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Well, my ISP troubles are over but I'm now having scanner trouble. I can't figure it out. The scanner's connected (USB) and I can hear it doing its thing when I try to bring up the software but I get error messages saying the scanner's not connected and that there's some sort of TWAIN error. I don't get it.

So, anyway, apologies to today's reviewee, Alan Reynoso, and his Dumbluck diary comic. Hopefully I'll get this sorted out quickly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Reviews | News

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I had today's review ready to go yesterday then suffered Internet-related maladies. First, I finally got a cable connection installed – only it wasn't done properly so the connection wasn't even as good as my old dial-up. On top of that my dial-up connection wasn't working either. Computers continue to confound me. I think I'm back on track now though.

Today we look at Fanzine Fanatique, an informal reviewzine from 'round England way.

Reviews | News

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Chattanooga zine Bog-Gob's 27th issue is reviewed today. Check out that creepy cover. I don't know if it's the Joker or just a facsimile but it weirds me out.

Reviews | News

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Today's review covers a couple of Fallen Angel comics from Italy by Enrico Teodorani and crew.

Speaking of not being American, I'd like to say that any publishers from outside North America are encouraged to send comics in for review. I'd very much like to expand the international coverage and I think it's important that these things are documented in some way as well.

Reviews | News

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Today I review the first issue of Bob Sheairs' Bob zine that explains why, among other things, Britney Spears is a Pepsi Whore.

How do you feel about the new set-up here at Poopsheet? Any suggestions or wishes for the site? Anything you, dear readers, come up with will only make the site that much better. In other words, there's a proper re-design coming as soon as possible. Make your voice heard!

Reviews | News

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Today Tom Spurgeon reviews Jerkbeast the Movie which is based on the Seattle public access cult favorite.

Reviews | News

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Dear readers,

I've decided to restructure Poopsheet just a bit by creating a separate Reviews page and transforming this page into a sort of update hub. From now on the new reviews (which will be linked to from this page once they're posted) will be found here. Reviews posted prior to today still remain where they've always been and may be found in the Archives for this page. The downside to that is that the complete archive of reviews isn't in one place, but the upside is that it won't screw up everybody who's got links to their older reviews on their sites.

So. Aside from that, it's not a big change but I think it'll give Poopsheet a more sensible structure and should do fine until I'm able to find a new, proper home for it (soon). If you should have any questions feel free to e-mail me.

Now, having said all of that, here's what's new: In the Reviews section today Tim O'Neil takes a look at the new CD from French duo Air. And did you catch Alan Rankin's review of the Bus zine yesterday? Don't forget to check out today's News as well.

Please bookmark this page and tell your friends! Thanks for reading.

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< zine >



BUS #1

($3.00 or trade from Wry Bread Press / PO Box 146 / Lagunitas, CA / 94938 USA. E-mail)

Review by Alan Rankin

Did you ever see a wildly painted bus heading down the interstate, destination unknown, and think to yourself, "I wonder what their story is?" With a bus like that, you know there have to be adventures, colorful characters, and people you'd enjoy hanging out with. But of course, you're going the opposite direction at 70 MPH, so those questions remain unanswered.

Well, Bus is a pretty good answer. Some California chums, Willow and Rachel, created this little gem. Charming, rambling stories of the road and essays about the romantic life of penguins (and people) are illustrated with collage photos, clip-art and original drawings. The women have a splendid design sense; they've turned the enterprise lengthwise, framing their fables in a vertical 4 x 11.5" format. The production values are especially nice for an inaugural self-published effort, and the whole package is lovingly hand-bound with red thread. Best of all, we finally learn what sort of folks would live in a bus painted like a big red high-heel shoe....

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< recording >

MOONRAKER
by The Wes Hollywood Show

(theweshollywoodshow.com)

Review by Mark Campos

The first Posies album is a perfect index of pop music strategies. You can name them as they happen: call-and-response verse with harmony vocs on the response – check! Kickdrum and tambourine on the last repeat of the chorus – check! Uptempo middle eight and psychedelic backward guitar solo – check check!

