A cyberspace data-encoded cipher, which mixes a Hebrew tetragrammaton and Kabalistic numerology, is solved by the Man-With-Blanked-Out-Eyes; his reward: a Bent Key to the Universe and access to the minds of the Guardians Of Life And Civilisation. The Wellerverse turns, and the Weller of this verse drinks himself silly and couldn't give a flying fart if nobody enjoys his slow fictions. Who exactly then is planting themselves into the hearts and minds of the Cosmic Squad, exploiting their doubts and confusions? The Duke and Duchess of Hell, or Weller himself?
Comics, television shows, websites and computer games featuring four Islamist superheroes – the Pioneers of Tomorrow – have been launched, and their packaging dazzles the youth of Syria, Iran and Swabiastan. Seduced by the glamorous depictions of the supermartyr team, conditioned youths are eager to play their part, gain celebrity, and see battle lines of cosmic war drawn between Jihadist new dreamers and the Cosmic Crusaders. The magical ancients call upon the martyrs to sacrifice life on earth for eternity in paradise.
Michael J Weller is up against it, and here, as he flashes the world a gimp of displeasure and continues to convert to creative matter the alarming stuff constantly streaming in from the environment, I'm reminded that the inability to properly "filter" incoming or internal stimuli and information sources has been linked to psychosis, and that the same processes that lead to madness in some, may result in extraordinary creativity and inventiveness in others. Weller possesses clarity of cognisance but writes like a madman. The result is a story of uncommon shape and oblique pertinence.
32 A5 pages, £2 inc p&p, available from Mike Weller, 3 Queen Adelaide Court, Queen Adelaide Road, Penge, London SE20 7DZ, or pick up a copy at the London Underground Comics stall in Camden market. E-mail: mikejweller(at)hotmail.com Site: http://www.homebakedbooks.co.uk/wellerverse.htm
Additional 3World in 4Time comix, pics, videos, and comments: www.4time.wordpress.com, www.earthco.wordpress.com, www.blog2blog.wordpress.com, www.addingcombe.wordpress.com, www.myspace.com/mickweller, www.egnep.blogspot.com
Bringing up the rear of my 24 hours of reviews.....
(yes, I have been planning that since the start, 27 hours ago)
"What could be better than a comic all about the trials and tribulations of underwear!? Featuring small press creators such as Jeremy Dennis, Lee Kennedy, Teacake, Motodraconis and Jason Elvis."
Pretty much as expected from that band this is a good read. Motodraconis moves away from adeptness in computer-aided-artwork to produce a hand drawn piece about bra sales which is quite technically skilled yet fresh. The better known Kennedy and Dennis in keeping with the theme meet their own high standards. Jason Elvis brings punk stylings and mirth to his tale.
Jenni Scott and Elizabeth Pacey give us an excellent underwear design history and discourse. American Gina Fusco gives us a cartoon diary piece, and New Zealands Linda Neville produces a few of this anthology's golden should-be-remembered catchphrases in her bursting with energy strips. Editor Debra Boyask gives us an account of the dark underworld of lingerie parties, rounding off with a spot piece by Camilla Stacey.
All good. Great range of different approaches from all across the globe. For me this collection keeps the delicate bits warm and avoids unecessarry chafing ! You can order a copy from publisher Selina Lock at Factor Fiction Press
A5, 1pound 50pence
Twelve page mini with pretty significant optimist pics of great spiritual depiction, and some conveying tiredness, melancholy and humour. Ruane does paint a multiple of styles, very tight black and white, watercolour greys and a tremendously lovely full-on wrap around cover. And of course, the welcome return of Tempin' Bear !
Details are etchy on the cost of this collection after a horrible case of printerfuck. A reprint may be likely, or not. To find out more details, contact Dierdre through her webs, at Epiphanycast
Remarkably graceful illustrations and articulate. Pete Beare is the cure for bringing me back into the world of raising a smile. Good wholesome comics, not tame.
