The 77 Issue 1 updated re-release – spoiler light review

Published by 77 Publications 

32 pages £5.99

This is an updated Verdon of The 77 issue 1.

Originally issue 1 was funded via Kickstarter in May 2020. The strips in the Kickstarter were by a mix of Professionals and Small Press creators.

It was a very exciting new attempt at a traditional style Anthology.

In my Preview of that version I say:

The Beano and 2000AD are more or less all that is left. Children’s comics these days are almost all seem to be TV or Toy tie-ins. I say ‘seem to be’ because in truth there are a number of wonderful comics aimed at children that can be found in Comic Stores.

I menon that there are plenty of kids Comics that aren’t the Toy or TV tie-ins seen in Supermarkets. I failed to point out the many Small Press Anthologies, which I know exist because I’ve Previwed and Reviewed several and was published in one.

I’m constantly reading online that “comics like we read in the 70s and 80s no longer exist.

The 77 is exactly that though. It is the kind of Comic read in the 70s and 80s. Yet it is also new and up-to-date without worrying about being PC and yet also not being overtly offensive.

This is a great Comic on the main aimed at older teens to adults probably. Especially those who miss the old days.

I mean, what’s not like a Comic from 1970s when this has Ian Gibson’s name on the cover?

Full Contents list follows.

My Approach to Previews/Reviews of Comics

On this Blog. and others in the past, I have reviewed a wide range of things.

Predominantly I write Previews or Reviews of Comics. I’ve also Previewed/Reviewed Novels and Factual Books. I’ve reviewed Film and TV – the first Review I wrote was for Dredd(2012). I’ve reviewed shorts that are on YouTube. I’ve reviewed Live Music, Dancing, Museum Interpretations, Jousts, etc.

Writing Reviews has opened many interesting avenues. From being a Guest at a Pre Joust banquet to being a Moderator at Comic Cons (in person and online). I’ve been asked by Actors, Writers and BBC Producers to write Reviews.

This Blog also has Stories and Poems I’ve written as well as Op Eds about History, Nature, Science, Mental Health.

This article deals with what I look for when I am deciding what the Preview or Review in the Comic world. It will also deal a little with how I put an article together. I am possibly going to write articles about how I deal with other topics in another article.

Looking on Kickstarter

I’ve backed quite a few successful projects on Kickstarter. I took a break but I’ve backed a few recently again.

My recent activity include backing some D&D inspired Art that includes an open licence, a new broadsheet Anthology Comic and the latest instalment of Death Sentence by Monty Nero.

Sentinal Issue 5 – all colour special – live on Kickstarter

Sentinel Issue 5
Self Published via Kickstarter

Kickstarter currently live
Story:
Ed Doyle & Chris Atkins
Script:
Alan Holloway
Artist & Letterer
Ed Doyle

Kickstarter is a cool place to find things. I’ve backed quite a few Comics on there now. I recently did as YouTube video for Thought Bubble Fringe about comics on Kickstarter.

This series of books looks so great physically in paper. They come from the creators’ love of Starblazer published by the UK publisher DC Thompson between April 1979 and January 1991,

Squarebound pocketbooks the same scale as Commando, also from DC Th0mpson. There were variations of format but the widest recalled is a full length SciFi or Fantasy story.

Ed Doyle is behind the design and the printing really delivers. The Lego Star Wars Advent Calendatr didn’t come with Issue 4.

These would stand out in a Newsagents.

Launched through funding on Kickstarter you can get previous issues through Get My Comics. I think Isue 1 may be current,y unavailable but not sure.

There are a few preview pages at the end of this areticle

Interview with Shea Proulx

I first came across Shea when Alexander Finbow approached me. I have Previewed and Reviewed books from Renegade Arts Entertainment before and he wondered if I was interested in some more recent examples.

Renegade Arts are based in Canada and publish quality creator owned projects.

I really like to sorry Independant publishers and Alexander has always been great with communication so I was delighted to say “yes”.

So I reviewed Necromantic by Lovern Kindzierski, David Ross, Geof Isherwood, Christopher Chucky & Taylor Esposito and ABC of Monstrosity by Shea Proulx.

ABC of Monstrosity is currently on Kickstarter instead if being at Conventions.

I’ve done quite a few interviews but haven’t done one for quite a while so Iput a call out on Twitter to see who might want an Interview and Shea volunteered.

