Kafe Gavani-Edgar J Barrett

From the web site:

Multisick Press presents the free online serialisation of the stunning debut novel by author Edgar J Barrett. Unlike anything ever written, Kafe Gavani can be briefly described as a surreal comedy that manages to simulatenously amuse, agitiate, arouse and appall.

As Edgar made his own horrific journey through the underbelly of existence, he left a paper trail that would become Kafe Gavani. In 2004 Edgar handed over his writing to his trusted acquaintance Godfrey Redburn, asking him to oversee the editing and publishing of his writing in the form of a novel.

It was decided that serialisation on the Internet was the best platform for the initial publication, as such a fresh and unique piece of literature called for an equally fresh and unique method of publication.

Prior to the release of the hard copy, starting November 2007, Kafe Gavani will be revealed to an unsuspecting public with new installments released each Sunday.
___________________
I have not read the story yet but I sure will as this looks very interesting!---AF

http://kafegavani.com/

Super Shorts #1, White Elephant Productions

Super Shorts #1, White Elephant Productions. Jeff Brister writer, Alex De-Gruchy writer and Darrel Miller artist and writer. Full size comic, color cover, black and white interior pages with grey tones. 12 pages. Printed by Ka-Blam.

Well this is a very short comic, with three short stories. First we have Captain Mighty in BULLET PROOF by Darrel Miller. This story was drawn simply, but well. Sort of a parody of Shazam it seems. A surprise ending. Slow Day by Jeff Brister and Darrel Miller. The story has a bit of an edge, "It's just fun. Even when people want to kill others." This super character has no problem with an alien. Too bad this didn't have more going on...it was just starting to build up to something. Recruitment Drive by Alex De-Gruchy and Darrel Miller. This story has more going on and the art has more detail showing that Darrel can do more if given the right story perhaps...I liked the premise of auditioning for a super-villain to join the team with unexpected results. The ending was good. Overall I'd say that if they all worked together on a story that was more like 24 pages, and let Darrel take his time and work on the art a bit more as to backgrounds and such....they could have something here. I see on their blog that they plan to have issues out on a regular basis. That is good to hear as they will surely improve by staying at it. I'm eager to see more by these guys and hope they take more time and develop more of a story. I liked the art in each story, especially the last one. Maybe if they keep some of these characters going, they can find their voice and really get something going here. I liked the fact that each story was a comedy and hope they stay this course. Oh and the cover is very simple but effective. Like the silver age Fantastic Four font on the cover, nice touch. (3 out of five "super" stars) The book has no price but does have some contact info in the inside back cover: www.supershorts.blogspot.com or email Darrel Miller: dm52082@hotmail.com or Jeff Brister: brister.jeff@gmail.com or Alex De-Gruchy: rockand jack@yahoo.co.uk

Hate Song #2- Fred Grisolm

Hate Song #2 is a collection of some of the web comic Hate Song by Fred Grisolm. This is a 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" book with color covers and black and white with gray tones interior of strips. Very nicely printed I should add. Cover price $3. The strip is about Berry and Lewis two guys that move into a house as they are nephews of a Mr. Laudermelk. The brothers are very strange and one is actually shooting at school kids with rifle (something that I don't think should be in a comic to give kids more ideas along these lines.), the other is collecting his fecal matter in the freezer and documenting it in a notebook for research. Strange stuff to be sure. Even though this is wacky weirdness the art is so good that you follow along and can't resist wanting to read more about these characters. I'm sure Fred is just pushing the envelope here to get attention, something I'm sure will happen when more people read his comics. There are 3 bonus pages with descriptions of some of the characters, in the back. (4 out of 5) He didn't put in any credits, how to order or any other info than a few web addresses hidden in the back of the book. Oh, there is a very strange one page strip (mature audiences for all of this stuff by the way.) and it does credit the artist Jamie Dee Galey. "Fred and Jamie". I happened to have some of these nice creators from Canada sitting next to me in San Diego this year. Their books were very popular. I'll be reviewing more of their work here soon. You can purchase this book and more like it at: www.hatesong.com/items just scroll down the page a bit to see them. Also read more at: http://hate-song.livejournal.com/ and http://boxcarcomics.com/ click HERE for a online interview with Fred Grisolm that I just found on the net. Enjoy!

Time Warp Comix #1 and #2-Weird Muse Productions

Time Warp Comix #1 and #2 from Weird Muse Productions. These are the start of a mini comic series by editor and artist Dan W. Taylor. This first issue is on orange paper stock, 8 pages with covers. $1 ppd per issue. Dan has started up this series as a mini comix project dedicated to the memory of Clay Geerdes and Comicx World / Comix Wave. Some of the contributors worked for Clay back in the days of Comix Wave and some just want to tip their hat to Clay by contributing to this series. First strip "I Remember Clay" by Jim Valentino. A great short story about Clay and how he inspired creators to "Just Draw!". Next story is: "Just a Couple of Geezers" by Vjtko. Very good art and story and the back cover is by the late, Michael Roden. Which is nice to see. Michael passed away in August of this year and the small press community will miss him. #2 has work by David Miller, Jim Siergey and Michael Roden. Another great issue. Oh, and you don't have an authentic copy of Time Warp Comix unless it is signed by Dan W. Taylor! (5 out of 5) Wish these were more than just 8 pages.
$1 ppd per issue (I know of at least 4 issues out by now) Dan W. Taylor/1833 Guntle Rd./New Lebanon, OH 45345 or get them at: http://weirdmuse.ecrater.com

Indie Comic Book Noise 2

Ok, they spelled my name wrong on the web site (Alan), but it is really me!

http://www.comicbooknoise.com/?p=719

Indie Comic Book Noise 2

-Allen (not Alan)

KA-WHUMP #3 IS HERE!!

Press Release:

KA-WHUMP #3 IS HERE!!

