New review today for Cat #4 by Brandon Berry, and I regret to inform you that this is the last of his comics that I got for review, so the weekly reviews are over for now. Some of you may be happy to hear this too, who knows? Without social media or comments I’m mostly shouting into the void over here…
Berry, Brandon – Cat #4
February 1, 2023
Cat #4 (not available for sale as of 1/29/23, but it’ll most likely be here soon)
What, did you think that the Hound was just going to give up? Does that sound like a proper hound to you? We catch up with the hunter this time around, as he shakes down a bartender for information. But he does not do this unnoticed, so our “hero” (seriously, for all I know the hound is the one with a good and true reason for finding Cat, not the other way around) has a little advance warning. He’s also impatient, so his flying right through a space checkpoint without stopping looks like it’s going to get him into a whole heap of trouble. This one feels longer than the previous issues (and I mean that in the best possible sense), probably because Brandon packs a lot of details in here while also going nuts (again, best possible sense) with his signature visual style. The confrontation in the bar and <event redacted because spoiler> at the end were impressive as hell. I’m looking forward to seeing where it all goes from here, and if you’ve been following along on these weekly reviews, you’re in luck! This is the last issue he sent me, so now’s your chance to get them all as a clump to catch up. Then you’ll be ready for the next issue, whenever that happens. Just like me! $5
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/30/23
January 30, 2023New review today for Postal Constituents Volume 12 #2 by Caitlin Cass! That title is so clunky mostly because it’s a preview for a projected larger work. Just in case there were any absolute nutcases out there who only read the update sections and not the reviews.
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Posted by Kevin
Cass, Caitlin – Postal Constituent Volume 12 #2
January 30, 2023
Postal Constituent Volume 12 #2
Here it is, the unscannable comic! Granted, that’s not a concern of an artist, and if I just took a picture and uploaded it you’d never notice. But I’m set in my scanning ways, so you get a portion of one of the four pages for the “cover” image, and nothing else. This is also a snippet of a larger project, one that I’m fascinated to see, because it’s been a subject on my mind lately too: hope. Does anybody have it? Are there ways to foster it? Those are hypothetical questions from me, unrelated to the comic. But maybe they’ll be in the completed version, who knows? Caitlin joined an artist’s working group early last year where they had a series of conversations, all set outside in different parts of nature. She noted a few tragedies that were happening literally while she was drawing the comic (a mass shooting here, a massive wildfire there; the real tragedy is that it would be hard for anybody a year later to specifically know which event she was referencing in either case), but she also noted signs of beauty. There was the 240 year old tree, proving resilience in seemingly hopeless environmental times, along with a few day to day signs that certain parts of nature were still working just fine. Like I said, this is a sample comic, so there’s not much more for me to say, but I’m looking forward to the finished version. And if you can’t find this comic on her store website, get something else! She’s one of the more reliably informative/entertaining comic artists working today. No price listed, maybe $5?
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/26/23
January 26, 2023New review today for Cat #3, and there’s only one more issue of this comic for me to read in these weekly reviews. Oops!
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Posted by Kevin
Berry, Brandon – Cat #3
January 26, 2023
It’s dangerous for me to say something like this considering how long I’ve been reviewing comics, but I’ll say it anyway: this is the closest I’ve come to just putting up an image of the cover, a link to the comic and using the sample image for the review. Because really, what could be more perfect than that? But hey, that’s not why you pay the big bucks (I’m talking to you, future millionaire who buys the website and lets me devote more of my spare time to comics). Our hero is still trapped on a strange planet, but he lucks out and has somebody named Xen come by and offer him a ride. Is it luck or a nefarious plan? Still unclear! As they’re traveling through the cosmos they run into a space whale, which gives Cat a better understanding of the universe (and raises a few questions about his place in it and what happens to him after he dies). After that we get an object lesson in the wisdom of questioning the phrase “do you mind if we get to know each other better,” then a few more brief bits that I shouldn’t mention to avoid too many spoilers. I will say that I maybe jumped the gun on reviewing these weekly, because I only have one more issue left and it sure doesn’t look like this story is going to be wrapping any time soon. Ah well. Maybe the clamor from the hordes of people who love the weekly reviews will motivate Brandon to start cranking these out. What’s that you say? Rushing works of art is a terrible idea that more often than not leads to mediocre (at best) results? OK, fair enough. Either way, it’s still a fascinating series and you should still be reading it. $5
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/24/23
January 24, 2023New review today for Nexus of Exes by Andrew Neal, which is also an issue of Meeting Comics, even though he’s stopped putting that on the covers. Isn’t trivia fun?
