By Al Columbia (Fantagraphics Books)
ISBN: 9781-60699-304-0 (HB/Digital edition)
This book contains Discriminatory Content included for dramatic effect.
Al Columbia is an incredibly innovative creator who has been pushing the boundaries of what we call narrative art since his earliest days in the industry, and one who has always seemed to generate the wrong kind of press. From the days when he assisted and then succeeded Bill Sienkiewicz on Alan Moore’s experimental and unfinished Big Numbers, through Doghead, From Beyonde and the astonishing The Biologic Show, Columbia sought out new ways to tell stories and never shied away from potentially controversial scenes, imagery and even styles of working. He was equally conversant with highly observed photorealism and the eccentric, economical symbolism of vintage animated film. He has rather unfairly been unable to escape a reputation for not finishing what he’s started.
Later works, especially as seen in this oddly disturbing cartoon collection, are clearly based on the early cinematic imagery that is periodically in vogue with the West Coast art movement known alternatively as Lowbrow or Pop Surrealism, but although the content may appear similar the intent is radically different. The line & design similarities to landmark Fleischer Brothers cartoons here create a subtle sense of trusted familiarity that the antics and situations expressly and terrifyingly contradict and overwhelm.
Just So’s You Know: Pim and Francie are pixy-ish waifs resident in a 1920s jarring yet halcyon neverland – think Rudolph Dirks and the Katzenjammer Kids. They first appeared in the chilling short story ‘Tar Frogs’ (originally published in Britain’s ’90’s lifestyle driven Deadline magazine and were then retooled for The Biologic Show #0 in 1994). They resurfaced in Peloria Part One (The Biologic Show #1 in 1995) and then in comic arts anthology Mome #9 (Fall 2007). You should also urgently seek out ‘I Was Killing When Killing Wasn’t Cool’ (Zero Zero #4) and ‘The Trumpets They Play!’ (Blab! #10 in 1998) and 2018’s Amnesia: The Lost Films of Francis D. Longfellow Supplementary Newsletter No. 1…
In a collection that appears more sketchbook than story, and which calls itself a “broken jigsaw puzzle”, grisly, grotesque images and characters cavort and proceed through a familiar wonderland of fairytale Americana, but look more closely and you can see a story unfolding: a tale of two rascals and perils beyond imagining…
Columbia’s nightmarish, recondite scenario hints at a deeper profundity but his beautiful, clear, dark drawings are open, simple and fiendishly accessible to even the youngest reader; so beware who you expose to these amazing astonishing adventures. Appetising, intriguing and addictively profane, this is a delightful excursion to a very wrong place.
See you there…
© 2009, 2017 Al Columbia. All Rights Reserved.