Recommendations: Planet Loss and As Before, So Behind

First up is Planet Loss by Luke Oram, a superb graphic novel that translates a 32 minute song by the band Wallowing.  It addresses problems of today such as social injustice,  greed and oppression of peoples, but mirrored in a dystopian future society. Planet Loss sees one man reach breaking point and make a stand.

The artwork is just brilliant, at times, reminiscent of Geof Darrows art on Hard Boiled. His colours are just gorgeous and bring thus alien world to life.  But what really stands out is Lukes story telling, he has to do the heavy lifting with his art as there is no speech from characters. 

Find Luke via Facebook and PM him if you want to grab a copy of Planet Loss, you really won't regret it.

Full disclosure Luke is currently working on my story "Project Revenant" due to appear in issue #6 of The77.  Look out for the Kickstarter soon.

Set in a very real here and now is As Before, So Behind.  I heard this recommended on The Awesome Comics Podcast by Vince Hunt.  It really is a beautiful, but difficult, book to read as the creator talks to his infant son who died shortly after his birth.  

This hit me hard as it was only a year ago that my own daughter was born. I'm not too proud to say I shed a tear or two.  Just 79p on Comixology, worth a read.

Recommendations: Blazer #1

When I initially pledged for the Kickstarter of Blazer I didn't really know what to expect all I knew is that it was going to be a love letter to British comics of the 70s, with all stories written by the Mightiest of Mighty Ones, Steve Macmanus.  With that pedigree I was sold and happily, after reading, I wasn't let down either.

Straight away the look and feel of Blazer is a time machine, back to the mid 70s, with great little design touches, like an old school price sticker on the front cover. Then we get right into the action with Godwins Law, a fast paced war story with art by Dan Cornwell.  This was a perfect opener with Dan's superb kinetic art blasting off the page - I really want to see him do more war stories. 

Derringer and S'on with art by Colin Maxwell was a throwback to all those American series, from the 70s, that we would sit in front of our huge wooden box TVs and watch. We had the voice over introducing us to the characters and backstory, loads of action ensues and then winds up with a final panel reminiscent of the TV show freeze frame...annnd roll credits. 

These are just the opening shots of the retro fun, we get so much more including a footie story in Boot Room Boy, magic and mystery with, the surprisingly dark and cheeky, Domienicas Ring.  A superb cast of artists including Peter Western and Charlie Gillespie and letterers all bring TMOs' words to life brilliantly. 

There is an argument that we shouldn't glorify the past and that we should always be moving forwards.  But sometimes, especially in the days we're living through right now, it's nice to harken back to simpler more carefree times.  Blazer is a comic that unashamedly wraps the reader in a blanket of action packed nostalgia.  Steve Macmanus, the artists and the guys behind the scenes involved in the production of Blazer obviously have a love and respect for the comics of the 70s that shines through here.  Expect this title to blaze brighter with each issue.

If you want to get a piece of the action you can order it here: https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/

Recommendations: BRZRKR and Puno

It's been a little while and time is short so I thought that I'd give a quick couple of comic recommendations. 

First up is the comic that sparked much chatter when it went to Kickstarter,  primarily shipping costs.  The comic, that includes none other than Keanu Reeves as a co-creator, is BRZRKR.  From what I've read Mr Reeves came up with the idea of an 80,000 year old, immortal berserker warrior and rather than seeing it as a film he thought it better suited to a comic.  Boom comics were more than happy to help bring his idea to life and BRZRKR was conceived.

I was unwilling to pay the pretty huge costs involved in getting the collected trade, via Kickstarter, so I waited and gave issue #1 a shot via Comixology.  Was BRZRKR what I expected and wanted?  In a word yes, it's full of tropes and ideas from other comics and films but, so far, it still ticks the boxes for me. When someone is killed with one of their own ribs that has been broken and ripped out by hand.....take my money!  I'm glad I didn't pay out for the KS, and I won't buy anymore single issues but I will happily get the trade when it inevitably is released by Boom.