Posted by: "Floydman" blackmirth@hotmail.com

Tue Oct 2, 2007 11:02 pm (PST)

If you are looking for a magazine full of
small press news and reviews, articles, columns, comics, letters,
ads, and a whole bunch of other stuff we can't think of right now,
then get on the ball and get your copy of Ka-Whump! #3 hot off the
presses and featuring a look at the women of small press, including
interviews with Willie Hewes (Amaranth), Shawnti Therrien (Am I
Immortal), Charlene Chua (Slam Bang cover artist) and Marianne R.
Petit (When I was Three), plus Mr. Emergency creator Wade Busby gives
us a guide to surviving comic cons from BOTH sides of the table,
Allen Freeman and Dan Nauenburg wrap up this year's San Diego Comic
Con International in words and pictures, Comics by Nauenburg, Pavlet,
Wright, McEnany and Montero, over 65 reviews of small press comics
and zines and much MUCH more wrapped up in a stunning front cover by
Sonia Leong (Romeo and Juliet: The Manga) and a dark yet hauntingly
beautiful back cover by Shawnti Therrien!

It's a 48 page steal at only $3.50 plus $1.00 a pop!
Order by snail mail with check or money order to:

Robert L. Sumner
311 N. Widow Creek Rd.
Otis, OR. 97368

or PayPal $4.50 postage included to floydman@ka-whump.com

24 Hour Comic Day-will you try it? 10/20/2007

Hey, are you going to join the creators all over the country on October 2oth for 24 Hour Comics Day? Find a location near you or start one up. But just do it! http://www.24hourcomics.com/
I'm going to film a friend of mine Clint Basinger who is going to do it! Well, try and do it. I'll post the video up here after the event. Wish him luck! fanaticpress@yahoo.com

Backseat Drivers- #1-4 Cosmic Moustache Comics

Clint Basinger is the artist, writer and publisher of Cosmic Moustache Comics. His first series is Backseat Drivers. #1-4 tells the complete story so you really need to get them all. You'll be introduced to some very strange characters with some very strange powers. The art is wonderful and reminds me of comics of the 60's like ZAP Comics mixed with more modern works like Mark Martin's Gnatrat. But really you just have to see it for yourself. The story is hard to follow at first but just stay with it and some of it will come clear eventually. There are lots of funny bits here and there and it totally doesn't take itself seriously and that is where the fun lies. You never know what is going to happen next! Totally unexpected adventure yarn. Get these books now, before everyone discovers Clint's work and buys them all up! He has some new comics in the works such as "The Cosmic Norseman versus The Unbelieveable Laundry Detergent Man, Electric Ninja Punks and Lobster Tales. (5 out of 5) Highly original work here.
Get the COSMIC-PACKAGE: All 4 comics, A T-Shirt and a Sketch shipped for $20.00
Or get a T-Shirt shipped for $12.00, or get a Cosmic Moustache for only $5 with the purchase of 2 or more comics get a Moustache for $3. Or just the comics for $3 each. Anyway write to Clint at: Clint Basinger/10404 Campground Road/Lewisport, KY 42351 or email him: clintbasinger@hotmail.com or check out this link: www.comicspace.com/cosmicmoustachecomics

delicate AXIOM #1-Richey K. Chandler

delicate AXIOM #1-Richey K. Chandler
Digest, slick production, color covers, black and white interiors. 36 pages. No price on book.

From the back of the book:
Ken hasn't been the same since he and his friend Abdul witnessed the death of their buddy Jericho.

Ken's girlfriend, Ramani, is doing her best to keep things together. Her old friend Sherilyn is bending over backwards to help out, as is the slightly odd Julie.

Meanwhile a stranger is trying to track down Ken and Ramani, and a fortune cookie delivers an important message....

The story is called Fortune Cookies & Lamingtons. The art is very unique and tells the story very well. Nice use of blacks and the characters are all distinguishable. Backgrounds also nicely done. The cover is very nice with a splattered background that carries over to the back of the book. Nice design there. The story was very well done and what seems to be just a nice little everyday tale turns out to be much more. Surprise is the name of the game here and we get sucked into the story so that when some items come to light we are still drawn in. Some of this was like being in a dream at times. You almost felt like you were floating through the story. Everything is nicely done here and I highly recommend this to anyone. (5 out of 5 stars)

Get a copy by going to: http://myspace.com/tempolush
also email for more info: tempolush@lastpreciouscookie.com

Restorf's ROCKING RUDES #1

Restorf's ROCKING RUDES #1. Full color covers, 15 pages, 1/2 in color, 1/2 black and white. Full size comic.

Well Oliver Restorf-Thomsen is from Germany and he illustrated and wrote this comic. He wrote me a nice letter explaining how this was a very rushed project and how it was a mixture of his web comic work and his more detailed work. Well I'm sorry to say that I couldn't really tell much difference and it all looked a bit crude to me. I think the front page introducing the characters was the best part for me. He clearly had a vision for the look of the characters but couldn't pull it off after that. I do see a spark of talent here in the art. The writing must be lost in translation as it is in English and I can read it, though it still makes little since to me. This is where I tell him to continue working on his drawing skills every day. He is young and will progress. I just know it. The writing on the other hand will take more work. ComiXpress did a very nice job with the printing. The coloring looks good and I did like the Yellow Submarine tribute page very much.

(2 our of 5 stars) Keep on keeping at it!

Check out his web comic at: http://www.clovenhand.com/webcomics/rr-8-1
Get a copy by going to www.colvenhand.com and try www.restorf.de

Cornelia Cartoons #5- Dangerous Bird Productions

Cornelia Cartoons #5- Dangerous Bird Productions by Kel Crum. 6" x 6" booklet with color covers and 16 black and white interior pages. 5 short stories here. The first one is the longest: A Corenlia Story "Cause and Effect" by Kel Crum. This is the best of the batch and we find Corny (Cornelia) looking for a group to join. She finally ends up with The Protest Gypsies who have A.D.H.D. so switch to a new cause each week. As with most of Kel's stories there is a moral hidden in there someplace, if you can find it. This is good fun and has it's moments of heaviness which keeps you reading not knowing what to expect next. Some very strange characters along the way helps keep your interest. The art is loose and rough in parts but clearly the story is the main focus here. I liked the ending as well. The other tales are Cornelia at a book store and another one where she gets her 15 minutes of fame which is a nice "what if" story. There is a Ed Thud Story that sort of left me cold. Not sure where Kel is coming from with his Ed stories....if I read enough of them I'm sure it'll make more sense. And the last story is another Cornelia Story where she is verbally sparring with a door-to-door salesman. Another good short tale. (3 stars out of 5) I'd rate these higher if the art was more polished but the stories alone are well worth the $1.50 here.