You could play the same game with "#1 Record" or "Drums and Wires" or "Weezer", though, which is one more cool thing about pop music. You can play the same game with "Moonraker", the second album by The Wes Hollywood Show, which partakes of the same jangly sacrament of classic pop.

Wes and his Show (standard pop config: two guitars, bass and drums) play it straight, no irony. Their "Action Sound" is powerpop, fun to hear and catchy as all get-out. Wes wears his Anglophilia on his sleeve, referencing bank holidays and Lady Penelope, dropping the H in the first song, "Oh 'ello" (which, I'm pleased to report, kicks off with a harmony "Ooh-ooh-ooh ooh"). The ballad, "Back Of A Car" (not the Big Star song) isn't maudlin or bready (or Bread-y). Toward the back there's a couple of songs – "(You're My) Chemical", "National Drug" – that cock a snoot at the being-in-a-band thing: in the first Wes relishes rocking the girls in the audience, but the second finds him barely making it through a thin gig.

Such fun music is almost critic-proof, but I have to note that one or two of the songs seem underbaked: the parts of "Louisville Slugger", for example, don't fit together as well as they might. And the production is a little thin on the surprising last song, "Man or Machine", which slides out of the verse with a harp glissando, yearning keys and kettledrum into what should be widescreen Flaming Lips-style bombast, but which seems compressed. If only they could have played the keys part on a mellotron! Still, after first hearing the song I replayed it three times, which designates it in my personal critical system as a keeper.

Moonraker clears the air of melodramatic diva-pop and other malodors with a shimmering blast of Shake Some Action.

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< comics/x >



ONE OF US #2

($1.00 from Alex Colvin / 2920 37th Ave. South / Minneapolis, MN / 55406 USA. Web: vomit_comics.tripod.com)

This is a goofy comic by Alex Colvin featuring off-kilter humor stories. The longest story has to do with a Ramones reunion tour (sans Joey and Dee Dee) and a formula for reanimating the dead. Okay, sure, the obvious result of those elements does occur but it's not really the thrust of the story. There's a pretty funny turn of events that leads to some unusual sights. The next story, "What If the World Ended with Melting Trees?", reads like a great dream (which it may be) or perhaps a trip (which it may also be). Closing out the issue are a bizarre text story about a killer moustache (I don't know if it's completely successful but there are some funny bits. I could easily see it as a short film.) and a funny (in a non sequitur kind of way) one-pager that's either by Lindsay or is a jam between the two. And on the back cover: a scary moustache.

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< zine >



MEDIA WHORE #2

($1.00 or trade from Randie Farmelant / 37 Home St. / Malden, MA / 02148 USA. Web: www.mediawhorezine.com)

Review by Mark Campos

And I was just waxing nostalgic about the ould zine days, when every two weeks a new feminist anti-media zine would turn up in the mailbox, full of outrage and indignant collages and '50s housewife clipart deployed ironically and all that. Media Whore is like that, though less scruffy than its ancestors – no handwritten text, no funky fonts, no poetry – articles and sidebars are neatly designed, and there's only one collage of images from fashion magazines. The writing, by Randie and others, is well-informed and opinionated, and the topics are interesting (Bitch magazine's recent financial difficulties; the repetitious spate of TV characters who get pregnant, contemplate abortions, but have miscarriages instead; the "Suicide Girls" website). A fine zine, worth your attention.

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< comics/x >



WATUSI, THE TALKING DOG #4 & 5

($1.00 + a stamp each from Dale Martin / PO Box 442612 / Lawrence, KS / 66044 USA. Web: http://home.swbell.net/grizmart/watusi.html)

I really dig jam comics and just don't see enough of 'em in print these days. For this project one-page jam strips are passed around to anyone who's interested and then the completed pages are published. Each of these issues also contains one unfinished jam for readers to work on, so the interactive aspect is great. These two issues feature Watusi jams by editor Dale Martin, Steve Peters, Steve Skeates, Matt Feazell, Jennifer Hachigian, Scott Roberts, Randy Zimmerman, Steve Willhite and many others. It's a fun concept and the book has a nice, clean layout. Also, #4's got a report (which I quite enjoyed) on the SPACE 2003 show and #5's got a tribute to Steve Skeates.

