Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.08.2009, Side 6

6
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12 — 2009
Tel +354 577 60 50
www.sixt.is
Recently rediscovered and dubbed "the
Ed Wood of comics", the late Fletcher
Hanks was a cartoonist from the golden
age of comic books (late 1930s – late 40s).
His comics weren't exactly a hit at the
time, but have gained a cult following in
this century due to their unintentional
surrealism and before-their-time
artwork.
The Ed Wood comparison isn't quite
justifiable. Hanks' work was awkward
and kind of crappy, but the same can
be said about many golden age comics.
Just read early Superman, it's super silly.
Hanks was more like Henry Darger
or Daniel Johnston. He had a brilliant
imagination and was most probably
just a tiny bit insane. As seen in his
characters.
There's something wonderfully
creepy about Fantomah, mystery
woman of the jungle, (one of the first
superheroines, predating Wonder
Woman) a see-through-skirt wearing
witch whose face turns into a skull
when scaring evil poachers. Or Big
Red McLane*, a somewhat homoerotic
lumberjack with a neck thicker that
his head. And of course Tiger Hart of
Crossbone Castle, on the planet Saturn,
that tells the story of Tiger Hart, a
medieval knight who battles a band
of robbers. On the planet Saturn. But
it's the creature design that really wins
you over. It might be the sexiest since
Hieronymus Bosch. If the saurian
riding Leopard Women of Venus don't
make you either hard or wet, you're
either impotent or frigid.
One more thing: Fletcher Hanks was
supposedly an alcoholic and an abusive
father and spouse. But hey, Beethoven
and Peter Sellers were assholes too. Let's
not dwell on their shortcomings. Not
when they produce pure beauty like this.
*an ideal name for your penis, if you're
the type that names his penis.
The only negative thing to say about this
book and these series of Tove Janssons's
comic strips is that they make you
jealous. Jealous of the fact that they are
so clever and beautiful and classic and
to imitate them would be pathetic and
to match them would be very hard and
to top them would be impossible. As far
as whimsical goes, the Moomins are the
European Champions.
There are probably very few people
that won’t fall for the Moomins, the
only ones that come to mind are shiny
spray-tanned beefcake people with tribal
tattoos... who are also adorable like the
Moomins and should definitely never
physically attack girls. Especially not
comic-reviewing girls.
A complete stranger: Do you think there
are any shiny orange beefcakes with
tribal tattoos that would actually read
this review?
Comic reviewing nerd girl: When I think
about it. No, not really.
ACS: So why mention it?
CRNG: Well, to explain how fabulous
this book is and to emphasize that most
people would like it.
ACS: Oh, I see. Sorry. Go on.
There isn’t much more to say really.
Except maybe, if you decide to buy one
(which you won’t because if you’ll get
one you will also get the other three),
make sure to get one for your friend.
It will make them happy and it has
been said that making others happy is
supposed to make you feel good about
yourself. Something like that.
Comix | Reviews
European Champions
Two Collections Of
Comics By Fletcher
HUGLEIKUR DAGSSON
LÓA HJÁLMTÝSDÓTTIR
Moomin Book Three: The Complete
Tove Jansson Comic Strip
Tove Jansson
D&Q 2008
I Shall Destroy All The Civilized
Planets
You Shall Die by Your Own Evil
Creation!
Fletcher Hanks, Sr.
— by Hugleikur Dagsson
—0 by Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir
— by Bent
— by Elo Vázquez and Óttar Norðfjörð
Buy the reviewed comix - and many
more - at Nexus, Hverfi sgata.
Yeah!
You can buy some Hugleikur Dagsson
anthologies all over the world. Get "Avoid Us"
in pretty much every Icelandic bookstore. It's
awesome.