$2.00 ppd from: Kel Crum, 32 W. Goodman Dr. Apt 23, Fairborn, Ohio 45324
kmartin1001@yahoo.com

Ka-Whump! #3 on the way!

News Release:
Ka-Whump #3 is IN THE BAG! The issue is all done and on it's way to the printers! This issue features 48 pages of small press bliss including a new column by Allen Freeman, a 4 page wrap up of the San Diego Comic Con International, our look at the women of small press (including an interview with Shawnti Therrien), over 65 reviews of current small press releases, a GAGGLE of small press news (including Rick Olney's response to Tim Tobolski's comments in KW #2 and a heartfelt look at the passing of Michael Roden), Comics from the usual gang, Wade Busby's comic con survival guide with art by Dan Taylor and Richard Krauss, letters, ads, ramblings and more all wrapped up in a beautiful Sonia Leong cover (with back cover by Shawnti!).

send $3.50 plus $1.00 p&h to get your copy!
Make check or money payable to :

Robert L. Sumner
311 N. Widow Creek Rd
Otis, OR. 97368
Or Paypal $4.50 (postage included) to floydman@ka-whump.com And while you're at it, stop by www.ka-whump.com and join in the fun on the forums!

Conelia Cartoons #9-Dangerous Bird Productions

Cornelia Cartoons #9 is a 7" square black and white comic with 18 pages. $2.00.

A Conelia Story "Sic Transit Cornelia" starts out simple enough with Cornelia at a small press comic show. She strikes up a friendship with a comic geek writer and one thing leads to another and before the story is over...oh, you'll just have to read it for yourself.....I don't want to give anything away. The fun is in the surprises. And this story keeps them coming. There are a few small bits that makes this a PG-13 story to my surprise and not sure those small parts were that needed to move the story along. The art is very simple and a bit on the amateurish side but the story more than makes up for it. This appears to be a small little story but takes you in big directions. Bravo to Kel and now I'm eager to see all his other comics! (3 out of 5 stars) Nice to see a long story that has a beginning, middle and end.

Get the info on ordering at: www.dangerousbird.com or email him at: kmartin1001@yahoo.com

The Participatory Book Series by Marianne R. Petit

Marrianne R. Petit has collected and drawn some facinating stories from people that have shared parts of their lives. Digest size, color covers, black and white interiors, 30 pages. Working Nine to Fine, vol 1 and vol 2, I Smell and Remember, Fells Like the First Time, I Don't Love You Anymore, and the free book when you order 3 or more: Make-A-Monster Paper Dolls and Puppet Theater.

This is from the books: "The Participatory Book Series began in January 2007. I decided I wanted to make some books and in my head I could see them, but I didn't have any content to actually make them. Life had been complicated for really long time and I didn't want to use any of my own stories. The truth is, I was sort of tired of myself and figured other people might have stories way more interesting than my own.

So I started a blog that asked questions. Have you ever had a smell trigger a memory? Do you believe in an interventionist God? Has the mental health of other people had an influence in your life? Do you remember your first love? Can you tell me the story of a breakup?

And then I asked some friends to participate."

I loved these books and I recommend them to everyone. The stories are a page turner, you can't wait to see what happens next. The art is simple but fits the stories nicely and helps tie all the books together in a nice series. I even sent in some of my stories! (5 stars out of 5) See more about Marianne HERE, and order the books at: http://www.mariannepetit.com/books/

Death Accidental #1-One Shot Productions

Death Accidental #1- One Shot Productions. Full size comic, color covers, 52 pages, black and white with gray interior art.
Story by Jay W. Davis, Pencils and Ink by Curtis Rhodes.

This story pulls you in and carries you along for the ride. The art is dramatic and gives you all the information you need to follow the story. If Curtis keeps working on his comic art I'm sure he will be an artist to watch out for. His figure work is OK but could be better. He already has a knack for nice layouts and pacing the story well. His use of shading is also very experimental yet it works well with the story. The writing is great for the most part with only a small moments that didn't totally 'ring true' for me here and there. But the main thing is he keeps the reader wanting more! A true gift when it comes to comic writing.

The story is set in a small town where a series of murders have been taking place. We don't know who is responsible but have some people we suspect along the way. You'll just have to read it as I don't want to give anything away here.
Well worth the $5 price tag as this is a 52 page comic. A lot of time, and creative energy went into this project and it shows. I'd of done the lettering differently but that is another thing that will hopefully be improved as this company continues on in the future, as they look like they put out a lot of comics and if they stay with it, could very well hit on a winning series. Though from the looks of some of their covers (this book included) they could use some one with graphic design expertise to move them in a more professional stage of production.
(4 out of 5 stars)

$5 plus $2 shipping (I'm guessing) to: One Short Productions, 3125 S. Mendenhall #194, Memphis, TN 38115-2827 Web: www.oneshotproductions.com Jay W. Davis: jay@oneshotproductions.com, Curtis Rhodes: curtis@oneshotproductions.com

Roomates and Freeloaders #1-Carson/Thomsen

Roomates and Freeloaders #1: The result of slackers in the real world. Written by Will Carson with artwork by Oliver Restorf-Thomsen. Full size comic, full color, 24 pages.

From the web site: Imagine waking up one day and realizing that all your roommates are either jobless, spend all their money on things non rent related, or were never invited to stay in your home. Then you don’t have roommates. You have freeloaders. Now take a walk with Spazz as he employs some unconventional ways to cope with the blight you once referred to as roommates. Who knows, you may even walk away without any permanent emotional scars.

This is an online web comic that has been collected into a comic book. That explains why the art doesn't fit the comic pages I guess. This could be an addictive web comic once you meet the characters and if you are just starting out on your own and have friends that hang out too much. But otherwise the stories and art left me a little cold. But then I'm not just leaving home to get my first place on my own. So check out the site and judge for yourself. A nice touch is the behind the scenes in making a web comic section in the back of the comic. Great job there. Now if the artist can work more on his figure drawing and coloring skills a bit, and the writer can work out some more universal themes to the strips this could be more popular to a wider audience. If that is what they are after. (2 stars out of 5)

Get more info at: www.roomatesandfreeloaders.com no price on the comic. Email Will at: waking.of.the.gods@gmail.com or Oliver at: rudemates@arcor.de and there is another site at: www.clovenhand.com/webcomics/roomates-and-freeloaders

The RANTER #1

Daniel Nauenbrug's The Ranter #1 is a full size full color comic book. 30 pages on gloss stock. This book is part of the Small Press Syndicate.

