Reviews - Illustrated Fiction 4

Taylor's Time Warp mini series is a tribute to the memory of the late comix-scene luminary Clay Geerdes. Each 8-page issue is formatted and produced in the style of Geerdes many Comix World (and later Comix Wave) titles. All of the contributors (so far) were first published during the newave cartoonist era of the late 70's.

Issue 3 Besides the cover by Taylor, this issue done entirely by cartoonist and sci-fi illustrator Brad W. Foster. Foster's crusty persona reads the riot act to an imaginary horde or freshly minted digital cartoonists who don't appreciate the old days and the old ways. Foster is in fine form with great dialogue, cartooning, and layouts. He may feel like a "100 year old" new waver, but his work is better than ever!

Issue 4 This issue begins with another great cover by Taylor. Inside are comix by Bob Vojtko,
D. Miller, and R. Krauss (your faithful reviewer).
Jim Siergey and Bill Shut each contribute a full page illustration to round out the issue. Vojtko's comix is a hoot. Obviously I'm a huge Vojtko fan, so it's great to see new comix work by him. Miller's strip is a treat as well - just great! You'll have to judge my 2-pager for yourself. (This is my first new comix in many years, so check it out.) All of Taylor's current Weird Muse Productions are available through his online comix shop.
Artwork © Dan W. Taylor

Gag-Hag
put together by Onsmith

This is an edgy small press comix filled with one-panel gag cartoons by a bevy of top-notch indie cartoonists. Contributors include Ivan Brunetti, Chris Cilla, John Hankiewicz, David King, Ted May, Onsmith, Johnny Ryan, Bryce Somerville, and Dan Zettwoch. Some of the gags are laugh-out-loud funny and some are painfully searing and edgy. The book is printed on grey cover stock with 36 interior pages on light yellow paper. The 5.5" square size, crisp production values, and strong covers by Onsmith make this an appealing book to glom onto. You can snag yours at Optical Sloth. Top
Artwork © Onsmith

The Ranter #1
by Daniel Nauenburg

It's amazing how far small press publications have come. This full color, 32-page comic, printed on glossy paper, looks every bit as good as something from a mainstream publisher. Yet as Naurenburg himself states in the introduction: "With absolutely no mainstream potential, this comic fits perfectly the definition of 'Small Press'."

The Ranter is a chain-smoking, S.O.B. with a razor sharp axe to grind. He's the personification of an aging, struggling cartoonist scraping by on the streets somewhere in the big city. Bristling with artistic angst, his rants are searing histrionics. This is hilarious, unbridled outrage, once based in reality, but shot to hell over the years, and now firmly over the border of the lunatic fringe.

This is a great small press comic. Get yours while you still can. Ordering details are available on the Small Press Syndicate website. Top
Artwork © Daniel Nauenburg

King-Cat Comics & Stories #66
by John Porcellino

Porcellino's long running publication is an institution in small press comics. His musings and insights into ordinary events are laid down with the wisdom, kindness, and optimism of a friendly neighborhood sage. The artwork is simple, but complements Porcellino's storytelling effectively. This issue features three comics and a story written in the form of a letter to the King-Cat himself. Las Hojas is about a neighborhood football game and the walk home. Blue Light is an illustrated poem. The issue unwinds with Freeman Kame, a mostly visual journey to a natural wonder down an old county road, through an old country song. (Digest-size, 32 B&W pages, plus cover.) Website Top
Artwork © John Porcellino

Aprendiz #1 by Adam Suerte

Aprendiz follows Suerte's artistic journey on his path to becoming a tattoo artist in NYC. The first issue chronicles his early days as a evolving cartoonist, tracing his development from art school in late '80's through a 7-year stint as part of an artist's collective called Urban Folk Art. The group struggled to stay afloat printing T-shirts and indie comics; and painting murals. At times, they supplemented their income working retail or production day jobs to pay the rent. About this time Suerte met a couple of tattoo artists who eventually gave him a shot at an apprenticeship at their shop.

Suerte is a wonderful cartoonist and storyteller. Aprendiz provides a fascinating glimpse into the development of a tattoo artist set in the rich countercultural streets of South Brooklyn. (7" x 8.5", wrap-around color cover, 24 B&W pages) Now on it's third issue, Aprendiz is available directly from Suerte or through Optical Sloth. Top
Artwork © Adam Suerte

Ka-Whump! #2
edited by Robert L. Sumner

Subtitled "Small Press with Big Impact!", this issue is all about the small press comics scene, but editor Sumner hopes to expand coverage to include zines of all types. If you're into small press, you'll love Ka-Whump! It's loaded with over 50 reviews of recent books, ranging from mini comix to full-size glossy-covered magazine formats like Ka-Whump! itself. Sumner rates each zine on a scale of 1 to 5 eyeballs. He's obviously a strong advocate for self-publishers, yet he isn't shy about offering constructive criticism in his reviews. He includes ordering information and websites whenever possible, so it's a great resource to get up to speed on the small press scene in a hurry.

Ka-Whump! also offers advertising at very reasonable rates. Besides reviews, this is another great way for self-publishers to be part of an issue for a small admission fee. This issue includes ads for over a dozen small press publishers and events.

