Love letters re-read!

On Valentine's Day this year I wrote a love letter to one of my most favourite strips of 2023. "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" had appeared bi-monthly in the first five issues of Quantium, the literally quite brilliant new British comics anthology from Time Bomb Comics. In that blog I waxed lyrical, or some might say wittered on, about how good it was. Even suggesting that it could well be the greatest comic strip of the last two decades! And how if it was a single graphic novel where would it fit amongst my other collections. The uniqueness of character and story, together with the way it was beautifully crafted, I proposed that it could share pride of place on my bookshelves with classics like V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Conan, etc. Especially if extras were added to it. Well it happened, Quantum Prime Subscribers would receive an exclusive Quantum Prime title with each issue. "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" became the first such title. Let me tell you it's an excellent read packed with a behind the pages look at the story's construction, extra pages of art and an exquisite extra tale from Dave West and Marleen Starkfield Lowe. Which when read made me feel even sadder as this book was dedicated to the memory of Marleen, whose beautiful and welcoming artwork drew this reader into the arms and heart of the story. The whole book can leave you sad but also positive, there's always room for a laugh, there's always time for a hug from loved ones, there's always a life to live. 

I really must thank Dave West for this brilliant book, but it still leaves me with one little problem. Where does it fit into my comic book shelves?

Does it fit in with my classic Marvels?

No, it's not a conventional superhero title.

Can I squeeze it in with the old punks? 

No,  it's a more delicate tale than those big boys.

What about a place in with the new wave of talent? 

Well it could, but it feels a lot more British than those, even though most are written by Brits.

Does it deserve a place amongst the Classics? 

One day may be, but if truth be told it should have a place of its own.

A place where it can be picked up and read.

It's great to read comics, even better to read really good ones. Whether you subscribe to Time Bomb Comics, or pick them up from your local comic shop or comic convention, or even support your local newsagents, having really good stories makes it worthwhile. 

"Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" is a really worthwhile read. 

A love letter to the world's fastest man!

The day after Valentine's day marks the release date for Quantum issue six, some ten months since I first reviewed the release of the Fantastic 1st issue of the new British anthology comic, in that blog I suggested that the "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" could well be my favourite. After five issues I can safely say it is! I'll go as far as saying that I think it could well be the greatest comic strip of the last two decades! That sounds like a massive statement I know but bear with me, let me tell you why.

I'm sometimes, well really quite often, late to the game when it comes to finding gems that have become yesterday's news. This story was originally printed in Accent UK's Blessed & Cursed series and actually won an Eagle Award for the Best Black and White Comic Book in 2009. I never knew that until only very recently. I first read the strip in the pages of Quantum #1 in April last year and I only heard about that after listening to a comic podcast by Mega City Book Club about its launch. The new comic would contain five stories of which three were brand new, while the other two would be repeats, one of which would be recoloured the other would remain black and white. That one would be "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" I'm so glad they didn't colour it. I read the first three strips in that comic, which are all extremely good, but then got to "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" strip. Wow, it was on another level.

 I don't want to give any spoilers away, I want you to read the story clean, but here's the basic plot as spoiler free as I can. The hero of the piece is a normal man in his twenties called Bobby Doyle, who just so happens to possess the power to freeze time. The villain of the piece is a bland almost insignificant nobody who wants to become infamous by killing millions with a bomb planted in the heart of London. But its not the kind of strip you'll find elsewhere, American publishers wouldn't print it, there's no flash costumes, no hard hitting action fight scenes, no sexy girlfriends for our Bobby, no big guns and no extreme violence. British comics probably wouldn't print it either because there's no weird monsters, zombies, or aliens, no future cops or steampunk settings. To be fair it might have seen print in the old 1990's Crisis magazine from Fleetway or maybe some classy European comics.

 Bobby is a hero like no other, He doesn't defuse the bomb because he doesn't know how, he doesn't run away and save himself, even though he could, no Bobby is a noble soul. But he's still just a normal bloke who tries to save the lives of millions of normal everyday people in the minutes or years before a massive bomb goes off, by slowing time down so that he can remove everybody away from the blast zone. Even though the task seems endless, Bobby doesn't give up. It's great to read a story that you don't have to have to read hundreds of other comics by other creators whose work you don't enjoy just to complete a saga.

