In Review: WesterNoir Book Two

After the Old West of the first book, writer Dave West and artist Gary Crutchley take us to America's Deep South where demon hunter Josiah Black is battling a new supernatural enemy in Accent UK's WesterNoir Book Two - The Crocodile Tears Of The Louisiana Swamp Men.

Former Sheriff Josiah Black is sent to the Louisiana swamps to discover the truth about a family of supposed alligator-men and to deal with them. However, once there, he discovers that the family have female prisoners and rescuing them is about to make his job all the more difficult.

It would be easy to have made this is straightforward story of a hired killer rescuing damsels from demons but it is to writer Dave West's credit that he twists the story about as we jump back and forth in the narrative learning more about Josiah Black, the creatures and their various women-folk as we do. Black muses on past deeds as he works to rescue the trapped women and this section, where the text boxes are not directly about the action in the panels yet both sections of the story are steadily progressed, is one of the reasons that helps WesterNoir stand out from the crowd.

Another reason is Gary Crutchley's artwork which keeps the whole thing in touch with reality, or as far it is possible to when the creatures featured are not mutants nor were-gators but actually the off-spring of a mating that we probably don't want to dwell too much on. His moody greytones emphasise the claustrophobic nature of the swamp environment and he is not afraid to move to starker black and white to emphasise aspects of the locale or specific story points.

Anyone considering writing or drawing their own comic title could do a lot worse than buying, reading and analysing just how this book is written and drawn, as well as how the package as a whole is presented to its reader, because they are bound to find something in here that would improve their own work.

I enjoyed the first book in this series but, if anything, WesterNoir Book Two is better and leaves me very eager to read the third book when it is released.

• There are more details of WesterNoir Book Two on the Accent UK website.

• There are more details of Dave West's work on his blog, Strange Times.

• There are more details of Gary Crutchley's work on his blog, Driblin' On.

• Accent UK will be selling their range of books including WesterNoir at the Dundee Comics Expo on Saturday 30 March 2013 at the University of Dundee.

In Review: WesterNoir Book 1

Writer Dave West and artist Gary Crutchley take us to the Old West where they introduce us to the character of Josiah Black in the first book of Accent UK's supernatural WesterNoir.

In the Lucky Star Saloon in the town of Moses Creek, former sheriff Josiah Black is approached by Mrs Greta Anderson who wants him to find Jim Wilson, the man who killed her family. She is prepared to pay Black for his time and when he finds Wilson, she wants Black to kill him. Black agrees to find Wilson and the owner of the local livery stables points him towards the Plunkett homestead. Riding there, Black is just in time to see Wilson kill the husband of the house but prevents him killing the wife as Wilson raves about the family being demon spawn. It would seem that there is more to the story of Greta Anderson than she has let on.

Writer Dave West has come up with a complex character in the form of Josiah Black by hinting at his background through Mrs Anderson's knowledge of him as well as having his thoughts in text boxes on many of the panels.This is no simple killer for hire as he realises just what is going on around him. Artist Gary Crutchley's black and white artwork shows much in the long shots while ignoring backgrounds in the close ups which seems to give a more more immediate or intimate feeling to those panels in which the eye is not distracted from the main characters.

The supernatural aspect of the story comes to the fore in the second half of the book and while reminiscent of Frontier in The DFC, this is a much more mature take on the concept than the children's comic could ever have portrayed. Indeed the book has a four page backup strip which adds a little more depth to the character of Jim Wilson as well as three pages of his journal that Black is seen reading towards the end of the story.

Credit must also go to Accent UK designer Andy Bloor for the overall design of the book making even the non-story pages interesting to look at and doing a striking job on the distressed look of the covers and spine - there was more that one occasion when I found myself wiping the cover to get rid of a non-existent mark or crease that was actually part of the image.

WesterNoir Book 1 is a remarkably well produced book with an intriguing character at its core. With Book 2 due to be released at Thoughtbubble 2012 it will be interesting to see just where this four book storyline takes us.

• There are more details of WesterNoir on the Accent UK website.