From the first page: "The Ranter is a rather strange amalgam of borderline mentally ill people that I have seen while riding public buses and what I imagine they would act like if they were also passionate artists commenting on various topics."

This book is a quick read but it makes you think. The art is very good and fits the story to a "T". Great work. The Ranter makes a great point about how many artists there are in the world and how hard it is to be noticed etc....Well worth the $4 admission price. (5 stars out of 5)

The book sells for $4 postage paid. Email: evildanny@hotmail.com Send payment to:
Daniel Nauenbrug / 13741 Mercado Dr. / Del Mar, CA 92014

Michael Aushenker's Chipmunks & Squirrels

Michael Aushenker's CHIPMUNKS & SQUIRRELS is a crazy rollercoaster of "mature" comic fun. Cute little characters that rob liquor stores, steal from street people and make it big in Hollywood. Tons of entertainment from what appears to be some of the earliest work from Michael Aushenker as it was done from 1992-1994. The only thing square about this book is it's size! 8.5 x 8.5 with a color cardstock cover and brilliant black and white interiors. "Kiss my butler!"
(Rated 5 stars out of 5!) The art is a little too loose but improves as it goes along and it fits the crazy stories to a tee!
Send your check or money order ($6 +$1 postage) made out to MICHAEL AUSHENKER
c/o ORIGINAL SYNDICATE PRESS
P.O. Box 480045, LOS ANGELES, CA 90048. Or just visit: http://www.cartoonflophouse.com (Man I can't wait to read some of his other comics!)

Quiblets, Edmund Conti and cartoonist Jim Siergey to be released by Doggerel Daze

A news release:

Quiblets, a unique collaboration between wordsmith Edmund Conti and cartoonist Jim Siergey, will be released by Doggerel Daze in September. The book is a collection of word-play poems, mostly comic and always intriquing, and also a series of cartoons. Part of the fun is seeing the ways in which the poems and pictures interact. Sample pages can be viewed at http://ddaze.com/02eQuiblets/Quiblets.htm

"Quiblets offer delightful word play, letter play, and mind play. The verses are so light that they float--and so substantial that the reader gains a new appreciation for the potentialities of language." --Richard Lederer

The pocket-sized book sells for only $5.95. Orders received by mail (Doggerel Daze; 10144 Riedel Place; Cupertino, CA 95014) before the release date, September 15, will receive free shipping.

Street Pizza, An Anti-Nuke Fable, Andy P.

Street Pizza, An Anti-Nuke Fable, Andy P., Under Core Comix. Magazine size, color on covers, black and white interiors. 2o pages. $5.00. Uh, well, what can I say but "lots of potential here". Well, actually I'm not sure. The story of a pizza store owner and his delivery guy after a nuclear war. This is a very bleak comic to be sure. The people in charge of the country are clueless, the pizza guy and his sidekick are clueless.....lots of cussing and non PC comments here and there....I could only make it through about the first 1/4 of the book and that was painful. If this is a first effort with a young creator as it appears to be then give publishing a break and work on your story writing and take some art lessons. There, that's constructive criticism, right? (But I just checked his MySpace link and he is 25 years old. Well, it's never too late to take art lessons and writing classes.....) (Zero stars)
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http://www.myspace.com/streetpizzacomix

Frater Mine #4, Making Comics Studios

Frater Mine #4, Making Comics Studios. 2006. Full size comic, color cover, 28 pages, black and white interiors. $2.95. I had the pleasure of lettering issues #2 and #3 last year and I found the art and story for this comic very original and entertaining. The story by Sean McGrath mixes real life situations then spins you into some characters with strange and mystical powers. Don't want to give anything away but it keeps you reading. You get involved with the characters and this is something that most comics don't take the time to do. The art is always excellent on the series as well. The covers are very creative and you can tell that Sean is not afraid to push the envelope here and there. Well worth getting the full run of issues 1-4 with #5 looking to come out in 2007. Written by Sean McGrath, drawn and inked by Juan Romera, Lettered by Ed Brisson, Cover at by Scott McGrath, Edited by Scott McGrath. (I give this 5 stars.)
_______________________________________
http://makingcomicsstudios.com or http://www.myspace.com/fratermine or stseanoftheknife@austin.rr.com

HaVen #2, Making Comics Studios

HaVen #2, Making Comics Studios. Full size comic, color covers, 22 color interior pages. Created and Written by Christopher Moshier, Pencils by William C. Jamison, Inks by Yul Espinosa, Colors by Cathy Ann Gouin, Letters by Jay La Valley, Edits by Sean McGrath & Percival Constantine.

From their web site: In this second issue Thomas Scarrett must face his jailers creating an uneasy alliance. But having little choice the HaVeN council grants Scarrett his demands, freeing several political prisoners to his custody in hopes to thwart the impending threat.

This is what the site says about the first issue: (Reviewed here, look in the archives.) In this first issue a military team from the space station HaVeN must convince Thomas Scarret to return with them to save the station and rescue political figures taken hostage at a peace conference by his own brother, Scott Scarret.

So you can see they have a great story unfolding here, with art that has greatly improved in issue #2. Plus the coloring is much better. Please try out this series, written by the soon to be famous Chris Moshier. (Who wrote the novel MORGANA X soon out from Fan-Atic Press!..among other things.) (4 stars)
________________________________________________
http://www.makingcomicsstudios.com
who have some other great comics like Frater Mine, look up for review....

