Windheads Dogs #8 (October)
I’ve often had the idea of absolutely labouring on a piece of art, then having it reduced, so that the readviewer could go to the copyshop, enlarge it and read it. Indeed, the first comic I put out in two years was the same size as this, A6. But nothing, nothing as compared to the compacted quality of this, which somehow managed to have a bimonthly publishing schedule, consistent. With their Hawkfrendz banner ensuring further distribution, I’ve even been persuaded to pick up a Hawkwind CD.
Bob Walker has put absolute grannyflats of work into this, the penultimate part of the ‘Ledge Of Darkness’ strip serial. Here, clarity is low, and relies on the viewer’s imagination, in line with that of Walker and scribe Mike Butterworth.
Angling around so the panels are placed, with little sense of universal or shared perception. Or perhaps that perspective is the intended. Still, this zine is rooted (however tiny) in an era, amongst contacts of what now makes up the Brit-classic age of comics, case in point, the one-page strip Smokey Bears, by Chester West.
Windhead’s Dogs is just too compact. Still, with my poor eyesight, much of this, I can’t make out. The most translatable comic strips in this booklet are a series of commentaries on Western, and non-Western foreign policy.
Windhead’s Dogs, each issue, is free with SAE (and an extra stamp per each back issue) from
PO Box 6, Liscard, Wallasey, Merseyside, CH45 4SJ
Its A6, 24 pages and the tenth issue is scheduled for January to February
For a copy of ‘Frendz’, Bob Walker’s work prior to this zine, send a pound to the address above.
The Dust
Like, the above, this is totally unreadable. It’s size, A8 and I still ain’t found my spectacles. On with the viewing though…
With a double page of settlement based on childlike distinctness of form, and wild freedom of line, Karen Rubins, Fauvist/Abstract Expressionist goes ‘of natural. The colours grow more explicit in a tale which Jamie Coward kindly informs me is ‘a whimsical story about gangster faeries with thick New York accents, vying for control of an attractive flower garden’. Looks about right. There are enough icons typical of a gangster story yet at the sametime managing to be innovative due to the setting. I guess. No I copy, by way of the wonderful High Street copyshops in Bangor (in this case, Steinway Systems, much praise!) It seems Mr. Coward’s description got it jusright. This comic has big heart, good humour and a good look at it is worthwhile. (All made possible by the planting of a free magnifying glass). Don’t miss the bot a nd order this tale of the bodacious herbaceous – £2.25 for 10 colour card pages from Karin Rubins, c/o 23a Zetland Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6
For more on Karen, including a preview of dust, check out a really quite impressive website
Howl Movement #1
While title taken of Allen Ginsberg poem, comes this zine from Matt Christenson, a self-professed “part of the MTV, style-over-substance, point-and-click-and-deliver-it-yesterday generation”. If you have suspicions of this piece after author description, you’re ’specting sensibly.
With subject matter including consumerism, marketing and internet transsexual identity cames to me a series of anecdotes in tone arrogant, caustic, opinionated, funny, and funny. Yes, Matt’s charms of observation make me giggle many and are also quick disposable worthwhile shouldbe fashionable. Uh… I guess what I’m typing is, I recommend this. It has a picture of Santa Claus taking a dump, on the cover and a quote from Bill Waterson inside!
Adults Only
A post-Christmas bargain at $2 PPD (Paper, Printing and Delivering?) from anywhere in the world.
A5, 40 pages w. colour cover
From The Saddest Little Clown, 1536 Dale Street, San Diego, CA 92102, USA or email matt@howlmovement.com
And that’s it. The lot. I’m too loaded with the cold and tired to write my leaving speech, but please pick up something that is up upon here. It’ll be through your door and near the floor before you know it. Have a very good new year, and if you’re already having one? Keep, and share.
Lots of love
Andrew Luke