The Sunday Spotlight: The ‘Be Thou Silent, Servitor!’ Edition
by Richard Bruton
Welcome, once more, to the Sunday Spotlight, as I trawl through the comics news I stumbled upon this week …
New Aces Weekly from David Lloyd and a cast of some great comics creators — only available digitally …
I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again, Aces Weekly is a great bit of comics. Masterminded by David Lloyd, it’s a weekly digital comics anthology, published in seven-part volumes, 20 pages per issue, dropping every Monday, and all yours for just £1 per week (in any currency), full of a lot of new and established voices in comics. Go on, give them a try; it’s well worth it. `If you want to see a little of what’s gone before, there are examples at the Aces Weekly site.
Volume 81 has the following:
‘The conclusion of the extraordinary, Kidnapping on Noah’s Ark from Roberto Goiriz ; dragon-stalking in Runeforger from Feli White; David Braña and Olga Carmona Peral, with a supernatural Victorian detective saga like nothing you’ve seen before; the kooky killers of Sicarios are back from Ertito Montana and Roberto Corroto ; and there’s some more nutty stuff from Philippa Alana Whitmore, Bambos Georgiou, and Mychailo Kazybrid; plus a thought-provoking space epic from Ale Mangiarotti; Seventh from Yuyo Grinberg; and more..!”
Must Buy — The Swots and the Blots — classic Leo Baxendale collected at last
It might have started in the debut issue of Brit comic Smash! in 1966, but the publisher Irmantas Povilaika has taken the important decision to only collect The Swots and the Blots strips from the point, three years later, when the comic genius that was Leo Baxendale took over in the new Fleetway-published Smash! revamp. Honestly, one of the funniest things you’ll ever read, Baxendale’s skill and comedic chops were perhaps never better than here.
This new collection comes from the Rebellion Treasury of British comics archive, but is published under licence by Povilaika in an initial hardback edition of just 150 numbered copies, including a colour print, or a limited to 50 copies, unnumbered, paperback version. Povilaika’s already licensed and published Baxendale’s Mervyn’s Monsters and two volumes of Ken Reid‘s classic strips — all of which should be added to your bookshelves for more classic and incredibly funny British humour comics.
The 180-page hardcover volume collects every episode of The Swots and the Blots written and illustrated by Baxendale for Smash! between 15th March 1969 and 3rd April 1971. It also includes Baxendale’s very first instalment from the original era of Smash! and his two stories printed in the Smash! Annual 1971. Lew Stringer’s written the intro to it, and you can find his thoughts on the book here.
On the one hand, great news that Rebellion are willing to licence their archive for projects such as this. But you’ve got to wish that there would be a more mass market version of the books that Rebellion could put out. Although, it could be that, very sadly, there’s just not the market for that.
You can buy direct from the publisher here.
Jeff Lemire interviewed about 10 years of Black Hammer over at The Comics Beat …
Black Hammer, great comic series, created by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston, celebrates its 10th year of publication. Mark Tweedale at The Comics Beat celebrates the anniversary by interviewing Jeff Lemire about the series, where it’s been and where it’s going. Here’s his intro to give you a flavour …
“Ten years ago, Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, and Dark Horse Comics welcomed us into the world of Black Hammer. Of course, back then it wasn’t a world yet, just a single series about six heroes from the golden, silver, and bronze ages, stranded on a mysterious farm (and the reporter trying to find them). Fast forward to today and the series has not only moved well past its original run, but expanded into various spinoff titles. It concluded Phase One in 2019, then Phase Two in 2024, and with the latest miniseries, Black Hammer: Spiral City, kicked off Phase Three.”
Roberta Gregory’s brilliant Bitchy Bitch Omnibus has a signing …
Bitchy! The Exasperating Existence Of Midge McCracken, Roberta Gregory‘s masterpiece, an essential read if ever there was one, was released on 21st July, after a slightly troubled birth — troubles in the Strait of Hormuz — it’s finally available for us all to read. You have got it ordered, haven’t you?
Interviews with Roberta with Chris Coplan of AIPT here and with Barbara Dillon of Fanbase Press here. And a signing at the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery on 8 August…
More Rachael Smith news – new webcomic, Mushots, launches 1st August, plus Kickstarter for Nap Comix Vol.2 …
As you no doubt know, I really, really love Rachael Smith‘s work, have done since first coming across it in 2013. She’s one of those rare creators who I just know I’m going to love everything she does. So, the prospect of a new webcomic, MUGSHOT, that launched yesterday, as you’re reading this, but, as I’m writing this on Friday, I’m just eagerly awaiting what I’m sure will be something rather wonderful.
But that’s only part of the Smith news this week. She’s also unveiled the launch of the second Nap Comix collection, coming to Kickstarter soon. You can sign up to be notified here. Honestly, as I’ve told you before, it’s just the best, most insightful, honest, heartfelt, and downright essential guide to dealing with parenthood you could get.
Nap Comix 2: First Steps, takes us further into young Henry’s life, as Rachael and Rob have to deal with the baby turning into a toddler:
“A love letter to the weirdness and wonderfulness of children just starting to find their own voice and personality. This book explores Rachael’s son Henry becoming his own person. He walks! He talks! He has some strong opinions on…everything! Rachael continues to delight in him.'”
Seriously, essential reading for parents, old and new. Ditch all your How To guides and your What To Expect books; Nap Comix gives you the truth, good and bad, about parenthood, and does it with wit and style.