Next up is the latest comic from the amazingly talented Gustaffo Vargas called Puno, you may have read his other books on the Comichaus app.  If you haven't I recommend that you search them out, you can also find his work in the free six part Crayta comic. I really enjoy his artwork and particularly, in Puno, his mix of future tech with the tradition and styles of Peru, his country of origin.  You won't believe the double page spreads he creates here - just jaw dropping!

I would personally love to see Gustaffo given the opportunity to render the Mega City and Dredd.  But his talents aren't limited to art alone, his storytelling is superb, original and multilayered.  Get your hands on a copy of Puno and discover for yourself. 

Recommendation: Kent State by Derf Backderf

Things have been very full-on at work recently, particularly as I have been redeployed to a covid vaccination team.  But, to keep my sanity, I've done two things: come off Facebook and I always try to find time to read, either on breaks, or at home. The escapism this allows me is a welcome relief from the stresses surrounding us all right now.

My most recent read was the Derf Backderf book, Kent State, which tells the true story of the killing of four unarmed students, by National Guardsmen, at Kent State University, Ohio on May 4th 1970. You may think that would be the last thing you'd want to read about, in a comic book, at this time but bear with me and I'll try and explain (spoiler light) why this is a book that you should have on your bookshelf.

I'd originally heard about Kent State when listening to The Awesome Comics Podcast and the guys recommended it.  That put the book on my to look into list, but when I heard the later interview with Derf, and the work he'd put into it, that's when Kent State became a must read.

For me it was one of those perfect books, within the first few pages I felt that I was in the 1970s Ohio that Derf had recreated.  The opening chapter recounts the authors own recollections of driving with his mom, past ranks of National Guard soldiers as they held back Ohio truck drivers union members from attacking "scab" drivers who were breaking a strike. This is followed by seeing a young Derf watching TV with his parents while Nixon broadcast to the nation informing them of the scaling up of the  Vietnam war.  This announcement was the spark that led to a lot of protests on university campuses all over America as it would mean a greater amount of young men being drafted into the army.

Kent State University became a focal point for the paranoia of government and local law enforcement thinking that radical and "commie" students were rife within the university and its community.  This led to the deployment of a very tired, nervous and highly strung National Guard Unit to the university.  The rest of the book describes the following days leading up to the fateful day and introduces us to the soon to be victim's.

What Derf does here is build the tension beautifully and gives us an insight into the minds of both the students and the National Guardsmen.  He has done a great amount of research and spoken with the relatives and friends of those involved.  The book has no bias but just relays the facts of the awful event.  

I'm always a sucker for black and white art as I feel it can convey so much more emotion than when colour is used, it draws me into the story every time. Derfs art certainly does that here with brilliant detail in every panel, even the dandelions in grass verges are faithfully recreated.  I'm not normally a fan of info dumps or prose in my comic books but the style in which Derf presents the information needed here to keep the story concise is perfectly done so as not to lose the readers interest, or the flow of the book.  

When it came to the day of the shootings I actually held off reading, as I had gotten so involved in the lives of the soon to be victims. But read on I did and it was horrible to see and read about the deaths of those caught in the path of the rounds fired by the National Guardsmen.  But Derf handled the moments with both the reality and respect the killings deserved. The book ends with sources cited and more background information for each day covered in the book.

We are 50 years on from the events in Kent State and yet, in many ways it seems that nothing changes, there are still lessons to be learned from this awful event.  This is simply one of the best graphic novels I've read, no supes, no caped crusaders just real and tragic events brilliantly brought to life.  If this book doesn't win awards it'll be a travesty, a real must read!

New Year - New Recommendations

Happy new comic reading year! Following the excitement of the first Christmas for our baby, I found a quiet moment to finally read my copy of issue #4 of The77.  I went for the Kickstarter of the excellent Lew Stringer variant cover, I'm sure there are some very happy creators seeing their characters Immortalised by Lew.

