As ever, Malcy Duff's work is well-presented and explores the fullest of possibilities the form can communicate. Personally, this can occassionally be difficult to interpret at times, but at others, well rewarding. This is a wonderfully intimate tale of a hermit, workmen, industry and plans with a delightful and funny ending which pays off in spades. Yes, I dig it. (It's much more fun than those awful puns. I'm sorry, I'll get me coat.)
£1.50 & SAE from Malcy Duff, 24 Belmont Gardens, Edinburgh, EH12 6JH
Like Martin, Tony McGee is a proof that the UK independent is just brimming with unrecognised and poorly appreciated talent. Like his 250 page epic 'Angel Nebula', 'Frontiers: Departure Deadworld' uses the far reaches of the solar system as it's backdrop, and is "an interconnected series of short sci-fi stories". This one appears to be a veiled allegory on the nature of creativity, or perhaps the dangerous parodox of human evolution. I'm not sure, it's a little too veiled at times, though it does boast some clever reverberating effects. I've found McGee's work to never be instantly accessible but it is interesting sufficiently to call for re-reads so there's something in that.
Check out Pete's commentary on this work at Pete's Picks.
£1 & SAE, Tony McGee, 143 Meldon Drive, Bilston, West Midlands, WV14 8BE.
The ever ambitious Martin Eden embarks upon a two-part prelude to a ten-part story which will wrap up the first volume of this popular independent. The O Men, seperated and scared are being infested with memories that may or may not be and the feeling of claustrophobia and being fucked with is sent to the reader with the standards of the best horror fiction. The story-telling is Morrisson-like, packed with ideas and manages to flow particularly well. Eden does this by working the pages to produce no space unturned, thus he suceeds in completely enveloping and rewarding the reader. The characterisation excels. This is probably one of the most women-friendly superhero comics period.
£1.50 & SAE, Martin Eden, 19a Trevelyan Road, London, SW17 9LS
Thoughts and Words#2
Not a comicbook but a zine from an ex-member of the comicbook reading British public.
The initial impression of the being that is Matthew Lawrenson is of a distant pessimist. Perhaps distant, somewhat tormented. Some of this stuff, like Matthew's recounting of his schooldays is unpleasant reading, merely because the events chronicled give the sense of being unpleasant. However there is a sense of friendliness apparent immediately. Matthew writes with an (sometimes painfully) honesty and openess not seen enough these days. Or to let Matthew convey the message properly,
"I'm not going to fit properly in the great human scheme of things. So I take advantage of this, and try to turn it to my advantage"
And what frustrates my ego is that he makes it seem so easy. Building bridges to his world, with the same making it look easy deftness gets the reader to think in a non-taxing way. There's articles in here on grand Prix racing, early 60s pop, the nature of love and Matthew coming to terms with who he is from what he's been. He's a very funny truthful guy, and while his truths are not earth shattering... well, that's the point. The little things that count. There's a real feeling of solid writer-reader relationship to this stuff as he easily interprets the reactions and writes in response. He writes like an informer or educator, it's all very social. What's prevalent is that Matthew has a unique flair for outlining wide (if not universal) dysfunctional identification.
As a result, I can see things that other people gloss over or fail to notice. I can see through the bullshit that others take for normality. And when I express these opinions, others are provoked into 'Oh yeah, I never thought of that'
or 'Eh? Fuck you' If nothing else, it keeps things moving."
Fifty pence and a first class stamp for a copy of this homely real social event. On the front of the envelope write,
Matthew Lawrenson, 126 Oxford Road, May Bank, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffs, ST5 0QA
Or if you're otherwise inclined check out Matthew's Thoughts and Words on the web.
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