• There are more details of Dave West's work on his blog, Strange Times.

• There are more details of Gary Crutchley's work on his blog, Driblin' On.

• Accent UK will be selling their range of books including WesterNoir at the Comica Comiket Fall 2012 Independent Comics Fair in the City Of London on Saturday 10 November 2012 and at Thought Bubble's New Dock Hall in Leeds on the weekend of 17-18 November 2012 when WesterNoir Book 2 is scheduled to be released.

 

Carlisle comic convention announced

(with thanks for the heads up of Dave West at AccentUK): Carlisle comic fans have banded together and are planning Carlisle MegaCon, a comics event aimed squarely at giving North West comic fans an event that will be easy to reach without the expense of extensive travel.

The brainchild of artist and writer Owen Michael Johnson, it's hoped the event will attract writers, artists, and authors and will include workshops, SF and manga attractions, and some cosplay fans.

Taking place on Saturday 18th August, guests include indie publishers AccentUK, whose latest anthology, WesterNoir is already available on iPad via the Lush Comics app.

"It looks to be shaping up into a great opportunity for comic readers in the North West to get a feel for what Cons are all about," enthuses AccentUK's Dave West, "and meet some of the creators and publishers face to face.

"I love these smaller events as they are much more informal than events like KAPOW and allow readers and creators more time to chat."

If you are a comic book creator and want to book a table at Megacon, send an e-mail entitled MEGACON to: - managerATcarlisle.waterstones.com.

• Carlisle MegaCon will take pace on Saturday 18th August at the Richard Rose Academy, Victoria Place, Carlisle, Cumbria. CL1 1NY. Doors Open at 1.00 pm. A Waterstones Carlisle Event, in association with Diamond Comic Distributors. For tickets and enquiries visit the Waterstones Carlisle Scotch Street store or telephone: 01228 542300. 

• Carlisle MegaCon Blog: www.carlislemegacon.blogspot.co.uk

• Carlisle Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/megaconcarlisle

Multiverse springs back onto the shelves

The second 52-page issue of comics news and features magazine Multiverse is now at the printer with copies due to go on sale at the end of the month in all UK comic shops.

Alongside the £2.50/$3.99 title’s regular news and reviews sections and Frame to Frame, publisher Mike Conroy tells us Multiverse #2 also includes exclusive interviews with Garth Ennis, Frank Quitely, David Lapham, Mark Waid and the new Silver Surfer creative team of Greg Pak and Stephen Segovia. Also, newcomer Ross Mackintosh talks about his new com.X graphic novel, Seeds, while Dave West discusses the new Accent Press title Fall of the Wolfmen and the burgeoning British small press scene.

Multiverse #3 is scheduled to hit shops on 21st April.

Among exclusives lined up for the issue are Missy Suicide and artist David Hahn talking Suicide Girls; Peter Milligan, Tomm Coker and editor Sebastian Girner discussing Marvel’s latest Wolverine saga, 5 Ronin; writer Chris Roberson discusses Michael Moorcock’s Multiverse and Elric: The Balance Lost; and Christopher Monfette reveals all about resurrecting Clive Barker’s Hellraiser.

• Latest information at: facebook.com/pages/multiverse

Accent's "Fastest Man" one shot goes on sale

Accent UK's latest one shot, Whatever Happened To The World's Fastest Man?, which has picked up glowing reviews from all who read review copies, is now available in all those UK comic stores which ordered it.

Co-written and created by Dave West and Marleen Lowe, the book is the first of Accent's Blessed/Cursed imprint, and deals with the duality of any special ability... there will always be a downside. Over on comicsvillage.net, Glenn Carter described it as "a very early contender for the strongest indie comic of 2009." while Jim Schwitzer (www.talesfromtheparentsbasement.com) described the story itself as "outstanding," but the art "is just as impressive.

