By various (Fantagraphics Books)
ISBN: 978-1-56097-916-6
The summer volume of the alternative, cutting edge cartoon-arts anthology presents even more new creators to augment the fabulous regulars behind a compelling cover by European creator Killoffer- plus a fascinating extended, illustrated interview with typographer and artist Ray Fenwick whose telling vignettes are peppered throughout this book.
After a cool spoof of ‘Poker Dogs’ by Kurt Wolfgang, the book proper opens with a silent chiller entitled ‘5:45 AM’ by Al Columbia followed by the exceptional (and equally wordless) ‘Einmal ist Keinmal’ by cover artist Killoffer. The sixth part of Wolfgang’s ‘Nothing Eve’ follows, and although still compelling visually, the protracted story-plot is becoming a distant memory – hopefully a future collection will allow the full power and verve of the narrative to compete fairly with the magical illustration.
Nate Neal channels classic Underground Comix of the Sixties with the portmanteau strip-jam ‘The 5 Simple Cosmic Do Dats’, and Ray Fenwick’s ‘Truth Bear’ tells it like it is before the superb Eleanor Davis takes the breath away with ‘The 10,000 Rescues’ another silent strip featuring those plucky li’l gals Dot and Louisa.
Dash Shaw returns with the mesmeric ‘The Galactic Funnels’ followed by the returning John Hankiewicz, who provides a disturbing moment in Jazz history entitled ‘Those Eyes’. Émile Bravo’s ‘A Question of Human Resources’ provides a typically Gallic view of Workers and Politics whilst Andrice Arp’s seductive full page illustrations ask ‘The Question is “How Did This Happen?‒, ‘The Problem is “What Do We Do Now?‒, ‘How Much Longer is This Going to Go On?’ and ‘How Many More Times is This Going to Happen?’
‘Shoes’ from Conor O’Keefe is a wistful, faux elegiac watercolour strip reminiscent of the very beginnings of our art form, followed by the aforementioned Fenwick interview, after which O’Keefe returns with ‘Fly’. ‘Million Year Boom’ is a chilling cautionary tale from Tom Kaczynski whilst Paul Hornschemeier offers an illustrated prose vignette ‘The Guest Speaker’ to accompany the ninth part of his urban saga ‘Life With Mr Dangerous’, which follows. Closing this volume is Ray Fenwick’s trenchant ‘Cre-A-Tor in “Trial & Omni-Error‒.
Whether you’re new to comics, new to the areas beyond the mainstream or just want something new; these strips and this publication will always offer a decidedly different read. You may not like all of it, and perhaps the serializations should provide recaps (but don’t) but Mome will always have something you can’t help but respond to. You really should try it…
Mome © 2008 Fantagraphics Books. Individual stories are © the respective creator with the exception of “A Question of Human Resources†© 2008 Dargaud by Bravo with rights arranged through Sylvia Coissard Agency. All Rights Reserved.