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Posted by Kevin
Neal, Andrew – Nexus of Exes
January 24, 2023
So here’s how big of a dummy I am. Since there have been so many breakup and partner swaps in the Meeting Comics universe, I assumed that this would be a convergence of all of them based on the title alone. Now, if I had looked at that cover a few seconds longer, maybe I wouldn’t have assumed, since it’s all Val all the time. Just a peek into this brain of mine, on the off chance that anybody thinks I’m infallible just because I’ve been reviewing comics for 21 years. So yeah, this one is all about Val. She’s getting older, and she’s finally starting to wonder if she’s made the right choices in her love life and should maybe start to think about settling down. Still, even in a Val issue the MC (Meeting Comics, nerds) universe has gotten too big to focus purely on one character, so we also briefly catch up with the aftereffects of the wrestling show (everybody got covid) and spend a bit more time with Don, who’s dealing with the deaths of both his mother and his ex-wife. She hated him after she found out he was gay and broke up their marriage, so he’d always hoped that they’d manage to patch things up. It seems like it was too late for this, until Val notices a telltale letter in her coffin at the funeral. He also has a pretty big life change pop up, but I spoiled it in the sample. Oops! The rest of the issue deals with Val going to visit a favorite ex of hers, which causes her to think that maybe the two of them should give things another shot. This all leads to the last half dozen strips or so, which I can’t mention because they were simply too shocking. Just a terrifying concept for anybody with exes. Don’t worry, there’s no reason a little soul searching can’t be funny, so you’ll still get some solid laughs out of this issue. I actually thought I was caught up with his comics for once, but when I went to his website to link to this issue I noticed that he already has another issue out. Damn you Andrew Neal! $5
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/20/23
January 20, 2023New review today for Reject All by David Robertson and friends, and I don’t think I’ve screwed up the year on these reviews yet. Happy weekend everybody!
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Posted by Kevin
Robertson, David – Reject All
January 20, 2023
Did I really not write any reviews about David’s comics last year? It looks like my last review was on the literal last day of 2021, and this is early 2023, so I guess not. Sure, he actually sent me this book several weeks ago, and it could be argued convincingly that the gap is my fault, but hey, look over there! This is another solid collection of stories by David and friends, which is something I’m kind of starting to take for granted, so maybe he should have his next collection by filled with total crap to keep me on my toes. So what’s going on this time around? There are stories about the time a polar bear broke captivity and got loose in Scotland in the late 1800’s (it seemed to be OK for everybody for involved, including the bear, which is a rarity), the difference between being “legal” to drive and being comfortable driving when you’re having trouble reading street signs, how Luke and Han are handling being replaced in the popularity of Star Wars merch by the Mandolorian (with a punchline that got a literal laugh out loud out of me, so kudos), not knowing where your mask is but having it end up in the most obvious place (possibly not as relatable to American readers, sadly), revisiting the TV show Miami Vice years later after it was too “adult” for him to watch as a kid (with Clio Ding), the sad reality of the modern state of sex robots (with DogJohn), the righteous anger of Disney using May 4th as “Star Wars” day when it has nothing to do with any actual anniversary (with Rebecca Horner), and a brief history of Tears For Fears, including a possible way for them to keep performing a song written by one of the members about the other member from back when they were feuding. As always, that’s roughly half of the stories, and the rest are left as a mystery to you. Well, I can’t resist mentioning one more, which is a love letter from David to all of the various spaceships of his youth as they all face off in a space race. I think we’re roughly the same age, but even I couldn’t place a couple of them, so good luck to everybody on that one. It also has a really great ending and, as per his end notes, no, it doesn’t feel like a cheat at all. Give it a try, there’s something in here for everybody. $5 (ish, once again I’m unfamiliar with the conversion rate)
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/18/23
January 18, 2023Oh no! Is he really going to do more weekly reviews of the same title? Yeah, I’m afraid so. I’m locked into Cat by Brandon Berry, so I’m reviewing #2 this week. But don’t fret too much, as he only sent along 4 issues. So far, anyway…
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Posted by Kevin
Berry, Brandon – Cat #2
January 18, 2023
Is that a dog on the cover of a comic called “Cat”? Yes it is, because this time around we spend about half of the issue getting to know the dog who’s chasing our hero across the universe, and he goes by Hound. We left off in the last issue with the introduction of Zada, the ancient star in the cosmos. He/she/it has a conversation with Cat, and it turns out that they’re a bit of an asshole! Still, we learn more about the situation, although perhaps not as much as Cat would have liked. As for the Hound, we see where he works and how he tracks his prey through the universe, although the source of his grudge against Cat is still a mystery. Or is it? That’s my attempt at leaving a bit of intrigue in here, as it’s a short enough comic that I feel like I may have said too much. If so, hey, there are at least two more issues coming, so there are a lot more surprises in store, I reckon. I see nothing this time around to change my recommendation from the last time around: this Brandon guy sure can draw, and the story seems to be picking up steam, so give it a shot. $5
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/16/23
January 16, 2023New review today for a new issue of Sludgy by Robb Mirsky! It’s a mini comic, so it’s listed as #4.5. Please shelve it accordingly.