"Although the comic is black and white, there is a distinct difference when Lowe draws the people frozen in time and when they are active." (More reviews here on the Accent web site)

It's difficult for stores to judge new comic books and, in the current economic climate, these unknown books often lose out to the major company crossover events that litter the Diamond catalogue. Indeed, the chances are then that if you can't find a copy in your local it's because they either ordered too few, or none at all. So, if you want to read a copy then it's down to you to help them out a little by asking them to order you a copy, which they can do through Diamond as usual.

Stores outside of the UK should be getting their copies in the coming week.

In another piece of good news for one of Britain's enthusiastic indie comic publishers, who are based in Cheshire, Brazil's Gal Editora are currently in discussions with Accent UK to publish a Portuguese version of the book for Brazilian stores - but that isn't expected to be released until September 2010.

• View sample pages of Whatever Happened To The World's Fastest Man? on the Accent UK web site

Accent UK Releases "Fastest Man" One Shot

A quick round up of news from top British indie Accent UK, whose latest Western anthology has now shipped and is in comic stores across the globe (Diamond Previews Order reference JUN090671 for those of you wanting to order from your local comic shop).

There other great anthologies -- Robots (MAR083379/OCT091814) and Wolfmen (SEP073278/OCT091815), featuring art from a huge range of ace British creators -- have also been re-listed in the UK section of October's Previews and are available for re-order for those who may have missed them first time round.

Available now from Accent is a new self-contained one shot, Whatever Happened to the World's Fastest Man?, which also appears in appearing in November’s Previews. Advance copies of the title from writer Dave West and artist Marleen Lowe received rave reviews and was Accent's fastest seller at the recent British International Comic Show in Birmingham.

In the tale - the first of the publisher's Cursed/Blessed imprint - a very large bomb is about to destroy a large area of London and Bobby Doyle has a decision to make. He has a fantastic ability which could save thousands of lives - but at what price to himself? Join Bobby as he faces the biggest decision of all in this acclaimed SciFi drama. You can view sample pages here

Accent UK’s next show will be London’s MCM Expo on 24 and 25th October 2009 when they will, with many other independent comic creator and publishers, be appearing in the MCM Comics Village.

• For all the latest info visit: www.accentukcomics.com

In Review: Strange Times

Reviewed by David Hailwood

The Plot:

A group of misfits are thrust together by forces beyond their control, and charged with the task of averting the destruction of mankind.

The Review:

Strange Times collects the popular web comics of Dave West, of Accent UK fame, and is almost worth buying for the cast list alone; there’s an ex-boxer who can communicate with inanimate objects, a prophetic rock that’s guiding mankind’s future, a young goth girl acting as a medium for two dead clones, a Dirk Gently style detective who notices every minute detail about the world around him but still fails to notice women, a brilliant scientist with a time machine in his head, a nerdy scientist with a suit that helps him run really fast and stop really slowly, and a robot from another planet who’s on a quest to get his stolen I-pod fixed.

Strange Times is about these characters, and more. As well as building up to the larger picture (an end to human evolution brought about by genetic manipulation, which the aforementioned characters might help avert) Dave West also takes a moment to dwell on the ‘little guys’ in the story, such as an unfortunate double glazing salesman attempting to sell his wares in a town where the windows never seem to break, and even a frog falling from the sky as part of a biblical plague gets to show his take on the situation.

The sense of humour throughout is very gentle, and the story deep and intelligent. Fortunately it is an intelligence that comes without a hint of pretentiousness. Due to Strange Times web comic roots, it’s broken up into short, manageable chapters, so there’s never an information overload.

If you need a comparison to the ‘big boys’ of the publishing world, Strange Times is the sort of offering you’d expect from Top Shelf or Slave Labour. It’s as professionally produced, skilfully plotted and definitely the best thing to come out of Accent UK’s stables so far. It deserves to be on everyone’s bookshelves, and in stores everywhere. For the time being however, it’s only available from the Accent UK website and at conventions, so be sure to seek it out at BICS if you have a tenner to spare.

Strange Times is 170 pages, black and white, with a hardback colour cover. It also contains a gallery featuring art from the likes of Garen Ewing, Shane Oakley and Andy Bloor.

Web link: http://www.accentukcomics.com/buy.html