The Forbidden Planet International Blog

I’m starting this feature collecting together thoughts about various comics, mini-comics, zines, prints, etc. in one place, in the hope that it will allow me to cover more stuff and not stretch out pieces with waffle when there isn’t necessarily much to say. Also gives me a little leeway to share arts/print things and feature older stuff that I’m just getting round to reading. Please let me know in the comments if it’s something you’re interested in seeing or not.

Sketchbook by Kate Beaton, TopatCo: This sketchbook was a limited edition of 500 which sold out online within a day. Anything Beaton puts out after Hark a Vagrant will sell well, and she hasn’t put out a lot since, so that helps with the specialness and exclusivity of this, I guess.  It is, as you would expect, very good. There’s a lot of sketches, little comics and towards the end, some more polished art, Bad Machinery tributes (hey!) and even an appearance by the strong female characters. It’s a nice collection for a fan (which I am!) to have, as it differs from Beaton’s usual history-related output.

Startled Maggie by Meghan Hogan, 2D Cloud: Hoghan charts Maggie’s development and the trials of parenthood, and while it improves as it goes on, it’s too slight to have any kind of real impact. The drawing has a rough sort of charm, perhaps intended to reflect the forming of a person, but the light pencilling (it’s not inked) can make it difficult to determine what’s going on. Hands and feet are notoriously difficult to draw, and the globby manner in which they’re rendered here is distracting, even if deliberate.

Ablatio Penis by Will Dinski, 2D Cloud: Dinski’s tale of a man running for governor shifts and churns much like a political campaign race as you’re never quite sure where he’s headed. He plays on the expectations of politicians having secrets, playing it dirty- their willingness to besmirch each other and their lack of honesty and scruples. Dinski turns that on its head and instead its the public that comes out looking ignorant and demanding. It’s not really about politics though as we learn the secret of the candidate protagonist and the subsequent fallout and reaction; it’s how we choose what defines us as a person, the way in which we perceive ourselves and how rarely that translates in other peoples perception of us.

Period by Christopher Adams , 2D Cloud: This is what some would call an ‘experimental’ comic: silent, with a loose form, with the colour page spread in the middle come as a bit of a sensory shock. There’s no doubting Adam’s accomplishment as an artist- the opening pages with the seahorse are beautifully contemplative. Ironically, those ‘off-kilter’ pages are the highlight, once it veers into more straight subject matter, it simply didn’t hold my attention long enough for me to make out what Adams is trying to say. I did go through it all, but not for me I’m afraid.

Egyptian Comics by Jack Teagle, Good Press Gallery: Jack Teagle is one of those artists I’m aware of, but have never read anything by. I flicked through Fight! at a store and it wasn’t really my thing. This is more like it though, as Teagle depicts the Egyptian gods in ways which I doubt you have seen previously. I like the thick, inky, woodcut-ish art and I learnt never to interrupt Anubis when he’s on a fag-break.

Susie and Edward: they were a couple written and illustrated by Billy Liosoglou, typography by Frank Philippin, designed by Brighten the Corners: This little book tells the story of Susie and Edward with pictures made up entirely offrom the inventive use of typography characters, winning it a Tokyo Type award. It may look all cutesy and twee, but do not be fooled, it tells the deep and full tale of Susie and Edward’s relationship, combining the tone of simple, storybook narration with surprisingly evocative type illustrations. Fantastic- buy one now!

Gray is not a Color by Sally Madden, Retrofit Comics: At this point I’m getting a bit embarassed to feature Retrofit books, but they’re just SO good. This is set apart by a genuinely interesting subject matter; Madden worked in the Museum of Medical Odditties when she was a teenager and the invting, freindly narration of the author. I like when comics are about a very specific thing and Madden’s passion for her work and respect and admiration for someone who was obviously a huge influence on her, really travels. It helps that she makes all of it accessible without dumbing it down. I also appreciate artists who manage to cram a lot onto the page without getting muddled and Madden acheives that here. Add this one to your buy pile.

Art Simpson by DR.ME and friends, Good Press Gallery: A Bart Simpson art zine with various artists contributing their interpretation of the short-eating icon. I can safely say (without knowing anything about art) that the majority of these pictures are nothing to write home about, apart from the odd couple, but I like the cover design and it’s a fun thing to have.