Inside, the usual quality we have come to know and love, each story coming in like a heavyweight boxer in a title fight.  Bounty on the Mutie, Penny Pentagram and Prodigal finding distance, warming us up.  Trackless Depths, The Cell and V bringing the fight to us, unleashing a salvo of hard hitting writing and art punches.

Undertow itself was a lesson in fighting techniques, some superb fight scenes brilliantly drawn.  Division 77 and Sgt Shouty put us on the ropes and then left it to Andrew Sawyers Valkyr13 pin up (pictured above) to deliver the knockout punch.  It's no secret that I'm a fan of The77 and my own story Project Revenant will be coming up later this year, but this is an awesome issue!  If you've not already got yours, what are you waiting for?

Buy issue #4 and back issues here: https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/

I was kindly given an advanced copy of Sentinel issue six "Bad Kitty" by writer Alan Holloway a couple of days ago, he told me that it was a fun issue and it certainly is.  The hero of the story Carlos Harrison, a criminal in the style of The Stainless Steel Rat who we meet while in the middle of a heist in a luxury hotel.  I don't want to give too much away here because part of the fun I had with the book was not having a clue what was ahead of me.  Art and lettering is by Morgan Gleave who some may know from his work in The77.  What a great job he does too, his art style was a perfect fit for this story. Check out this exclusive video!

Bad Kitty is a really fun romp with lots of nods to 2000AD and cartoon animals that you'll recognise but they don't pull you out of the story.  If you are looking for some silly escapism, that puts a smile on your face during these difficult times, then I can highly recommend Bad Kitty.  The Kickstarter begins on February 1st - look out for a cracking variant cover by Mal Earl there too.

Finally I also got around to reading my copy of Atomic Hercules goes Commando, which had been sitting in my inbox for a while.  What I love about the Atomic Herc series isn't just the sheer filth and depravity or the ultra violent characters, that's just one layer of the stories.  For me the stories also depict so many of my frustrations at the world and Hercules is the avatar that takes them on.  For instance a preening self obsessed social media addicted, all mouth warrior gets what he deserves when he crosses Herc.  

Tony Esmond and Adam Falp have created such a brilliant character and world that he inhabits here.  It's also obvious they are enjoying what they are doing too, playing about with formats, like this being in the style of a Commando comic keeps it fresh.  I'm looking forward to more.

Buy your copy here: https://neverironanything.bigcartel.com/products?page=1

Recommendations: America Lost and Found, Outer Darkness amd Dracula

It's been a while since my last blog, I've really missed writing it but that's what having a baby in a pandemic while working frontline for, an under siege NHS gets you.  I thought that I'd return to it with some recommendations of comics I've read recently, some of them Christmas gifts, some new, some old.

First up an indie comic I heard about on The Awesome Comics Podcast (ACP).  I'm a lover of anything Dracula or vampire related so when I heard of this comic I had to get it.  It's called "Matt Simmons presents: Farran Jones’ Bram Stoker’s DRACULA". The premise is that Matt has transcribed a conversation with his mate while sat in the pub, his friend Farran is describing Bram Stokers original Dracula.  He's then gone away and turned it into a comic and what a comic it is.  It's printed on three sheets of A3 glued together by hand, folded and put inside a handwritten ripped envelope. You read it from top to bottom like a scroll.

The presentation is just brilliant and so original, thankfully the content is just as awesome.  Matts friends description of Dracula teamed up with Matts, deceptively simple artwork and clever layout is genius.  It takes a lot for a comic to make me laugh out loud but this did many times.  Happily it looks like there's more to come too, I really can't wait.

Secondly "Outer Darkness book one", which was gifted to me at Christmas.  I love it when I pick up a comic, novel or watch a TV series and feel part of that world right away and Outer Darkness did that for me.  The writing of John Layman Is just superb and it is equally well complimented by the art of Afu Chan.  Right away I felt at home with the characters and premise of the story, there are obvious parallels with Star Trek here but this crew is the most dysfunctional you'll ever meet. Most of the crew hate the new Captain particularly his First Officer who definitely has homicidal thoughts about him.  

