Sugar Glider #2
Written by Daniel Clifford, art by Gary Bainbridge
“Set in Newcastle upon Tyne, Sugar Glider tells the story of Susie Sullivan – an 18yr old with a habit for giving up on hobbies, jobs and potential careers at a moment’s notice. Having given up on so many ‘dreams’ already in her short life, Susie is poised to drop out of college and give her mother, Brenda, an ulcer.
But Susie has a secret more likely to give Brenda a mischief; she’s gotten hold of a high-tech gliding suit and is quickly becoming attached to it.”
I reviewed Issue 1 of Sugar Glider and Issue 1 of Sugar Glider Stories and I had some problems with them both. The main title; Sugar Glider, was really quite enjoyable, but I made the point that the kitchen sink drama part of the tale worked a lot better than the superhero storyline….
“In many ways Sugar Glider is one of those books I just don’t feel has much of a reason to exist. It’s raw, which I have no problem with at all, since both Clifford and Bainbridge show promise in their work. That’s not the issue. My problem is the genre they are pursuing. Do we really need another superhero series? Really?”
“In fact, much of my enjoyment of Sugar Glider came from the pages without the spandex. I think Clifford and Bainbridge do a damn good job of walking me through Susie’s life and the troubles she’s having without needing to put on a spandex costume.”
Oh… Richard, one day you’ll learn to stop saying stupid things like that, especially on the basis of just one issue. Because with issue 2, and it’s so pleasing to be able to say this, Sugar Glider #2 made me rather eat those words.
It’s great fun, and they’ve absolutely got the balance right here. Yes, I still enjoyed the scenes with Susie at home, but in issue 2 it’s no longer a clear-cut case of home and out in the suit. Here, Susie is Sugar Glider, so those two sides of her life begin to blur, just as they do in all the best examples of superhero books.
So… do we need another superhero series? …. yes we do, especially when it’s as enjoyable and fresh as Sugar Glider.
(Poor Mam, it seems Susie can’t resist the pull of getting the Sugar Glider suit on and going back out into the night… From Sugar Glider Issue 2 by Bainbridge and Clifford)
This second issue sees Susie at home, after promising her poor worried mother that she’s not going out dressed in the suit anymore. But circumstances seem to be against her; MI5 are hanging around, at the same time they’re showcasing the new Vigilance super-agents to be rolled out across the UK.
And then there’s the slightly more immediate problem of a sword wielding vigilant who’s worrying chosen the title “Don Quixote”, rarely a sign of mental stability.
(Love that final panel, such a great smile! From Sugar Glider Issue 2 by Bainbridge and Clifford)
Bainbridge and Clifford really seem to have hit their stride here, the writing is tight and fun, and the art, although still occasionally a little rough, really works withing the context of what they’re trying to do. Nice little touches abound – like the subtle distinction between Susie at home and Susie as Sugar Glider – changing the backgrounds of the panels to greytone and the page to solid black. Just a small thing, but it works extremely well and all goes to add to the experience of Sugar Glider and the two worlds we’re seeing.
There’s even an extra mini-comic this time round; Anthony, that focuses on Susie’s friend, who so wants to be more than friends.
A complete shift in tone and look to Sugar Glider, written by Daniel Clifford and with really distinctive animation line artwork from Lee Robinson, it’s a lovely little side-story to the events so far, looking at everything that’s gone on so far from Anthony’s perpective:
(Poor Anthony, completely in the dark about Susie’s double life, by Daniel Clifford, art by Lee Robinson)
One thing to criticise though – the lettering. It’s just too big for the page and a little too scrappy. I’ve got absolutely no problem with hand-lettering comics, in fact I often think it’s far nicer. But just comparing Sugar Glider with Anthony, where they’ve used a computer font, the problem is obvious. A tighter, smaller font would really open up the pages and allow Bainbridge’s art to shine even more than it already is. However, that’s practically the only thing I can complain about.
One last thing… lovely back cover from Bainbridge, but damn, why didn’t I think of the great comparison that Hi-Ex Comics came up with: “It reminded me of those old classics Billy the Cat and The Leopard from Lime Street“. Perfect. Damn:
The final issue in the Sugar Glider series will be released early in 2012, and the second Sugar Glider Stories will be released for Thought Bubble in November. To be honest I’d much rather it was the other way round, because this really is shaping up to be a great little series and I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing how it all ends up.
You can buy copies of Sugar Glider Issue 2 at the Cottage Industry Comics Webstore.
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