It's slow but beautifully paced, with the most cartoon like yet detailed artwork to grace a graphic novel. If it was a hardback graphic novel it would sit proudly on my shelves next to the Watchmen, V for Vendetta or my John Buscema drawn Savage Sword of Conan Omnibus for the way the pages are laid out representing the flow of time. The artist Marleen Starksfield Lowe doesn't fill the page with flash frivolous images, instead every time frozen face is full of life as they live within the seconds before the impending doom. Dave West doesn't waste time either with unnecessary dialogue when it isn't needed, allowing the beautiful artwork and the reader to fill in the gaps, forging the most original plot I've read in years, making it an absolute pleasure to read.

No comic strip is ever going to push out a tear from my eyes, but the final episode's ending comes very, very close. 

Is it worth reading? Yes it is! Is it worth them creating a follow on story? No, it's perfect, nothing more needs adding. Is it worth having it collected in a hardback graphic novel? Well I would definitely read it again (if it does I would like extras like behind the creative process, otherwise I would just read the Quantum comics again and again.) and if it appeared on the shelves of Waterstones Bookshops I would make sure people see it by giving it pride of place, just before the security guards kick me out for rearranging the displays. Is it worth Dave West and Marleen Starksfield Lowe producing something similar to it? Oh yes please! Is it the best graphic story of the last ten or twenty years? For the levels of emotion and beauty that fill every page, for the showing the best of humanity when faced with the worst, for the most sad yet fitting ending, I think it is! 

Quantum magazine, Time Bomb Comics, Dave and Marleen thank you all for giving this story a second chance, for showing me that heroes don't need silly costumes or silly names, and for making comics that can be really, really great without the need for frivolous baggage. Just great comics.

"The kind of hero I want to be when I grow older would be like Bobby!"   

A Quantum leap of faith!

 A new British comics Anthology

Quantum #1

"Oh look a new comic on the newsagents shelves. That looks cool!"

"Not another comic, don't let it pull you in. Just more expense and clutter to store."

"But its a first issue, Quantum, the new British comics anthology."

" I think I've heard about it, it's supposed to be really good!"

"Don't believe the hype! You've got millions of comics and books you've still not read."

"True but why not give it a chance?"

"It's £5.99 that's why!"

"That's not a bad price for 52 pages, most in glorious colour!"

"Compared to some US imports that's great value."

"Anyway it's bi-monthly so it's not a lot every week."

"You're going to buy it aren't you?"

"Yeah just this issue then I'll see what it's like. If I don't like it I won't get any more!"

"Goodness you're just like a big kid, Go on then get it if you want."

"A big kid? Yep, I am! Seven forever!"

I'm fifty-something going on for seven and I'm a comic addict! But I've mostly stopped buying new comics, they are too expensive especially when you have to follow multiple comics to keep up. Ive so much nostalgia on my shelves that I don't need to buy more. But I do miss that trip to my local newsagents to get my weekly fix, whether it was a Marvel UK comic or the latest US import or any homegrown 2000AD thrill. Even though I like comic shops they do seem to be glorified toy shops just selling the same toy in various variants. Online comics don't come with the same buzz either. But now there's something new on the stands that maybe I can get behind and regain that thrill that's grown forgotten with progress and age.

Major Rakhana "Pax Galacticus. Chapter one"

  

Writer: Steve Tanner

Artist: Pete Wood

Colourist: Dan Harris

Letterer: Rob Jones

The lead story, although all the other stories could possibly lay claim to being the lead, is a steampunk adventure strip that takes all the steampunk tropes, freshens them up with smart changes and drenches you in the face with them in the most glorious refreshing sense. I feel it would be lazy to say that this strip would fit perfectly in 2000AD or the Megazine, but it would and be very successful too. Major Rakhana is a Dan Dare inspired Victorian figure, who's a little more vicious than Victorian. I particularly enjoyed the roll reversals of racial and sexual stereotypes, with the Major's manservant Sanjay being a highlight. It's an excellent start and one that's got me hooked already. 

Westernoir "Moon cursed: Part one"

Created By: Dave West and Gary Crutchley

Writer: Dave West and Jemma West

Artist: Joseph Parangue

Colour: Matt Soffe

Next up is a western with a werewolf story. Now hasn't that been done before? Well not that I can remember, but it should have been done because it's a great idea, as this strip shows. Again it feels like it could have taken place in the Cursed Earth of Judge Dredd's world, but the writers have taken the correct option and set it in the old wild west. Which makes a very compelling read. The characters feel real and well rounded out. The dialogue is really on point and the artwork creates a perfect noir feel, creating atmosphere and tension without the need of unnecessary gore and flashiness. The more we haven't yet seen the more you want to see. Again another story that I desperately want to see more of.

