Shelf Abuse

Storytelling, comic books and self-publishing

Tag: indie comics

  • Interview with Death Falcon Zero Co-writer Daniel Boyd

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    I recently spoke with Daniel Boyd, co-author of the illustrated novel Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords. Daniel is both an acclaimed filmmaker and film professor at West Virginia State University, who several years ago entered pro wrestling at the ripe age of 48. His wrestling alter ego, Professor Danger, appears in the…

  • The Tumor by Ben Jelter Preview

    The Tumor by Ben Jelter Preview

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    My piscine attention span has today been directed towards to The Tumor, a self-published graphic novel by illustrator Ben Jelter, described as “a surreal graphic novel about a lonely man named Greg who grows a tumor that comes to life.” Jelter’s art is undeniably unique, reminding me in places of Francis Bacon and the Gaiman/McKean…

  • Charles Burns’ Black Hole Review

    Charles Burns’ Black Hole Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    1995-2004, Fantagraphic Books Written and illustrated by: Charles Burns With sequential art being embraced by the literary and art crowds more than ever before, many journalists still feel tempted to excessively praise the indisputably excellent works that are regularly produced in the comic medium by comparing them to the generally lacklustre standards at which much…

  • Blankets by Craig Thompson Review

    Blankets by Craig Thompson Review

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    2003 Top Shelf Productions Written and Illustrated by: Craig Thompson When reading an independent book which I intend to review, I try to refrain from further research until I’ve finished reading. This is partly down to the fact that most indie books don’t require me to swot up on 50 years of Marvel or DC…

  • Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords Preview

    Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords Preview

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    “The Living Dead and the Deadly Living Clash on Charleston’s West Side.” I’ve come across an intriguing graphic novel entitled Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords, an enticing amalgam of those two sacred B-movie commodities; zombies and er… pro wrestling The book, in which a disgraced former masked wrestler battles the walking dead…

  • Controversial Categories – Why We Should All Read More Independent Comics

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    Carl Doherty
    in

    We’ve all opted for the obvious option at some point in time, and stuck with what we’ve known. Most of us do it every day, in the smallest of ways. We’ve all ordered steak and chips from the menu when we know we really should have sampled something more exotic. We’ve all sat in a…

  • Christmas Comics Gift Guide 2008

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    Carl Doherty
    in

    We’ve all suffered those moments when parents, spouses or creepy bearded men ask us for Christmas present suggestions, and struggled with but one. Well struggle no longer, with this concise graphic novel shopping guide. Rather than concentrate on Chrimbo themed books, I’m opting for the classics, personal choices and the odd surprise. No, this has…

  • Are Comics Books?

    by

    Carl Doherty
    in

    Okay, so that’s a stupid question. Or at least it may initially sound like one. In terms of publication and distribution, and their dependency on advertisements, comics are clearly magazines by definition. Which would then make graphic novels compiled magazines… which they are clearly (I hope) not. But the fact is that “comic book” is…