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< comics/x >



BOMB TIME FOR BONZO

(Onsmith, www.onsmithcomics.com)

Bomb Time for Bonzo is an anthology that is now defunct (but still available), which is a shame because they published some good stuff. Of the handful of issues I've gotten (#s 1, 4, 5, 6) my favorites are the final two, both of which contain good work by Onsmith (Claptrap), Dylan Graham (whose style is quite nice – sort of a more cartoony version of Matt Howarth or Finnish cartoonist Sami Toivonen) and John Hankiewicz (his humorously bizarre "Hanshaw Development" strips). Also, #5's got that great cover by Onsmith (pictured), Paul Hornschemeier and Henry Ng (cute and stylistic) and #6 has a Marc Crisafulli cover and a fun piece by Bryce Somerville. There's more, of course, but I've mentioned the stuff that really stands out for me. Fans of Onsmith should order the set as he's in 'em all.

[ Austin-area folks can find Bomb Time for Bonzo at Funny Papers ]

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< comics/x >



SPRECKEN: THE DESTINY DANCE #1

Review by Alan Rankin

(Rorschach Entertainment, www.rorschachentertainment.com)

Indy inker James Taylor (who has worked on Kameelman, among many other small-press and web comics) inaugurates his new publishing venture, Rorschach, with this decent detective story. Brian Meredith's character Sprecken, a former superhero turned private eye, has previously appeared in a half-dozen online adventures at modernpulp.com. His first print adventure is a tale in the classic hardboiled tradition, including all the elements: a deadly "McGuffin" that everybody wants; a femme fatale with the proportions of Jessica Rabbit; gun-toting thugs bursting through the door on page four. (Raymond Chandler used to say that whenever things got slow, he'd have a gun-toting thug burst through the door.)

There's a lot to like about Sprecken: Rick Forgus' art style compares favorably with Bruce Timm of Batman Adventures, and even looks to be drawn on black paper. Forgus articulates action scenes well, and Joe D'Adamo's grayscale work complements the dark style nicely. (I don't often see the grayscale folks given credit in a b&w comic. This talent, obviously an offshoot of the comic colorist's art, gives depth and texture to the line art, and D'Adamo does it well.) There are a few missteps – minor printing errors and the like – but overall, Meredith, Taylor and company have created a premiere effort they can be proud of.

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< comics/x >



MY UNCLE JEFF

(Alternative Comics, Damon Hurd)

Review by Mike Hunter

Despite the lip service paid to "family values" in our culture, that venerable institution gets scant coverage in the comics medium. Oddly, even autobiographical comics rarely touch upon family dynamics, or creators may, at best, devote a short story to their parents' dysfunctional marriage. Which makes the Eisner-award nominated My Uncle Jeff, a work intended as Damon Hurd's paean to his father's younger brother, particularly unusual and daring.

The slouching, walrus-mustached, gap-toothed, tattooed Uncle Jeff – an amiable, salt-of-the-earth type – is introduced as a study in contrasts from Hurd's ramrod-straight, conservatively groomed and dressed father. "They are the paradox that makes genetics interesting," Hurd notes, "...people that deep down share some intrinsic characteristics and values, but their lives have gone in two completely different directions..."

A family reunion at the home of Hurd's elderly grandfather forms the framework of the book. Pedro Camello's strong artwork, with clear layouts and deft use of shadow, adds vitality and drama to scenes that would have been visually dull in less gifted hands. Relatives do "catching up," and a brief bio of "My Uncle Jeff" plays across several pages: from mischievous youth, to a tour in Vietnam ("dishonorably discharged"), marriage ("When are you going to grow up?" the Missus says) and divorce. But several panels show Jeff, indeed a big kid at heart, romping through the years with young Damon, and we understand why Hurd concludes the page by saying, "He was a great uncle."