Several copies of this will be with me at No Barcodes but please ask as they won't be on display.
Could be yours for about one pound fifty. Send an A5 sae with that to,
Peter Beare
4, Hill Road,
Penwortham,
Preston,
Or check by his website, Dangnabbit.com
Inside cover, small text paragraphs. "Has the room opposite Owen's, and conveniently, is dating him as well, which is nice". (first line) Well no, actually its not. I really hate comics that start with an introductory page were the reader exerts all that there is about the characters, eg. "Owen is the pillar of the household." Theres an assumption I care for these seven characters from the get-go and do I fuck. Sorry, but they're not my part-fictional constructs and its five lines of size 6 font. So I avoid the rest of that page and go straight for the comics.
Though an English book, its got a permeating American goodness to this tale of flatshare. Visually, it stechnically efficient though much of the dialogue lacks accentuation, and everyone looks lipglossed for prime-time Tv - at best, theres a girls comic feel to some of the visuals, the characters lost in an 80s pop haze. The first tale centres round the payment of rent, and a hostage situation at the estate agents. Other than that, its all a bit silly in a semi-serious sort of way.
Following, is a seven page story script between two of the characters attempting to develop their emotional relationship. Living in a bustling student town I can relate to these people, but removed from that social environment I'd be less sure of their existence. A tad waffly but not a terrible piece of writing. Its marred by my return reference to the character bios, in that context, theres inconsistency and unbelievability. Otherwise, well-formatted not terrible but adequate ear for dialogue that may be going somewhere.
The final strip involves a burglar who firebombs the flat. For some reason, I'm not quite sure. The author seems intent on making me think its all above board. Apart from the fish... The collection rounds out with a two and a half page email from one character to another about magical aura cleansing, at least I guess thats what its about.
Turns out these are pieces from a webcomic and the whole lots up online. Amidst worries about authors not understnading how the web can work to adapt their stuff, we here have a webcomic artist who doesnt understnad how print can best present their creative skills. Weird times.
Little attachment in this 32 page A5 colour cover. (2006)
The tale of a stand in for the artist and that artist's artist's stand-in.
Sean Azzopardi has good clean shaping cartooning style with plenty of space on the pages. His characters, Steve Jones and Ed, are prankster narrators fuelled with likeable innocence. Going by this booklet, theres something similar here to what Kochalka manages to achieve in his comics, cute but with Kochalka's excesses reigned in.
24 pages, A5, colour cover. 2pounds
This will be on sale at the No Barcodes event were lesser sung hero and webmaster Sean has so professionally given so much of his time in making it happen. Obligatory but deserved link
And another to Sean's website, Phatcatz.org.uk
I'm not quite sure were I picked this. Its a preview comic by a Britmanga artist which has not been created at the time of writing. That should be enough to put folk off but wait, it gets good. The opening pages of pin-ups of the central characters...are launched full of written details about the grand story, written so that it reveals everything that is going to happen/hasnt happened just like those wacky Japanese next time cartoon previews. This works entirely on that level for me, perhaps better than the story itself. The two page extract following changes gear entirely, much more suburban than monomyth, and yet entirely plausible crossing the realms of the genre. As such it blends autobio and superfantasy. Another wacky set of stories in the next time and an afterword from Emily rounds this off.
Theres a part of me suspects I'd much rather read this preview than the completed project, for all the right reasons. Theres another part of me could be wrong and newbie Webber's next work could really surprise. Emily has a fine approach, enthusiasm and an affectionate if mainstream illustration style.
Emily Webber has previously had some work in a Modern Monstrosity publication. You can email her and find out how this or other projects are coming along. I'd recommend asking about this lovely wee mini.
Email: krunchie_frog (at) yahoo (dot)co (dot) uk
I'd include some pictures but I dont really feel it would do this work justice.
For a look at the delicious design of this book take a look at the trail end of the video review for Chris Reynold's Mauretania.
