By Robin Jones
Welcome back to the Inter-Comics Indie Spotlight, this column aims to make you, the readers, aware of cool indie/crowd funded comic book creators and projects!
We have writer/artist Zak Simmonds-Hurn in the spotlight this week, he is the sole creator of his own series Monstrosity, which has issues #1 & #2 out already and he is a regular contributor to The Phoenix, an all ages comic which was recently featured in a Guardian article entitled ‘The Phoenix: The best kids’ comic in ages’, where it was proclaimed as “a phenomenon: a beautiful, enjoyably silly story magazine for girls and boys”. Zak does work on the Simon Swift and Sky Drifters segments!
Me: Where did the idea/inspiration for Monstrosity come from?
Zak: To begin with it was inspired by a strong love of action manga and Videogames and wanting to create a really dynamic, action-packed comic full of cool monsters and fighting- something that had the same impact as the battles in God of War or Bayonetta.
It evolved a lot though- Monstrosity still has plenty of action, but the focus in the finished comic is definitely mostly on the characters and story; if you don’t care about what happens to the character then even a great action scene is ultimately meaningless.
Me: What sets Monstrosity apart from other Anime style comics?
Zak: I think that despite there being some design elements that may be familiar to anime and manga fans, my approach to storytelling in Monstrosity is probably more westernised. I grew up reading British and American comics from a very young age, and although I was first exposed to manga when I was about seven I didn’t start reading any myself until Viz released Dragonball in English eight years later.
Monstrosity is a hybrid of many influences from around the world, but I’d like to think that when people read it it just feels like its own unique thing, rather than a weird amalgam.
Me: If you could sell Monstrosity in one sentence, what would it be?
Zak: Monstrosity is an action-adventure comic about a man who is given demonic powers which he will be slain for possessing, unless he can learn to master them for himself.
Me: Which artists and writers have most influenced you in bringing Monstrosity to life?
Zak: For me it all started with Sonic The Comic in the early 90′s. The creators really gave their all to produce a fantastic comic and, aged 7, it made me want to be able to do what they did for a living one day! So that would be Nigel Kitching, Richard Elson, Nigel Dobbyn and Lew Stringer to name just a few.
Since then, other influences include Mike Parobeck and Rick Burchett’s Batman Adventures work, Joe Mad’s Battle Chasers stuff, Juanjo Guarnido, Eiichiro Oda, classic Disney animation and anything by Katsuhiro Otomo!
There are loads more but it would take forever to list them all!
Me: One of your stories, Simon Swift, appears in The Phoenix, a comic which The Guardian recently did a great piece about, calling it the best kids comic around. How did that come about?
Zak: I worked on The Phoenix’s predecessor, The DFC, quite a few years back.
Robin Etherington and I did a series of short tales for it titled The Strange, Strange World of Weird! It was sort of like a kids version of the Twilight Zone, but with a very wacky sense of humour!
When The Phoenix started up they got in touch and asked me if I had any ideas I’d like to pitch to them. After a couple of rejected pitches they accepted my idea ‘Sky Drifters’, a story about a Puffin called Tod who pilots a flying cloud and gets separated from his people. After that, the Editor Will put me in touch with Tom Fickling who had written a fantasy adventure tale called Simon Swift, they asked if it sounded like something I’d be keen on drawing and it absolutely was!
Me: Do you still have time to read comics? And what comics regularly appear on your pull list?
Zak: Whilst time can be pretty tight sometimes, I just can’t resist reading comics.
First off, I’m obsessed with One Piece; when it’s at its best I think it’s the best comic around. I’m also really glad that Berserk seems to have started up again, that is an unbelievably great series, it’s just a shame it comes out so slowly!
Obviously The Phoenix has loads of amazing work every week; I’ve really been enjoying Neill Cameron and Kate Brown’s Tamsin and the Deep.
I started reading Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman run recently and have been blown away- also Tradd Moore on All New Ghost Rider and Stuart Immonen on All New X-Men are ridiculously impressive too.
Image are releasing tons of amazing books at the moment, Saga, Lazarus, Walking Dead- there are so many great series out right now. In fact I think the comics scene is the most vibrant it’s ever been!
Me: What can we expect in the future from Monstrosity and from yourself?
Zak: Well, in issue 3, Daigo will have to find a way out of his current, very tricky, situation; but soon enough he’s going to have to come face to face with the Demon Trolle Vengus, who for some reason believes he has history with Daigo. We’ll also learn much more about the Ninja clan and the history of the city, all things which will change how Daigo sees the world forever!
I’m currently working on both Monstrosity issue 3 and a brand new Sky Drifters tale for The Phoenix- I think it’s Tod’s most exciting adventure yet- lots of twists and turns to look forward to! Also Tom is writing the next series of Simon Swift at the moment, so expect more of that in several months’ time.
