Stripping Down #22 - Small Press, Big World

Trixie Biker: Enter Jack Narcissus (WaterCooler Comix)
by Matthew Craig

Deva City’s premier superhero is back, along with her trusty bike Dixie and The Go-Go-Pixies. I enjoyed this more than #1, mostly due to a smart script that satirises the current trend for recycling pop (pap?) boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and Take That. Matthew Craig’s storytelling is simple without being simplistic and, as before, his enthusiasm and obvious affection for the characters greatly compensate for the artistic shortcomings. I like the fact that Craig have moved forward, both narratively and stylistically, and I’d like to see him continue to develop both – particularly the visuals – in future issues.

Visit Matthew Craig's website to purchase a print copy or rummage through a veritable treasure trove of online delights! You can also read my previous review of Trixie Biker here.

Man Man And Friends 1-2
(Banal Pig Comics)
by Gareth Brookes

Each 16-page issue is chock full of Brookes’ rapid fire stick figure comic shorts. Mixing obvious gags with acute observations, the abundance of material ensure that a laugh is only a glance away. I’d be interested to see Brookes’ frequently on-the-ball humour paired with more substantial art but, for now, this is great value (and fun), packed with potential.

Available via the Banal Pig Comics website

Trouble Bruin / Newstreet Bootleg (WaterCooler Comix)
by Matthew Craig

Matthew Craig’s Trouble Bruin benefits from a more reflective approach than his other superhero creation Trixie Biker. There’s a pathos underpinning the occasional but overt humour which, over thirty-four pages, enables the reader to empathise with the characters, particularly father figure Eric ‘Capability’ Brown, aka Blue Ted. Craig’s art is somewhat limited in range and whilst this doesn’t detract from the story, at times it doesn’t quite meet the demands of the script. My only gripe is that there currently isn’t a follow-up story/ issue; having read what is essentially an extended prologue/origin tale, I wanted to see more of the adult Trouble Bruin. Although I think Craig was right to avoid the usual device of using a modern day narrative to frame an origin ‘flashback’, having a subsequent Trouble Bruin tale on sale would have been desirable. Hopefully, the further adventures of Trouble Briun won’t be long in coming. As compensation, limited copies of Trouble Bruin came with a Newstreet twelve page ashcan edition, introducing another of Craig’s superhero creations. There are two four-page shorts contained in this bootleg, the first seeing Newstreet foil a bank robbery. It features Craig’s most accomplished art to date and hopefully points the way forward for his style. The second sees the super-confident Asian Brummie learn a lesson in humility when he encounters Trixie Biker. This crossover strip is not as visually striking as it’s predecessor, but it’s good fun. Judging by the final pages of each story, the character seems to have undergone a last-minute change of name from Street Walker to Newstreet. A wise move. More please!

Both available via Matthew Craig's website

Melanchomic (Glaikit Comics)
by Andrew Waugh

A collection of predominantly single page ‘slice of life’ strips offering wry observations on the trials and tribulations of being a single male. Waugh’s basic style relies heavily on repetition, but is surprisingly emotive given this (self-imposed) constraint. Despite the occasional – and openly confessed – filler, there are plenty of enjoyable strips. Personal favourites are Juicy Fruit, The Fine Art Of Pulling and Women’s Parts. The penultimate page is a house ad for The Guttest Story Ever Told, a peaen to/piss-take of ‘80s movie stars including Steve Guttenberg (obviously), Lou Diamond Phillips and Rick Moranis. Sounds unmissable.

Drop Andrew an e-mail at andrewjameswaugh@yahoo.co.uk or visit his MySpace site if you want to find out more.