By Daniel Whiston & Andrew Richmond (Richmond Press)
Like so many others, I started out in the publishing biz making minicomics, collaborating on fanzines and concocting stripzines with fellow starry-eyed weirdoes, outcasts and addicts. Seeing the raw stuff of creativity in hand-crafted paper pamphlets – or better yet in professionally printed packages which put the dreamers’ money where their mouths are – still gets me going in ways which endanger my tired old heart.
Ah, the lost joys of copydex, spray mount and cowgum…
These days, in terms of quality and at first glance, there’s very little to distinguish between self-published material and major events from big brands – except maybe movie contracts and a subtle whiff of sheer fun-filled exuberance you just can’t find once telling stories becomes your day job…
With that in mind, here’s a delightful treat sent to me last year and which only just arrived. Still, better late than never, and I’m certain comics this good will always find an appreciative audience… and maybe a movie contract…
As I’ve frequently demonstrated, British comics have always enjoyed odd and/or deeply flawed heroes. To be fair, that quirky affinity doesn’t just apply to paper wonders such as Cursitor Doom, Adam Eterno, Flame o’ the Forest and The Spellbinder – or even Warrior’s Father Shandor – but also to many stars of books, radio, television and films…
There’s a definite nod to that last one in the three tales gathered here: detailing in short sharp vignettes the sacred cause of a conflicted but supremely pragmatic warrior against evil – Holy Heathen Gideon Gunn – the Pagan Priest. A working priest in 18th century Somerset, Gunn takes the eternal war against sin to uncanny extremes…
Reverend Gunn is also a true believer in pagan gods and combines the devotional power of two vastly opposing faiths with the latest in science and weapons technology to hold back the forces of darkness assaulting his flock. This mostly manifests as the rising of primordial goddess Sulis and attendant and subsequent depredations of vampires, warlocks, zombies, mechanical myrmidons, homunculi, the mad natural philosopher whose discoveries inspired Victor Frankenstein, and even the corrupt and debased aristocracy smugly ruling the United Kingdom at this time…
It transpires that all manner of wicked things are seeking to control the unleashed forces of the “Deep Dark Waters”…
Action-packed, tongue-in-cheek and blending faux found documentation with superb art pastiching the feel of its filmic antecedents, these adventures revel in the sheer joy of a tirelessly dedicated hero, devotional vigilante and Man of Gods fighting the Good Fight with every weapon he can lay his hands on…
This first issue also includes an annotated map of ‘Wyrd Bath’ for the clarification and edification of readers…
Cunningly channelling the tone of cult and classic British historical horror tales (like Witchfinder General and The Blood on Satan’s Claw or Hammer Films’ Dracula and Frankenstein franchises), Gideon Gunn delivers fearsome fun in self-contained monochrome episodes reminiscent of early 2000 AD or Scream.
Scripter Daniel Whiston (Neroy Sphinx, Judge Dredd Megazine, FutureQuake) and illustrator Andrew Richmond (Aces Weekly, The77, Octobriana, Blazer!) are having a great deal of fun – and so will you…
™ & © 2022 Daniel Whiston and Andrew Richmond. All rights reserved.
Available from Gideon Gunn – Andrew Richmond (andrewrichmondart.com)