Small Press - Big Talent

Three of my favourite small press comic-producing pals have all put out new books within the last month (you wait ages for a new small press comic and then three... etc. etc.) and they all deserve a mention here.



There's No Time Like The Present is the brainchild of small press guru Paul B. Rainey. It's a serialized graphic novel that deals with huge ideas about knowing the future, travelling in time, and the dangers of owning a home- made, life-sized dalek... yet it does so with the most human, down-to-earth, tragically flawed characters you can imagine. It's funny and sweet and sad and real.

You can find out more about the book by clicking on Paul's website... where you can also read the first few chapters of TNTLTP for free and sample some of Paul's other strips too.



The O Men is one of the longest-running small-press books I know. It beat my own record of 28 issues (on The Jock) a couple of years back, and it just keeps going - from strength to strength. Writer / artist / O Men wunderkind Martin Eden is telling an epic superhero saga for adults, with lashing of sex and violence and unpredictable twisty-turny stuff, but far more importantly, expert characterisation and a witty, natural-sounding script. You just never know what's going to happen next - and that's always the best kind of storytelling.

You can find out all about The O Men by clicking here.



West is a terrifically enjoyable western adventure series by writer Andrew Cheverton and artist Tim Keable. Chev is one of the best writers I've encountered during my time on the internet, and a damned nice chap to boot (though he'd deny it to his grave, doing the curmudgeonly misanthrope act even better than I can manage). The story of Sheriff-turned-bounty-hunter-
turned-occasional-werewolf-wrangler Jerusalem West really is an unmissable read for anyone who enjoys a good western. Firstly, the dialogue is spot on, close your eyes and you can hear Eastwood chewing the fat with Deadwood's Seth Bullock. Secondly, as in all the best westerns, when people get shot... they die - upping the unpredictability and unease, and placing the reader right in the centre of the drama. And thirdly, there's the art. Over the course of just a few issues, Tim Keable has matured into one of the best artists in the small press scene... in fact, both creators are destined for greatness, and plans are afoot to launch West on a much wider audience soon.

So now's the time to get on board the West express - click here for more details.



And finally - what of my own small press ventures? Those of you who care about such things might recall some mention of a new comic called PJANG! that I've been working on with Messrs. Cheverton, McGee, and Green. Well, after much faffing about on my part, the comic is now ready to be printed... though there is a slight hold up on that end that I have no control over. I'll hopefully have more news shortly, but in the meantime, to whet your appetite... here's the cover, by the wonderful Nige Lowrey.