Back again. Oh isn’t it cold in January. The tall and tan and lovely won’t be walking in this weather that’s for sure. I continue to drag myself around the streets at 5am, as I leave the small and brown and aggressive (dawg) who eyes me with angry curiosity. Altogether different from curiously angry. He knows that we are at war. He now has the upper paw.
At the ACP this week we we had Ben and Allan Lisa to talk all about tips and tricks in the crowdfunding world. They have The Press Guardian & Clock: Classic Pulp Heroes Return live at the moment on Kickstarter. Good folks, telling fun stories and doing right by collaborators. And weaponising the skills of our very own Dan ‘Guns’ Butcher. Look them up.
Meanwhile, we find ourselves back in the land of the Tops and the Bottoms. My weekly attempt at clarifying what has been the best and worst of my weekly comics reading. Thanks is also well due to all the individuals who have very kindly signed up for the Substack. I don’t understand why charity begins at home but you’ve shown that here it begins online. Who’d have thought? You can sign up here.
Small Press Comic of the Week.
Junked issue 1.
The flagship anthology for those ‘Roll and Butters’ at Black Ink Comix. Containing the work of Dan Hughes, Leslie Wenlock, Paul Kortjohn and Dylan Henty. Supported by the glamorous horror host ‘Kali Blaster’. I’m a fan of these maniacs and so should you be. The first story will instantly grab you with an examination of how difficult it is to stage and film a snuff movie. Their store (for comics and thankfully not snuff movies) can be found here.
Tops.
Something from my youth. Doctor Who: Black Sun Rising was a gift from my buddy Dave and also a big walk down the lane of memories that was Doctor Who Weekly. This oversized black and white collection contains the back-up stories from that early series. Micks Austin and McMahon, Davids Lloyd and Gibbons, Steves Moore and Parkhouse and many more people with different names but no less talent. The Cybermen story Black Legacy (with an introduction from Tom) was a high point. Perfect for anyone struggling through current Who.
Bottoms.
This kettle of inability. The cover suffers from the art being crammed in and the logo placement is awful. The. How is that a first page? Obvious, boring and unfunny. It really doesn’t grab anyone or make them read onwards. How do any of the above pages actually work? The facial acting on that third interior page just left me confused. And that face on the last page looks like it’s been uploaded to the printer from a fax machine with someone adding crayon art for colour!?
They really need someone who is able to guide them. They used to be called ‘Editors’.
Oh well.
Many thanks for reading.
Never Iron Anything - The Comics Review Website 