Tops and Bottoms 1/11/2023

Morning Folks.

Another busy week and moved to a new satellite office which I’m just getting sorted with the spinner rack i was gifted by that top geezer Rob Hardingham. Think I’m faced with the spinner version of blackboard blindness. What to put on it? As I lean back for a minute in a work day what sort of comics do I want to see looking back at me? Thinking that some Ditko Charlton covers alongside some Marvel Bronze Age assorted sauciness might work best? Maybe? Do I go seasonal? Get some Christmas covers ready?

I am stiff with indecision.

We’ve just left October and now into a month less horrified. I’m writing this on All Saints Day. Not many of those fuckers about these days.

Two things that have featured more earnestly in the messaging inbox this week have been genuine questions about what is good to read and then the desperate neediness of comics creators.

(Not everyone – calm down at the back).

Let’s talk about the first trend. There’s a lot of product out there. More than we have ever witnessed. The shelves, both physical and online, are flooded with mainstream, indie, twee, D.I.Y, flashy and so forth. Much of what is out there is also not that great. See previous weeks for examples. There are plenty more. As with this site and the blog that existed before it I only try to be honest. The recommendation of a book that is substandard helps nobody. As a reviewer on here and on the podcasts my duty is to the reader/listener. Not the creator. The question ‘What are you enjoying?’ Should be different from, ‘What is good at the moment?’ Comics are too expensive at the moment for them to be the same. Sure there will be overlaps but not always. Many books, if not all, have elements that work and elements that don’t. Have a listen to my ACP review of Elvira in Hollywood for an easily understandable explanation. These days it’s getting harder to recommend what I am reading. But I try my best.

However, go read Monica by Clowes and anything about a Samurai Rabbit. Easy.

On to the next trend.

Like an addict the comics creator just wants more. Nothing will sate their needs. They see it as their job to spend that mythical 50% of their time promoting their comic. A custom I admit I am not innocent of over the years. After a podcast review they want to come on and chat about it. You write a review and they then ask if you can send a copy of their comic to that publisher you know. A favourite is them then asking if you would edit their future releases, nearly always for free. A polite no occasionally doesn’t even work. Seems to be most common for people making their first comic. A product they dream, and then thoroughly believe, will be flawless at the first attempt. We’ve long passed shameless for many.

Just calm down. A TED Talk is unlikely to show you how to sell or promote what you are doing in comics. The big hits come from a friendly word of mouth. A conversational tone and often a sense of humour can help. Aggressively pushing will only get eye rolls and walks away from the table.

And, again. This is not directed at anyone in particular. If you run round the house screaming and kicking the dog, you probably need to have a word with yourself.

Now onto the task at hand.

Tops.

For a sudden change in direction I’m going to recommend a platform.

Global Comix came into my field of vision after Dan invited one of the developers on to the ACP for a chat. We were all impressed with his enthusiasm AND his technical expertise.

The digital reader is slowly collecting all the big comics names outside of Marvel and DC. Image and Boom Studios have sections as well as many of the other publishers. They’re also very inviting to the Indie and Small Press field and many of our buddies have planted a flag on there already. For £9.99 I had already read more than my money’s worth after a couple of hours and continue to sink time daily into catching up on series I had missed previously from AWA, Vault, Avery Hill etc.

I have just started on the Mad Cave Studios and Dan Panosian drawn John Tiffany and it’s a cracker so far!

Above is a small taste of what you can find on there.

Bottoms.

The Devil That Wears My Face.

This one was also from the above application. I had seen some online promotion and noticed that it was written by the dude who has taken over the chores on The Punisher. A dude I got to meet at Baltimore this year and assured me that fighting big business would work the same as fighting drug dealers and pimps in the vigilante world. I have yet to read the reboot so cannot comment on it.

However…

I can comment on this horror series’ first issue. Muddy digital backgrounds and a lot of VERY talky heads sure made for a boring read. Trust me when I say that this should be avoided. Thankfully I didn’t have to spend the $4.99 on this rushed off rubbish.

Although, the cover is pretty good.