Monday 3 January 2011

Plan B

In a quick change from talking about what comics etc I'm working on, I thought that I'd take time to mention some of the stuff that's impressed me over the past year. So, in no particular order let's dive in...

The Absence by Martin Stiff
Mightily enjoyable and a real page turner - what's there not to like? Great art and design, a slow burning mystery and interesting characters. Very inspirational for a person (like myself) creating self published comics.

Vern and Lettuce by Sarah McIntyre
Super stuff. I defy even the most cold-hearted-super-hero-comic-book-reader not to enjoy this.

El Sketchbook Lorenzo Deluxe

Behold the Etherington Brothers. Very talented and nice blokes to boot. In a slightly odd choice, I've picked out the mighty sketchbook collection rather than a comic. I'm sure though, that you'd forgive me if you could see this book from over where you're sitting. 600 odd pages of fantastic sketchbook action and a great book to dip into for a bit of inspiration.

Spider-Man / Dr. Strange: Fever
The only super hero pick in my list. Brendan McCarthy's delightfully psychedelic take on two of my favourite Marvel heroes. As Stanley Unwin would say 'Once a-polly ti to begat tripsy Ditko technicolour and turns out smash and flake-it. Stay cool won't you.'


PJANG by Rol Hirst
Good old Rol was kind enough to let me loose on a strip in PJANG this year, but that's not the reason why he's here - oh no. Great, great stories - that's the reason. If like me you're a sucker for twists and turns in your comics, then you ought to check out PJANG.

Outcastes by Tony McGee
Magic and mystery by Mr. McGee. The only mystery to me being how he manages to draw quite so many top comics? Does he draw while he sleeps? I don't know? A top series and one that's going from strength to strength - my only criticism is the wait for the latest issue!

Kani by WJC
I stumbled across WJC's stuff in Will Kirkby's Nu Earth and am now officially hooked. Just the right mix of storytelling and oddness for my liking. Roll on his forth-coming book Gungle for Blank Slate this year.

The Bizarre Adventures of Gilbert and Sullivan
by Laura Howell
Very funny stuff indeed by the wonderfully talented Ms. Howell. Bravo I say. Any comic that has Oscar Wilde threatening to take a gang of gentlemen off home for a 'jolly good kissing' has got to be worth a look.

Phew. Thanks for bearing with me on this one folks. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

RT

5 comments:

  1. Cheers sir. You'll be glad to hear the wait is nearly over, as I've once again taken to drawing in my sleep.

    Keep up the good blog.

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  2. Thanks for the plug, Ryan - happy new year!

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  3. Thanks so much for taking the time to read The Absence! It's hugely encouraging to know that people are enjoying it! I should have the third one out in the next month or so (it's a 42 page monster so it's taking me longer than the others) and I'll make sure I drop a line when it's done.
    Thanks again,
    Martin Stiff

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  4. Cheers for the comments folks - always good to spread some news about top comics I say.
    RT

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  5. Just catching up with your back catalogue soft lad. I thought this was going to be about that rapper bloke - disappointing.

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