Nobody Can Eat 50 EGGS #31

Nobody Can Eat 50 EGGS #31. Digest, color cover (wraps around), 25 black and white pages, counting inside covers which are also in color. No company name, no price no credits on cover. very nice cover, reminds me of a cartoonist from the 70's and 80's, Ted Bolman. This zine has great little strips...don't see any names on this yet..."The Cement Shoe Brothers in" What A Goon Thinks is a little funny diddy about some thugs and how they must collect money owed. This was very well done. Nice art. Reminds me of some of the Mad Magazine artists. "Frank and Eddie in" Lizard Love part 1. Still no credits, two guys arguing and one that gets attached to a pet lizard. This doesn't seem to go anywhere. It is continued farther in the book but doesn't seem to lead to anything...maybe I needed to read some of the other issues. How to Trap Bigfoot, was interesting but not as funny as it could have been I guess. The art again is excellent and fits the messages. Warning Signs Your Boss is Really A Thinly Disguised Alien Creature THAT EATS PEOPLE....this was very well done and was even closer to the Mad Magazine look and feel. In fact they would have used most of this I bet. Hunchback Intern was very good and the art was great. Same guy doing this whole book? Looks like it. Love to see more of these hunchbacks. Bruno in Anger Management about two rhinos was also well done. I could go on and on as there is allot packed into these pages. This is worth every penny, if we knew how many pennies.... (4 stars)
____________________________________________
445 1/2 randolph street / Meadville, PA 16335 (still no name?) http://freewebs.com/50eggs or email: eat_50_eggs@hotmail.com

DARE #1, Pickel Press

DARE #1, Pickle Press, Nik Havert and Renatus (2006). Price on cover $7.95. Full size comic, square-bound, glossy color cover, 78 black and white pages with lots of gray tones. This mature readers only comic is a mix between porn, a female James Bond, and well, more porn.....The story by Nik isn't that bad actually, but if you are not into the heavy sex action portrayed here then you won't even get into the story anyway. The art is from very good to OK. In parts it looks rushed but overall it is above average and the artist knows his anatomy well (too well?). The cars and backgrounds are excellent. His use of gray tones is over handled and makes most of the pages way too dark, but the story does move along and besides the sex there is some very violent action sequences. So you can tell this was a labor of love for Nik and Renatus but it remains to be seen how many will be turned off by this "guy" magazine. I'm sure you'll have to be over 17 to buy this and not easily offended to say the least. For people that love porn and violent action intermixed with some good story telling...this is for you. (I give it 3 stars)
_________________________________
Pickle Press / 157 East Van Buren / Napanee, IN 46550 http://www.picklepress.net or email: picklepress@earthlink.net

Weird MUSE #3, by Dan W. Taylor

Weird MUSE #3, by Dan W. Taylor. 4.25' tall x 5.5' wide, cream cardstock cover, black and white printing. 8 interior pages. I guess this is rated PG-13 as there are some breasts here and there...First we have a nice little into page with nice art (and breasts), then we go to DAN's Wife's Page....some nice home cleaning tips, and a recipe, oh and a nice photo of some kittens. Then we bet to the comic by Dan: The Weird Muse in Think Twice & Be Nice. Nice art and story. Love the gray tones as well. (More comic breasts, she is a GODDESS for gosh sakes.). And we learn an important lesson in the end! Another great little comic by DAN!
(5 stars) They just keep getting better, but I want more!
___________________________________________
Send $1 ppd to: Dan W. Taylor/1833 Guntle Road/New Lebanon, OH 45345 or visit:
http://weirdmuse.ecrater.com

Our Soundtrack Project #1

Our Soundtrack Project #1, is magazine size, black and white interiors, text with some photos zine. Color cover. 18 pages not counting covers. Here is a bit from their intro page:

There are songs that mark pivotal moments in our lives. Songs that stand out in our memory and take us back to a place of joy, pain, love, or love lost. These are the songs you sing aloud when you hear them after a few drinks at the bar, no matter who might be watching. They are the ones you scream into the wind while driving with your windows down. Our Soundtrack Project is an idea for a compilation of stories from our lives that we associate with specific songs that we know, love, or maybe even hate.

This little zine is very fun to read. Really nice, excellent stories by Laurie Marie Taylor:"Naive Melody"-The Talking Heads, Catherine Lemoreus:"Pretty Pathetic"-The Smoking Popes, Joshua Hamilton; "Help" - The Beatles, Scott Free (love that name): "An American Tune" -Simon and Garfunkel, and many more.... I'm still reading them and there is so much packed in here, I love it. Great idea. And they are looking for submissions. (4 stars)
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It says "free" on the cover but I'm sure you'll have to send some postage. Our Soundtrack Project/ c/o Josh Hamilton/1425 7th Street #2/Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 or email them at oursoundtrackproject@gmail or their web site: www.myspace.com/oursoundtrackproject

19th Century Detective #1, Candid Cartoons

19th Century Detective #1: The Graybridge Terror, Candid Cartoons. Full size comic, 32 black and white interior pages, Story and Pencils by Larned Justin, Inks by Tim Corrigan. Larned has a great package here and with the help of Tim Corrigan you can't go wrong. The story introduces you to 4 main characters mainly Lan Brain a Dectective retired from Scotland Yard, but they call on him with some of their most difficult cases. This story has some real surprises and not to give anything away, I don't think you'll see them coming. In fact there is a secret envelope you also get with the comic that you can't open till you finish reading the book! Don't peek! That makes it just that much more fun! Can't wait to read and review issue #2 which I do have already. The art is a little rough at times, but not often, and the placing of the word balloons are sometimes not that well thought out but none of that distracts from the story which is well written and the art tells it well. (4 stars)
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Send $3 and some postage (Darn rates go up at the Post Office tomorrow!) to: Larned Justin/PO Box 471 House Springs MO 63051 or email him at: candidcartoons@yahoo.com or check his web site at: www.freewebs.com/candidcartoons

NO HOPE #4, Dead Dog Press

NO HOPE #4, Dead Dog Press. Written and Drawn by Jason Dean. 47 pages, magazine size, black and white, black and white slick covers. As the title proclaims, this is: crude, offensive, puerile, etc... magazine. Well parts of it are funny and the art is very well done. The production of the book is excellent. The LETTERS page is very funny stuff, but....the humor is crude and rude. If you are into crazy characters that cuss allot, and do violent crazy things this book is for you. Oh, and you have to be over 17 years old for sure. On the good side the art and lettering remind me of the JIM books, and other stuff like ZAP Comics (actually Robert Crumb's WIERDO) which I'm sure must of inspired Jason to work on this. It sure seems like a labor of love and he really must work day and night on all the art and stories he packs into the book. Just not my cup of tea, and I'm guessing not many of you will care for this either. I can't even show the cover here.