ABC Monstrosity by Shea Proulx – Preview

ABC Monstrosity
Published by Renegade Arts
17th June 2020

Written and Illustrated by
Shea Proulx

Available at Renegade Arts
Hardback 9781988903996
Softback   9781988903880

Shea Proulx is a Graphic Artist from Calgary, Canada. Shea has previously been published by Renegade Arts in ‘Alice at Naptime’ which was based on her own experience as a new Mother expressed through art.

The City of Calgary appointed her to their list of Artists and she has provided images for a number of projects. She is also Vice-president for Panel One, a non-profit festival and community-building organization for Canadian Comic Creators.

ABC Monstrosity is a crisp colourful ABC book aimed at Children but is quirky and fun enough that it may also entertain some Adults, and I’m not referring to the Parents

The Music of Hannah Woolmer – Composer & Violinist

I recently came across the music of Hannah Woolmer. I met her on a streaming site where she chats about life in general and often performs live.

A classically trained Violinist and a composer for the Violin and Film Soundtrack Hannah has a great personality to go with a great talent.

Hannah has recently signed with SMA Talent, an Agency for TV Film & Game Screenwriters, Directors and Composers. Currently she’s working on the music for a RomCom from a well known Director.

You can find Hannah’s music in all the normal places, Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, etc.

I was using Apple Music so I looked her up on there to get a feel for her work. I am now using Spotify and have made a Playlist there.

Mall by Moreci, Dauberman, Hartong, Duke & Campbell – spoiler light preview

Mall
Published by Vault

Written by
Michael Moreci & Gary Dauberman
Artist
Zak Hartong
Colorist
Addison Duke
Letterer
Jim Campbell

Publisher: Damian A Wassel
Editor in Chief: Adrian F Wassel
Art Director: Nathan C Wooton

I’ve read quite a few Comics by Michael Moreci, you can find a few reviews on this site. I particularly recommend Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Hoax Hunters. Here he is writing with Screenwriter and Director, Gary Dauberman. I’m assuming the plot originated with Dauberman and Moreci adapted it for comics- that’s just a guess.

I found his comics because I follow the Letterer Jim Campbell on Twitter. Jim Letters a lot of comics I like There is a common root, Jim wrote Inspectre in Judge Dredd Magazine. He has lettered many comics featuring other creators from 2000AD.

I don’t think the cover above is the final version. Vault tend to credit all the creators, including Letterer and the digital copy I am previewing from does this. Given that I often by a book based on the Letterer this is a good idea. I doubt many other readers do the same, Many readers overlook the importance of a good letterer. You can read an Interview with Jim Campbell on this blog.

Mall is set after the world we know it has ended, civilisation continued in a large shopping mall. You can read about this in the preview pages at the end of this article. What happened to the world probably won’t matter and if it doesn’t matter to the story keep it brief – they do.

Varying tribes exist in the Mall and I suspect we’ll see some interesting contrasts as the series progresses.

Ron Smith – Legendary Comic Artist has died – 10 January 2019.

Ron Smith is one of the most widely recognised Artists of Judge Dredd. Along with others such as Carlos Ezquerra, Brian Bolland and Mick McMahon his style was instantly recognisable.

In some ways Ron Smith’s Dredd is probably the one more people think of than from other Artists. The main reason for that is his covers for reprints sold internationally, specifically the Eagle branded reprints.

We lost Carlos in October 2018 and now Ron Smith.

I say we because I’m not just a fan sat at home alone. I am heavily into Judge Dredd fandom. This Blog started entirely because if Judge Dredd. Though it has expanded to cover many subjects.

I’ve helped run Lawgiver, a Dredd inspired Comic Convention. I moderate Panels of Dredd Creators. I was at the premier of Dredd (2012) with a number of other fans.

I am one among many Dredd fans, we are all grieving again.

More so, Ron’s art touched 2000AD fans but his art touched much more.

At the end of this article I’ll repeat an anecdote I told when Carlos died. Before that you’ll see a document given to me by Rufus Dayglo, another 2000AD artist and a friend of Ron Smith – Ron’s CV.

3D Imaginings by Miguel Vasquez

I came across the art of Miguel Vasquez on Twitter recently.

I have previously published an article about sculptures based on comic images. In that case it was physical sculptures based on 2000AD characters. In this case the sculpts are 3D images bringing TV Cartoon characters to life.

You can see much more of these images, including some WIP (work in progress) on Miguel’s Instagram account.

Fan art is often something created deeply from the heart. I think Miguel enjoyed a lot of Cartoon Network, other channels are available (he seems to have watched several).