There is so much going on in the universe that these characters live in but the excellent writing means the reader isn't bombarded with exposition, it just unfolds effortlessly. I hope my April birthday brings me book two to get stuck into.

Finally, a modern classic that no 2000AD or, for that matter, any comic fan can be without America by John Wagner and Colin Macneil. In this case it's "America Lost and Found", a release containing the rediscovered scripts from John Wagner.  There is a nice foreword from Garth Ennis who reveals what an influential force John Wagner was on his development as a writer. This is followed by another foreword from the man himself talking a little about how America came about and how some of the scripts were lost. 

The first half of the book contains the scripts and the second half the finished article, showcasing Colin Macneils beautiful artwork.  This allows you to compare the script with the actual strips and see how Macneil interpreted JWs words, but it can be a bit of a pain flicking back and forth.  However, this is easily remedied by reading along with one of the other multitude of America releases that you probably have in your collection.

Recommendations: Cannibal XXX, Murder, Kazana the Slayer and Vyper

Three quick recommendations from my weekends reading and one new Kickstarter, it's a mixed bag of styles and genres that's for sure.

First up is Cannibal XXX, by Paul PJ Johnson this is certainly the most NSFW comic I've read in a while and certainly not one to leave out for your kids, but it is a brilliant read.  The premise is that a director of porn films, who is also married to the worlds best porn star, wants to create a porno masterpiece.  He recruits some of the brightest and best talent in the industry and finds a deserted island to film on, not realising that it is, in fact, inhabited by the titular cannibals.  

It goes without saying there is graphic sex and cannibalism throughout the comic but it's not all about shock and gore.  Paul has a brilliant fast paced cinematic feel to his writing, bringing these characters to life without making them two dimensional. If you've ever heard the documentaries by John Ronson about the porn industry, you'll know how deep and dark that particular rabbit warren goes and how nearly everyone involved is scarred in some way physically or mentally, many using drugs just to get through the day. This aspect of the characters isn't overlooked, which gives them a depth that I didn't honestly expect to find here.

If you have a strong stomach, a love of the VHS horror films of the 80s and just bloody good comics you will love this, I'm so glad that I listened to Damian Edwardsons Omen to That podcast and found out about Paul's work.  I can't wait for episode 2, but in the meantime Paul has a catalogue of other titles such as Razor Bastard that I intend to check out.  You can get a copy by DM'ing Paul via Facebook messenger.

Murder by John tucker is a small A6 piece of perfection containing two short stories Narrowing and Poseidon.  John was Influenced by the small one and done independent zines he encountered as a student so wanted to create a love letter to those with Murder.  

If you've not read any John Tucker before you can catch up with his entire back catalogue, digitally, for just a fiver. His stories have a surreal edge and are always written with a great ear for day to day language.  

Murder Volume 1 was a limited edition print run with no reprints but keep your eyes open for volume 2 in the future. Be quick though it's just a one week Kickstarter.

Finally on my read pile was Kazana The Slayer which is Sentinel issue 5, I got a sneak peek from Alan and Ed.  As you might guess from the title it's a Conan the Barbarian style tale where we find our Hero, a wondering swordsman, comes to the aid of a village under attack by an evil overlord.  The fully painted story was originally created by Sentinel artist Ed Doyle sixteen years ago. He has gone back and worked on some of the art while writer Alan Holloway has reworked the original story.

It's a satisfying read that doesn't ask a lot of the reader but to sit back and enjoy the ride.  It has undead, skeletal warriors and a heroic muscular man wielding a sword smiting all before him.  What more could you ask for? The Kickstarter starts tomorrow, Tue 10th November.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sentinelcomic/sentinel-issue-5-kazana-the-slayer

My final recommendation is for another Kickstarter, that has already smashed its funding goal it's Vyper. a homage to the action films and TV series we loved in the 80s like Airwolf, Streethawk, Commando.  Full of fast cars, guns and hot women - just like the life we all lead, I'm sure. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/377292064/vyper-0?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=Vyper