Tops and Bottoms 29th January 2025.

(A little early again).

He’s always saying that! 

This is true. But fuck my old boots and take a kickin’ from Yootha Joyce what a week that just was!

I am referating to the Awesome Comics Podcast’s celebratory 500th adventure and the surrounding days, pubs and laughs. We gathered in Bloomsbury, some on Friday and then the full crew on Saturday. Toooo many people to thank but I’m sure they know who there are. It was a packed pub upstairs for a social, a podcast, a quiz and a raffle. All were triumphant. Especially in the beer drinking! I think it’s fair to say that the pub will most certainly have comics people back again. Here’s a little tease of Tom Curry working the quiz! Cliff Cumber can be seen as the Adamsesque ‘Deep Thought’ in his pondering front row seat.

Those who have met me or listened in for any length of time know that I am an old softie. This event (and a presentation from some Slackers) left myself, Dan and Vince stunned into a silence never thought possible. We were humbled and are incredibly grateful to every single one of you. Rich ‘The Don’ Sheaf played magnificently in the money raising raffle game and everyone was super generous. Folks, we are in your debt!

I arrived with a full suitcase of donations from buddies far afield and left with presents and winnings! I also got the boys a cheeky pen. 

The following day we fought our way home tired and happy. You can have a listen to the episode right here if you missed the event. The shout at the end will never not make me smile. Vince and Dan – Pod Brothers Forever! We will more than likely be chatting about it in the upcoming Episode 501! (The Road to Episode 666).

Let’s get on with the game at hand. Tops = my favourite read of the week. Bottoms = my least favourite. No Small Press this section as I’ve been away and need to fight my way through that particular pile of physical shenanigans.

Tops.

Not an automatic favourite from the run but still a good in. A thread from issue two appears but we mostly get a self contained story of crime, greed and something possibly a little alien. Written and drawn by Shane Connery Volk, this dude is climbing the Totem Pole for one of my favourite creators out there at the moment. Jump on. 

Bottoms.

Confusing, confused BS. Spider-Man is/was/should be a loner. These days there are fucking hundreds of them. An instant turn off for me! The dialogue also feels like it was written by a High Schooler with a social media addiction. How can that first page have so much action on it and still be totally unengaging?

Avoid.

Oh well, not everything can be perfect.

Oh, and if you fancy joining the Awesome Comics Slack then reach out. A better buncha bastards you’ll not find. Everyone is welcome. 

Many thanks for reading!