Review: Freelance Blues #1

Story: Ian Daffern, Mike Leone

Art: Vicki Tierney

Cover Art: Michael Del Mundo

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: February 27th 2016

There's something about Freelance Blues that resonates with me. It's the story of luckless Lance who no matter what, ends up working for grievous, evil scallywags, the kind bent of world domination, when all he wants is to earn enough to pay the bills.

It's quite relatable to most of the population, metaphorically anyway. Who hasn't though of their bosses as cruel, supernatural, monsters at some point and in that respect, Daffern, Leone and Tierney have struck gold with their subject matter; because you can't help but empathise with Lance. That makes Freelance Blues engrossing from start to it's (slightly predictable but emotionally gut punching) ending. 

Daffern and Leone have produced a script that is engaging and keeps the story moving at a nice pace, throwing in a few twists and turns that keep your interest. The dialogue is sharp, snappy and when coupled with Tierney's fantastic art, gives a clear well rounded feel to the characters, allowing you to empathise with Lance's struggle further. 

I'm not sure how to describe Tierney's art without being reductive. It isn't hyper-detailed, but it isn't simplistic, it has a cartoonish feel, but couldn't fit more perfectly into this comic. Really she has found a sweet spot between the spaces and her consistent artwork truly revels in it. Some excellent and unconventional panels showcase her talents and it's nice to see someone steer away from stereotypes, and highlights how good a story teller she is.

Alterna Comics continue to up the ante with their releases and Freelance Blues #1 is an excellent start to the series, with great art, interesting and engaging characters and plot, with a great hook at the end to pique your curiosity for what's to follow. It's released this Wednesday and is strongly recommend you adding it to your pull list. 

Review: Trespasser #1

Story: Justin M. Ryan

Art: Kristian Rossi

Letters: D.C. Hopkins

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: February 10th 2016

I've been waiting for this comic for a while now, hovering around the edge of its expectant buzz. I've followed its Twitter account and dipped in from time to time, but never too much, I wanted to be surprised, in the modern age it's easy to over-research and spoil things. I was one of the lucky ones who was privileged enough to read this issue the day before its release, and read it again and again and again. I wasn't disappointed.

 

The basic premise is a man who will do anything necessary to protect his daughter when a strange visitor enters their midst, but really it is so much more. I'm reviews I'm not a fan of essentially turning it into a synopsis, listing what happens panel by panel, not only does it offer little critique, but, spoilers, right? However there are so may story elements at play in Treaspasser that it would be difficult not to review it without revealing, at least, a small detail that you would be aggrieved to have found out early. So consider this a warning, there may be spoilers ahead. If you haven't read Treappasser yet, for gods sake get a copy immediately and read it, it's a brilliant, well written, well drawn, well, well everything comic, I'll save you trouble, go and buy it. If you stay and find yourself spoiled, well, you were warned. 

Ryan crafts this story like a demented baker, adding ingriedient after ingriedient and letting them turn into something wonderful. The basic premise alone is inviting enough, but when you add in the extra elements it transforms into something magical. Ryan doesn't overdo it though, the story is paced well and each ingredient is added at just the right time to keep the momentum going. 

We are thrust right into the action, in a world gone awry for reasons not yet revealed, then the extra terrestrial stranger (spoilers right?) is chucked in the pot, along with a hidden agenda. There are so many mysteries to unravel that I kept going back to see if I could see some subtle clue as to what was happening, because when I got to the end, I wanted more, I so desperately want to find out what is going on. Which brings me to the books close, a thumping great cliffhanger leaving so many frustrating questions it should of been the end of an episode of lost. Ryan has made a wonderful story, without even mentioning his command of characterisation, the snappy dialogue between the protagonist and his daughter his clever scripting.

Rossi's art is superb, it compliments the tone of the book perfectly, capturing the remote nature of the setting, the futility of the protagonists struggle and builds some very tense moments between the dad and the 'trespasser'. The sequential storytelling is brilliant and some clever uses of page and panel make for an interesting and captivating experience. 

That's what comics are right, several different disciplines merging together to create something special to pore over, Trespasser succeeds with this in style. It's a gem in Alterna's crown and has set the bar high for the publisher, really making a statement of intent in the wake of their ten year celebrations. Trespasser is an intriguing and engaging read, I  can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds in store.

Celebrating independence

Comics.

