April 23, 2010
Website
Forlorn Funnies #2
Don’t you hate those complicated books where you have to read it again when it’s all over with just so it makes sense? Yeah, me neither. One thing about Paul is that he’s going to go at his own incredible pace and just trust you to keep up. This is the first part of a longer story about a boy whose father is slowing going insane. Wait, that might be a secret. Pretend you didn’t read that. Anyway, it’s incredible, but it took until the end of the book for me to come to that conclusion. It seemed kind of all over the place as I was reading it and it only really started to come together at the end. Now I can’t wait to see what happens next. That’s one of the benefits of my erratic reading schedule: I don’t usually read things right when they come out, so there’s less time to wait until the next part of the story. There’s wisdom in that, trust me. All the contact info is still above and he still has a great website that people everywhere should look at. Oh yeah, and could somebody have pity on me and tell me how I can get a scanner that isn’t quite this crappy for a tiny amount of money?
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
Forlorn Funnies #1
Sorry, but apparently all color scans just suck. That aside, it’s a new series for the wonderful (and remarkably prolific, considering how detailed all of his comics are) Paul Hornschemeier! He’s probably sick to death of being compared to Chris Ware by now, but that’s the best I can give you for a quick comparison. Past that, he’s pretty much unique. This book is about a bunch of different people and televisions characters and some of their goings-on, I guess. Some of them are real and some of them aren’t, but their stories all flow together pretty seamlessly, even if the segues seemed almost nonexistent at times. I guess I’m just spoiled on segues from watching Mr. Show over and over… Anyway, I think this proves once again that he knows what he’s doing and that he’s an exciting voice to watch. My only advice to him would be to make sure that people can read some of those really tiny panels, unless that’s the effect he’s going for. Past that, his art is flawless, his writing is witty and inventive, and I’m always fascinated to see where he’s going next. Check it out before he’s all rich and famous and decides, like the rest of the famous comics creators, that there’s no reason to put out new books on a regular basis.
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
Jack and Lucky #3
Oh, so THAT’S why that incredibly gorgeous woman has been spending so much time with Jack. No, I’m not going to tell you what it is, but this issue really gets the story moving, and has a great fight scene between Lucky and Luna’s dog. And the promise of more fight scenes to come! If you don’t know what’s going on in the story, why are you reading a review for #3? Go back and read the other reviews to get caught up, or just buy the damned comics already, there are only three of them and they’re a joy to look at. Luna and Jack go back to his place in this issue, and there’s even an autobio story in the back. First time I’ve seen anything by him in that genre (unless my crappy memory is failing me again) and it’s a good story. He talks about his formative years and how his parents never believed he was capable of doing much of anything. Fairly standard autobio stuff, but he does a great job of it. I can’t wait to see more, mostly because of the excellent cliffhanger ending, and can’t recommend this enough for those of you who are still into this comics nonsense mostly because you like purty pictures…
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
Jack and Lucky #2
Quick, what’s Anthony selling with that cover? Not that I begrudge him his constitutional right to draw beautiful, shapely women or anything, but a little bit of subtlety never killed anybody. Strangely enough, the inside of the comic is mostly about Jack and his job, which involves coming up with new ideas for video games. He also gets the recap of what happened to him when he almost drowned in the last issue, and at the end of a crappy day he gets asked out by Luna, that girl on the cover. I might have mentioned this before, but his art is damned near flawless. He skimps out on a background or two in certain panels, but you could only say that if you expect lavish backgrounds in every panel. As it is, more often that not there’s a lot going on in the background, and I’m just floored by the sheer talent of this guy. What about the story? Oh yeah, the story. It’s building, is all I can say about it right now. Looks like there’s more than the obvious to Luna, and things might heat up at work, and what the hell is up with the giant cat? For a book this gorgeous, I’m content to sit back for a few more issues and wait for the story to develop. Contact info is up there, it’s $2, buy these now before he’s tremendously famous!
