Friday, June 18, 2004
< comics/x >
GRAPHIC CLASSICS: MARK TWAIN
edited by Tom Pomplun
($9.95, www.graphicclassics.com)
Review by Rick Bradford
The thing that first got my attention about the Graphic Classics line was the impressive diversity of talent. This volume alone (the eighth in the series) contains work by Rick Geary, Milton Knight, Evert Geradts (Dutch underground artist), Anton Emdin (great Australian cartoonist finally starting to show up more in the States), Lance Tooks ( Narcissa), William L. Brown ("President Bill"), Simon Gane, Mary Fleener and Skip Williamson, to name just a few.
Of the adaptations there are several that I particularly enjoyed. The first – and by far the longest piece at 36 pages – is Geary's "The Mysterious Stranger", a blasphemous story about a 16th century village's encounters with a young man who, unbeknownst to them, is the Devil. I find it amusing that Twain's view of religion at the turn of the 20th century fairly matches my own in 2004. Coming in at a close second to "Stranger" is Gane's take on "Is He Living or Is He Dead?", a tale about a group of painters who staged a hoax in order to get rich. Gane's work has been the subject of buzz lately thanks to the recently-published All Flee! (Top Shelf), but the truth is that he's been doing interesting work for years. And, finally, the third is Emdin's "A Ghost Story" about the ghost of the Cardiff Giant, one of many fraudulent oddities made famous by PT Barnum. Emdin's exaggerated cartooniness is just what the doctor ordered.
This review only scratches the surface, of course. In addition to the adaptations, there are also a few text pieces, my favorite of which is Twain's address to an audience on the occasion of his 70th birthday in 1905. Be sure to check out the website for more info and a healthy selection of art samples.
[ Link to this review ]
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Thursday, June 17, 2004
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WURD READER #3
by Lance Simmons
($3.00 from David Youngblood / 1514 SE Belmont St. / Portland, OR / 97214 USA or Lance Simmons / PO Box 59744 / Homewood, AL / 35259 USA. Web: tinycreature.com)
Review by Rick Bradford
How do you classify stuff like this? I don't want to be hung up on terminology but it does have its benefits as a point of reference. Simmons' work here should appeal if your sense of aesthetics leans toward the Fort Thunder/Tom Herpich/lyrical mystery side of things, although as I mentioned, I can't find a category to neatly stick it into. I'm sure that's a good thing.
Under a handprinted cover you'll find: drawings of curious creatures in random situations, some which appear to be hasty doodles (though not without charm), and a few sequential vignettes, the most engaging and beautiful being a bit about music and its effect on these odd beings of Simmons' world. It could be interpreted as music creating a monster but who knows what the message is (if there is one at all). This (untitled) piece would make a fine mini-comic on its own.
Check out Simmons' website for a real taste of what he does.
[ Link to this review ]
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SEAMONSTERS & SUPERHEROES #1
by Scott Mills
($2.95, SLG Publishing, Scott Mills)
Review by Carol Pond
Seamonsters and Superheroes is an anthology comic about...well, seamonsters and superheroes! Most of the stories are only one or two pages long, although a couple near the end reach five pages. The artwork is loose, sketchy and expressive. Highlights are "Nerdlinger," sort of an updated version of those Charles Atlas "I was a 98-pound weakling" comic book ads, with a twist at the end; "Seamonsters," in which an old salty sailor rethinks his life; an untitled two-pager which just might show the evolution of the octopus; and "Not a Fairy Tale," which is an interesting combination of a personal essay inserted into the word balloons of a fairy tale. There's plenty more in this collection, including time travel, "The Planet-eating guy" and a superhero in a hurry – a lot of stuff packed into a 24-page comic book.
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Wednesday, June 16, 2004
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THE JOURNAL OF MODOK STUDIES #3
edited by George Tarleton
($2.00 ppd from George Tarleton / Second Period Industries / PO Box 948 / Athens, GA / 30603 USA)
Review by Rick Bradford
MODOK is such a great character to devote a zine to. I mean, he's a horrible character and that's what makes it so great. Do you know MODOK? He's this man-monster supervillain from Marvel Comics who's some kind of genius and really full of himself. Has this guy looked in the mirror? Check this out. Yikes!