I’m also working on sketches for something else that it’s probably too early to talk about at the moment, but I think it’ll be really exciting- watch this space!
Me: What’s your favourite aspect of making comics?
Zak: It always used to be drawing, but now it’s harder to pin down for me. It sounds a bit vague but I think it’s the thrill of creating something.
Inventing characters and worlds and weaving a story that brings them to life on the page is a very potent thrill and I feel incredibly lucky that I get to do it every day.
Me: Hypothetical now, who would win in a seaside boxing machine contest: Goku or Daigo Bezalel?
Zak: I think they would both break the machine!
If it came down to an arm-wrestle then Goku would have to win though. Daigo’s demon-powered form is tough, but Goku makes even Superman look weak, so I think there’s no shame conceding defeat to him!
You can catch Zak on twitter here, he has his own website packed chockablock with goodies here and he’ll be selling Monstrosity at the following conventions this year: Comica Comiket (16th August), N.I.C.E. (13th-14th September) and Thought Bubble (15th-16th November), so make sure to head out and say hi!
Until next time…
Rob Jones is an honourary Yorkie, but for the life of him, he can’t understand why. He writes articles, is attempting to write comics and his life ambition is to own a solid gold Donkey… For more comic news, reviews and the odd bit of sense, follow Robin on twitter @Hulksmash1985
Posted on August 16th, 2014
Category: INDIE SPOTLIGHT, NEWS & VIEWS, REVIEWS
Tags: Independent comcs, Monstrosity, Robin Jones, Simon Swift and Sky Drifters, The Phoenix, Zak Simmonds-Hurn
By Robin Jones
Welcome back to the Inter-Comics Indie Spotlight, this column aims to make you, the readers, aware of cool indie/crowd funded comic book creators and projects!
This time around we have the double pronged attack of Slorance and Bell or Slorabell! It’s everyone’s favourite Dungeoneers Neil Slorance and Colin Bell, co-creators of the magnificent all ages comic Dungeon Fun, not a self help guide to creating a BDSM lair, but an action/adventure comic in the vein of Zelda! Voted 61st best comic of 2013 by CBR and recently sweeping the board at the Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards, it is a genuinely funny piece of work that everyone can enjoy and should be thrust in front of every school child in the UK!
Neil and Colin’s Dungeon Fun #1 was launched at Thoughtbubble 2013 and #2 is out now! So let’s get down to the nitty gritty!
ME: First off, congratulations on winning all the SICBA awards (as I am aware you guys wiped the slate!) Also, congratulations on being named the 61st best comic of 2013 and ALL the other accolades you’ve both been garnering! How have things been for the pair of you?
Neil: Great, the attention’s been a bit unbelievable. It’s still sinking in that we won 4 SICBAs and the response from Dungeon Fun 2′s been great.
Colin: Thanks! Things are pretty, pretty good.
Me: So, Dungeon Fun #2 is now out! For new readers, can you explain what sets Dungeon Fun apart from comics like Adventure Time, Regular Show and other all ages comics?
Neil: It’s a different sense of humour for sure. It definitely has a more british feel to it a bit like Monty Python and it’s also one big story as opposed to a one-story-per-episode kind of thing.
Colin: It’s the only comic with that trademark “Slorabell Feeling”, and it comes out far less often.
Me: If you were asked to sell Dungeon Fun in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
Neil: It’s all ages fantasy fun and I think it’s great so you should read it.
Colin: BUY THIS COMIC OR NEIL CAN’T EAT *points to Neil making hungry face*
Me: Where did the inspiration for Dungeon Fun come from, both in writing and art style, and who were the biggest influences on your styles?
Colin: The inspiration really came from the intitial sketch Neil drew, and then it all just spilled from there. Influence wise, I’m going to say Billy the Fish, Bone, Comedy Bang Bang… I’ve been listening to a lot of Welcome To Night Vale lately so I’m keen to see if that affects issue three at all.
Neil: From the art side of things I’ve always been influenced by adventure games like Zelda, anything to do with dungeon crawling, swords and chests is right up my street. Fun’s design was influenced a lot by Wind Waker.
Me: What with all the awards, conventions, interviews and of course making comics, do the pair of you still get time to read comics and if you do, which comics are a regular appearer on your pull lists?
Colin: I’m still hanging in there, barely. Locke and Key’s finished, but it was amazing. I pick up Daredevil because I’ve been picking up Daredevil forever – luckily it’s been pretty great for the past few years now. I’m still getting Invincible because Ryan Ottley, and when it’s in its prime there’s nothing close to it. Also Michel Fiffe’s incredible COPRA. True story: The first print of Dungeon Fun Book One were all hand numbered because I saw Michel Fiffe do it on the first issue of COPRA. It is to date the stupidest and most time-consuming decision I ever made.