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Kitty Litter #6 Now Available! $1.00
While I wasn’t looking Kitty Litter turned into a thrice weekly web comic, so if you’re looking for more from these two you can get new stuff for free at that link way up at the top of the page. Personally, I prefer the longer stories to the strips, as there’s more opportunities for mayhem with the longer format, although they do seem to be able to cram a lot into the one to six panel format too. I do like that fact: it’s not just a set number of panels every time, they do seem to wander around with that. In here you have strips about lazy ninjas, hair on fire, lots and lots of dead people (moving and not), vampire bites, pooping in shoes, and zombie chipmunks. If you still need convincing that it’s worth checking out after that list, along with the fact that it’s a measly dollar, I can’t help you.
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Kitty Litter #5
Eh, all that excitement over the zombie issue and the damned zombies are only in it for a few panels. Rip off! OK, fine, the rest of the comic was funny as always, and there’s plenty of good stuff to be happy about, but I choose irrational anger here, as my quota of zombie violence was not met. Besides the zombies you have Sophie making a tea party with some really awful ingredients and making friends with a female vampire. Oh, and it’s bigger than their regular issues, so there’s more funny to be had. I’ve already established that I’m a big fan of their work and they have to do something really bad for me to hate an issue, right? Good. And while the quantity of zombie violence was a little disappointing, the quality of it was top-notch. $2
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Kitty Litter #4
What was that I said in the last review about them quitting this series? Yeah, I was completely wrong on that. I got #5 of this at SPACE too, so it looks like it’s still going strong, and next issue there will be zombies (which made it hard to pick this one to review first) but chronology somehow won out over zombies. This one deals with a few things: a trip to the vet, robot kitty, and a virus that helps kitty take over the world by giving everyone a cold. Funny stuff yet again, and that trip to the vet will be all too familiar for people who own cats. I’m going to try and hold out a few weeks before reviewing the zombie issue, but no promises… $2
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Kitty Litter #3 Now Available! $1.50
Pirates! Vikings! Monsters! Torture! Action lines! Turtle Wurtle! Mayhem a’plenty in this one, which should come as a shock to no one who’s actually read their stuff, and shame on you at this point if you still haven’t. The cat steals a pirate ship, tortures Nathan when he drinks her milk, and turns the two men into monsters for her own amusement (on accident, of course). Oh, and they seem to be getting tired of the whole thing, at least judging by their interruption from the “editor” at the end. That’s fine, I like their stuff but I also like how they’re constantly trying new things, so if this is the end I say it’s best to go out on a high note, and this is definitely a high note, with all kinds of little stories in here. That being said, there’s also something to be said for staying around, doing the same thing over and over again, getting fewer and fewer laughs each time, until eventually people are happy if you manage to even get one laugh. It’s called lowering expectations, people! $1.50
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Kitty Litter #1
Why on Earth is this #1 when it seemed like the other one would be a #1, especially when the other comic they sent me is #3? Who knows? Better yet, who cares? Just another minor thing that I noticed, but there’s no big continuing story here, so it doesn’t make a bit of difference. What’s this one about? Well, you have more mayhem with the cat, of course, this time when she runs out of milk. She knows where milk comes from (refridgerators, of course), so she has to go out and make a machine that will bring the machines to her. Not as much fun as the robots running amok, but then, that’s a pretty high bar to set right off the bat. You do get to see refridgerators flying through roofs, so it’s hard to find too much to complain about here. $1
