In the Land of Wonderful Dreams
Alone in Space – A Collection by Tillie Walden Alone in Space collects several of Tillie Walden’s stories together in one volume. The End of Summer, I Love This Part and A City Inside along with some rare early work. Tillie Walden restores to comics some elements that have got a little lost. The surreal, the innocence of youth. The moments after you awake from … Continue reading In the Land of Wonderful Dreams
Bloody Pulp Fiction
Maximo Raw Book One by Laurent Minassian As I was reading this book I was listening to the radio, and the tune God Made Me Funky by The Headhunters came on. The band are Herbie Hancock’s jazz-fusion combo from the early 70’s – and it’s a funky, jazzy tune, sometimes abrasive which will carry you to a world of hot nights in the big city. … Continue reading Bloody Pulp Fiction
Bullpen Badinage
Stan and Jack by Pete Doree The Mighty Marvel Bullpen, a fantasy world that we read about in Stan Lee’s Bullpen Bulletins, his monthly column that ran in every Marvel comic. A wonderful world of fun and imagination. This is where most of us first heard about the likes of Jack ‘King’ Kirby and Steve Ditko. We know now that the reality was not so … Continue reading Bullpen Badinage
Victorian Values
Merrick the Sensational Elephant Man Writer – Tom Ward, Artist – Luke Parker, Letterer – Micah Myers, Editor – Clare Lenton Victorian London has long been a place that has stimulated the imagination of writers. From the world of fiction we have Sherlock Holmes, Fagin and the Artful Dodger and even Dracula himself strode the foggy streets. The world of non-fiction might be even richer. … Continue reading Victorian Values
Dive for your Memory
Fishing Memories Writer – Miguel Peres, Artist – Majory Yokomizo, Letterer & Design – Mario Freitas Lethe is lost. Lost on a mysterious island. He forages and fishes, trying to find where he is, where he came from. Who he is. The sea gives up the flotsam and jetsam of his life – pomegranates and shards of broken glass. In the middle of the island … Continue reading Dive for your Memory
Precariat United
Wage Slaves by Daria Bogdańska The gig economy is all around us. Pick up an app and order some food and someone will cycle to you with it. These guys seem to be working pretty hard. But, it turns out that legally they are not workers, not employees. No they are self-employed and not entitled to the minimum wage or holiday pay. They lead a … Continue reading Precariat United
Back to the Badlands
Preview: Ignis Quadrant issue 2 Back in November last year I reviewed The Ignis Quadrant. This sci-fi Western draws on the likes of Firefly and The Mandalorian to deliver fast-paced space thrills. The book is back with issue two now funding on Indiegogo. This issue sees troubled hero Montana facing some demons from his past and some interesting new characters make their debut. The team … Continue reading Back to the Badlands
Hangovers and Hope
Blat! Issue 1 by Mat Greaves Blat is the new comic being imminently kickstarted by creator Mat Greaves. I enjoyed Reefers and Riffs, his Murun Buchstansangur meets Charlie Parker comic which I reviewed here. Not only that he did what surely must be the definitive take on middle-aged Shamrock for me. The influence of the American underground can be felt in the book which consists … Continue reading Hangovers and Hope
Frozen Existence
The Junction by Norm Konyu It is an odd time for humanity on planet Earth. As I write, many of us are locked down. Trying to shelter from the storm of a global pandemic that lies in wait for us, invisible, hanging in the air. We have had to come to terms with isolation, repetition, boredom. Working and studying have merged with home life in … Continue reading Frozen Existence
Biscuits and Big Barda…More Tales from Beanoland
‘That Comic Smell’ Comic Mike Sedakat, Fernando Pons, David Robertson, Tom Stewart, John Tucker I’ve often enjoyed a lazy Sunday afternoon listening to comics podcasts whilst pottering about and, well, reading comics. Among them is ‘That Comic Smell’. The hosts are all based around the original home of comics – Dundee. Beanoland itself. I spent some formative years in this fine city myself and I … Continue reading Biscuits and Big Barda…More Tales from Beanoland
Daredevils and Warriors 