Edge of Empire
Berezina by Ivan Gil & Frédéric Richaud, adopted from the novel by Patrick Rambaud It snowed. The winter burst avalanche-like over the endless blanched sheet of the plain. Nor chief, nor banner in order could keep. The wolves of warfare were wildered like sheep. I watched a documentary about the great Scottish painter Peter Howson recently. He is a serious minded man and not one given to … Continue reading Edge of Empire
The Fear
Knifepoint Horror Anthology – Eight Tales of Terror Stories by Soren Narnia adapted by V.V. Glass, Mr Picto, Chris Doherty, James Lawrence, John J. Pearson, Adam Caldwell, Charles Smith-Hopgood and MD Penman As soon as I went down a poorly-lit street the fear came on strong. The victim hadn’t just been stabbed. The victim had been displayed. Moonkeeper A man is temporarily homeless, just as … Continue reading The Fear
Escape character
Skip by Molly Mendoza Bloom is a young person who lives with their friend Bee. Bee takes care of Bloom. They fish and collect eggs by the lake that is their home. But this seemingly idyllic life masks the reality that the world around them has suffered a catastrophe and humanity is in danger. Bloom is just a child, but Bee knows their danger, and … Continue reading Escape character
Fresh Thoughts
Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival – November 2019, Harrogate As the floodplains of South Yorkshire faced inundation, travellers made their way, slowly, carefully and by unplanned routes around the waters and on to Harrogate. Through the magical towns along the railway line, Starbeck, Hammerton and Knaresborough – the town to where the murderers of Archbishop Thomas Becket fled in 1170. One can imagine the four … Continue reading Fresh Thoughts
Out of Time
Belltime by David Robertson We all love body-swap time travel stories don’t we? Big, Freaky Friday and yes, Peggy Sue Got Married. Whether we are young and wish we were old, or old and wish we were young. Imagine you could go back to school with all the knowledge and maturity that you have now. Imagine you could undo all those mistakes. Say the right … Continue reading Out of Time
Primordial PostScript
The Bones of the Sea by Gareth A Hopkins When we have dead time, down time we can think. Our thoughts can take detours and reform in new ways. Routine, domestic moments can lead us to very different thought worlds. The Bones of the Sea takes us on that journey. A journey that leads to meditations on death, decay but also the cyclical nature of … Continue reading Primordial PostScript
Thrashing in the Body Electric
Neon Wasteland by Rob Shields The first thing I have to tell you about Neon Wasteland is that I can’t show you what it is like, no jpeg or gif will do it justice. No, you will have to rely on my pitiful description. Mere words. Neon Wasteland is something you need to experience. I’m not sure calling it a comic is strictly accurate, because … Continue reading Thrashing in the Body Electric
Ghostly Glasgow
Ghost Comics Festival 2019 – Glasgow School of Art I dropped in on the Ghost Comics Festival at the weekend. This was a new event for me – I only heard about it a few days before, and it so happened I was going to be in Glasgow that day. There were a number of other events running as part of the festival including workshops … Continue reading Ghostly Glasgow
Closing the Distance
Walking Distance by Lizzy Stewart Like Lizzy Stewart I like walking. I particularly like walking if I don’t have a destination or some kind of commitment to structure my path. What I really like is the independence and autonomy of walking. In Walking Distance Lizzy walks around London contemplating what it means to be an adult. She thinks of her cinematic role-models. Independent women making … Continue reading Closing the Distance
Tales for Dark Times
Blue Collars issues 1 and 2 by Tom Smith and Clare Thompson Joe Kavanagh is a sponsored worker. A global financial collapse has resulted in an explosion of personal debt. The only way to pay back that debt is via The Sponsorship Act. Sponsors can purchase individual debt in return for the labour of the indebted. It is often said that the best science fiction … Continue reading Tales for Dark Times
Daredevils and Warriors 