Memphis Chapter One

Writer: David Morris

Artist: David Morris

Letterer: David Morris

This future alternative world where Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty continued to flourish into the year 4467 and became an empire where science, technology, art and Egyptian culture moved ever upwards, but in doing so left a vacuum for powerful ancient sects to also grow hinting at a second Age of Chaos. This story is very bright showing Egyptian culture, art and politics at its boldest, which must make you wonder why I've shown the opening page to highlight the artwork. Well all the artwork is splendid, but I particularly like this page that sets up a feeling of darkness coming. David Morris has done a fantastic job on this story and I must also say a stunning job on the cover too. It's what made me part with my hard earned money when I saw it on the WHSmith shelf. The dialogue is high drama perfect, I could hear each characters voice clearly like it was a Sunday night BBC drama, without any need of any unnecessary babble. I could use names like Arthur Ransom and Neil Gaiman to describe his artwork and writing but I won't because David Morris's work is brilliant without any need of comparison.  

"Whatever happened to the world fastest man? Part one"

Writer: Dave West

Artist: Mareen Starkfield Lowe

Letterer: Andy Bloor 

The forth story is a black and white reprint, but I can live with that as I grew up on Marvel black and white reprints. Don't tell the others but I think this charming strip could well be my favourite. At first I thought that it was going to be an urban comedy strip, which would be fine but to be honest I've seen them done a thousand times. This is more realistic, it shows grim reality with human nature at its worst and best. The artwork is beautiful and I'm very glad colour wasn't added, the shades of grey fill the pages with atmosphere. There's a mixture of photo realism and cartoon character in the pencil work. It's bloody gorgeous! The central character Bobby Doyle who can harness a power, that I won't go into details about here,  opens decisions he has to make that will lead to consequences. A case of doing the right thing makes the person a hero. Dave West again makes the right choices in his writing that together with the artist shows who and what exactly this character is. I don't know if this was a last minute addition to the line up as Bobby Doyle doesn't make it to the cover, which I can understand the reasons for, Bobby is a little too normal and doesn't carry the razzmatazz as the other strips. For what it's worth this strip is anything but normal, it's an absolute cracker!

The Clockwork Cavalier 

Writer: Steve Tanner

Artist: Ed Machiovello

Colourist: Dan Harris

Letterer: Bolt-01

The final strip is also a reprint by all accounts but this time it's been re coloured to what I imagine is to a great effect, as I haven't seen the original comic. I could be criticised as being late to the game but all these strips are really great. This strip feels like my least favourite, which does seem a little unfair as all the others are a high standard, but I do feel that it might quickly become my favourite when I've read more chapters. It's a lovely daff concept of a clockwork crime fighter in 18th century London with very witty dialogue. The two street urchins are adorable and the action is beautifully choreographed. Please don't impale me on a rapier blade when I say the artwork does remind me of John Byrne, in style alone. Yes I know that comparisons to bygone times lead to a one way journey to the past, while Quantum is quite rightly heading into a bright future. 

  There's some nice bits of text editorial inside and a couple of fun short strips in the style of Earth 33 1/3 that used to pepper Marvel UK comics back in the 80's. I'm not going to show you them here, buy the comic and see for yourself. It might be nice in future issue to use the text pieces to give background and profiles of the strips and the creators behind them.

 It's all great but where is the big "BUT" bit coming? Well I liked the fact that it's bi-monthly to ease my spending but can I really wait two months for the next issue? Well the good news I hear from Quantum editor Steve Tanner on the Mega City Book Club podcast that if it becomes a success it may well go monthly, which would be great. I did also have a problem with getting the self-service till scanner at WHSmith to read the bar code! If that's the worst thing to say about this comic then Quantum has an interstellar future.

I love the fact that someone is trying to revitalise the high street newsagents and that more people can pick up comics without trips to major cities with their specialist shop or mail order which might not be everyones cup of tea. Now the average comic fan can impulse buy. All the stories feel very adult with out the need for big tits, gratuitous sex and violence and unnecessary swearing. You could take it into a pub, sit down with a pint and read it. Back in the 80's when I used to get 2000AD I always thought that if you got three great strips and two (may be one,) OK strips it was a worth while buy. Warrior was the same. When the Prog only had one or two greats or good strips out of five it was time to stop. Time Bomb Comics are really onto something here. Quantum seems to me to have five really great strips. 

So the final question is will I be picking up issue two?

Dam right I will!