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Small Press Suggestions

Started by Barrington Boots, 12 April, 2021, 09:56:40 AM

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Barrington Boots

Branching off the 'what are you reading' thread, fire away with your suggestions and I promise I'll check them out.
I've been picking up a few during lockdown and I've found the anthologies to be extremely hit and miss but I'm basically interested in anything that doesn't have a variant nude / tits out cover...
You're a dark horse, Boots.

flip-r mk2

#1
Off the top of my head, Paragon Comics, The 77, Blazer, Sentinel, The Spencer Nero Club, Brawler, Zarjaz, Dogbreath, FutureQuake, Something Wicked, Boom Bandits, Killing Moon.

filippo
It's all right, that's in every contract.
That's what they call a sanity clause.
You can't fool me, there ain't no sanity clause.

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Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana

Bolt-01

Hi Barrington - First I'll pimp my own wares:

FutureQuake - Anthology  - roughly 100 pages per issue, US Trade format. £6.50 in print (B&W)
Something Wicked- Anthology  - roughly 100 pages per issue, US Trade format. £6.50 in print (B&W)
Zarjaz & Dogbreath - 2000 AD fanzines - 48 pages each issue. £3.00 each issue in print.
The FQP Webshop

I'll let others give opinions of quality. We try not to have serials in multiple issues, but that is not always the case.

You have already gotten Flintlock, and I'll second Filippo's mention of Brawler. https://timebombcomics.com/ There are only 2 issues of that around currently and the first issue saw the last printed work from the late Nigel Dobbyn.

The '77 bills itself as a 'nostalgia' comic, but it is - I think - starting to move a little beyond that. I'm not sure where it is going, but it is an interesting title. https://getmycomics.com/The77

Blazer I had issues with, but I gather they are being addressed.

Paragon is a long running adventure serial title. It may be a little difficult to get caught up but I do enjoy it. http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/

Killing Moon https://www.comicsy.co.uk/pigdogpress/store/products/category/graphic-novels/ is another I'd recommend. The first four issues are now in a trade and the next issue is in production (I'm lettering it)

Antiplano https://gustaffovargas.bigcartel.com/ is a series from Gustaffo Vargas that is just superb. I'd recommend anything from Gustaffo actually - he's a top talent and a really nice guy, to boot.

If bonkers Sci-fi is your thing then I'd recommend Shaman Kane https://www.comicsy.co.uk/dbroughton/store/products/shaman-kane-1/ by the artistic powerhouse that is David Broughton. Think there are six issues of this in the wild and I really like it.

I'll let BCB tell you about Sentinel as he's about most days.

I'm sure there are many more I'll mention at some point, but this is what came to me whilst typing back.

One thing I'm noticing is that many of the small press folk tend to release issues around the time of conventions, of which there aren't any at the mo. So I'm expecting that when conventions start again there will be a lot of activity from Small Press folk sharing what they have been up to over the last year.

Barrington Boots

Cheers guys! Bolt especially, thanks for the comprehensive post with links and everything. Altiplano looks really, really interesting and Brawler is something I nearly picked up but I will have a look at all of these. I will also get some FQP stuff, the least I can do!

The '77 I have tried but didn't enjoy. If anyone else reading this is interested I can pass my issues on to them. Paragon didn't quite gel with me either - I may return to it after I've looked at some of these others.
You're a dark horse, Boots.

Bolt-01

Thanks for the order, Boots. Much appreicated.

I know what you mean about things gelling, which is one of the best things about a gig like Thought Bubble - you can talk to the creatives and see just what makes them tick before putting your heard earned down.

Bad City Blue

Sentinel is my baby but I would heartily say check out any Futurequake publication, and I REALLY enjoyed Flintlock as well. Brawler is great, too, whilst the 77 is a mixed bag like many anthologies. Bruno STahl's Boom Bandits is also excellent.

Sentinel is a 64 page digest size black and white comic, much like it's inspiration, Starblazer. Each issue is a new, complete story. We've done some daft sci fi stuff, fantasy and dark horror. There's six issues in total, and issue 7 is on Kickstarter now. Reviews have been hugely positive, and we were voted 3rd best comic of 2020 in a couple of online polls.

It's a fun, action filled read, like what comics used to be. Some of the subject matter is serious, but never boring.

Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/thesentinelcomic

Issue 7 Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sentinelcomic/sentinel-comic-issue-seven-hell-on-harry-howson?ref=android_project_share&fbclid=IwAR1PTcAFF6FAw6GByPMXG_b--qkzBL-HaaQn6F5mED9JqCrBwq4v3N9v1oA

I write all the issues, and we have Ed Doyle (co creator), Ian Beadle, Paul Spence, Morgan Gleave, Andrew Richmond, Kevan Maguire and Filippo Roncone on various art duties.