If you're here then it is likely that you like them, maybe they speak to you in ways other tawdry things cannot. Maybe they helped you through some times of turmoil. Perhaps, it's none of these things, perhaps it is all of them, there may even be a slight chance that you're one of those people that locks themselves in a room with stacks upon stacks of them and just rub against them gleefully and manically (but hopefully you aren't, I'd hate to have competition).

Comics are becoming an increasingly popular medium, they are inspiring major forms of media outside their format and people are understandably seeking out the source material.

Comic books are everywhere, at least superficially, for those who are uninitiated, but we are not uninitiated are we? We are those blessed to have glimpsed beyond the veil at the vast and eclectic comic universe. If our comic world is an iceberg, then perhaps Marvel and DC are the tip that herald a warning, but just under the surface, so much more is waiting to be found (and sink ships, maybe a slightly unusual metaphor, but there will be ship sinking here).

Like the majority of people I started out with the aforementioned 'big two' but as I matured, well, aged, so did my tastes, I sought out different pleasures and discovered whole realms of independent comics. Which after a slightly convoluted introduction, brings me round to Alterna Comics. I'm sure if you have frequented this page then you may of heard the name once or twice, I've previously reviewed a few of their releases. If you've visited recently then you of heard of their AnniverSERIES releases.

That's because Alterna are currently celebrating their ten year anniversary. The story of how Alterna started is actually quite touching, first though I should say a few words about the founder Peter Simeti. Simeti is one of those annoyingly multi-talented genius level people. I'm not kidding, In fact in ways he is worse, because not only can he do all manner of things, but he is just brilliant at them too. This isn't a jack of all trades and master of none situation, this is a master of all trades situation. He is inordinately talented, like he has tapped into mystical forces and soaked up this talent, so there is precious little left for anyone else. Another annoying fact is that he is quite simply, a nice guy. I started this blog a few months ago, desperate to be more actively involved in the world I loved. I just wanted to absorb everything about comics, to immerse myself in their glory, to write my own, to write about others, to do anything I could. Peter gave me a chance, he gave me the opportunity to do something I truly cared about in a time when I needed it most (my son had just been born, life is instantly transformed). Yet despite all that he puts up with my perpetual bothering on social media and in the e-mail form, taking the team to, not just respond, but answer. Even offering me guidance on occasion.

It speaks volumes that Alterna Comics started humbly, when Simeti published a book under it's banner, never intending to start a company. However when he was inundated with submission ideas, he didn't have the heart to reject them, instead he gave people a chance to voice their stories. Alterna are dedicated to giving a voice to the independent, there are so many stories out there waiting to be told and Alterna are doing their part to give creators the chance to bring us quality stories that otherwise may not of seen the light of day. Every issue, every novel, every collection I've read from Alterna, I have adored, I have enjoyed and I have wanted more. Simeti has created something truly spectacular and I, for one, hope that there are many more years to come from Alterna, I get the sense that their best work is still ahead of them.

Alas, wipe away your tears, this article is drawing to a close, but before I bid you adieu, I will mention the Kickstarter that Simeti/Alterna is currently running. It's amazing, this is the largest candle in their celebratory cake. Alterna are looking to create several books, anthologies, character guides, all with a manner of variant covers. There are so many incentives to backing this Kickstarter that it would just be reductive to list them all here. I will say that you get the chance to help a truly magnificent project, regardless of the amazing rewards offered (I've managed to get books and a sketch card from Simeti, did I mention how talented he was?) you get a chance to help dreams be realised, what's more rewarding than that? 

Follow the link to get involved, there isn't much left to reach the goal as its been running a few days, but I implore you to get involved, even if only a little.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/petersimeti/10-years-of-alterna-a-celebration-of-creator-owned

Anyway, congratulations to Alterna Comics, a sentinel and paradigm of independent publishing at its finest. Cheers.

Review: Diary of the Black Widow AnniverSERIES edition.

Story and art: Bret M. Herholz

Letters: John Shaver

Co-editors: Peter Simeti and Erin Kohut

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: February 3rd 2016 (digital)

Alterna Comics' ten year celebrations are really getting into their stride now, with a Kickstarter and more in the mix, but stay tuned for more on that. Today I'll be looking at the AnniverSERIES editon of Diary of the Black Widow.

