Science Tales by Darryl Cunningham (Myriad Editions April 2012)

First there’s the highly anticipated Science Tales, coming in April 2012 from Myriad Editions:

“…Cunningham turns his questioning mind and sharp intelligence to de-coding the myths and lies that have shaped some of the most fiercely-debated issues of the past fifty years. A graphic milestone of investigative reporting, Science Tales takes on controversies surrounding climate change, electro-convulsive therapy, the moon landing, the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine, homeopathy, evolution, the tobacco industry and science denialism”

Expect this to be despised by a lot of people, and just for them, here’s the first page of the homeopathy chapter:

Then there’s two very different books coming from Blank Slate Books…

Uncle Bob Adventures – May 2012

Uncle Bob Adventures is Darryl’s all-ages book, and from the strips we’ve seen on his blog, it looks a real weird and wonderful one (provisional cover below) :

And finally from Daryl – The Fist, online at Act-i-vate sometime later in 2012.

(a couple of pages from the final chapter of Science Tales, Science Denial, by and (c) Darryl Cunningham, to be published by Myriad Editions)

I suppose some may say what is the point of tackling the varied types of people who decide on no evidence or through sheer stubborn ignorance to ignore provable scientifc fact in favour of whatever theological, spiritual or conspiracy-fed idea they prefer. They may be crazy but if that’s what they want to believe then leave them to it. Which is fine as far as it goes – of course we all have the right to hold our own beliefs and express them. But when we consider that sometimes those with the fingers-in-my-ears-I-can’t-hear-you-no-that’s-not-real-proof brigade get to exercise real power, sometimes individually (think of some politicians who take the Bible so literally they demand Creationism be taught with equal weight in schools, politicans who denied AIDS caused HIV so no need for medicine) or in a great tabloid-lead panicking mass (the MMR jabs leading supposedly to autism scare). These have real human costs not only in ignorance but in pain, suffering and even death.

So I applaud Darryl for standing up and putting the rational case and doing it in such an accessible, not to mention often fun, manner. Even though he knows that some of those same ignorant deniers will refuse to be convinced no matter what evidence is put in front of them and would rather hurl abuse at him for even daring to say what he does (another mark of the ignorant is not only holding unsupportable views, they tend to think no-one should be able to express anything contrary to their belief system), because he knows much as many of us will love this work some of those others will hurl abuse his way, simply because they are ignorant and threatened and too damned stupid to actually read and think their way out of that (reading, still the best defence against ignorance – it doesn’t make you a know-all, but it teaches you enough to know how much more there is to know). So kudos to you, mate -  it’s good work and much of it needs re-iterating in the face of often tabloid style lead media nonsense about science, and more importantly about scientific matters which can and do have a direct impact on the quality of human lives and our precious biosphere in which we all live.

One of our consistent fave Brit comics creators, Darryl Cunningham, reveals the cover to his upcoming Uncle Bob Adventures, another I-want title that will be coming from Blank Slate Books, towards the end of this year. Regular readers will know Darryl has, as is his usual tradition with works in progress, been sharing glimpses into the book on his blog and Facebook, so if you haven’t bookmarked his blog already (why not?!?!) then do so and have a browse through for a look at some other Bob material to whet your appetite.  And Darryl has also been posting some glimpses into pages from his other upcoming work, Science Stories, which is due from Myriad Editions next year, collecting some of Darryl’s excellent strips that look into and explain important areas of science in a very accessible way (and I think Darryl also – quite rightly – takes some pleasure in debunking some of the anti-scientific fairy tales some insist on clinging to) – here’s a recently posted page from his chapter on Evolution, which if you don’t believe in, please don’t bother leaving rants telling us why… (artwork here by and (c) Darryl Cunningham; Uncle Bob Adventures to be published by Blank Slate Books, Science Stories by Myriad Editions):

One of the blog’s consistent fave creators, Darryl Cunningham, gives us a peek at another of his pop science comics, which this time will be tackling the subject of evolution. I was going to say the ‘controversial’ subject of evolution, but then thought nope, it is only controversial if you deliberately decide to ignore decades of scientific evidence, in which case you probably won’t be reading this anyway… And a reminder that Darryl was interviewed on BBC Radio 4′s All in the Mind programme earlier this week – if you missed it you can find the programme here and use the Beeb’s indisensable iPlayer to listen to it for the next few days.

(murderer’s eyes from Psychiatric Tales II by and (c) Darryl Cunningham)

(artwork for the 2011 MoCCA by the great Peter Kuper)

Who’s going? A whole bunch of great comics folks who’ll be familiar to readers of the blog: Cliodhna Lyons, Ellen Linder, Sarah McIntyre, Darryl Cunningham and Accent UK’s Colin Mathieson and Dave West will be flying the flag and raising the bunting in their own British ‘Aisles’ corner at tables K10 to K12. Colin, who was kind enough to tip us off to which members of the Brit comics pack were NYC bound, also tells us that this will be the first time some of these creators will have sold their latest titles in the US, so MoCCA guests and fellow artists, please do check out their work (which we’ve featured many times right here) and give them a warm NYC welcome.

And since Darryl Cunningham’s going along it is a good time to remind you that he was the recent guest on the excellent Inkstuds podcast, a good, long interview (plus some music, chosen by Darryl), so go and have a listen. And while you are at it browse the site, other recent guests include the brilliant Lorenzo Mattotti as well as an insightful discussion on European comics with Bart Beatty and Fantagraphics’ Kim Thompson, so if you haven’t already then make sure you bookmark Inkstuds, it’s required listening for anyone with an appetite for quality comics.

And while we’re on the subject of Darryl, New York get ready to welcome him as he’s announced he’s heading over to MoCCA Fest 2011 next month. If you’re in the Big Apple then please go down and make him welcome (and maybe get yourself a print and your copy of Psychiatric Tales – now out in the US too, of course – signed).

He’s asking if folk would be interested if he did make prints to sell. Personally I’d say a darned big YES – be nice to see some of Darryl’s work available as prints (or maybe even some original art being sold at some point?). And I love his cityscapes, they’d make fabulous print images. I am guessing I am far from alone in this, somehow.