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
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
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
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
Old Man Grey by Steven Ingram In 1970 the singer Vashti Bunyan was faced with a decision. Her debut album Just Another Diamond Day had run into delays and her attempts to settle into an idyllic life living in a horse-drawn caravan in the Scottish Highlands had faltered. The album, when it was finally released by the record company, sold poorly. She had to choose … Continue reading Back to the Brock
Suzanne – The Jazz Age Goddess of Tennis by Tom Humberstone 1914 and Europe was beginning its descent into the abattoir of war. Young men turned away from their jobs and homes and went to the battlefield. Thousands of women were needed to work in arms production and they filled the factories. For many it was a taste of independence that they liked. A revolution … Continue reading This Sporting Life
Berserker Monk Leland Bjerg – writer and letterer, Josh Thompson – pencils/inks, Gabriel Roldan – colours The hour grows late and the drinks are flowing. The tavern is filled with assorted lowlifes – thugs, pirates, mercenaries and throat cutters. Naturally the company turns towards the telling of tales. Well, we have all been in a pub like that at some time and there are certainly … Continue reading Tall Tales and KickBoxing Clerics
An Illustrated History of Ghosts Adam Allsuch Boardman, published by NoBrow There are no shortage of ghosts and ghost stories where I live. Edinburgh has more haints and apparitions than it has festival visitors. Well, nearly. Indeed a whole cottage industry has sprung up around the subject, offering ghost tours complete with someone ready to jump out and shout boo. You can also tour famously … Continue reading Scare Mongering
Sleeping While Standing by Taki Soma Published by Avery Hill In his introduction to this book, Brian Michael Bendis compares the stories of Taki Soma to his favourite short, loud, angry hardcore punk songs “you know those songs that are only, like, a minute ten. A short burst of rrrrrrage energy aaaaaand done.”. Well I can tell you that reading Sleeping While Standing took me … Continue reading Sharp Fragments
Blat issue 2 by Mat Greaves You know how it goes. You are a deep and culturally attuned person. You love visual art, and comics is the pinnacle of that art. You follow a bunch of artists on their ‘socials’ and you find the same personality clashes, obsessions and weirdness (and flashes of genius) that you find in, well pretty much any other topic. The … Continue reading Artistic License
The Writings and Ramblings of Ben Herman
This is a blog dedicated to what I have been lucky enough to find out about comics. I might add in some other geeky goodness, but it's mainly about the comics.
Comicbook chin-stroking, to while away an idle moment, or two
Comics with a British focus
Interviews with big name comic book creators brought to you by the Official Lakes International Comic Art Festival Podcast.
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Comic Writer
Feeding the habit one issue at a time
Comics with a British focus
Daredevils and Warriors 