As that Gibbons clock ticks closer to destruction we can happliy hide ourselves in comics.
‘OUCH…what agony!’
‘HA…what ecstasy!’
I didn’t go to Thoughtbubble. So you won’t have to put up with the same posts that you’ll see everywhere else in the UK comics scene. ‘Packed by bags ready, I’m on a train, look I’ve arrived, all set up, in my Air BnB, anyone know how I can get on the WiFi to watch porn, early bed….’ Ad naseum. I suppose that I’ve done it myself. At least there was some evidence of comics being consumed unlike other conventions. But honestly, you’d think these nobs had never left their houses before. I jest…
Over at the ACP this week we had Tom and Eamonn on to follow through on our ‘Reading Challenge’. I don’t think that we’ve ever managed to recommend so many comics in such a short time. You can click on this handy link to hear us talk about the below comics and many more.
Back to the comics of the week. Quick one as I’m back in hotel land.
Small Press Comic of the Week.
In its avoidance of the ‘Safe Space’ that some areas of the comics scene are desperate to find it’s nice to read something so hilariously irreverent. Paul Kortjohn is part of the Junked Crew and this is a collection of different short strips that he’s been trying out over the last year or so.
He’s working in a variety of styles and they all hit the mark. You can go buy some of his comics right here.
Tops.
This is out today. We got an early copy of this from Bob to have a read of and honestly, I haven’t put it down since. If you are part of the crew that looks to Fantagraphics or Drawn and Quarterly for their dirty paper you need to go to Cosmic Lion Productions for Printopia. Or it’s available for order through Previews and your local comic shop.
Bob Fingerman is the greatest comics creator that we are not talking about enough. This is a love letter to his little area of New York before he moved to Hollywood. It’s full of grubby weirdos, mad-eyed street people, sane/insane relatable punks and hipsters, outsiders and deluded dumbos. It’s all of inner city life that is at once current, yet could be the eighties.
The cartooning is evocative of both the underground and the greats who would seem to be his influences. The dialogue sparkles and it deals with characters, albeit the extremes, in a way like no other.
‘Is it possible that we are the assholes, here?’
‘It’s possible.’
If you are going to buy anything this month then this is the graphic novel for you. It comes fast on the heels of his hardback art book That’s Some Business You’re In and just before they feature his art in the next issue of Illustrators Magazine. I have one and eagerly await the other. Have a look at what else is going on at Bob’s website right here.
Bottom.
Fortunately I read this on the Global Comix app so didn’t have to shell out any extra cash. I kept having to check that it was released through a professional outfit. I can only guess that it must be from the very early days of Vault Comics when they lacked staff and had to ask Twitter what was worth publishing. This is also an example of how not to use colour effects rather than actual backgrounds. Best to avoid.
Anyway.
Good and Bad. Just like everything else.
Find me here next week or on the upcoming Awesome Comics Podcasts and Never Iron Anything Podcasts. I’m just putting together plans to head to Angoulême next year so hopefully see you there. I’ll be taking photos of train stations and tawdry hotel rooms in the meantime.
Top Tip – The actual comics are all that matters. (And boobs!)
Thanks for reading.
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