For me the highlight of the book is a two-page spread, "My Family Tree," covering the mother's side of Hurd's family, from which he is now cut off ("...When the chips came down they shunned me. They betrayed me. They abandoned me..."), and haunted by, because of the fact that he still loves them. The portraits there spotlight Pedro Camello's exceptional gift for vivid characterization (he received no reference photos of the persons involved for the book, and created all from his imagination), the faces not quite full-blown caricature but with its touch of exaggeration well employed. And the descriptions of each person there encapsulate one of the most striking features of Hurd's writing. He'll mention "My step-grandfather Burt...I've always felt that pedophile sounded too stately...He's the reason my sister is afraid of her own shadow..." Then, when we're ready to consign Burt to cartoon-villain Hell, Hurd will add, "He loved jazz. He loved me. He was the only grandfather I ever knew."

It's a technique deployed to powerful effect throughout the "Family Tree," and elsewhere in My Uncle Jeff Hurd likewise lets us mentally pigeonhole his uncle Steve, who "talks of killing various animals...with his car...and then eating them." We label him a redneck lout, but then Hurd continues, "He raised my cousin Chrissy, a victim of...cerebral palsy until she died...at the age of 18...No one loved her more than him...no one." In a culture and its media where we're accustomed to cardboard heroes and villains, it's a bracing shock to be reminded what a mixture of contradictory qualities people in real life can be. And it's why voices such as Damon Hurd's, willing to think outside the "good guys" and "bad guys" boxes, are so valuable for the continuing literary growth and health of the medium.

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< comics/x >



SAVAGE JUNGLE TALES PRESENTS AMAZON GAZONGA

(B-Brand Comix c/o Enrico Teodorani / via Ca'Nova 215-S. Andrea in Bagnolo / 47020 Pievesestina di CESENA (FC) / ITALY. Web: http://digilander.libero.it/mupis. Mature Readers)

This is essentially good ol' T&A, B-Brand Comix's bread and butter. This one, however, differs from most of their output in that it's a humor book and the artwork is more cartoony. Creator Jason Waltrip's artwork is part Archie/part manga and works pretty well with the subject matter. The story concerns jungle boy Andu (presumably a teenager) who befriends an exiled Amazon woman who, conveniently for our young friend, is unschooled in the sex department. So while there is the aspect of innocence/naïveté on the part of the woman, it's not a story about conquest. Andu, struggling with his own libido, does his best to cope with his desires and avoid embarrassment. It's not that it's a deep story of great meaning; it's that it's not about taking advantage that makes this story more agreeable with my views. More to the point, it's fun, it's sexy and there are some good jokes (particularly in the realm of physical comedy and reaction shots).

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< resource >

THE COMICS JOURNAL #256

(www.tcj.com)

I just haven't been able to stay on top of The Comics Journal ever since they started coming out monthly. So, no, I haven't read this one but I wanted to mention while you can still find it on the stands. This issue features the long-awaited focus on the Fort Thunder arts collective. Included are Tom Spurgeon's history of the group; interviews with Mat Brinkman, Brian Chippendale and Brian Ralph; and profiles of Jim Drain, Paul Lyons and Leif Goldberg. A lot of art is reproduced (much of it in color) and there are bibliographies for each artist. This issue is a must-have for anyone remotely interested in the Fort.

But, hey, that's not all. There's also an interview with Keiji Nakazawa (Barefoot Gen); reports on SPX 2003, ICAF 2003, Comica and WizardWorld; and the usual news and reviews (including at least one controversy).

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< zines >



BETTY PAGINATED #26

($5.00 US, AUS/£5 from Dann Lennard / PO Box A1412 / Sydney South / NSW 1235 / AUSTRALIA. E-mail)

This review really should've been up sooner but this issue of BP is such a lengthy read that it just took a while to finish (that's a good thing). Regular readers of BP know that is heart consists of wrestling, porn, naked ladies and wrestling. This issue doesn't disappoint but that stuff does get pushed aside a bit this time around for a huge feature on Dann and Helen's trip to America. Nearly half of this 64-page magazine-sized issue is devoted to this Australian pair's experiences in and reactions to God's Favorite Country. Some of the things they write about include the Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival Form they had to fill out ("Are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?"), crappy Australian-themed American products (which should embarrass us all), pubs in New York, Combat Zone Wrestling (yikes), snack foods (Ever heard of Rap Snacks potato chips endorsed by Lil' Romeo? Yeah, me neither.), fast food restaurants, wigwam motels in Cave City, Kentucky, local tv in Nashville, regional lore, the obscenity of Las Vegas – that just scratches the surface, really. Dann Lennard and Helen Vnuk (Snatched: Sex and Censorship in Australia) are both engaging writers and know how to make junk culture fun and interesting. I recommend this issue to anyone who enjoys good travel writing.

