Comic Review: Spandex #6

At some point during my regular reviews of Martin Eden's excellent small press comic Spandex, I am guaranteed to use the words "best issue yet". So let's get it out of the way right now, shall we? Spandex #6 is the best issue yet, once more proving that it's "gay superheroes" gimmick is anything but, and delivering more action, characterisation and hip, sarcastic dialogue than most comics these days manage in a 6 issue run. Because of the splash-page heavy, four or five panels per page, drag everything out to fill a 6-book trade way that many modern comics are produced, I often feel guilty as a writer if I ask an artist to draw more than 6 panels on one page or write more than two balloons' worth of dialogue per panel. Martin shows us how such things are still possible (without ever overcrowding a page) and because he's both artist and writer on this book, he delivers some outstanding sequences. 10 panels on the opening page, yet it's a thing of beauty. Elsewhere, a 17 panel fight scene - on one page. God, if you'd given that to Bryan Hitch, he'd have filled an entire issue with it. And would it have told the story any better than Martin does here? I sincerely doubt it.

Speaking of story, the latest Spandex certainly packs that in too. From a dramatic showdown between our eponymous heroes and their evil rivals, Les Girlz, to some wonderful origin / backstory pages, to a tense build-up to a climax that gives extra meaning to the titles of both the overall story arc ('O.M.F.G.') and this issue itself ('Deus Ex Machina'). It's the kind of bold, audacious WTF!? moment that only Grant Morrison used to be able to pull off, but Martin Eden gives it both barrels. I am blown away.

Better still, this issue comes with three free mini comics showcasing Martin's versatility as a writer (horror, humour and manga) and the work of three great guest artists, T'sao Wei, Garry McLaughlin and good old Rob Wells. Even more bang for your buck.

The only downside to the latest Spandex was Martin's announcement that issue #7 will be the last. NOooooooooOOOOoooo! Still, it's always good to quit while you're ahead, and I've been reading Martin's comics long enough to know that whatever comes next... it'll be brilliant.

Find out more about Spandex, and buy them all here. Go do that thing now.

Spandex Goes Crossover Crazy

The fifth issue of Martin Eden's excellent "gay superheroes" comic SPANDEX dropped on my doormat last week and it's yet another multicoloured masterpiece. This time, Martin set his sights on the dirge of MEGA-CROSSOVERS that are miring the comics industry, almost as bad as they were back in the late 90s. He sets his sights, he takes aim, and he blows those crappy crossovers to kingdom come. Suffering "event fatigue"? This is the comic for you.

But, as always, Spandex is much more than just a masterly spoof of current comic book trends with twinkly gay bits on top. There's also real depth of characterisation as we learn the secret origins of Spandex leader, Liberty. Great jokes, inventive character ideas, guest stars aplenty (including the return of The O Men - slightly different than we remember them, but longtime fans will be glad to learn Miss Scarlet is still one helluva pistol packing mama!), action, shock plot twists... if every MEGA-CROSSOVER was as much fun as this, the mainstream comics industry would be in a much healthier state.

Buy the latest SPANDEX and you'll also get a free mini-manga featuring Japanese superheroes The J-Team (I can't believe I only just spotted the pun in their name) plus a cool Spandex trading card. And anyone who thinks that tight pair of swimming trunks shown on the penultimate page of Too Much Sex & Violence #1 was TOO MUCH... wait till you see the final page of this comic. It ain't for your granny. (Unless your granny's into... no, let's not go there.)

Go here: Buy Spandex now. That's all.

Stray Bullets & Spandex

I reckon the above would make a pretty good title for a comic (perhaps not as good as Too Much Sex & Violence - but hey, that one's taken). As it happens though, this isn't the title of one great comic... it's the title of two. From two of my favourite small press creators...

Andrew Cheverton and Tim Keable's tragic Western hero Jerusalem West returns in Stray Bullets, an anthology of short strips that take place at various points throughout the character's history... from his early life as a lovestruck teenager through to the grizzled old gunfighting legend he later becomes... and even beyond. There is action, horror, comedy and romance - it's the most diverse West book yet, showcasing the full potential of the character Chev and Tim have created. Guest art is supplied by a who's who of small press talent, including our old mucker Paul Rainey who gives very good sea monster. West remains the best Western comic I've ever read.

Stray Bullets: A West Anthology is available to buy here for a hugely reasonable £3.50. Fill your hands, you sons of a bitch.

Every time I review a new edition of Martin Eden's multi-coloured gay superheroes romp Spandex, I say "this is the best issue yet". Well, damn it if he hasn't gone and done it again! I've been reading Martin's comics for many a year now and one thing that's always impressed me is his ability to mix balls-to-the-wall superhero action with shamelessly soapy character drama. Spandex #4 is a masterclass in doing just this - and frankly, there's a hell of a lot of pro-comics creators who should read this book as a 'How To' manual. It's funny, it's sexy, it's exciting, it's scary - it's full of unexpected twists and nicely observed character moments. Seriously, what else do you want from your comics... blood? Well, guess what, you get that too.

Spandex #4 - the gloves are off... along with pretty much all the rest of the clothes. "Suggested for mature readers" it says on the cover. "Essential for discerning readers," I'd add. Find out more about Spandex here.

Spandex 2 - Pink Ninjas

Martin Eden is a tease.

When he released the first issue of his colourful, camp gay superheroes comic Spandex, he warned us we'd have to wait quite some time before we saw them again. Then something unexpected happened. Something really quite wonderful. The kind of thing your average small press creator can only dream of. The world went Spandex crazy. It began with a simple press release... and before he knew it Martin was being interviewed by newspapers, websites, TV and radio shows all around the world. Spandex wasn't strictly the world's first gay superhero comic, but it may well have been the first to market itself as such, and that was just the kind of hook journos love. That said, the success of Spandex isn't merely down to novelty value and smart advertising - none of that would matter if the comic wasn't also loads of fun... and fortunately, that's exactly what it is.

So here we have issue 2, much earlier than planned, and even more fun than the first one. Yes, there are pink ninjas. Yes, there's camp humour, bitchiness and sarcasm. Yes, this is a mature readers book, so you do get to see in cartoon detail the problems caused by excitement to the male member when dressed in skintight spandex. But there's also a depth of characterisation that will be familiar to readers of Martin's other classic superhero comic, The O Men, and there's the beginnings of some sneaky plot machinations that bode very well for the future. Plus Martin's art looks better than ever in dayglo colour. I really hope the success he's enjoyed so far is just the beginning.

Find out more about Spandex and order your own copy here.