Anyway, the Journal is a funny tribute to all that is MODOK, this particular issue focusing on the short-lived Ms. MODOK (no, seriously). We get a detailed synopsis of the issue of The Incredible Hulk in which she appeared, as well as art samples. Must be seen to be believed.
Also in the issue: a hilarious Teen MODOK comic by K. Thor Jensen, a Klon Waldrip comic in which Ms. MODOK – or is it MODAM? – scores, art by Patrick Dean and DR Merrill's "report" of the Japanese version of MODOK.
The Journal of MODOK Studies is part nerd, part satire and all fun. It's the perfect evil twin of mainstream fandom yet it probably appeals across the board.
[ Link to this review ]
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TALES OF FANTASY #21
By Larry Johnson
($2.00 ppd from Larry Johnson / 9 St. Peter St. #4 / Jamaica Plain, MA / 02130-4907 USA. E-mail)
Review by Matt Dembicki
Tales of Fantasy #21 is comprised of two stories: Surprisingly, the one I thought I wouldn’t like I ended up liking, while the one I thought I’d enjoy I didn’t particularly care for. “Equisaurus” features Madame Boogala, one of the title’s staple characters, as she uses her son as a conduit to fight a demon. I initially thought the writing was too slapstick and simple, but I soon figured out that it was intentionally done so. Knowing that it was done so actually makes the story funnier somehow.
I thought I would really enjoy the second story, “Dream Dance.” Metaphysical, spiritual, Native American spirits, you name it – it just seemed like it had the ingredients to make for an intriguing story. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t go anywhere. The purpose for the story’s “unifying ritual” (The American Indian spirit conjures up all races and shapes of people to “unify” them) is never explained. But Larry Johnson does an admirable job of carrying the story with his art. I particularly liked the subtle graytones.
(Larry Blake contributed a really nice backcover featuring some of the characters appearing in the book. Plus, Johnson did a wonderful job of coloring it to make the illustration really stand out.)
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Tuesday, June 15, 2004
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APOPHENIA #1
By Ray Earles
($1.00 from IT Comics / PO Box 535 / Evansville, IN / 47704-0535 USA. Web: www.inri.net/itcomics)
Review by Matt Dembicki
A cover can do so much for a book. Apophenia #1 doesn’t have a particularly attractive cover: It’s a blurred photo with a lot of black that makes it seem like it was quickly thrown onto a copier just to put a cover on the book. That’s too bad because it might turn off potential readers to venture inside and read a really solid comic book. The stories are mostly introspective observations of writer/artist Ray Earles. He does a great job of seamlessly weaving drawings and photos and presents some nice compositions. My only other criticism is that the lettering was a bit small, making it hard to read at times. But don’t let that hold you back from buying the book: It’s well worth the buck. (There are two panels featuring John Byrne and Dave Sim that still have me in stitches.)
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BAD HEAD #1 & 2
by Klon Waldrip
($2.00 from Klon Waldrip / 340 Whitehead Rd. / Athens, GA / 30606 USA. E-mail)
Review by Rick Bradford
Ben Steckler says Klon Waldrip is the hillbilly version of Johnny Ryan and I'm inclined to agree. There's a blurb on the cover of issue two from Joyce Brabner: "This one has too many drippy penises in it." That should give you an idea of what we're talking about here.
Between these two issues you'll find a junkie frog, an illustrated excerpt from a Linda Lovelace biography (which, sadly, is much too short), leprechauns, Post-It doodles from work, sexually transmitted disease (don't worry, it's imaginary), a Dr. Bronner's parody and, yes, even more depravity. Obviously, this stuff's not for everybody but if you like your comix with the occasional drippy penis then what are you waiting for?
[ Link to this review ]
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Monday, June 14, 2004
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SHORT STACK and MEATLOAF FREAK
by Duane Ballenger
( Wide Awake Press, Duane Ballenger)
Review by Rick Bradford
Short Stack is a collection of goofy doodles, the originals of which were apparently inserted into the Wide Awake #4 anthology, which I think is a great idea (even though my copy doesn't have one – hey, what gives?). My favorite drawings are of a mosquito and a well-dressed carrot.
Meatloaf Freak is a tiny comic about a critter with an unhealthy obsession. Thank goodness for the kindly taxi driver who helps because he knows he "can't get wrapped up in that life again." But is it enough? Is it enough?
As with other books from Wide Awake, the production on these is top notch. Check out the website for info on their available publications.
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