The panel borders and interiors could look messy to the stranger to Sally-Anne's work until realising how much detail scribbly in there. Then it becomes a revelation of energetic youthfulness which hipster Hickman conveys - racing to include each moment of a bombastic life.
The collection starts out setting the scene in this manner. I'm happy enough to enjoy a diary collection of vaguely joined shorts. However..It turns out someway through that I'm reading a graphic novel, a major work snuck up upon me. A tale of Sally-Anne and a lover due for emigration. Its quite an involving story with the flaws and beauties of the couple laid out in all bare and it does pull on the heart-strings and gear the head up.
Theres issues going on here to do with communication and time and company and expression. Its very difficult to look at all this in a 24hour review session. I am so much the richer for reading this book. Thank you Sally Anne-Hickman. Can I buy you a Guinness ?
(Click on links for more images)
In the age of the internet and relationships formed with those in far away places, this comic is entirely relevant and a perhaps-map for some parts of managing that. You can find more on Sally Anne-Hickmans comics by emailing her at sallys hinystars@h otmail.co m or you can purchase them often at London Underground Comics, including next weekends exciting No Barcodes event.
A5, 60 pages, 4pounds, hand crafted presentation.
sorry about the durty state of some of these. theyve been festering in murky old sketchbooks for about 18 months or more.
Jenny Linn-Cole's Gurkin Trifle Gets Steamy is available through "Smallzone and London Underground Comics of whom shes a small supporter. Alternatively email her and ask about ordering copies.
An October 2007 24hr comic in which Francesca related her career as a financially successful business cartoonist and the lifestyle changes that this necessitates. Her vocation as an illustrator shows, the communication by pictures is confident. Valuable insights are portrayed in the landscape of businessperson, celebrity rockstar, and artist. And by extension, it also subtlely calls upon creators to ask the question : what do you want your comics to be about ? and shows the perils of one such outcome of choice and success.
At times 'Nasty Solitary Habit' is funny, warming, empathic and anecdotally sharing. Well thought out, and designed, its to Francesca's credit that I never realised this were a 24hr comic until the final page. Well done Francesca ! This is an enjoyable autobio read, with a clear narrative, rarely with self-conscious pretension.
On sale weekly at London Underground Comics and the upcoming No Barcodes festival. Alternatively you can order it from here for £1.50 and you can go and have a look at her other works on her website.
Specturm of sexual expression examined in Willie's "filthy sweet" 20 pager. What is suitable ? Shapely finished anatomy plays coated with sprays and smatterings of pencil and ink to establish various tones. Smart use of geometry in establishing the scene as Willie does. Colour cover, film wrapped with parental advisory sticker.
A7, £1. More details at Willie's website http://www.webcomicsnation.com/williehewes/index.php
Or email williehewes AT yahoo DOT com
Tell Willie TRS2 sent yeah, oh aye, and ....HOMUNCULUS !
20,000 colour copies of Byrne and associates wee A5 trinket booklet throw their humour round Greater Dublin and the world from publication date late last year. Like a shot to the senses of a tastefully deliverred Jack Daniels on public transport, spillage not an issue. disparaging onlookers only envious.
Bob Byrne if you have not come by his work, walks the path of Clowes and Dorkin, social commentary acutely aware, paired with a gruesome and sometimes sexual theme, illustrating society's egotism, ridiculousness and excessive banality. That he does this deep in the suburban Dublin informal tongue, helps hook this in the realm of authenticity and local relativism.
However these are transferrable concepts - the likeness of TV presenters to company icons is one such focus area to Byrne, as are illumination of formulaic pub jokes, and public transport commentaries. Bob Byrne continues to lead the way in underground style funny Irish comics. God I'd love to interview him and find out how he became just such a genius bugger.
For more details on getting a copy or any of Bob's recent work you can email Bob at bb2clam (at) yahoo(dot)com
A6, colour with ads, approx 32 pages, probably free or not much more than postage costs if there are any left.