Giant Clam #3
The set-up for Giant Clam is this. Ralph Kidson headlines accompanied by two or three support acts with short strips or cover illustrations. Martin Meeks turns in covers and one-page illustrations that are filled with detail and appliance. At first this looks quite odd, given the amount of white usually hanging around a Ralphie comic. Kidson's 'Stick and Envelope' strips here are not among his stronger pieces, although as often, even Low Strength Ralphie is enough to divert the head urgently and laugh ou a fit.
Andrew Luke fulfills his lifelong ambition and gets a one=page Transformers comic published here. I'm told this has nothing to do with the death threats made on Kidsson's grandson, but rather a mutual appreciation. Whatever, it's much too short although as a preview for what Luke has stored up for later this year, it's pretty interesting. The absolute star of this book is Tim Brown, almost worth the asking price alone. Various strips over three pages, an autobiography oth uber-celebrity Kidson. "Hey! Hey! It's Ralphie!" had me in stitches, as it manages to capture the actual Kidson persona on the page. Funny, and probably scientific as well. If Brown keeps 'shitting out gems' such as this, then I have no doubt he'll prove Kidson's worthy successor. If anything should ever happen to him. Ha ha! Ha!
A welcome feature is the free pull-out by Toby Parsons aka 'the Burgess Hill Bobby Davro'. Ralph sent some of Toby's works in my direction last year. If Toby is new on the scene, he'e easily one of the most impressing newcomers in years. His style of broken pictures, and thick black markers diverting the most delicate of messages is powerful, and sticks in the memory for a very long time. 'See through windows and hear through walls" is a collection of illustrations designed to provke thought and create refection. It certainly succeeds in doing so, and the visuals are quite often of surreal quality.
Ralph shows here he still has it, and this is reflected in the asking price of a pound, plus about 40p p+p. 3 Langrideges Close, Newick, East Sussex, BN8 4LZ. I'll personally refund all dissatisfied customers. Nice one!