Neil: I’ve fallen back a bit with the weekly wednesday comics, the last I got was the new Amazing-Spiderman about 2 weeks ago and I still haven’t read it. I do buy a lot of indie and small press though, it’s a lot easier to keep up with since it’s mostly all self contained and I tend to enjoy the stories more.
Me: What’s your favourite aspect of making comics? What drives you to keep doing it?
Neil: I just love seeing a page come together, especially at the final stages when the colours are going in it almost feels like it’s coming to life. I also love hearing from kids and stuff, the other day I saw a girl dressed up as Fun and it just made my day to see my work had an impact like that.
Colin: It’s just the little things, you know? Once every so often I get to see a book I made sit on the new release shelf of the comic shop I’ve been going to since I was a lad. Or when the boxes of comics arrive and you take one out, and it’s yours – an idea once in your head has taken form in this tangible wee book. Or any time a kid asks “when’s the next one coming out?”. That’s just the best.
Me: What do you in store for readers for future issues of Dungeon Fun? Do the pair of you have plans to work on any other projects together? Also, Neil, do you have any plans for sequels to The Amateur Astronomers Journal or any new travelogues in the works?
Neil: We’re going to keep on with Dungeon Fun for sure and hopefully have a pop at more all ages comics. I’m going to finish my 3rd travelogue in the next month or so which will wrap up the whole story then after that I have a few ideas for what I can do next year. A lot of these ideas involve tortoises.
Colin: Yep, plenty more Dungeon Fun. What do we have in store? DUNGEONHAM. I’ve said too much! I think we’d definitely like to do some more comics together, I’ve got a couple of pitches for some other stuff in the works as well.
Me: Tell us about your publishing house Dogooder Comics! What can we expect to see being released in the future?
Colin: Dogooder Comics is a boutique small-press publisher dedicated to bringing entertaining and interesting comics to the wooooooorld! Right now we’re concentrating on Dungeon Fun and Owen Michael Johnson’s fantastic REEL LOVE, but I would be surprised if we didn’t have a couple of new books ready for Thought Bubble. Stay tuned!
Me: Finally, Hypothetical question now. If Finn & Jake from Adventure, the My Little Pony gang, Mordecal & Rigby and Fun had a mudman making contest… who would win?
Neil: Well Jake has those wacky stretchy arms, I think he’d be the best but I’d guess Fun would chop it down just cos.
Colin: The fans! The fans would win. Always the fans.
For all your Dungeon Fun needs, check out dogoodercomics.co.uk to order both issues and also to check out Reel Love. You can follow Colin’s twitter exploits here and Neil’s dungeon crawling adventures here. They also have a Dogooder facebook page which you can check out here and Neil has his own here.
Until next time.
Rob Jones is an honourary Yorkie, but for the life of him, he can’t understand why. He writes articles, is attempting to write comics and his life ambition is to own a solid gold Donkey… For more comic news, reviews and the odd bit of sense, follow Robin on twitter @Hulksmash1985
Posted on August 4th, 2014
Category: INDIE SPOTLIGHT, PREVIEWS & UPCOMING RELEASES, REVIEWS
Tags: Colin Bell, Dungeon Fun, Independent comcs, Neil Slorance, Robin Jones, Scottish Independent Comic Book Awards
By Robin Jones
Welcome back to the Inter-Comics Indie Spotlight, this column aims to make you, the readers, aware of cool indie/crowd funded comic book creators and projects!
This time around we are speaking to the creative team behind Stronghold, a new, independent comic from creators Kevin Roberts and Brian Visaggio. It’s a science fiction action-adventure story rooted in the “super-sentai” genre, which you might familiar with from shows such as Power Rangers, Masked Rider, Voltron and Gatchaman/G-Force. Kevin and Brian also take strong influences from manga and anime like Dragon Ball, western comics like Kingdom Come and Sandman, and shows like Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek Deep Space 9 to combine these elements to craft something familiar for science fiction fans In concept but fresh and truly unique in its execution.
I spoke with Brian and Kevin about Stonghold:
Me: Where did the inspiration and idea come from for Stronghold?
KR: I had wanted to do something Super-Sentai (re: Power Rangers/Kamen Rider/etc) inspired for years, I was always drawing up character designs that didn’t have a real story behind them, but I developed them all the same. Then Brian approached me about doing a book like that. A darker, grimmer version of Power Rangers, a show that we liked but we know is still kids’ stuff. So this basically started as our love letter, our homage to that genre of kids shows we grew up on. We wanted something with teams transforming into chitinous armor and piloting giant mecha, while giving it enough of a spin to make it our own, to make it distinct.