There is a interesting historical piece included called The Horrific Filmography of Freddy Valentine. It starts out, "Although a familiar face with the drive-in movie audiences of the 1950's and 60s, it's only recently that people have begun to take an interest in the blood-splattered career of the ghoulishly gruesom horror actor Freddy Valentine." The story talks about his career and there are some very strange numbered areas at the bottom of the story that eventually take over the page, detailing some of the story, but in a very bizarre way that I'm sure Jason has made up to enhance the piece. He even draws up some of these movie posters mentioned in the article and in the indica info. I'm not sure which are based on real posters and which are made up. Anyway, strange and interesting work throughout this thick book. Jason should be given an award for creativity and a ticket on the next train out of town! You be the judge if you dare try out this book. (I give it 2 stars mostly for the art and book layout. Again, most of the subject matter was very crude and rude.)
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No price on the book, and I don't see a mailing address.... but it may be found at North West Zine Works very soon. http://www.northwestzineworks.com where I was asked to review this and other books soon to be on that site.

SPACE CON photos 2007 by AF

MANTRA #10, Steve Keeter

MANTRA #10, black and white digest, anthology, 44 pages. I remember MANTRA! Yeah, this is the first issue for 19 years! I can stop holding my breath now! WHOOOOOOOooooo.....Love this zine. Sure it reminds me of my Slam Bang before I went fat with it. I love this size and it is chock full of great art and stores; Nice cover, "Side Effects!" by Keeter and Jim Pack, love stories inspired by true life....and the art is pretty good! Deep Poetry #2, by Steve Keeter....uh, oh this is deep. Does most everything involve beer! Ha! Guess so. Larry Blake's "LeRoy's Country Song!" is one wild comic page! Yee-ha, love this guy's stuff. Hey it's the BEACON! I remember this character! Yeah, the art looks like Tim Corrigan's work....maybe the credits are reversed. "Worthwords" by Larry Blake keeps you begging for more from this guy! One page here isn't enough! Pepper and Snuggle's GREAT ESCAPE, story: Cliff Kurowski, Art: April Kurowski, is some funny animal capers. Uh, this would make a nice children's book story, but here it's not doing much for me. The one pager by Tim Kelly reminds me of the old Floyd Flamdoozle. Remember that strip way back when? Funny stuff. Has a nice underground feel to it. "Stand-Up Guy in...Turnabout" is another one pager this time by Brien Wayne Powell. Uh, art is not much and the story isn't up to par but this guy could be on the right track. I'd have to see more from him. MANTRA MISSIVES is a cool throwback since it had the letters from 19 years ago! Ha! Great stuff. Talk about picking up where you left off! Next we get more great stuff from Larry Blake, and the back cover is very nice by Tuz. So overall there is quite a lot to digest here, and most of it is well worth the cost of the book. Which reminds me, what does the book cost? Don't see a price on it. Also the #10 seems to be left off the cover....
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but nevermind just write to: Steve Keeter, P.O.Box 536368, Orlando FL 32853-6368. Or just send him $5 and let him fill up your mail box? I give this 5 stars assuming the cost of the book is resonable and knowing Steve it will be. Also he has info on books from SPS (Small Press Syndicate) and BPP (Blue Plaque Publications) and UFO (United Fanzine Organization)...whew! I was in the UFO years ago, and it's a great place to get reviews and help each other get the word out on your publications! Support these co-ops!

RUFFIANS #1-6, Drunken Cat Comics

Ruffians #1-6. Drunken Cat Comics. Full size comics, #1 (28 pages) has a color cover and is $2.95. Issues 2-6 (16 pages each) are newsprint from cover to cover and $1.50 each. Written and drawn by Brian Canini, edited by David Grant and Eric Fox. Wow, what do we have here? And why haven't I heard of this company before? I keep going to the SPACE con, near where these guys live. They always show up. The giant orange cat is walking around with his tongue sticking out of his mouth....and I even took a photo last year of the cat holding a guy in his arms. But, why didn't I search them down and find out about their comics?

Well, this year I got my hands on them! Ruffians issues 1-6....and here is the scoop: They are funny animals meet scarry hitmen, meet gorillas, meet...blood and guts and serious cartoon stuff! Yeah, man, this weird bear named Scar, with the boxing gloves (Don't know what that is about.) is a hitman and gets very upset when his mask faced friend is killed. So he tries to get revenge. Things don't usually go well for him. This is a strange, cruel world. Harsh, violent.....with funny animal Scar leading us through it. The art is simple and some parts very detailed. But it all works. It puts you firmly in this world where you wish you could get out, but you can't for the life of you stop reading it! And that is the mark of a great comic. Sure, it's not for everyone. (For Mature Readers) But if you give it a try I'm betting you'll like it. The 6th issue was totally different where a cartoon Scar visits his creator in his studio. Scar is a cartoon drawn into the photos. This makes me think that anything can happen in this book. I'm also impressed that the book is on a monthly schedule, or so it seems. So I'm going to have to figure out how to get a subscription to this! (Five Big Stars)
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Contact these guys at: www.drunkencatcomics.com and tell them Small Press Newsroom sent ya!

POP ART Funnies #6, MPH Comics

POP ART Funnies #6, MPH Comics. Full size comic, black and white interiors (though the inside covers are also in color!) 34 pages. $1.00. This takes me back to the ZAP comics of the 60's! And the art is similar to some of those artists. Nice and polished, yet cartoony. Reminds me of the work of Jim Siergey also. The first story is the man one depicted on the cover by Martin Hirchak who is also the publisher.

I met Marty at the SPACE con back in 2004 and he is great guy dedicated to having people read his comics. In fact his first issue of POP ART Funnies was 25 cents! He said he'd mailed out thousands of them to comic stores and that was how he got orders! More power to you Martin! This is the Origin Issue of Superbull! And what a funny, strange origin it is! Now I can't wait to read some Superbull stories! Next we are treated to some black and white photos, too bad there are not captions as I'd like to know who these people are. Some I know are Martin himself cavorting with other comic folks. What is also interesting are the pages of advertising. Martin has his act together. I can see how he can charge so little per issue, and print so many, as he is getting some revenue from these ads! Smart man.

