places left to hear live polka music in Chicago. Seated center stage is Bulanda, a barrel of a man with a perfect coif of white hair. He leads the band […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Local lit: Achy Obejas’s immigrant song
Four years ago, Achy Obejas and her girlfriend, Tania Bruguera, were having a rough time finding a tattoo artist who would solemnize their relationship. All they wanted were simple double infinity symbols on their ring fingers. The first artist flatly said he didn’t do hands. The second was more flexible, but wanted to know the […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Blue Ink
Cop-cum-novelist Mike Balck finds inspiration in the criminal mind.
Posted inNews & Politics
The Grand Inquisitor
Abused by a priest as a child, Tom Economus has channeled his anger into a crusade to force the church to confess its sins.
Posted inNews & Politics
Can This Book Be Saved?
Two crusaders set out to rescue an overlooked classic of European literature.
Posted inNews & Politics
But Seriously…
A cop who’s seen it all reaches teens by lowering their guard.
Posted inMusic
The Mekons hit the road and the road hits back
In the Whirlaway Tavern, near the corner of Kedzie and Fullerton, the conversation between Sally Timms and Jon Langford keeps getting sidetracked by the American Music Awards on television. LeAnn Rimes is holding the last notes of a syrupy song with a sleepy-eyed grin. “A 14-year-old girl,” Timms notes. “Oh, God,” Langford groans. Maria the […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Lord of the Ring
Promoter Bobby Hitz fights to keep local boxing on its feet.