BV: Power Rangers. It’s sort of that simple. Kevin and I, along with our friend Martin Krause who helped us to develop the plot the book initially, discovered we all shared a sustained, mutual love for Power Rangers, but knew damn well how poorly the show held up. I initially discussed the idea with Martin, and as Kevin and I had been trying to work out a project to do together, I approached him about the art. I said “Let’s do Power Rangers for grown-ups.” He said “I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life,” or something to that effect.
We really wanted to do a mature story about kung-fu space superheroes who fight aliens, and I daresay we’ve successfully done that.
Me: Which artists and writers have most heavily influenced you both in your work on Stronghold, and in the style and tone of the comic?
KR: I do have a bit of comic background from my adolescent days. Whenever I went with my dad to the pharmacy or the convenience store he’d buy me some comic books (which were only $1.25-1.50) to take home. I was big into Archie Comics’ Sonic The Hedgehog and TMNT series, and I’d grab any X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man I could get my hands on. I was too young to realize how bad the clone saga was (haha) but I loved 90s Spider-Man however I could get my hands on it. But around the time the PlayStation came out (1995 in NA) I stopped reading a lot of comics, I’d pick up a few here and there but I didn’t get into them seriously until college. Most of my influences were from tv and video games. Genndy Tartokovski’s Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack remain near and dear to my heart. Akira Toriyama; Dragon Ball Z (there weren’t any American cartoons with that level of action. It blew me away at the tender age of 11), Ronin Warriors, Voltron reruns, Gundam Wing, Big O, Katsuhiro Otomo: Akira, Hayao Miyazaki; Princess Mononoke, Ninja Scroll. I was smack in the middle of the mid-90s early-2000s anime boom and I was taking in as much as I could. I mean who hasn’t been affected by Cowboy Bebop (Shinichiro Watanabe)? Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid came out when I was 13 and changed my life forever. I mean that series is a part of my identity. Yoji Shinkawa’s art has been a big influence on me, respectively. Japanese cartoons and video games shaped my tweens and teens in a big way, and anythiing Bruce Timm had his fingers in, as far as American cartoons went; Batman, Justice League, etc. There’s one manga I’ve been faithful to since I was 18 and that’s Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond. If you don’t know it, you need it in your life. Inoue’s draftsmanship simultaneously inspires me and depresses me to no end, and it’s a great story about Miyamoto Musashi.
BV: It’s always a fight to figure out who my influences are. I keep wanting to bring some Gaiman in there but it’s never tonally appropriate. I’d say my biggest influences are Mark Waid, Alan Moore, yeah probably Gaiman, Brian Azzarrello, and Brian S. Wood. Wood’s DMZ has been a huge influence, and I’ve always tried to emulate Mark Waid’s remarkable sense of tragedy.
Me: Do you still read/have time to read comics and if so, which comics do you like reading?
KR: Not a whole lot to be honest. Gaming’s my primary hobby and I barely have time for that between working part time and drawing Stronghold. I make time when a game really gets its hooks in but I spend less time gaming or reading comics these days than say, in college. Going to the gym has actually helped; I read comics and graphic novels while doing the treadmill portion of my work out. I’m catching up on Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. Incredible stuff. I do make a point of it though so I don’t stagnate. It’s good to look at other’s work and study what they did and why they did it. Composition, panel layouts, and I’m currently also doing the lettering so I try to study that too. So comics for me are like 40% hobby and 60% research.
BV: My monthly books right now are Starlight, Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman. I keep wanting to get back into X-Men but I haven’t read it regularly for over a decade now. When I was a kid, I mostly read Uncanny X-Men, Amazing Spider-Man, and Tom DeFalco’s Spider-Girl, which I dearly, dearly love, although I sometimes wonder if I learned all the wrong lessons from DeFalco.
I spend a lot of time in trades. I love classic 1930′s and 40′s Superman. It may not be evident from my reading choices but I’m sort of obsessed with Superman; I’ve just never been interested in the main continuity. Red Son, Superman for All Season, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, Kingdom Come, All-Star Superman…these are books I come back to again and again and again.
Sandman, Powers, DMZ, Scott Pilgrim (which is truly, truly remarkable). Lots of stuff. Less than I’d like.
Me: Can you describe Stronghold in a single sentence?
KR: Power Rangers, Battlestar Galactica, and Dragonball Z had a baby and we don’t know who the father is.
BV: People making horrible choices in a terrible situation are surprisingly unsuspicious when a space alien offers to give them superpowers so they can overthrow the government.