This is a fun little edition that serves as a good introduction to the whole book. The plot is pretty well covered in the books title and we see the widow cross paths with a bumbling detective inspector. It's not that simplistic though, this is a merry macabre dance that is equal parts engrossing and whimsical, perhaps even a fell elements of classic slapstick comedy thrown in along the way for our enjoyment; and enjoyable it is.

This is my first experience with Herholz and I was impressed. His work is well plotted and paced and the dialogue is well thought out, each page leaves you eager to turn to the next and see what's in store. The script is laced with a certain humour that I found extremely funny, to the point where I laughed out loud and woke up my baby son. This talent for story seems to echo more anachronistic writers, such as Burroughs or Doyle, and Herholz has subverted the classic detective story to create something quite unique.

Whilst we're in the subject of uniqueness, let's address the artwork. At first glance it looks simplistic, maybe it is. However when you start to delve into it, there is a quiet elegance to be found. The art reflects the story well, there are times when it is downright sinister, and is sequentially consistent. 

Really there is no reason not to get this comic, it's just another shining example of the quality work that Alterna comics are putting out there.

Despite the numerous positives, it may tip the scales with the fact that this edition is currently free on comixology, so what are you waiting for?

Stylised changes.

It has been pointed out to me that previous background, endless lines of tomes arranged neatly, made the text quite difficult to read. On reflection, it did. Therefore I have changed the style to something simpler while I forage for a way round present my blog in a much more beautiful manner. Many thanks for the feedback.

My first rejection letter. A gift not a curse.

I received my first rejection letter in the post the other day. Of course I have received plenty of rejection e mails for short stories I have been sending around, however this was my first rejection for a comic script; and also my first actual, tangible letter. It was also the first to contain any feedback.

I reliase that this piece is a little removed from the usual reviews and reflections, so if that, kind stranger, is what you are seeking, I apologise. I'm honoured if this little blog informs, even if just a little, what comics you read, but on this occasion I will be found wanting. I simply must pluck these thoughts from the cacophony of my conscious mind and twist them into words. 

So, I shall continue.

I had sent my script for a future shock story to 2000 ad in October last year. Allow me to elucidate, I am a writer. I feel most at home when I am wrestling with the written word, cavorting with the alphabet to create stories and fictions to share with the world. Sure, at the moment I may appear to be a full time stroke nurse, but this is merely an illusion, a trick of the light. In my heart and in my, arguably where it matters most, mind, I am a writer.

Comics are a form that have always been there for me, through thick and thin, there has been a comic that has spoken to me, that has guided me, that has drawn out emotions that I did not know possible. Despite all this, just on the surface of comics, they're just good fun. How could I not want to contribute to this world, when it has contributed so much to mine? As a lifelong fan of 2000ad I jumped at the chance when their submissions window opened. The story was titled 'The Escapee' and it was my tip of the cap to science fiction writers like Asimov and Dick (Phillip K and not the phallus, always have to point that out to my little brother).

When the stamped addressed envelope returned I tore it open expectantly, heart pounding ferociously. It was a peculiar feeling upon reading, I felt that weight in my stomach, the one that slowly transforms itself from disappointment into a crippling nausea that rolls around internally, like you have swallowed a porcupine-if you're a fellow writer, no doubt you've experienced this. This was only momentary though and soon gave way to something else, inspiration. The letter itself was somewhat brief, understandably so as the sheer volume of submissions they have to dutifully sift through must be monumental. It had only one real sentence of critique. The editor didn't think that the story was strong enough to grab a reader's attention. Now I have been soaking up a lot of advice lately, either reading articles online or taking to my writer friends. A key theme that seems to be cropping up is that, in scenarios such as this one, that the wrong pair of eyes looked at the work. That if the right person saw it, it would be a strong enough story. I apologise to my friends and to those who, in a similar fashion to me have turned their thoughts into some internet entity for all to peruse, but I simply don't subscribe to this theory. Maybe this is the case from time to time, however such a blunt refusal of critique is surely foolish. The critique is offered by an experienced eye and hand that it would be folly to bite at. I am not hubristic enough to reject this assistance out of hand, because of some dark egotism masquerading as pride.

So going back to the line of critique (yes I'm aware that word has been used rather frequently in the last few moments or so), the story was not strong enough to grab the reader. I pulled my synopsis from the envelope and read it once more, truly read it, carefully and meticulously picking apart each sentence. You know what I found? It wasn't a strong enough story, in fact the synopsis was really sloppy and haphazard. I still felt the premise was interesting, but the way I presented it was dull and uninspired, it was no wonder that it was rejected. 