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Posted by Kevin
Mirrsky, Robb – Sludgy #4.5
January 16, 2023
Hey, if the place selling the comics is calling it #4.5, I’ll do the same. It’s Sludgy! That’s what I say out loud when I see one of these comics, which is maybe odd and/or the sign of a problem, but it’s true nonetheless. This time around our favorite goop monster with the heart of gold is once again on the outside looking in, watching an older guy enjoying his day. They’re both in a park, but the old man is sitting on a park bench and feeding the birds, while poor Sludgy is alone in the bushes and he just wants to make a friend. But this time around, there’s a twist: the person he meets is blind. Is this all that’s been standing in Sludgy’s way of making a pal, or is it more his personality or goopy body? You’ll have to read it to find out, which I’m guessing most people of good taste reading this are already doing, so I guess this is more of an alert: there’s a new Sludgy comic out there! It’s an awfully sweet issue, and the mayhem is kept to a minimum, but if you’re still capable of processing joy there’s not much to complain about here. It’s probably a solid starting point if you are new to the series too, as you get a good peek into Sludgy’s world while still having a pile of backstory to catch up on once you figure out that you love it. $5
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/12/23
January 12, 2023New review today for Hey Cat Volume 3: The Return of the Fleas by Nacho Nova. That’s the end of cat week, at least until the next time I happen to open more than one envelope with a cat comic in it. It’s the kind of thing to make me scrap any other plans, honestly…
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Posted by Kevin
Nova, Nacho – Hey Cat Volume 3: The Return of the Fleas
January 12, 2023
Hey Cat Volume 3: Return of the Fleas
Hey anybody with more than one cat, check out those tips in the sample! Solid advice in there. This is listed as being the conclusion of the “Hey Cat” trilogy, but there’s more than enough context in here for a new reader like me to catch up. Or like you, if you’re also new to the Nachoverse. No, I am not going to stop using that pormanteau when it seems to fit with the creator’s name and/or title. I may have a problem. This is a collection of strips, ranging from a single page to a few pages, dealing with life with, around and about his cats. There’s him, his girlfriend Jessica, her cat Noodle and the other cat Bologna. Was Bologna his cat or hers originally? I missed the origin story for that one. Anyway, they helpfully include several nicknames for both cats so that you can keep up with what they’re called in the story. Kind of how like each character in a Dostoevsky novel would have several variations on their names. Yep, pretty much exactly the same thing. First we get a nice map of the general area, inside and out, to keep things in context. From there we get all kinds of strips, and I’d rather do my usual thing of keeping things vague, if you don’t mind. There’s the story of how they slowly got Noodle to socialize (she spent some time on the streets, so she was a bit wild), their various efforts (and inevitable failures) of keeping them indoors, their uselessness at dealing with household bugs, how they watch him change the litterbox (agreed, it’s a weird thing), and lizard murder. Oh, and also the trajectory of the Heathcliff and Garfield strips. He says that Heathcliff has gotten surreal lately, so I might have to check that out. This is also leaving the last third of the book a mystery, but you already know that fleas are involved. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that his cats talk. It’s adorable, it’s funny, it’s occasionally sad, and it’s chock full of cats. What’s not to love? $3 (ish, Patreon confuses me)
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 1/10/23
January 10, 2023Sorry about the review gap, holidays followed by bronchitis are lousy on motivation. New review today for Cat #1 by Brandon Berry, as unintentional cat week begins! Hey, I opened up two envelopes and they both had cat comics in them. What am I supposed to do, ignore that obvious sign from the universe?
