This latest incarnation (Volume 3) of the Australian comic anthology Fist Full of Comics promises a 'long run of issues devoted to the tireless efforts of comic creators'. It's always encouraging, and surprising (considering the work involved), but plain pleasing to see someone devoted to Australian comics enough to want to publish other people's work. So first off it's a big hurrah! and kudos sent out to FFoC editor HEADFIST for being committed to such a commendable task.
The great thing about Oz Comics is the diversity and breadth of ideas. No two stories in these three issues are the same.
The standout story in Issue #1 (June 2010) is David Follet's 'Dream #1'. Packed with movement and an ecelctic bunch of characters this silent comic (with a coathanger as a transport device!) is simply charming and very accomplished in execution. Brendan Boyd's 'God Bless America' is also a well-executed and distinctively styled tale of a traveller returning to a war-ravaged earth.
Starting in this issue are the ongoing stories 'Penny Lane: Anti-hero' (Bridget Hodder), 'If Ya Need!' (Kurt Murray), and 'The Adventures of White Wolf' (Frank Candiloro). All three offer wildly different art styles.
Candiloro's cartoon-like tale of a werewolf who has devoted his life to fighting crime, suffers from the single page devoted in each of the three issues making the story slow and difficult to get into.
'If Ya Need! sees a mixed gender netball team of misfits trying to get it together to compete in the amateur leagues. Initially I found Murray's cartoony, almost juvenile, styled art a little simple for my liking but on reviewing I was struck by the clean lines and how well-proportioned the characters are. Similarly each character is individually recognisable. 'If Ya Need''s art is deceptively good.
'Penny Lane', a story of a girl trying to catch a killer of her friends, I'm sorry to say, hasn't grabbed me. I've found the art a bit too scratchy and (perhaps) rushed. The bodies of characters appear 'static' and stiff, and the absence of pupils in characters' eyes leaves them staring blankly into space. The story's 'cut up' style merging art and text in #3 is interesting though in design. Hodder certainly has talent but perhaps a bit more time in production may be in order.
While each of these has some derivative elements they're at least engaging and I'm keen to see where they go.
Issue #2 (July 2010) introduces another ongoing story, 'Simian Soldiers' by Kurt Murray (writer) and Mathew Ryan Sweet (art) It's a tale of escaped homicidal Nazi-trained shock troop apes on the loose after the end of World War 2. Murray's writing is a step up from his work on 'If Ya Need!' but it's Ryan's impressionistic artwork that steals the show, evoking the chaos of combat and primal, violent ape behavior.
On par with 'Simian Soldiers' for best in #2 is Peter Moerenhout (writer) and Pieter Rosseel's 'Cleansing by Fire'. This story of a man's life haunted by the threat of nuclear fire is sombre and filled with regret. Rosseel's pencil art complements the 'widescreen' panels beautifully.
Kirk Kenny's two comic strip 'Shorts' provide some good giggles too. Kenny returns in #3 (August 2010) with a completely different art style for his 'Dethrok: Selling Out', which investigates the dilemma of the musicians going for cash or artistic integrity. Mawarini's 'Sushi Language' is a bizarre, but happy little story about speaking with your mouth full, while Chris McMurray's 'I am a Nightmare Walking' addresses being singled out in a crowd, although I would've liked a bit more to this to flesh it out.
On the down side the issues so far have needed closer editing for grammar and spelling. It's a shame that the quality of production is let down by these oversights which can be easily fixed by a solid proofread.
At AUS $5 a pop Fist Fill of Comics is cheaper than most US comics, is good value and a heap of fun. Plus each issue has a fantastic and striking cover from oneyeelephant (#1), Sophie Louis-Ford (#2), and Mathew Ryan Sweet (#3).
At time of writing this latest this Volume of FFoC doesn't have a dedicated website. For contribution guidelines, subscription, and advertising information contact Fist Full of Comics via fistfullofcomics@gmail.com (or get yourself a copy).
These: Cool and very needed. Forthcoming: Ready and waiting.
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