In the pop-charts of revolutionary heart throbs, Soviet Poet Vladimir Mayakovsky would probably be kept off the number one spot by Che, but hey, who cares when the poetry’s this good? The first volume of Michael Hind’s ambitious biography takes Stalin’s epithet to Mayakovsky, that ‘indifference to his memory or work is a crime’ as its opener. Hind himself is anything but indifferent in his approach, it’s well researched and well scripted, the poetry is certainly the star, not the arrogant and passionate (I’m being nice here) Poet. The art definitely lets the side down. There’s flashes of brilliant draughtsman- ship and you begin to wonder why, if Hind can actually draw that well, why doesn’t he? At the very least, I can live with the inside but the whole package is undeserving of the cover (bad computer graphics). That said, Mayakovsky’s definitely worth the ride.
Reviewed by Mardou. Mayakovsky, Vol. 1, Number 1 is by Michael Hind, $2:00 (but recommends paying in own currency). Published by Caterpillar Press.
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