This, the penultimate issue of the Slow Science Fictions prose series, comprises Michael J Weller's customary re-refractions of self-mythologising deprecations, of socio-political reality and popular culture, and of the ordered disorder that is his measured tangle of fictions within a fiction.
Within: the ninth Guardian of Life And Civilisation is chosen, he is the cartoon character Hanthala with the spirit of young Iranian student Neda Agha-Soltan (the correction of Hanthala Neda's stunted growth can be achieved only with a final solution of peace, security and prosperity for both mideast Jew and Arab). Else-where/time: in the Billy Crombie Chiselwood College Of Dreaming Theme Park children should be thrilled by commodified health and safety regulated fear, but not scared shitless. Built in Florida by EarthCo, this theme park utilises technologies engineered by computer gaming and platform inventor Alpha Zee; most notably the iMager, a device which plugs into the frontal lobe of the player/visitor to make the Wellerverse real for them. With said device attached, retired policeman Jim Pannifer of Social Reality Earthtime 2018 returns to the Nibs writing group of 1997 to be introduced to himself as a character in Mike Weller's reading of his sci-fi serial. Offers Pannifer (in 1997 for real and in 2018, theme-parked virtuality): 'I would have left me out.'
Defiant to the near-end, Michael J Weller's writing continues to evince an oddly personal richness and piquancy that must contend with an ingrained against-the-grain narrative structure that's not exactly hoi polloi-friendly, but which offers a playful elusiveness that is both mysterious and singular.
40 A5 pages, £3 inc p&p, available from Mike Weller, 3 Queen Adelaide Court, Queen Adelaide Road, Penge, London SE20 7DZ. Or e-mail: mikejweller(at)hotmail.com Site: http://www.homebakedbooks.co.uk/wellerverse.htm
Young people have been making their own comics for longer than I've been alive. The warm world of the copier to the heat of electrolite, the internet transmits the form of storytelling in very different ways. Despite being near over a decade apart, these are worth remembering. Reviewing Book 1 of Little Terrors, I didn't mention Scrivens was 18 years old when putting it together. My cultural review didnt offer advice on ways round these shortcomings. Nor did it inform Jon that as a young punk artist with a love of an animated style, he should pay any notice to this seventies throwback reviewer. I really shouldn't have too, because this commuter town apocalypse 'Little Terrors' improves like the leap between print and internet.
As many webcomics scenesters know, its clear that Jon is a great talent. A formidable talent. A style alike those better innovators from the American-Canadian underground in the last 20yrs. Achieved expressionism, background work demonstrates a succeeding playfulness too with robust thought. Truthfully, Jon Scrivens is ready to work with a major publisher. "Case fucking closed."
The Book 2 collection doesn't tell this tale quite so well. The print has botched alignment. On the page the narrative and characters look more serious and gruff. The steady toning achieved through even and accomplished colouring is absent. Reading the book, this wasnt a problem. As Ralph Kidson reminded me this week commenting on my own work, my pencils are a form of colouring. Colour with black and white reproduction has its own charm. Ten to twelve pages of Chapter Five of Terrors (near the front of the book) appear blacked out, but by tilting the book in light, subtle grades of grey and black patterns reveal. Its a very different story to the one told online, one I enjoyed spending time with, implying I check out the original/variation.
The collection is about 100 pages and reprints Chapters 5-6 of the webcomic. I found some character writing too hundrum and some scenes uninteresting. The narrative and setting jumps around frequently, ideal for curious newcomers and for when Scrivens brings out his fun-sharing conviction. In the mix, this is an engaging read, engaging being at the very essence of webcomics.
Little Terrors Book 2 is available from Jon Scrivens for around £8-£10. Its 100 pages, with a colour cover and good binding. If you've not invested in LT in some shape of form, I think you ought to.
Little Terrors Orders
Or paypal jon at plotholes.net or enquiries through jon.scrivens at gmail.com