Sticky post
Days of the Black Dog
Barking by Lucy Sullivan Everyone forgets, once you’re dead…you’re an innocent, no matter how crap a human you might have been. Lucy Sullivan’s graphic novel Barking had a fittingly difficult birth. Originally published through the Unbound crowd-funding website it faced problems when the initial print run was not up to scratch. Lucy did the difficult but right thing, she had the book reprinted so that … Continue reading Days of the Black Dog
Brooklyn Splendor
So Buttons issue 13 Harvey Pekar was a great American creator. An obsessive, an autodidact, a working class guy from Cleveland who was mostly broke but loved jazz and loved making comics. A talk show regular who had a film of his life made. A great film. And of course a comics creator who produced a remarkable body of work through his book American Splendor. … Continue reading Brooklyn Splendor
Strange Kingdoms
Underground Kingdom Comix UKC Crime and UKC Horror. There are trends in comics much like music or any other art form. It is a medium that can encompass many genres and it should seek to appeal to all kinds of people. In my experience there are good and bad comics in all genres. I’ve read great superhero comics and ones so derivative, pedestrian and amateurish … Continue reading Strange Kingdoms
With a KMRIA – Poguetry in Comics
The music of The Pogues and comics. When people think of the Pogues and especially the band’s astonishingly gifted Bacchanalian frontman Shane MacGowan, they might think of drunken Irish jigs with a sprinkling of censored Christmas tinsel. But look beyond the greatest hits served up by the algorithm and you will find songs of astonishing beauty, poignancy and sometimes anger. I personally consider The Pogues … Continue reading With a KMRIA – Poguetry in Comics
Sound of the Underground
Scottish comics artist and writer Jonny Cannon has his new book The United: Going Underground up on Kickstarter now. The book has proved very popular and has already been fully funded. There are lots of great rewards available including original art, sketches and commissions, so don’t miss out. Jonny described the book to us as “a love letter to comics”. It tells the story of … Continue reading Sound of the Underground
Ice Ice Baby
ANTARCTICA by Simon Birks and Willi Roberts published by Top Cow Productions The desolate wastes of Antarctica have always fascinated me. On holiday in Buenos Aires, I saw a bus leave the bus station. The destination was Punta Arenas. I knew that was where the ships for Antarctica left. I could have got on a bus to Antarctica. Awesome. I’m not sure if Hannah Curtis, … Continue reading Ice Ice Baby
Boxes
BOXES is a brand new 72 page comic magazine from ThirdBear Press that aims to showcase new short works from the most exciting and interesting creators in indie comics! I have an article in the premiere issue, an examination of ageing in comics via Cliff Chiang’s Catwoman Lonely City, Jaime Hernandez Locas and Alison Bechdel’s The Secrets of Superhuman Strength. There are tons of fantastic creators … Continue reading Boxes
Love letters – angry and otherwise
It may seem like I have been quite quiet this year. It is true I have not written many reviews, however I have been working on two really exciting projects that will be kickstarted later this year. Boxes is a new magazine from brilliant Scottish creator Steven Ingram. It will feature original comics from some wonderfully talented artists. Steven asked me if I would contribute … Continue reading Love letters – angry and otherwise
Realm of Dusk
Samuel Hickson’s Liquid Realm The NorthernsLook at the North onesTheir brains are unhinged by the sun The Fall – R.O.D I have to thank Samuel Hickson. His story Nigel, Guru of the Suburbs gave me my biggest laugh in weeks. If you are a middle aged man having a mid-life crisis and thinking of moving to India, opening a small shop selling craft beers or guitars, … Continue reading Realm of Dusk
New Balls Please
Day and Age Year Two by Andrew Oh Autobiography and indie comics go together. Andrew Oh’s Day and Age Year Two is no exception. In this book Andrew tells the story of his move to Los Angeles. Will he make friends? How will he get by? Well, his first experience is one which makes for tough reading…if you are male. In fact I have to … Continue reading New Balls Please
Punk Rock and Polar Bears
Reject All by David Robertson So Buttons 12 by Jonathan Baylis (both with a host of guest artists) I want to give a shout out to a couple of great books I was sent recently. In these days of high postage costs it makes sense that most submissions I get arrive electronically, but it is always special to get a physical book. First up is the … Continue reading Punk Rock and Polar Bears
Daredevils and Warriors 