Me: What can readers expect to see in the future for Stronghold with issue 4 & 5?
KR: More plot, more character development, some new characters, even, awesome fight choreography, grim but hopeful science fiction that doesn’t abuse the color brown.
BV: Issue 4 and 5 are going to be wrapping up the story’s act 1, dealing with the fallout from the events of The Chains parts 1-3. It’s going to launch the book into the second act where the bulk of the story will be spent. Bodies will be buried. Villains will be introduced. And we get to see what’s outside the cities.
Me: You’ve currently got a kickstarter going for Stonghold, what is the best part of using crowd funding for your projects?
KR: If we get funded I’ll let you know (hahaha) but I guess it’s forced me to network more than have been. Or at least attempt to. And it’s nice seeing people I don’t know giving us some attention, taking a chance on us.
BV: Not going broke funding things yourself. I make pretty much no money, and my wife and I work hard to keep ourselves afloat. We could never do this without help.
Me: Do the pair of you have any plans for future comics/stories together?
KR: We have more ideas that we have time or hands to commit them to paper or computer, honestly. I wish I had a clone who just did all the things I didn’t have time for, but had all my skills and interests.
BV: We have a few different projects on the backburner waiting for Stronghold to end, all of which we’re really excited about. One of them may be the best thing I’ve ever written.
Me: What’s your favourite part about creating comics?
KR: I love to draw, I always have. Comics require a lot of drawing. It’s labor intensive, but as long as you’re not lazy, you can see yourself improving with each book you make. And after I’m done I get a real sense of accomplishment from what I’ve finished. There’s a profound sense of growth and learning that is almost inevitable in making comics.
BV: I honestly don’t know how to answer that. There’s really never been a time in my life where they hasn’t been the impulse to make comics. Never ever. So it’s like asking what your favorite part of breathing is; it’s completely natural and I never really give it a thought as to what about it appeals to me or what part of it I like. It’s just something that I do.
Me: Hypothetical question now, if the character’s of Stronghold came up against the characters from Super Sentai?
KR:Stronghold. No contest. But then they’d team up and become BFFs.
BV: They’d lose due to being vastly, vastly outnumbered.
What you have there is a comprehensive reason to back Stonghold! Brian and Kevin are fantastic gents and fully deserve your support! You can check out the Stonghold website here, donate to their kickstarter fund here, (Which I strongly suggest you do!) also if Twitter is your thing and you wish to stalk the pair of them, then hit Brian up here and Kevin here! Kevin also has his own tumblr, which showcases his art, which can be accessed here!
See you all next time.
Rob Jones is an honourary Yorkie, but for the life of him, he can’t understand why. He writes articles, is attempting to write comics and his life ambition is to own a solid gold Donkey… For more comic news, reviews and the odd bit of sense, follow Robin on twitter @Hulksmash1985
Posted on May 10th, 2014
Category: INDIE SPOTLIGHT, PREVIEWS & UPCOMING RELEASES, REVIEWS
Tags: Brian Visaggio, Comic Reviews, Independent comcs, Indie Spotlight, Kevin Roberts, Kickstarter comics, Robin Jones, Stronghold
By Robin Jones
Welcome back to the Inter-Comics Indie Spotlight, this column aims to make you, the readers, aware of cool indie/crowd funded comic book creators and projects!
This time around we have British comic writer Stu Perrins. Stu has written many different comics over the years, with titles including Mercury, Harvey Spig, Tales from a Lonely Planet, Imperials and others.
Rob: Can you give us an overview of the work you’ve been doing?
Stu: I created my first comic when i was about 9, which was a blatant Transformers rip-off called ‘Droid Squad’. I can’t remember much about it other than the big reveal at the end was that America had been secretly ruled by a series of cyborg presidents, and there was a time travel sub plot in there somewhere too. I used to get my Mum to photocopy it for me at work and then I’d give it out to the kids on my street.
But if you’re talking about things I’ve written that have been read by people other than the kids on my estate, then the first thing I wrote that anyone really took any notice of was a sci-fi / superhero tale called ‘Mercury’ which I self published with the artist Matt White. We launched that at MCM a few years ago and got some nice reviews and some very encouraging feedback. Since then I’ve had stories published in ‘Boredom Relief’, ‘Ashcan Oddities.’, ‘Hallowscream’ and ‘SPOD!: Oddities from Space’. I’ve also written ‘Avalon’ for ‘Red Leaf Comics’ amongst other stuff and of course there’s the ongoing ‘Harvey Spig’ saga.
Me: Where did the ideas for Harvey Spig come from?
