The second issue of Rob Jackson's "It's A Man's Life In The Ice Cream Business" is just as engrossing as the first, though I swear I'm confounded trying to explain why. It's more of the same action we enjoyed in part one as Rob and family continue to make their way round the farmers' markets of the North West selling home-made ice cream, sheep & goats' cheese, soup and even sorbet. Along the way there's drama as a miserable customer complains the vegetable soup is "all carrots", suspense as Rob wonders whether a heavy snowfall will stop him getting to Houghton Tower, and the threat of competition from rival cheese and ice cream stalls. There's music, grumbles, some inspiring recipes... and honesty. Real life honesty. With buckets of charm. I can't explain why I enjoy this book so much, I just do. Give it a try and see if you do too.
One of my all-time favourite small-press creators, Ralph Kidson, is back with another wonderfully observed mini comic. Graham The Lonely Snake is the heartbreaking (and I do not use that word lightly) story of a desert snake whose only friend is a rock called Steven Hughes. It may well be the most moving comic I've ever read, or I might just be getting soppy in my old age. The man who previously made me care about the adventures of an envelope and a stick has taken anthropomorphism to new levels with this tiny little comic. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me want to vote Ralph Kidson for PM. Our country needs him...
