Hi, I'm Andrew Luke. Atthe time of writing this I've just flown on a big aeroplaane and I haven't finished reading Ralph Kidson's latest thing. I fucking hate flying so I'll see the rest of Giant Clam on my return effing journey. Why is it "Big Andy Luke's soothing milk" ?
Well look, you've obviously not got the GCSEs in Uk Comics that I do. A decade ago as Ashton puts it, "you could not move for tripping over people talking about Ralph Kidson". And this is a renaissance of that era.
After the second flight....
(Which was much more comfortable and beautiful as the lights of the cities stood in all their humanitie)
A week later, I saw a man with a black suit and a really really tall hat. This made me think of Ralph Kidson. He belonged to one of those classic outdoor railway centres. One minute stalking of a man in a tall hat is not stalking, its just inquisitive.
Anyway, Giant Clam is very keen observational comix, it gives form to some deeply trivial rants needing attention and provides relief to the reader by their minimalisation in a brief form. Ralph employs the trick of making it look like very little work has gone into his comix which suits perfectly the subject matter. When one of his characters casts a mobile phone away it serves as a powerful emoticon, rendered in non-power it creates an ease that fits the context of the subject and narrative. Ralph has a knack for involving the everyday, the natural world and providing transition in memory of grating past. He is also very fucking funny indeed, and if you're going to be checking out one of his comics for the first time, has got some really good stuff for future.
3 Langridges Close
Newick
East Susex
BN8 4LZ
£2.00 and a stamp on an A6 about-48 pages fitting envelope.
Publisher/Distributor: Ralph Kidson
"Fresh Hot Pizza"
"Take your licks"
Two mini comic booklets in the house design style of Jack T Chick.
2003 publications irresistible to me because I'm a perverted degenerate who immediately recognises the perverted degenerate designs of successful mass distributor and anti-humanist Chick. And Steckler shares these common values. Except he's probably cleverer than I would be in composing these satires. He avoids the mire of pulling on more nasty and ugly to point out Chick's glaring hypocrisy and ironic non-consciousness for an irony more subtle, more strategic and stories that are good clean fun.
A parable from 'The Book of Luigi' and in "Take your licks", a quest for the meaning of life meditating upon lollipops. Chick's trademarks of un-logic nonsense are present in the jumping jarring narrative while Steckler's playful message (a love of life), wins.
Let us play these can convert oul J.T.C
$1.50/£1.00 from Ben T. Steckler, PO Box 7273, York, PA 17404, USA
Please add return postage depending upon were in the world you are. Or order online from http://www.geocities.com/bent4toons/store.html
Willie Hewes, author of Free Z, had these minis on her table at the UK Web & Mini Comix Thing . First four issues for fifty pee. Send her a pound or £1.50 and an SAE just to be sure.
Website
Goth Boy Online
Email Willie at williehe wes@yahoo .com
Love and labour in a freeform of invention, friendly quirks and the rather sinister Molcoh demon, as worshipped by Western world leaders, but who appears in correspondence with Willie's cast of confused goth kids. Sinister bargains, and dancing. I've got to stop typing now. You have your directions.
Decorative offering from Sally Anne Hickman, approximately 32 pages in length.
Diary booklet of every four panels one strip a day, Janurary: in which Sally shows her optimistic perceptive view. Comparisons with Kochalka are on the same plane, but not really relevant. Hickman's panels have more activity, busy-ness about them. The version of this comic I've seen is crafted with glamorous add-ons, making this funny wee character of a book very pretty indeed.
Superb !
Ordering details are available from sallys hinystars@h otmail.co m
With thanks to Jeremy Dennis for letting me read her copy, the lucky soul !