Next we have the story: "In The City of Brotherly LOVE! with Uncle MARTY. Here Martin's story starts out with a homage to "Benjamin Franklin"! The first small presser! HA! So true! The story gets off track and Ben himself has to set things straight though Uncle Marty seems to still control things here. Go Marty! There are also a couple of short Pirate cartoons with some strange art/story by R. Becker that isn't bad. There are a few other one page surprises, and on the inside back cover Marty even shows us his very first comic cover for Super Bug #1 from 1975, the one that started it all for him! Great stuff, and the price can't be beat! Yowza, this book had a print run of 10,000 copies! Hum, guess this isn't really small press after all but what the heck, I like it! (Five Stars)
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MPH Comics, Box 441906, Detroit, MI 48244. Send him $1 and something for postage or I'd send him $6 + $3 shipping and get all 6 issues, what the heck!

The Three Keys #1, Pickle Press

The Three Keys #1, Pickle Press. Full size comic, 24 pages, black and white interiors. $2.75. By Nik Havert (Writer/Creator/Editor), Paul Schultz (art), Craig DeBoard (Colors on cover and lettering). This is a very interesting story that is seen from 3 different viewpoints! I won't give it all away but its a different way to tell a story. The characters are all likable and the fantasy world looks like a fun place to tell more stories of these guys. (This one is sort of continued...)

I loved the art but my only problems with the book was that the art is so cramped I usually couldn't tell what was going on, and if the text didn't tell me, I'd not know. A good comic has the art tell the story as much as possible and the words add to that, working together. Anyway, my other problem was that in some parts the lettering was way too large taking up valuable art space further crowding the panels. But I can tell these guys are all very talented and I feel certain they will gain their footing and work out these problems in the future. I hope so, as I'd love to see more by these guys! (And I'd like to know what the heck is going on in the panels...) I could feel a homage to P. Craig Russell's art style which I love, and sure enough on the BIO page they mention that. Oh, and one more thing, a TITLE on a book should stand out the most on the cover. In this case I can't even read the word "KEYS" but that could be a coloring snafu that could have been avoided. Otherwise the coloring on the cover was very nice. Just don't hide the title of the book guys. (I give this book 3.4 stars) ________________
Contact these guys at: www.picklepress.net or write them at: Pickle Press, 157 East Van Buren Nappanee, IN 46550. Send them $2.75 and say $2 for postage or ask them for details. (I just noticed this book is from 2004 so I bet they already have improved from this book by now.)

The Haunt of Horace! #1, Horror Comics Group

The Haunt of Horace! #1, Horror Comics Group. Full size comic, black and white interiors. 28 pages, $2.95. Well this is one bizarre comic book. We get to see the origin of Horace and his very twisted, possessed, vampire unicorn! This is like a children's story gone all wrong! It gets close here and there to going over the edge completely....but always seems to steer back on track. The art has a feel all its own. With some panels not as up to par as most of the book. But it all seems to work somehow. Is this for little goth kids? HA! They already have a second issue and I'll have to check that out for review as for some reason I'd like to see where this keeps going. If it is this weird in the first issue, I can't imagine what is going to happen next! There is an ad for some very creepy comic from them called Invasion of the Doppelgangers! Are these guys on the cutting edge taking us where EC Comics would have gone if they were still around? We have to keep watching these guys. The first story is called, "My Big Dumb Hell", by Ken Henson. Then there is a one page oddity called Journey Into ADHD" by Mark O'Neill. Twisted.
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www.thehauntofhorace.com is how to reach them. If you dare. (Three stars.) And I bet I see much more coming from these guys....and like a train wreck, I can't look away!

Small Press EXTRA #5, TruFan Publications

I just received in the mail the massive 64 page mag size issue of Small Press EXTRA (SPE) #5 from TruFan Publications. I was one of the 10 lucky people to get a full color copy. That means not just color on the covers, but all the way though! Some snafu at the printer and they got 10 like this. I was lucky enough to snag one! Wow! I'm assuming everyone else gets full color covers, with black and white interiors. Still this is one fantastic small press review and news zine! And I'm borrowing this review from old time small presser (he is my age), Steve Keeter. (Until he tells me to take it down.) --AF
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By STEVE KEETER:
Just received my copy of SPE #5, and it is awesome. Cover to cover,
a stellar issue, beautifully laid out, loaded with info of interest
to your average small press maniac, great writing and great photos
and artwork throughout.

If you haven't guessed it by now, I really liked this issue!
The second part of the interview with Jim Main was the highlight, at
least for this old fan, as I greatly enjoy reading his thoughts on
small press history. Also, his plans for publishing are just
staggering, as is his amazing energy... especially considering the
problems he had with his health just a short time ago. The man is a
powerhouse, unstoppable, the best of the best, a true legend of
small press publishing.

Allen Freeman's unexpected (so soon after the event! Talk about
breaking news!) report on SPACE 2007, was very much appreciated,
very informative, and the pix were really nice. Dan Taylor seems
like a guy I'd like to meet (and hopefully will, next year, if I can
make it up there). Hey, is Larned Justin really short or is
the "unknown comic fan" just really tall? I see Tim Corrigan has
grown his hair out again...

It was good to see another take on MegaCon by Jim Pike. Really glad
that he did well with the Superior Man comics this year. He's
building a steady fan base, learning as he goes, (and I learned
quite a bit, this year, from listening to him recount his
experiences selling and promoting small press at the convention) and
can definitely include ol skeet in that list of fans.

Lovecraft! I'd heard about his participation in the amateur press
before, but you included an actual sample of his small press work!
And an intriguing text from one of his speeches. Great stuff!
Congratulations on outdoing yourself, o' Great and Mighty Gaffsam.
Looking forward to the next issue.
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Send $2.50 plus some postage I assume, $2? Or get a 6 issue subscription for $15.
Or contact the guys at: TruFan Publications, 624 Metacom Ave., #103, Warren, RI 02885
(I give this mag 5 stars of course!)

