Category Archives: Comics

Calling all Freaks!

While I was away, a book I have been waiting eagerly to read was published; Freaks!

‘Dedicated ‘To all who, if only for a moment, felt that they didn’t belong’, FREAKS by Caroline Smailes & Nik Perring, illustrated by Darren Craske, is a unique collection of short stories with comic book style illustrations. Darkly humorous these stories explore the more disturbing consequences of ordinary, flawed human beings obtaining superpowers. A bizarre collection of short stories, each featuring a character with an unusual superpower.’

If that weren’t enough to get you picking up a copy, Andrew Kaufman, the author of books as wonderful as The Tiny Wife and All My Friends Are Superheroes, said this about Freaks:

‘Read it and be amazed! Before you finish you’ll already be thinking of who to buy it for. It’s a circus sideshow made of words: dare to enter and become astonished to discover yourself on stage, in the starring role. I guarantee that by the time you finish reading this book you’re not only recognize your inner freak, but you’ll have learned to love it.’

If you require further convincing here’s one of the stories from book, complete with illustration:

SUPER POWER:

The ability to make

oneself unseen to

the naked eye

*

Invisible 

[Super Power: The ability to make oneself unseen to the naked eye]

If I stay totally still,

if I stand right tall,

with me back against the school wall,

close to the science room’s window,

with me feet together,

pointing straight,

aiming forward,

if I make me hands into tight fists,

make me arms dead straight,

 if I push me arms into me sides,

if I squeeze me thighs,

stop me wee,

if me belly doesn’t shake,

if me boobs don’t wobble,

if I close me eyes tight,

so tight that it makes me whole face scrunch,

if I push me lips into me mouth,

if I make me teeth bite me lips together,

if I hardly breathe,

if I don’t say a word.

Then,

I’ll magic meself invisible,

and them lasses will leave me alone.

Enjoy that as much as I did? Then seek out a copy of your very own over on Amazon in either print edition or ebook.

Review: Too Much Sex & Violence – Issue 1

I’ve been a fan of Rol Hirst’s comics since way back in the misty past of the early nineties when he was busy writing loads of issues of small press smash The Jock. He’s recently released a new small press comic Too Much Sex and Violence, which features artwork from a whole host of artists, many of whom worked with Rol on the Jock way back then. The first issue has already received a load of positive reviews on various blogs, but I thought I’d add to the praise with my own.

TMS&V is set in the fictional coastal town they forgot to close down, Fathomsby and is populated by a whole host of freaky individuals, ‘retired super-heroes, monster DJs, mutant prostitutes, pier-owning gangsters, disgruntled policemen and a woman who knows exactly what you’re thinking.’ Rol describes the series influences as North Yorkshire’s Robin Hood’s Bay meets Psychoville meets the Carter USM song “A Sheltered Life”’ and the end result certainly reflects that list.

While some might find the mix of artists jarring, I thought they neatly reflected the different character strands of the ensemble cast and Rol has clearly given a lot of thought to which character arc he handed to which artist. In the Jock Rol proved he was able to handle a large cast with finesse so I have every confidence in his ability to develop the varied characters he unveils in the first issue.

As with most first issues there is a great deal of set-up here but I already have a hankering to sink my teeth into issue two. I guarantee, read the superbly paced  and dramatically rendered introduction of Harry Hall in the issue’s opening and you’ll be wanting to extend your stay in the dark, enticing world of Fathomsby indefinitely. Some say you can never have to much of a good thing, and Too Much Sex & Violence is a very good thing.

The first issue is written by Rol Hirst, with art by Andrew Cheverton, Paul Rainey, Kelvin Green,Nige Lowrey, Mark Renhard, Martin Eden, Adrian Bamforth and Rob Wells… and everything else by Davey Metcalfe-Carr and can be bought here in either print form or PDF.

Justice League Dark

As a massive comics geek and a fan of Peter Milligan’s Shade the Changing Man I can’t help but be a little excited that Milligan is writing a new book for DC featuring Shade. Here’s the blurb courtesy of IGN’s latest run down of new DC books:

John Constantine, Deadman, Shade the Changing Man and Madame Xanadu are Justice League Dark, a band of supernatural heroes united to stop the dark things the rest of the DCU does not see in JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1, by Peter Milligan and artist Mikel Janin.

As I said, considering how great Milligan’s run on Shade was in the late eighties/early nineties can’t help being a little bit excited about this. Having said that I am also a little concerned it might well be shit. Fingers crossed for exciting.

The Skull

You might remember that I am working with my old partner in crime, Chris Askham, on a comic project. I’ve previously shared the sketch of main character Johnny. Well here’s the latest character sketch for the project, one of the key villains of the piece, The Skull.

Looking forward to revealing more stuff as we complete the ten page taster story and make a start on the first four-issue volume.

Chris Askham blogs here.

Sunday minutes.

Item 1: My mate and tip-top comics artist Chris Askham has posted the following teaser for a new project he is working on.

 

He has yet to reveal any details about this project, but I can tell you that I am the writer working with Chris on this. Looking forward to sharing more with you in due time.

Item 2: I’ve audioboo’d a reading of my latest published flashfiction, ‘What Precise Moment.’ Click here to hear it.

Item 3: Short Story Challenge Day 204-217

Between September 7th – 20th  I read stories from the Guardian Summer Fiction Special along with a couple of other stories on the website. Lots to enjoy in there from established authors as well as the commended stories from this year’s Guardian short fiction competition. I wasn’t totally taken with any of the competition stories, though I enjoyed both Burying Your Life by Harkiran Dhindsa and the winning story, Jellyfish by Anna Towers. Of the other stories, David Mitchell’s Muggins Here had me rooting for his endearing main character right up to its beautiful ending.

From the Guardian website I also read The Wave by Juliet Myerson, a truly beautiful and terrifying examintion of grief and love, and Dave Eggars’ A Fork Brought Along had me laughing out loud with a superbly timed ending.

Item 4: I am starting to think that Lost In The Trees are a bit brilliant.

AOB: What’s new with you?