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Kitty Litter #2 Now Available! $1.00
Getting a new comic from these two pretty much always makes my week, so you can imagine my elation at seeing TWO new books. The other one will be up here later, of course, but how about this one? Well, have you ever wondered what would happen if your cat got really bored one day while you were at work and decided to make a machine that produced robots to take care of every single thing in your life? Of course you have, we all have. Well, Ryan and Nathan decided to let us all live that dream for the span of this short mini. You’ve probably already guessed that things didn’t end well with the robots, but I’ll say no more to avoid ruining the finer points of the story. And, as a little bonus, there’s a terrifically gruesome little anecdote in the back of the book about nature. Sort of. $1
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Raise the Dead
Can you ever go wrong with zombies? I don’t think so. This is a short one and it further convinces me that these guys have their collective act together. The premise is simple: Nathan and Ryan are making enough noise playing Resident Evil that the Mom is yelling at them that they’ll “wake the dead”. Sure enough, zombies come to the door and a very brief conversation and struggle ensue. Hilarious stuff, and who knew that zombies could be adorable? $.75 is all you have to pay for this and it’s worth every penny. Contact info is up yonder…
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Slackmatic #5
OK, it has to be said: #5 is a lot duller than their other comics that I’ve read. Not that that’s a horrible thing, and everything else I’ve read from them has either had zombies getting chopped up or someone losing an eye, but this is a relatively quiet comic. The bulk of it is about their trip to SPACE last year, rancid gas station bathrooms and all. Then you have a series of one page strips about stapling, magnets, killings worms, pterodactyls, monsters, werewolves and puking cats. Pretty good stuff all around, don’t get me wrong, I was just expecting more gratuitous violence. Damn you Ryan and Nathan for growing as artists! Or maybe just unconsciously toning it down for an issue. How should I know? Contact info is up there, it’s a measly buck, you cheapskates!
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Slackmatic #4
You just can’t beat fun comics. This series is already at #4, and this is where my “sampler” approach at cons hurts me. I can only afford to get one or two issues from everybody (even that’s pushing it), unless they are one of the few people who know who I am and want to give me free stuff. That works great when I don’t like the comic, but when something is as thoroughly entertaining as this, it’s disappointing that I didn’t get more. Anyway, this one is about their trip to a con. It’s been done, I know, but it’s always funny when it’s done well. That and the rant on the first page about porn is worth the price of admission. Once they’re at the actual con nobody goes to their table, so they decide to start working on the next issue of their comic. The artist (Ryan) shakes his pen because it won’t work, it slips out of his hand and into someone’s eye, and hilarity ensues. Meanwhile, the writer (Nathan, but they both write it) comes across a creepy man selling anime porn and gets some Sailor Moon stuff. Hey, hillbillies and eye gougings are always funny, so there’s a lot to laugh at here. Three cheers for them getting to #4, keep it up together as I don’t think this would work as well without both of them doing it. Go to the website, see what you can see…
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Slackmatic #3
I stumbled across this older issue at SPACE this year (2004), so I’m guessing it’s still available. It’s tiny (that cover is actual size) and it’s all about them buying an evil DVD player from the mad scientist down the street. Why is it evil? Well, from what I can tell, it’s because it doesn’t play anything. I don’t know what it is about these two, but I really like everything I’ve seen. They’re just so obviously having a blast doing these comics that it’s hard not to get sucked in. Like I said, this is tiny, so I’m guessing this is around $1, and everybody should get a few comics from these guys if you have a sense of humor. Contact info is down there!