It's a blast.
Writer of SENTINEL, the best little indie out there

Daveycandlish

I'd heartily recommend the latest Zarjaz if you haven't already got it.

Visit the Timebombcomics website - you'll find Flintlock and Brawler there, amongst others, which both have things worth reading within their pages. The biggest recommendation from Time Bomb would be Harker. I read this when it was first published and absolutely loved it.

I publish PARAGONcomic and I'd love to hear what your thoughts on it were; what worked for you and more importantly what didn't. I promise I won't get huffy with whatever you say! (Post here, on the PARAGON thread or private message me, I don't mind.  Any feedback gives me food for thought to improve future issues.)  :)
An old-school, no-bullshit, boys-own action/adventure comic reminiscent of the 2000ads and Eagles and Warlords and Battles and other glorious black-and-white comics that were so, so cool in the 70's and 80's - Buy the hardback Christmas Annual!

Colin YNWA

I don't delve into Small Press too much and obviously anything by the folks here should be a priority but there are a couple of other recommendations I can make.

I'm a big fan of West from Angry Candy - haven't heard from them for a while but they still have a Comicsy page so hopefully still exist - might be worth e-mailing them before ordering just to make sure? Anyway fantastic western comics.

http://www.comicsy.co.uk/angrycandy/store/products/category/comics/

I can't recommend thr work of Chris Askham enough as well. I know he's still going strong as he's just completed his latest Kickstarter and his stuff is consistantly good. Art books and comics all. Defo try his stuff.

http://www.chris-askham.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR1_alOKdAxiuTWKccqIKdUN5HTFh4IwRgv46uMS1OPzfBLeuFA37PR63fA

Finally the master of them all Marten Edens O-Men uiniverse, including the brilliant Spandex. They are all available from Comixology but he uised to do these brilliant omnibus of O-Men and a lovely complete package of Spandex. Its truly wonderful superhero comics.

https://spandexcomic.wordpress.com/

or if you are happy with digital

https://www.comixology.co.uk/The-O-Men/comics-series/18214?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L3RhYmxldC9zbGlkZXJMaXN0L3Nlcmllc1NsaWRlcg



Daveycandlish

oooh good shout, Colin - I like all of them!
An old-school, no-bullshit, boys-own action/adventure comic reminiscent of the 2000ads and Eagles and Warlords and Battles and other glorious black-and-white comics that were so, so cool in the 70's and 80's - Buy the hardback Christmas Annual!

Bolt-01

Oh goodness, WEST! I'd love to know the lads were working on more, but the hardback collection of the early strips they did back in the day opened my eyes to the presentation of small press comics. Superb.

Seconding the work of Chris Askham too - I've actually contributed to Kickstarters for him.

Colin YNWA

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 13 April, 2021, 09:01:41 AM
Seconding the work of Chris Askham too - I've actually contributed to Kickstarters for him.

Yeah I've done his last three I think - all have been fantastic opportunties and I'm just waiting on the latest - for Switchblade Stories 2 - which I'm so excited about - the first was truly excellent.

Don't know what happened with West - Small Press is pretty tough and unrewarding (at least financially) I'd guess and you dont get many folks who can carry on indefinately - Bolt and Daveycandlish being the exceptions that prove the rule. But yeah West is the one small press title were I've 'up-graded' my issues - having most of the 'floppies' I decided to get the hardcover collection as its a super product.

Barrington Boots

Some cool looking suggestions here that I am taking note of. I bought a chunk of comics yesterday and I'm keen to try most of these. I hope there are more people than just me getting something from this thread, too.

BCB, I am on the Sentinel KS already!

Davey, your very polite calling me out on Paragon led me realise I was thinking of a different comic altogether. I would like to remedy that. Do you have any physical copies of previous issues or are they all digital only?
You're a dark horse, Boots.

Bolt-01

Boots - your order is in the post. Many thanks again.

Tomwe

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 12 April, 2021, 01:33:12 PM

Antiplano https://gustaffovargas.bigcartel.com/ is a series from Gustaffo Vargas that is just superb. I'd recommend anything from Gustaffo actually - he's a top talent and a really nice guy, to boot.


I was going to recommend Gustaffo's comics. Just read them myself; they're highly professional and very much in keeping with what we like here at the House Of Tharg.

Barrington Boots

Quote from: Bolt-01 on 13 April, 2021, 12:50:10 PM
Boots - your order is in the post. Many thanks again.

My pleasure! Hopefully the first of many!
You're a dark horse, Boots.