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 they make me want to undergo some kind of brain wipe. Ditto for autobiographical, horror, sci-fi, fantasy etc etc.

But these trends can impose a kind of dull sameness. Time for a bit of counter culture maybe? In the comic cons, zine fairs and kickstarter listings there has been a bit of a stirring. You have to search, you have to hunt them down. But there are samizdat publications to be found. Books that are a bit more uncomfortable, iconoclastic photocopies and nihilistic risographs.

Some of those sewer dwelling troglodytes have come together to publish a new anthology under the banner of Underground Kingdom Comics. Actually two books – UKC Crime and UKC Horror.

First then to UKC Crime. Matt Greaves of Chip McFitz fame opens proceedings with ‘The Pocket Watch Club’ a tale that seems like Reservoir Dogs if it was an Ealing comedy. You are probably thinking ‘that sounds amazing’ and you would be right.

Tom Kneeshaw has a very different tale visually – The Rat Alley Cash Club – a kind of low-res Geordie cubism and a tale of high tech crime and low tech criminals.

Home Invasion by Ethan Llewellyn with its disturbing story of power and violence reminded me a lot of classic underground creator Spain Rodriguez in both subject matter and art style.

Three panels of a comic. A man with a balaclava driving. He breaks into a house with a gun. He holds the gun in his hand. — Home Invasion by Ethan LLewellyn

Darrel Thorpe and Adam Falp provide excellent illustrations which I shall refer to as pin-ups. Cut them out and brighten up your dreary dwelling. The cover which is a literal line-up of the contents is from Scottish comics legend James Corcoran.

UKC Horror begins with Agony Tides by Kai Reynolds, which I can only describe as ‘relationship horror’ with imaginative use of the medium to tell a story of sex and death.

Two panels of a comic. A demonic woman with an X on her head sticks out her tongue. A zombie cop with ripped clothes. — Taglio Finale by Samuel Hickson

Taglio Finale by Samuel Hickson is a tale of cult horror movie vengeance with a Dan Clowes influence and a diabolical twist.

Darrel Thorpe dives into the briny depths for Codless a tale of overfishing, pollution and beautiful mermaids. H P Lovecraft for the anthropocene.

A comic panel with a monstrous shark — Codless by Darrel Thorpe

More cut out and keep pin ups from Anna Readman and Garresh round up the nastiness and there is a daliesque horror of a cover from Micheal Kennedy.

If you want to leave your comfort zone and are looking for thoughtful and original comics that have an edge (without being ‘edgy’) then you should check out these UKC books.

Back the Kickstarter for Underground Kingdom Comics running until Sunday October 29th. The book should also be available at Thought Bubble this year.