Tops and Bottoms 4th June 2025.

Hey!

“Most writers need a wound.” – Martin Amis.

Just a quiet one this week. Next weekend Tribute has a room ready to stuff (not literally) some envelopes with our three new comics and one new book for those pledgers out there. We are both doing some prep so should be a smooth transition. If you haven’t replied to the Kickstarter questionnaire then get on that asap please. 

You ever get a sense that you’ve taken on far too much work? It’s getting like that here at the moment. So the minutes I can snatch for some comics action are pretty valuable. I’ve plucked and primped the read pile and the digital apps to a finely honed stream. Let’s be honest, everything for most of us is rush, push, rush. And sometimes the comics life gets a little like that. As a lifer bingeing on the format of a month to month exercise wheel sometimes you forget to take a pause and breathe it all in. What’s next? Is there a reboot coming? Is this actually a mini? New creative team?(etc , etc…) There are some comics that I rush through and then, like the ‘Tops’ example I give below, some comics that just make you pause. When I do this I like to remind myself to remind myself to take that type of moment more often. But I never do seem to remember. I really must remind myself…maybe that’s the point of this whole paragraph. 

I really do need to get back to work!

Over at the ACP this week Pod Brother Dan is on holiday (although he does phone in with a question), and we have Tom Curry on to fill that third mic. A man of taste and insight, Tom assists us in tackling some big questions. Also, as we were recording early we also hear live on air about the passing of comics writer Peter David. A big shame. A more consistently good writer you’ll have trouble finding and a big loss of knowledge, skill and presence he is to this industry we follow. There’s also some great reviews, shout outs and recommendations. Have a listen and let us know your thoughts. 

Over to the task at hand. For the new subscribers here’s the deal. Every Wednesday I pick my favourite and least favourite comics reads of the week. I also throw in one or two other made up catagories. Here we go.

Small Press Comic of the Week.

Another of the comics kindly sent through from Can Hayden (who goes by the name Lance Goiter online sometimes). This is a small zine size comic with a panel a page detailing the life and memories of a dude who used to be in a band.

Even if you weren’t that cool you can still relate. You can find copies by going and clicking on this word right here. 

Tops.

An easy choice this week. The second issue and I jumped in for a couple of different covers. Charles Soule, Steve McNiven and Dean White have given us another special series in the life of a character who has had a few of those in his time. Beautifully drawn with superb detail. A single page of a character I’m sure you know just transported me back in time. It stopped me in my tracks and slowed that aforementioned ‘rush’ of the day completely. You can’t always go back but sometimes you get a little reminder. Highly recommended. 

Bottoms.

The more charitable of you might suggest that this artist is just a kid. Their parents proudly posting this childish artwork online. Nah, they’ve been at it for years and have a merch store online. Absolute cack!

I’ll be back to remind you that not everything is perfect again next week.

Thanks for reading. 

“The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.” – Paul Coelho.