Stu: Since i was a kid I’ve loved two things. 1) that typically British stuff upper lip hero and 2) OTT monster stories. So Harvey Spig is my open love letter to those two genres. I’m also incredibly lucky to have Mr Nick Gonzo as my Spig co-creator, not only does he like the bat shit crazy ideas I come with but he also actively encourages me to push things in as many insane directions as possible, so that sort of support and creative belief is invaluable. Every comic writer needs a Nick Gonzo in their life.
Me: What comics did you read growing up?
Stu: Like pretty much everyone my age the first comic I read obsessively was The Beano, but that all changed one day when on the way home from school my Mum brought the nine year old me a copy of 2000AD and the rest, as the cliche goes is history.
Me: Which creator has most influenced your work?
Stu: That’s an impossible question to answer really, there are so many creators I admire including the likes of Robert Kirkman, Mark Millar and Grant Morrison so you could say they have influenced me greatly. Having said that Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and Terry Gilliam are huge inspirations to me, especially Terry Gilliam, that man is a genius as afar as I’m concerned.
Me: Where can we find your comics?
Stu: I’ve got a bunch of stuff available on drivethrucomics.com and comicsy. Check out my twitter, I can barely go 5 minutes without pimping something I’ve written or that I’m working on. A good starting point is either one of both of these frankly awesome FREE comics – Harvey Spig in “The Dead of Night and Stories from beyond sleep
Me: What projects/comics do you have lined up for the future?
Stu: Loads of stuff! Amongst other projects I’m currently writing the last part of ’Prime’ which is a 4 part story capes and capers epic which I’m working on with Israel Huretas. The stuff that Israel is coming up with is jaw droppingly awesome- just wait ’till you see it – one day that guy will be working for the big two, you mark my words. There’s also a something called ‘The Dark Shadow Apocalypse’ with I’m working on with Saad Azim that I can’t really say too much about because i don’t really want to give too much away but its probably one of the most ambitious things I’ve ever written. I’m also currently co-writing a horror/sci-fi one shot called ‘Infected’ with I A Austin, which I’m really enjoying doing having never co-written with anyone before, and Mr Austin is such an awesome writer that I’m really enjoying collaborating with him on this. I’m also in the process of putting together what I hope will become an ongoing anthology called ‘Clockwork Goat Presents’ , which contains all sorts of awesome. And as well as all that I’ve got strips in forthcoming issues of FutureQuake and The Psychedelic Journal of Time Travel and of course there’s more Harvey Spig – including an all new adventure for FCB day called ‘Happy Birthday Harvey Spig.’
Me: What’s the best part of crow funding your projects?
Stu: It’s a great feeling having a group of people pushing forward and supporting a common cause.
Me: Do you have regular artists you use or do you prefer using different artists to achieve a different perspective on your writing?
Stu: I’m very lucky to have worked with a bunch of awesome artists. Working with the likes of Israel Huertas, Nick Gonzo, Vince Hunt, Brian Burke and others is a genuine joy. Each artist I’ve worked with has brought something new and exciting to the table.
Me: Do you have any more crowd funding campaigns starting soon?
Stu: Not at the moment, but anything can happen. Watch this space!
So please, check out Stu’s work on DriveThruComics right here and you can catch him on twitter right here!
See you all next time!
For more comic views and reviews follow Robin on Twitter at @Hulksmash1985
Posted on May 10th, 2014
Category: Blog, INDIE SPOTLIGHT, REVIEWS
Tags: Harvey Spig, Imperials, Independent comcs, Indie Comics, Mercury, Robin Jones, Stu Perrins, Tales from a Lonely Planet
By Jason Webb
Scam #1 cover.
Scam is a book that came from nowhere really from a small creator owned publisher, called Comixtribe. Which at the time of its original release was only dealing with a micro distribution deal with a few select comic shops in the USA and Canada, but after making some big deals, they are finally getting the worldwide release of their books that they deserve, and I for one couldn’t be happier to finally get my hands on them!
Our story begins in Mesquite, Nevada, 2 years ago. We are thrown straight into a robbery taking place at a secure location, with a team of people that are all in different locations surrounding the building. They all have different jobs to do that are suited to their abilities, and as we go through a roll call of the characters involved we learn about the parts they play in the story.
We begin with Midas and Michelle, who are the guns on the roof, Doc who is the tech man, then to Pint and Marcus who are in the get away vehicle, and Hack and Tru are the men on the inside. The job has its fair share of problems, but the team gets through it. That is until they make a discovery that will rock the situation to its very core, and brings the whole thing crashing down.
Who you looking at?
Which also brings to light that this is no ordinary group of people, but all have a super human ability in some form. With the mayhem that is occurring around them, the guys all try to make it out of the building, and it’s surrounding area with their lives.
Time to get out of here!
