Malcolm Magic #7

..speaking of being amazed with the astonishing quality of comics, (damn, but I’m linking all tis together well…) you should by now be aware of Malcolm Magic #7. I’m assuming you’ve already read Glen Carter’s review of the latest installment of what must be the finest example of the self published market. If you haven't I suggest you go and do so now - he's absolutely right.

Regular readers already know how much I love this book, and issue #7 (which has been out for a while) just builds on the greatness of the previous books. The boys at Blink Twice have added a new dimension now. Previously Malcolm’s Fuzzton reality has been differentiated from the parallel universe of Happy Hippy Dale by the waviness of the art. Now there’s a new reality for our inebriated hero to deal with and this time, it’s in colour!

I’m reminded of The Wizard of Oz, but this is better because it doesn’t have Judy Garland. This really is a book that goes from strength to strength and shows no signs of slacking. Couple that to the now traditionally high production values (heavy paper stock and the mind melting fact that every issue is hand made – considering the fact that all concerned have day jobs I can only presume that the boys from Blink Twice themselves hail from an alternate reality where there are more than twenty four hours in a day. I’ve never really understood how they manage it, but I continue to be grateful that they do.

I got an e-mail recently from Blink Twice’s wordsmith in chief and all round raconteur Bob Etherington in which he informed me that the studio’s next project, Moon is almost ready to join Malcolm on the rack. Bob assures me it’s looking magnificent, and based on what I’ve seen so far I have to say that I agree with him. Blink Twice represents almost everything that’s good about the self publishing movement in the UK and I have to say that if you only buy one comic this month, it should be Malcolm Magic #7.

- Regie Rigby