HUMPDAY by Adam Buechler

HUMPDAY is a great concept with great art to back it up. Adam Buechler has a nice style that works very well here. Just enough detail to keep the story moving along. And the story is very well done. And dare I say it "original"? Or seems to be to me. From the Press Release that Adam sent with the comic: The comic centers on a pair of blue-collar guys, an American "Dog-catcher" team working in Paris in the near future. Like manyother zombie books, it is a time where the undead roam freely, and as a result, the undead tourists have become a nuisance and an embarrassment for their homelands. They've taken over popular vacation destinations and as a result, their respective countries have sent in teams to remove them from the city. The comic is not really a horror story or even a zombie story, but more of a comedic tale about the mundane day-in and day-out of the working class. The tense or scary scenes in the comic are dealt with as though they are just everyday occurrences (which they are, of course) for the characters. Nothing out of the ordinary and really rather dull.

That said I was drawn into the story and would love to see more from Adam soon. 24 pages, digest, color cover, thick paper stock and great printing quality throughout. No price on the cover? Also I love the intro page but you should have something on the inside covers if you can, and especially on the back cover, which he chose to leave blank. Maybe talk about your other projects or something about issue #2 or perhaps the main characters in a nice pose?

I give this 4.5 stars. Adam made a common small press mistake, he didn't print any credits or contact info in the comic. You should do that to make sure people can contact you for letters of comment, or to order more of your books! Add a web site address if you can and an email address for sure. Getting feedback is important and so is selling more books! You could even get someone that likes your art and want to hire you for something so don't miss an oportunity!

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Send $5 + $2 shipping to: Adam Buechler, 1582 William St., Vancouver, BC, V5L 2R2 or Email him at a_squared@shaw.ca for payment details. (I'm sure we will be seeing alot of great things from him in the future!)

TIKI COMIX, Thru Black Holes Comix

Tiki Comix is a digest with a color wrap-around cover by Michael Roden. Michael also does most of the interior pages of crazy TIKI Gods like in "Tiki Surf Party!" a one pager done with Mike Mitchell. No real stories to speak of, just wild art involving a TIKI God. Art also by Brad W. Foster who does a very nice "TIKIMAN" inside cover pinup, and some of the usual Rodenites like Bob "X", Jeff Gaither, Jim Thompson, Tom Brinkmann, Andy Nukes etc....well worth a look if you like wacked out crazy, scary cartoonish, realistic mayhem. Greetings from ...Tiki Man was like an old photo album of Tiki Man, funny! You know these guys are having fun! About 20 pages counting the covers which are printed on the inside.
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Nice printing and nice colors on the cover...no price on the cover but I'm betting $3 + $1.50 shipping would do it, or email TBHCOMIX@aol.com for details. Or take your chances and send that money to: Michael R. Roden, 2018, Big Indian Rd., Moscow, OH, 45153 (I give it 3 stars as lots of tallent goes into this stuff. If only they had a real story here or there....)

Ka-Whump! #2 Small Press and Underground Review Zine

Ka-Whump! #2. I'll be honest. It is hard for me to review this magazine since I did the cover art, it had an interview with me, and I got rave reviews for 3 of my Fan-Atic Press comics. So, if you can look past all that and believe me when I tell you that this is the best News and Reviews zine I've seen for Small Press comics in years, I'm telling the truth. 40+ pages, mag size, excellent printing quality, nice layouts, cheap advertising rates, over 60 comics reviewed! All the news and important stuff happening in small press comics! Who could possibly ask for more? Robert L. Sumner who is a publisher of comics himself (Altered Fates Entertainment), put out a digest size Ka-Whump! #1 a few months back and got my attention. He is the mastermind behind this venture and I can't wait to see where future issues lead. Whatever you do help support this mag!
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Send $3.50 per issue or 2 issues (a 1 year subscription) for $6 or a 2 year sub for $11.00 (that's 4 issues!) and save $3.00. Send cash, check or money order made out to Robert L. Sumner. Send it all to: Robert L. Sumner, PO Box 1523, Depoe Bay, OR 97341 (This of course gets 5 stars!) Next issue comes out in June so send your review copies right away! Email him at: blackmirth@hotmail.com for any questons, press releases, comic news or just to say hi.

Press Release from Blind Bat Press...

Press Release RE: The Comic Eye - Comics about Comics Trade Paperback From Blind Bat Press. September, 2007 Blind Bat Press will release a 144 page trade Paperback containing dozens of comic strips on the theme of comics, comic fans and comics creators. Dave Sim, creator of Cerebus will be drawing the front cover and interior strips by terrific talents from the USA and Canada, including:Rick Geary, Fred Hembeck, Rob Walton, Nick Craine, Randy Reynaldo, Steve Skeates, Allen Freeman, Mike Cherkas, Earl Geier, Terry Pavlet, Larry Blake, Gord Pullar, Dave Collier, Jim Siergey, John Migliore, James Waley, Robert Pincombe, Tim Tobolski, Ron Kasman, Ron Hobbs, Matt Feazell, George McVey, Steve LeBlanc, Bernie Mireault, Sam Agro, Paul McCusker, Noel Tuazon, Jim Ordolis, Patrick Dean Smith, Sam Gafford. Scott McClung, Oliver Costas, Russ Maheras, Joe Ollmann, Jason Whitley, Tim Corrigan, Larry Johnson, Dan Taylor and tentatively: Richard Comely, Bob Corby, Matthew Forsythe, Vince Marchesano and likely a surprise artists!This trade paperback will be 6.7 by 10.1 inches, squarebound with cover coloring by Bernie Mireault.The ship date is set for early Septmebr 2007, printed and shipped from Lebonfon Printing in Montreal.The ISBN for this book will be ISBN 0-9782197-0-8, price set at 11.95 US / 13.95 CAN.For more information contact Mark Innes, publisher and editor, and for updates watch http://www.markinnes.com/ .Since 1990, Blind Bat Press has been publishing comic books including: Dreamtime, Romantic Eye, Glass Eye, Oatmeal, Wavemakers and Dinky The Hamster.Mark Innes,Blind Bat Press,http://www.markinnes.com/mailto:m.innes%40sympatico.caApt 40-1 - 21 Duke Street, Hamilton, ON L8P 1W8 Canada

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Sorry for the delay but I plan to post lots of new comics here for review this week. Keep them coming in!