After the daring escape, the story brings us a little bit closer to current times, but not quite, this brings us to one week ago. Doc is on a boat searching for an island, or more specifically the man that currently inhabits the island, Tru. The guys are sitting on a beach having a drink, while they plot the revenge against the people that set them up on their last big heist, and which of the team they can bring in to exact their revenge on every level they can to bring down the person that nearly killed all their friends.
After this encounter we arrive back at the current time, with Doc tied to a chair. Held in a basement somewhere, being interrogated for information. Of course he doesn’t want to give away details, which results in some pretty heavy questioning, with very violent consequences when they don’t get the info they need.
You won't get a word out of me!
Then we come to a small bar in the middle of the desert. Where Doc and Tru are due to meet the rest of the team, to go over the plans. However they are both waylaid in different circumstances, and feelings are very hostile between the other members of the crew, and relationships begin to strain.
Which brings us to The Hotel Monarch, where we encounter Marcus, speaking with his secretary being particularly arrogant he goes off to a meeting after making sure his secretary is put back in her place.
Then we arrive at the airport, which brings Tru back to our story as he lands in Nevada. He encounters a few people that are sent to meet him and bring him to their boss which of course doesn’t go to plan. As Tru finds a way to escape the situation he finds himself in, not only once but twice, and eventually finds his way out of the airport, much to the dismay of his would be captures and the man who sent them to collect him which isn’t the group we expect to be looking for him. The encounters in the airport were orchestrated by another group, which adds to the mystery that surrounds our main man, and why everyone seems to want to bring him in for their own purpose.
What the Hell happened!!
After all the madness we return to the bar and the rest of the team as they begin to put their plan together. They eventually get reunited with Tru, and they can begin on the journey of their next mission. All this seems to go off without a problem, or so you would think, which leads to the sensational finale of the huge issue.
Tell me where is the Doc!
Issue #1 of scam is a huge double issue that is absolutely the perfect introduction to this story. Joe Mulvey without doubt has created one of the best stories you will read this year. I think this book could quite easily have been a movie, and I will definately be following this story when it comes out in August, believe me you are not going to want to miss this!
On a personal note: Joe, I am very grateful to get a review copy of this book. I’m pretty sure you remember me pestering you all the time when it was first released, and i’m just so happy that you, and the Comixtribe team let me try and spread the word to a wider audience. Follow Joe Mulvey on twitter @JoeMulv
Don’t miss out! Click here to Pre-Order your copy of Scam #1
You can follow Jason Webb on his blog or on twitter at @Jaybwebb
Posted on June 12th, 2012
Category: PREVIEWS & UPCOMING RELEASES
Tags: comics, comics review, Comixtribe, Independent comcs, Jason Webb, Joe Mulvey, PREVIEWS & UPCOMING RELEASES, Scam #1
By Ari Carr
The titular Butcher's devious smile.
I should probably begin by saying Garth Ennis’ ‘The Boys’ is quite an acquired taste. Very much an acquired taste. And even so, that is putting it politely. The extreme violence and sexual scenes are really not advisable for anyone under 18. I am yet to read any other comic which has as much swearing, extreme violence and sexual scenes as this, but it’s remarkable story shines through even its darkest, grittiest moments. This is, of course, helped by the outstanding, unbearably realistic artwork of Darick Robertson. (Also known for Transmetropolitan, Max: The Punisher Born, and the memorable Wolverine: Return of the Native) His fantastic artwork makes the story really come alive.
‘The Boys’ are a group of super-powered humans who monitor the actual superheroes (who are quite often parodies of our well-known Marvel and DC heroes- ‘Homelander’ is a bastardised, completely insane version of our DC’s Superman) and keep them from causing too much trouble; Simon Pegg summed it up excellently in his foreword to the TPB Volume 1, Name Of The Game: “Who watches the watchmen? The Boys do, and they kick the living, fucking shit out of them.” The team itself is made up of Wee Hughie, an almost carbon copy of Pegg (heavily influenced by Shaun of ‘Shaun Of The Dead’ and Tim of ‘Spaced’) who serves as our primary narrator, as well as a voice of reason (and more often, humanity) to the rest of the team. We also have the psychotic Frenchman, his ‘ward’ the even crazier, silent Female, and finally, Mother’s Milk, the glue that binds the team together. The Boys, as I have already mentioned, are the watchers of the ‘supes’, and basically make sure that all the crazy stuff they usually get away with stays either kept under the carpet, or if bad enough, they get a little ‘love tap’ (as Butcher calls it) to stop them from doing it again.
