Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.08.2009, Blaðsíða 6

Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.08.2009, Blaðsíða 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.

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