Rounding out the issue are loads of short news items; interviews with Fan-Atic Press' guru Allen Freeman and ComicSpace web developer Josh Roberts; a great article on Print On Demand (POD) small press print providers; 2 pages of cartoons, 2 pages of letters; 2 pages worth of books available from Rick Bradford's Poopsheet Shop; and an opinion piece on courtesy and ethics by small press champion Tim Corrigan, reprinted from Small Press Comics Explosion #8.

Issue #2 is 8.5" x 11" with a full color cover - front by Allen Freeman - back by David DeGrand. 40 black-and-white interior pages.

Published twice a year. Single issues $3.50. 1-year subscription $6. 2-year subscription $11. Robert L. Sumner PO Box 1532, Depoe Bay, OR 97341 Website Top
Artwork © Allen Freeman

Bigfoot Comix # 6 thru 9
By DC McNamara

Here's another great batch of minis from McNamara. Each of these issues is black-and-white with self-covers.

Issue #6 (16 pages) is McNamara's contemplative mini comic discourse on the Lord almighty. His impertinent analysis of deep philosophical meditations on the Almighty are both inciteful and damned funny.

Issue #7 (20 pages) relies largely on the visuals in a sci-fi pictogram loaded with clever twists. When the narration finally begins at the end, it's in Spanish. Thankfully, McNamara translates everything for the grand finale.

Issue #8 (20 pages) lambastes the office. McNamara knows the territory well and entertains us with a wonderful case study of vital office verbiage. This is great stuff and the single-page strips that round out the issue are just frosting on the cake.

Issue #9 (20 pages) is one of those books you start reading from one cover and then halfway through, flip over to finish reading from the other cover. One side is a series of pet fish gags and the other is a deep contemplation on which path to take and a day at the office that had me laughing out loud.

Each of these minis stands on its own, but I really enjoyed reading them as a group because it simply made the fun last longer. As with McNamara's other work, these minis are available for trade or order. Top
Artwork © DC McNamara

Cornelia Cartoons # 5, 7, 9
By Kel Crum

Crum runs his characters - Cornelia Dodson, Helen Boomer, Reba Moonves, and Ed Thud - through a series of improbable adventures in which one outrageous idea sparks a chain reaction that eventually concludes with a clever or ironic twist - and always - a punch line. The dialog is snappy, topical, sarcastic, and funny. These are great comics, but they'd also work well as animated shorts or comedy skits. Each issue includes at least one long adventure and a series of short one- or two-pagers.

Each comic in the series is 7" x 8.5". #5 is 16 pages, plus a color cover. #7 is 16 pages, including the black-and-white cover. #9 (the latest issue) is 20 pages, including the black-and-white cover. You can see more comics online, and order these issues and others via Crum's website, Dangerous Bird Productions. Top
Artwork © Kel Crum

Random Journeys #1-3
By Rob Jackson

Jackson's Journeys present an eclectic mix of adventures ranging from a simple day at the office to an expedition to find a lost city buried deep in an unknown jungle. What they have in common is Jackson's inventive approach to each tale and his droll sense of humor.

The main event - the expedition yarn - leads off each issue and unfolds across all three. It's about a self-professed famous explorer and his cadre of misfits who venture off on an expedition to locate a lost city and its untold riches. It's an imaginative, entertaining, and humorous tale with a few good cliffhangers thrown in to incent you to get the next issue.

Besides Part 1, Issue #1 also includes three other tales of varying length. My favorite was "1st Day at Work" about an English Teacher's introduction to the school system in South Korea. (20 pages, plus cover)

Issue #2 follows Part 2 with three more comics: A wordless sequential piece about offshore drilling called "The Swirling Vortex of Doom"; a funny space yarn, and a one-pager on computer malfunctions. (28 pages, plus color cover)

Issue #3 features Part 3, the conclusion of the expedition, and a short illustrated tale rounding out the page count called "Our Coroner is an Owl". (24 pages, plus color cover)

Overall, I liked Jackson's artwork and his inventive stories. All three issues of Random Journeys are fun to read and a great value in small press comics. See his website for ordering details on these entertaining, A5-size comics. Top
Artwork © Rob Jackson

19th Century Detective #1
By Larned Justin

Justin, who published, wrote, and penciled this small press comic begins his tale with a familiar 19th Century, English mystery atmosphere. Lane Brain, a retired Scotland Yard Detective with a rare sleep disorder that prevents him from sleeping, is now a consultant. He is engaged by Inspector Anderson Catwell and his colleague John Leesburg to examine a body believed to be the killer known as the Graybridge Terror. But as Brain delves into the case he learns it's only just beginning, as author Justin spices things up with unexpected twists and unconventional developments. Long-time small press master, Tim Corrigan provides the inks and lettering to this impressive first issue. (32 b&w pages, plus color cover.) To order check out Justin's website Candid Cartoons. Top
Artwork © Larned Justin

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Reviews - Illustrated Fiction 4

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19th Century Detective #1

More MF Reviews

Time Warp Comix #3 & 4 edited by Dan W. Taylor

Gag-Hag put together by Onsmith

The Ranter #1 by Daniel Nauenburg

King-Cat Comics & Stories #66 by John Porcellino

Aprendiz #1 by Adam Suerte

Ka-Whump! #2 edited by Robert L. Sumner

Bigfoot Comix # 6 thru 9 By DC McNamara

Cornelia Cartoons # 5, 7, 9 By Kel Crum

Random Journeys #1-3 By Rob Jackson

19th Century Detective #1 By Larned Justin