The rest of the issue, of course, is also good, clean fun. Well, okay, maybe not clean but fun nonetheless. More stuff: how Dann and Helen almost became regulars on a tv show, a quick look at t.A.T.u and their knock-offs, an interview with '70s/'80s softcore actress Glory Annen (Felicity), wrestling reports/reviews, indie horror flick Cradle of Fear, a report on the 2002 National Young Writers Festival in Newcastle, a brief look at Alan Moore's career and lots more, including my favorite regular feature – the reviews. Dann reviews films, magazines, zines, comix, websites, music, books, Blair Witch-related stuff and food (!) in an entertaining and easy-going style.

As I mentioned earlier, this issue's a big one and well worth the cover price (it also comes with a beautiful 2-color Bettie Page sticker drawn by Glenn Smith). It took me a while to read but now I'm itching for a new one!

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< comics/x >

OUTSIDE IN #50

($2.00 from Bruce Chrislip / 2113 Endovalley Dr. / Cincinnati, OH / 45244 USA)

Outside In is a zine of artist self-portraits that was begun by Steve Willis (Cranium Frenzy) in 1983 and has gone through several different publishers over the years. The most recent, Bruce Chrislip, has decided to bring the 20-year project to an end with issue number 50. Contributing self-portraits to this landmark issue are P. Williams (cover), Erik Sutter-Kaye, Lee Kennedy, Linda Vik, Billy McKay, Larned Justin, Matt Dembicki, Marc van Elburg, Ben T. Steckler, Christoph Meyer and Eric Reynolds – quite a diverse line-up. There's also a drawing of R. Crumb by editor Chrislip. My favorite self-portrait in this collection is Eric Reynolds'. I'm pretty sure he's not actually a duck but it's a nice drawing just the same.

I don't know how to measure Outside In's impact on the comix world but I can tell you it's an important project. I only wish I'd become aware of it prior to the late '80s as I'm still missing most of the early issues. It seems a shame to see it formally end but who knows, maybe someone else will be inspired to start a similar project one of these days. Any takers?

For more on the history of this long-running zine check out this article.

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< comics/x >

PLATES ARE CULT #2

($4.00 from Damien Jay, www.damienjay.com)

This is the first work by Damien Jay that I've seen and I'm not quite sure how best to describe it. I want to say that it's a peculiar hybrid of traditional, conventional cartooning and more alternative work (think Steven Cerio), but that's probably not too helpful. Much of it is quite appealing, I can tell you that. If you've seen his work in Studygroup12 or little white bird/MEGACOM then you know what I mean. The first story features creepy-looking Joey the Mancat (Seriously. You know those crocheted things in craft stores with plastic doll faces on them? It's that sort of creepy.). Joey sits around a lot (a lot) just thinking and "enjoying the forest" – so much so that he misses out on, well, something or other. I'm not sure if there's a moral here, but that mancat is creepy. The second story is sort of a parody of those underwater nature shows – goofy host, foreign oceanographer, the whole nine yards with traditional gags and more creepiness (the host). What I really like about this issue are the less conventional aspects and a lot of the designs. There's some really attractive stuff but I think these stories only hint at what's (hopefully) to come. The more bizarre elements of Plates Are Cult are just dying to be pushed all the way to the surface for the full treatment. Maybe the cover will give you a partial idea of what grabs me about Jay's work. If you're curious, I highly recommend going to his website for a better taste of what the guy can do.

[ Austin readers can find Damien Jay's Plates Are Cult at Funny Papers. ]

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