The editorial ethos of the Girly Comic resides in the arena of the inoffensive. I really shouldn’t have a problem with inoffensive but being a such a contrary creature I find it preferable to be stirred into dislike rather than left with a sense of blandness. And indifferent is how previous issues of the Girly Comic have left me.
Actually the Girly Comic number 6 is by far the best I’ve read. Perhaps this is because the issue is lifted by a 7-page short story by Lee Kennedy. It’s an autobiographical piece about a pious childhood in a New York convent school that hits the mark on every level. Humour and pathos abound, it’s actually a deeply tragic story about the crushing of a childhood spirit, but delivered with a wry shrug of the shoulders, avoiding sentiment. And the cartoony artwork, familiar to fans of Lee Kennedy’s work, matches the tone perfectly.
The rest of the stories in this anthology pale into comparison on the surface. Interesting actually as Kennedy’s the only artist who’s stuck to pen and ink, the rest of the stories suffer from an over-computerized samey-ness.
One story here, ‘Sylvia’s Path’ is actually credited as being ‘designed’ by Toby Ford. The term ‘designed’ makes me shudder and yearn for a little craft, instead.
I do lament this age of computer-glossed artwork. It prevents me enjoying otherwise very enjoyable stories. ‘A Diamond in the Rough’ (by Des Taylor and Peter Zappia) is perhaps the most successful of the slick bunch It actually comes off looking a lot like ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ which suits the tongue-in-cheek, lip-glossed tone of the story pretty well.
It’s cute.
Another story, ‘The Witches Place’ (by Jonathan Shewry and Tim Keable) is a mildly spooky yarn that reminds me of those Jinty/Nikki comics stories for girls. Again, the modern computer font does nothing for me and has me wishing they’d gone for something a little more old fashioned and type-writerish. It’s not just me being a Luddite here, if the emphasis is going to be on design rather than craft, I just wish a little eye for design could actually be developed.
Maybe I’m just not ‘girly ‘ enough for the Girly Comic. For me the epitome of ‘girly’ is going to sleep in your make-up. This comic’s way too hygenic for that.
Still you could take her home to meet your mother. Which is something.
1.50 plus 50p P&P from
38 Clarkes Rd, Wigston, Leicester, LE18 2BE