Baylis, Jonathan – So Buttons #15

March 27, 2026

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So Buttons #15

I’m ashamed of my scanner, because what you’re missing from that cover image is that those black lines are actually part of a foil embossed cover, so they’re actually silver. I was a little too old to care when those covers started coming out in the 90’s (still barely following superhero comics, mostly annoyed when I saw a cover like that because they were always expensive), but I’m oddly always overjoyed to see them for the covers of indie comics. This is yet another really great collection of stories from Jonathan and a cast of some of the best artists working today; if you’re curious about them, click on their tag, because chances are I’ve reviewed their solo work too. Jonathan mentions in his afterward that he thinks this is his most “cohesive” comic based on the themes, and I’d agree with that. His dad features prominently, which makes a lot of sense considering the themes of the last issue. Stories include reminiscing about his dad’s life and watching him seamlessly fit into a group of strangers just because he used to live in that neighborhood (art by Noah Van Sciver), his reaction to the death of David Lynch and his connection to his work (art by Bhanu Pratap, and I was nodding along to this whole story, because it really hit me too), his spotting a very famous movie star at an awards show where the movie star was very conspicuously missing (art by Danny Hellman), his job back in the day as a fetcher which meant he was loosely working for the film industry (art by Karl Christian Krumpholz), and his mom’s connection to movie musicals (art by Becky Hawkins). And several more stories, but come on, this is #15, you know the deal by now. If you’re buying his comics, you’re buying a pile of quality stories, and aren’t surprises fun? Also I may be writing this on my lunch break, which will be a good reminder not to do this again, because I can already be incoherent when I’m not rushed, who knows how this is going to turn out? Check it out, it would also be a fantastic place to give his work a try for the first time if you’re curious. And check out that cover!


Baylis, Jonathan – So Buttons #12

December 12, 2022

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So Buttons #12

Jonathan has never been nominated for an Ignatz award? Seriously? That seems like an absurd oversight to me. Oh hi, did I already get distracted from my review? Sorry about that, but he mentions that fact a couple of times in here, and it’s ridiculous. But hey, maybe this issue will get nominated next year, because it’s packed to the gills (a phrase I’ve never understood, but never mind that) with winners. First up is the tale of how he settled on his facial hair, how it ties in to Ethan Hawke and what happened when they met (Rachelle Meyer). Next is his memories of sitting with Tom Spurgeon and Carol Tyler at the aftermath of an SPX, which I really have to get to next year (Lance Ward). Then there’s a page by Carol freaking Tyler herself, which is all her, as she agreed to let Jonathan publish one of roughly 100 unpublished pages she found recently. If you were wondering whether or not Kerry Washington was a mensch, does Jonathan (and Ben Passmore) have a story for you! Next up is his story about Grant Morrison, and I have to take a minute here, because it’s about an original page of art he bought from All Star Superman years ago and his debate about whether or not he should sell it, as times were tough during the pandemic. I read All Star Superman literally last week (not for the first time, but in the fancypants “Absolute” edition) and he’s right, it’s the best Superman story ever told, and the only one I’ve seen where the Clark/Superman difference was actually portrayed as big enough to fool people. He also mentioned something I’ve noticed, where I’m roughly 50/50 on Grant’s work, but the 50 on the positive side is VERY positive. But he did this over his own talking head, so now I’m thinking our lists don’t coincide. Doom Patrol in the “bad” pile? Madness (art by Tony Wolf). Josh Bayer draws a true and necessary story about Johnny Rotten, and how inexcusable it was that he ended up a Trump supporter. “The Monkees of punk” was dead on, and if anything maybe a little unfair to The Monkees. Next is the story of a real punk band, Fugazi, his meeting Ian MacKaye and Ian’s story of his time in the crowd at SNL when Belushi wouldn’t go on stage unless a punk band was the musical guest (J.T. Yost). The quality didn’t dip a bit for the last few stories (how could it when Josh Pettinger, Noah Van Sciver and Miss Lasko-Gross were involved, among others) but it’s best to leave a few surprises for y’all, right? Also, I’m going out on a limb here and saying this was my favorite issue of the series so far. Have I said that before? Maybe! But this is the latest issue, so if I have ever said it before, this is the NEW favorite. Pretty good sign when somebody can keep topping themselves like this, huh? Give it a shot, why don’t you? $8