However, this volume focusses on Billy Butcher, the intense and threatening bloke who first took Wee Hughie under his wing away back in issue 1. ‘Butcher Baker Candlestickmaker’ focusses primarily on Butcher’s back story, which has cleverly been saved for the final reveal and is the story that comes before what will likely be the explosive finale (the TPB is due out July 17th) It is the final piece of the puzzle to be assembled, since the origins of all the other characters have already been told in horrifyingly beautiful, gut-wrenching glory, this story essentially tells us why Butcher is the madman that he is.
Butcher handing out a 'love tap'.
It is, as can always be expected from The Boys, a gripping story, wonderful artwork, but with the constant anticipation of Butcher’s story, it has been the best volume yet. It tracks his family history, war experience, meeting his wife, and eventually, how he became to be a part of The Boys in the first place, and the story is all told in bone-busting, heart-breaking reminiscences by Butcher to his deceased father.
The Boys has been one of the best and most violent series I have read in a long time, but it is a fantastic series, with a gripping storyline.
And the Marvel and DC style characters are hilarious.
The Seven: The Boys' universe version of JLA.
You can follow Ari on her blog or on twitter at @Ariellalphabet
Click here to checkout The Boys series
Posted on June 11th, 2012
Category: REVIEWS
Tags: comics, comics review, Dynamite, Dynamite Entertainment, Independent comcs, REVIEWS, The Boys
By Jack Chambers
Zyklon B [zy-klon bee]
noun
Zyklon B #1 Cover B
The world of independent comics has never looked better. With websites like Kickstarter and indiegogo, creators can now get their work funded (by the public, no less) without having to go through publishers. This relatively new system works particularly well for possibly controversial projects, such as Adam Cheal’s Zyklon B. The title itself brings controversy and, combined with the language used and often gory artwork, the book has a sinister feel that may not appeal to some audiences. However, the book is clearly not intended for all audiences and the dark content is not used simply for it’s own sake. Cheal uses the strong language, particularly bloody kills and subjects such as Nazism and black magic to tell an interesting and horrifying story.
The story moves at a consistently high pace and it tells a complete story, something rather unusual in a world full to the brim with cliffhangers. Visher’s origin tale could have easily been told with a series unto itself, instead Cheal chooses to cover all the necessary points in issue #1 and allows for the rest of the series to expand in to a larger world of Zyklon B. This swift storytelling definitely helps maintain the reader’s interest at all times but sometimes lends itself to feeling rushed. There seem to be no truly good people in this world, a compliment to Cheal’s unconventional characterisations. The man turned into Zyklon B gas, now known only as Visher, is clearly the focus of the issue and is the most fleshed out member of the cast but he’s no hero. For the vast majority of the book, he is little more than a literal a force of vengeance. The most intriguing man in this tussle is Caleb Fontana, seemingly Visher’s only friend before he becomes cursed with his gaseous form. He is not heavily featured in the book but every panel that the practitioner of powerful dark magic is featured in is a highlight. I know that he will be returning in the next three issues and I can’t wait to see where Caleb is taken, even more so than Visher.
Overall, a good balance of action and dialogue is struck but unfortunately, a few lines of dialogue feel unneeded and ham-fisted. More subtlety around the Nazi elements and characters would have been a nice touch but it doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the writing.
Joel J Cotejar’s illustrations and Mike Summers’ colours compliment the twisted nature of the script brilliantly. Every drop of bloody violence is extremely well detailed and the expressive close ups of faces particularly stand out. The panel layout is always fresh and never difficult to follow, something that can bring down even the best writers/artists.
An always unsung and under-appreciated member of a comic creative team is the letterer. Well, I’m glad to say that Mindy Lopkin’s work on Zyklon B is some of the best lettering work I’ve seen in quite some time. Unique bubble styles are expertly used, allowing the read to follow the script freely between character perspectives without hesitance. Lopkin’s letters emphasise the professional level of work of everyone involved in this project.
Despite the aforementioned lack of a real cliffhanger, Zyklon B #1 leaves you wanting more when you’re finished. Cheal’s writing is brave and powerful, Cotejar & Summers’ artwork is bold and striking and Lopkin’s lettering is simply superb. I’m proud to have helped the team on their way to seeing out their vision and I’m very happy to find that my time and money were well worth it.
Zyklon B would not look out of place on a shelf next to horror comics of the highest level. Bring on the other three issues!
Overall: 9/10
You can follow Jack on his website www.jlwchambers.com or on twitter at @jlwchambers
To contribute and support Zyklon B on indiegogo: http://www.indiegogo.com/ZyklonBComic
Official Zyklon B website: www.zyklonbcomic.com/
Follow Zyklon B on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zyklonbcomic
Posted on May 25th, 2012
Category: Blog, REVIEWS
Tags: Adam Cheal, comics, comics review, Independent comcs, Review, Zyklon B
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