The Insane Mob from Madius Comics have done it again!
After enjoying issues 1-5 of Papercuts & Inkstains so very much, imagine my delight when Madius tweeted that press packs had gone out for the latest instalment. Nothing actually prepared me for what was waiting in my inbox though.
Accompanied by a press release that on its own had me in stitches, Papercuts & Inkstains #6 is an absolute gem.
Madius scribes Rob Jones and Michael Sambrook have penned 4 stories for this bumper, 52 page mini trade and not one of them fails. Billed as a “hilarious detour through the 80s and early 90s” the keen reader will spot references to Indiana Jones, The Thing, Stand By Me, Predator and probably more. The cover by Angela Sprecher is a work of retro nostalgic art, I love the peeling stickers and the VHS logo and the back cover is just as fab. You’ll have to take my word on that one and get hold of a copy to check it out!
First up is Meat The Monotaur (not a typo, you’ll see), a look at what happens when the office runs out of coffee on a Monday morning but in typically bonkers style.
Angela Sprecher knocks the art on this one so far out of the park it’s practically into another sport. The story features intern Sylvia Jo who is sent to find coffee with a Dora The Explorer-esque backpack full of office supplies to aid her on her quest. Part Indiana Jones, part Those old enough to remember the insanely annoying paperclip “office assistant” in Microsoft Word will probably have some kind of ‘Nam flashback when they meet Smart Drive – I bloody did. Crammed with sales meeting buzzwords and corporate nonsense-speak, Meat The Monotaur had me in bits. Someone pass me The Stapler of Infinite Penetration so I can fix my split sides!
The second story is a whimsical little tale called Eton Mess. Take that quintessential part of English village life, the fete, chuck it in a blender with The Thing and um…TA-DAH you get Eton Mess.
For overseas readers (who haven’t seen Hot Fuzz), you’re going to have to trust me on this one, but artist Darren Stephens perfectly captures the essence of the village fete. From the tombola to the hook-a-duck, not to mention the Morris Men, the set up is executed brilliantly before the tentacles erupt and all hell breaks loose. Possibly my favourite moment comes when the possessed children burst into the church singing “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, a hymn that still brings to mind kneeling on abrasive carpet tiles in chapel at the Catholic school I attended (very briefly). Beneath the tentacles and seeping pustules there is a little bit of historical fact, Mrs Morley was a member of the ATS or Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army in the Second World War. No wonder she’s so handy with that umbrella!
Next up is Where’d Wendigo. A coming-of-age tale of 4 intrepid wilderness scouts who venture into the woods for a last night of bonding (read: underage drinking and nerdy banter) before they all go off to different colleges. They are interrupted by the land owner who then gets promptly eaten by the beastie haunting the woods – the Wendigo. Not sure what a creature of Native American mythology is doing in East Yorkshire but I’m going with it cos this is such a mad story. Think of it as Stand By Me versus Predator. Or The Goonies crossed with IT.
The instructional sequence/gearing up montage page is fantastic, although I’m starting to think Rob and Michael might have a bit of a fondness for barbecue – 2 references in 1 book? Pretty sure through all of this though, Jessie is my spirit animal. She’s kind of like a Jack Russell Terrier, tiny but she will fight you!
Rounding out this descent into madness we once again find ourselves in the company of the criminally inept demon worshippers of BOOBDAE in Profits of Doom.
Last seen raiding a museum for a magical book and some nifty weaponry, guided by a bookshop owner bearing a striking resemblance to the late (and truly) great Terry Pratchett, the boys of BOOBDAE are now heading for a confrontation with the demonic fortress that the demon Bulgeroth has become. Where previous issues of Profits have all been illustrated by Mike Smith, this time things get a little crazy on the art front. As the bus hurtles into a portal five guest artists take over the art duties and each demonic dimension is represented in their own styles. Angela Sprecher, Bob Turner, Nick Gonzo, Neil Ford and Iain Laurie all take turns guiding the bumbling nimrods through assorted nether realms before Smith takes over again.
Final thoughts
In the press notes Madius say that this issue of Papercuts & Inkstains has been created to be accessible to those who might not have read the previous 5 issues, and I think they have achieved that magnificently. 4 brilliant stories, some stunning art from both P&I regulars and newbies and a several barrels of laughs. Papercuts & Inkstains issue 6 will be available at the Thought Bubble convention in the UK if you are attending and then after that will be available on the Madius Comics store for the bargain price of £5 for the full 52 page book! You can also get all the previous instalments there, as well as the rest of the Madius Comics catalogue.
