What We’re Looking Forward to This Autumn
Summer’s gone, winter’s coming. We’re all that bit nearer to death But cheer up. There are always comic books. Here’s why we’re still upbeat despite the fact that the sun is off to heat up the other half of the planet.
1: Because 2000AD is Kicking It Right Now
If you hurry you can still get a copy of 2000AD Prog 1950 which sees a new series of Brass Sun by Ian Edginton and INC Culbard, Leigh Gallagher’s gloriously noxious art on Pat Mills’ latest Gothic thrill The London Hanged (think zombies and levellers) and, best of all, because Bad Company returns. Peter Milligan brings back Danny Franks, Thrax, the Krool and (surely not?) Kano with the help of artist Rufus Dayglo. The best thing to say about the first episode is that the late, great Bett Ewins (to whom the strip is dedicated) would be proud.
2: Because Our Christmas Present list is sorted
Dear Santa, can you please make sure we get a copy of the new coffee table book Only What’s Necessary: Charles M Schulz and the Art of Peanuts (Abrams, £25), a beautifully designed root around in the Schulz archive by champion designer Chip Kidd. Oh and Tintin: Herge’s Masterpiece (Rizzoli, £35), a new look at an old favourite and also the subject of an exhibition at Somerset House in London this autumn. (Look out for an upcoming Graphic Content interview with Mr Kidd on the Peanuts book, by the way.)
3: Because the Media are Taking the Comic Strip Form Seriously
Look out in this space for a chat with journalist Marc Ellison. His new interactive graphic strip which tells the stories of former female child soldiers in Uganda and the difficulties they have in returning to a normal life. With art by Ugandan artist Chris Mafigiri, it’s a powerful strip and it is set to appear in newspapers on the UN Day of the Girl Child.
4 Because December Finally Sees a Collection of Shaky Kane Strips
In Good News Bible (December, £18.99) Breakdown Press has gathered together all the strips from nineties music and comix mag Deadline of the world’s greatest Jack Kirby tribute act Shaky Kane. If Kirby had been born a pop art loving indie kid this might have been what he came up with. And even if he didn’t, this is still great.
5 Because There’s No Shortage of Graphic Material to Look Forward To
Let’s see. Adrian Tomine’s Killing and Dying (Faber), Hayashi Seiichi’s Red Red Rock And Other Stories (Breakdown Press), Neil Gaiman and JH Williams III’s collected Sandman Overture (Vertigo), Edward Ross’s graphic film studies mini comics Filmish all bound together by SelfMadeHero, French cartoonist Bach’s It’s Hard To Be A Girl (Soaring Penguin), The Twilight Children, a new Vertigo comic by Gilbert Hernandez and Darwyn Cooke, a collection of John Allison and LissaTreiman’s Giant Days (we told you how good this was last week) and Jose Domingo’s Pablo & Jane & The Hot Air Contraption (Flying Eye Books) a picture book perfect to give to your favourite nephew and niece for Christmas. (Obviously you should read it first.). All of these will appear between now and December. There’s your reading list sorted.
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