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website for the Kitty Litter comic
Slackmatic #1 Now Available! $4.95
If I wanted to keep everything on this website all neat and technically accurate I’d put this below the other Slackmatics, as it came out later and actually includes most (if not all) of Slackmatic #3 and 4. But who cares about stuff like that? If anybody who’s a big fan of theirs can’t tell that this fancypants, comic sized edition is different from the long out of print mini comic version of the original Slackmatic #1, well, it’s their loss. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a big excuse to reprint a lot of their old stuff in a better format just because they put some of their best work in here, as the first half of this is all new material. Like what? Glad you asked. There’s a big story to start things off here where the two of them finally have a bloody battle while trying to come up with a comic story. Hey, it’s been a long time coming. Next is a wonderfully paranoid story about a car parked outside of the post office. Why has it been there so long? Why is it rocking? Finally there’s the story depicted on the cover, dealing with a slime monster from outer space. Yes, it is just as adorable as it looks from the cover. As for the second half of the book, check out the reviews below this one, as everything you need to know about them are in there. Kudos to these guys getting the full size treatment, the experience is much like the one you get when watching a great movie on a giant screen tv for the first time. Sure, it’s still good on your crappy, tiny tv at home… but wow, that difference is huge. Also, I don’t know how they do it, but these two remain just about the only creators out there who can screw up “your” and “you’re”without consistently getting on my nerves. Must have something to do with the fact that their stories are consistenly hilarious…
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
Awakenings #2
You know what’s good to have on the inside front cover of an ongoing series that takes about a year (I could be wrong on that, but a while at least) between issues? A synopsis of what came before it. Don’t get me wrong, I remember bits of it and I always have my old review to reference, but why not spend a few sentences? It might even help clear up a few things that are murky from the original issue. Just a suggestion. Anyway, the story continues here. No werewolves this time, and it was honestly difficult to keep track of everything with the flashbacks mixed in with the current footage. Combine that with my poor memory and I spent most of the issue just trying to keep up. The art is tremendous, the dialogue is crisp and realistic. I guess my biggest concern is that this seems like something that is going to be tough to take in episodic doses. Maybe I’m being too pessimistic, and it’ll be a lot clearer by issue #5 or so. Time will tell, as those fortune cookies say. Contact info is up there, it does seem like a fascinating storyline, although I’d say that you should buy the issues in chunks. $2.99
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
Awakenings #1
How much can you tell from the first issue of a series anyway? Well, usually only negative things. Sure, the art or the writing could blow you away, but how much of that is due to the fact that this first issue took the creative team three years to complete? On the other hand, if the art stinks and the writing is sophomoric, chances are it’s not going to get a whole lot better. Or is it? Maybe the first issue is just working the bugs out. Do you see my dilemma here? I liked this book. It’s the story of a man who may or may not have killed his son. He’s in jail for the crime and everything is told through flashbacks mixed in with ongoing events. Oh, and I think there are werewolves wandering around. How is all this going to come together? No idea in the world, which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned. Still, this issue is good enough to get me excited about the prospect of a #2, which is about all you can ask for. Here’s an e-mail address, this is $2.99.
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
Florence of Arabia #2
Ever read one of those comics where you just don’t have any idea what to think about it until it’s over? This is one of those. Not individually, though. The two issues Eli sent me were short but interesting, it’s just that he’s heading towards a conclusion and it’s not here yet, leaving my opinion about the whole thing in limbo. I like what I’ve seen. A disembodied head, a snail disguised as a camel and a naked scientist from the future all lead up to, at the very least, an interesting story.His art is what they call “easy on the eyes” as well. Kind of resembles Scott Mills, if I had to pick anybody, but more layered and complex. Not to be putting down Scott or anything… Anyway, these (this and #1) are worth a look, but you might want to wait until the whole thing is done so you can tell just what the hell is going on… Contact info is above, in case you’ve never seen my page before.
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
The Therapist
A great wordless mini about couples going into therapy, with a revolutionary technique to get couples to stay together. It’s a good idea and he does a good job of it with this, and you can’t ask for much more than that. Oh yeah, if you don’t want to use your computer to get these, you can always write the guy at: P.O. Box 420596 San Francisco, CA 94142-0596.
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Posted by Kevin
April 23, 2010
Website
An Inside Job #3
Formerly known as Eli Bishop, he will now foverer be known as Hob on this website, only a few years after everybody else has already been calling him Hob. That’s this website, always with the up to the minute info. Anyway, it’s been far too long since there’s been a new issue on An Inside Job, and the whole genre of dream comics seems to have mostly faded away, or at least faded from the comics I seem to be reading. Themes in here include death, zombification, werewolves, failure, flirting, scandal, mystery, murder (eventually), a squat-boy. a survival game, and the ever-popular peeing in your sleep. Of course, picking just the theme of the little stories tells you a tiny bit, but there’s so much more to be gained from reading them as a whole. If you asked me what it was I’d run screaming from the room rather than try to nail it down, but trust me on this one. $4
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Posted by Kevin