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Posted by Kevin
Berry, Brandon – Cat #1
January 10, 2023
I’ve been sick for the last week and a half, so please bear with me as I try to remember how this reviewing thing is supposed to work. Why yes, I have been doing this for over 21 years now and it should be second nature, but hey shut up. Quick, take a look at that cover and build a mental image for yourself on what the comic is going to be like. Done? What did you guess? Was it fluffy? This is actually the story of a secret agent cat who’s given a “big” job to do by what looks like a Christmas tree with a cat head. we learn a little more about it, but not much, and we learn that our hero is mostly doing this because he’s expecting a big payout. So maybe he’s a mercenary and not a secret agent? We also see that a dog cop is in hot pursuit of him later, so yeah, maybe he is a crook. Things end on a delightful if baffling cliffhanger, and this is a damned solid first issue of a series. Just enough hints to get the reader intrigued, with promises of more to come. So hey, it’s a good thing that he sent along the first four issues of the series, right? Still, if you’re not afraid of a little risk, Brandon’s art is always welcome and there’s more than enough for you to give in and buy an issue to check it out. For the more cautious types out there, I’m sure more reviews are coming, so just stay tuned! Which is a thing I wonder if younger people even understand, as far as phrases go. See? I should have wrapped this up a few sentences ago. Rusty! $5
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Posted by Kevin
Update for 12/28/22
December 28, 2022It’s the holiday taint week! Nobody has any motivation at all this week, but I got an advance copy of Rob Kirby’s new book Marry Me a Little and I just couldn’t resist talking about it. Could this be the last review of the year? Eh, maybe, we’ll see. Suspense!
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Posted by Kevin
Kirby, Rob – Marry Me a Little
December 28, 2022
It’s can’t be easy to write in a compelling fashion about ambivalence. Don’t get me wrong, Rob and John clearly love each other a whole lot (it’s adorable how Rob feels like he must have met John somewhere before, because it just feels like this guy has always been a part in his life), but neither of them had much interest in the institution of marriage. And yet! Should I maybe mention what this book is about, especially since it’s not going to be out for another couple of months as of this writing? This is the story of Rob and John’s marriage back in 2013 (on my birthday, which has no relevance to the book), how it came about, their attitudes about it, and what decided them on the concept. And, at its core, it’s about how the practical arguments for marriage ended up winning out in the end. Well, it’s also about the societal obstacles to their marriage (it wasn’t legal in all 50 states in 2013, which still seems shocking, but it was legal in Minnesota at least), their lives before and after, and Ginger, maybe the cutest dog in the world. Granted, I say that about most dogs, but it’s also usually true. I tend to veer away from “spoilers,” which maybe doesn’t apply in this case because they end up getting married, but there’s also the fact that this book isn’t out yet, so what’s the point in telling you all about something that you couldn’t possible read for another couple of months? Gloating, because I have a review copy and you (probably) don’t? Sure, I’m just petty enough for that to be a factor, but I’m still not going to give in to it. But to go back to what I said at the beginning, this is a story of ambivalence, and it’s still incredibly compelling throughout. I mean, Rob was planning on putting in half a day of work on his wedding day because the actual wedding wasn’t until 4:30pm, if that tells you anything. He also talks about the first married gay couple of the US, way back in 1971, believe it or not. Was there trickery involved? You’d better believe it! But it was for a good cause, and it was funny watching them turn bureaucracy against itself. Finally, he ended this book with a beautiful story about the two of them, and this one I’m not even going to give a hint about. But it was wonderfully done, and it did a great job of tying the whole story together. So basically what I’m saying is that you should rush out and buy this when it’s available, and if you’re the impatient type I’d recommend a few of his anthologies while you wait. Oh, and Rob, if you’re reading this, I didn’t notice any typos, and I’m usually a bloodhound for that sort of thing. So you’re in the clear on that front! $21.95
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Posted by Kevin
