The first issue of the second volume of small press superhero comic The O Men is getting cracking reviews.
A short interview with artist Quentin Blake.
On a bit of a personal note, I'm halfway through Maybe Later by Dupuy & Berberian and it's up there with the best of Andi Watson, Tom Gauld, Matt Abbiss and Matt Broersma.
And this from Kenny at Forbidden Planet International:
Thought I'd just give you a bit of an update on how FPI are getting on with our small press/small publisher project. So far the following peoples/studios comics are up for sale online and they are all linked from our blog. We are always looking to list more and more creators - so please feel free to get in touch with either myself (MANPEN@aol.com) or Joe (see below).
Absolute Dumbasss, Accent UK Comics, Angry Candy Blog, Bevis Musson, Bulldog Empire, Clamnuts, Ellen Lindner, Engine Comics, Flying Monkey Comics, Hocus Baloney Books, Hope for the Future, Monkeys With Machineguns, Neill Cameron, Paper Tiger Comix, Paul B Rainey's Book of Lists, PhatCatz Artz, Rob Jackson Comics, Sick Puppy Studios, Sweatdrop Studios, The Bedsit Journal, The O Men and Underfire Comics
We have also decided now to experiment with the comics in a few stores. To begin with it will be Worlds Apart in Liverpool and Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham. We expect to try it shortly in both Nottingham and Leeds. Here the rules will be a bit different from the online listings - where we are listing anyone who wants to be listed. The shops will need full sale or return (which seems pretty standard with the small press) and they will only be selecting a smallish number of titles to begin with. They will be obtaining many of them through Shane at Smallzone but if anyone thinks they have a comic we should carry that doesn't go through them they can contact Dave Hopkins at the Birmingham store who will be doing the selecting. noscomic@noscomic.plus.com is his address.
If people would like to send sample copies the address is
Nostalgia and Comics
14-16 Smallbrook
Queensway
Birmingham
B5 4EN
Getting the comics into stores will take a few weeks to organise but we hope to have decent size ranges instore by mid August.
Joe Gordon, who writes our blog, has developed a whole new enthusiasm for the UK small press and would like to continue to blog peoples creations, do interviews and advertise events in the months and years to come. He's always up for info and people can contact him at joe.gordon@forbiddenplanet.co.uk.