At the time I was writing the script, my son was around a month and a half old, life was a twisted mess of nappies, sleepless nights, bottle sterilisation and dream chasing. I'm not trying to make excuses or shift blame onto my baby boy, I'm a grown up now, I can accept responsibility. The truth is I was desperate and completely rushed the submission, with no pause to think about story, structure, or in fact any basic tenets of writing. I'm older now, my son is six months old and sleepless nights are less regular. I have worked hard at my craft, working hard on stories and reading anything I can to help me broaden my literary horizon (I found 'into the woods' by John Yorke particularly helpful, but that's for another time). 

The point is, you have to turn failure into opportunity. That's what this is, an opportunity to transform and grow as a writer. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, don't be foolish enough to take good advice; no one knows everything.

I'm going to include the original synopsis here, but before I do let me make a note. If you have found your way here through social medis( the link will be on Twitter) then you maybe a publisher who is wondering why you were tagged. The reason is selfish, I am seeking further feedback. So I apologise, profusely, but you cannot blame me for trying different ways to enter your magical realm.

Future Shocks: Escapee

Synopsis.

Declan Rift is a private investigator on the planet DC-9, a human colony in the far reaches of space. He hears a news report about an escaped android and a substantial reward for it's capture and return; he decides to capture the android and use the reward to marry his girlfriend Astrid.

Declan visits one of his sources, O'Halloran, to pressure him for information. O'Halloran is tight lipped and afraid of giving out information, hinting that Declan is meddling in something he doesn't fully understand. As they are talking O'Halloran is shot through the head and killed by clandestine military forces, who give chase to Declan. The mysterious figures encircle Declan and accuse him of being the escaped android. It is suggested here that Declan has a history of mental health issues, which Astrid has helped him overcome. He begins to question whether he is the android, but is worried that Astrid is in danger if the same military forces use her as leverage against him.

Declan escapes his assailants and heads back to the flat that he and Astrid share. As he bursts through the door he triggers a tripwire and the flat is caught in an explosion. Declan survives the blast and as he lays bleeding and wounded on the floor, he sees the silhouette of Astrid through the ash and detritus. As she approaches him and comes in to view it is revealed that the explosion has torn away most of her skin and limbs to expose the robotic endoskeleton underneath; showing that she is in fact the android.

Review: American Terror AnniverSERIES edition

Story: Jeff McComsey, James Cooper

Art: Jeff McComsey

Letters: Jeff McComsey

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Release date: 6th January 2016

In the wake of Alterna's celebration of its ten year anniversary comes another helping of it's AnniverSERIES line. American terror was initially told over two volumes in 2008, 2009. This editon is a little glimpse into its world, a peek through the curtains at the story contained within.

What a cracking story you can see there too.

I only recently became aware of McComsey's work when I reviewed 'Mother Russia' (see the archive if you're interested) and I was instantly impressed. That trend continues with American Terror, it digs intriguing claws into you from the first page.

American Terror tells the story of Victor Sheppard, an old man in a new world. It's November 11th in the year 2041 and in the wake of the War of the Third World a time of peace and prosperity reigns. But Victor remembers the cost of the new world and haunted by it, he tells his story.

Sorry to delve into a synopsis, but you have to admit it's got quite a hook, and McComsey and Cooper make the whole story just as compelling. This is a shining paradigm of independent comics at their finest, an example of unbridled creativity allowing stories to take shape. 

The story is well written and fleshed out, flowing with good pace. In this edition Sheppard is the protagonist and despite his apparent taciturn nature, he is characterised well and you find yourself inexplicably drawn to him. You want to hear more of his past, of his story.

McComsey displays his usual internal synergy between story and art. His mastery of sequential storytelling is really rather spectacular. Sheppard, both his young and old iterations are well drawn and show consistency that is, well, consistent with McComsey's style.

This book is rife with action sequences and McComsey's art holds a kinetic quality that make it a joy to pour over the pages.

In short this a fantastic comic. I read this AnniverSERIES editon rather quickly and immediately sought out volume one to discover the rest of the story. Everything about this book is excellent, the story, the artwork, the fluidity of the panels. 

This comic is well worth a purchase, I really cannot recommend it enough. It was fun to read and that's what comics should be right? Fun.