In Review: OFF LIFE Issue 12

By John Freeman on August 18, 2015

The cover of OFF LIFE Issue 12 is the work of The Project Twins

Issue 12 of OFF LIFE, the free print and digital comics anthology is out now, its hard-working team revitalised from running their Yellow “Comics For A Lost Generation” series – where 52 artists are illustrating 52 weeks of news, a project that will be released as a collection in December.

OFF LIFE is the UK’s only street press comic, publishing a magazine full of indie comics and illustration to help showcase the art form and the incredible talent from all over the world working within it. Distributed free to a huge range of venues including bars, galleries and creative hubs, over its first eleven issues, they’ve featured some of today’s most exciting creators, including: Jack Teagle, Kristyna Baczynski, Kyle Platts, Jamie Coe, Ana Galvan, Box Brown and Jean Jullien.

“Fish Bowl Fever” by Ellice Weaver

“Sun in My Eyes” by Tillie Walden

“With Samplerman on a Counch” by Julie Ja and Auguste Gidouille & Yvang, the last three known collectively as Julizetoguste.

In OFF LIFE 11, the editorial team led by editor Daniel Humphry and Art Director Steve Leard began the redesign of the magazine and that continues this issue, with a great cover from The Project Twins cover art and content that includes strips by Ellice Weaver, Debbie Fong, Tillie Walden and Julie Ja, Auguste Gidouille and Yvang, the last three known collectively as Julizetoguste.

There’s a great interview with Charles Burns in OFF LIFE Issue 12

Feature wise, thee’s a smashing interview with Charles Burns, the creator of comics such as Black Hole, Skin Deep and X’ed Out, who talks candidly about his career, his approach to the comics medium and his current art book project, which sounds very intriguing.

For the comic creator, I thoroughly recommend picking up this issue for one item alone – cartoonist David Squires frank assessment of “online feedback” to their work after he joined the Guardian newspaper to draw a serialised weekly strip. If, like him, you’re “often wracked with an almost debilitating self-doubt”, you should really read his column as it will cheer you up no end and reinvigorate you for your next assignment. It certainly cheered me up.

OFF LIFE continues to feature some of the best indie talent around. If you’re a fan of artists such as Alessandra De Cristofaro, Stevie Gee and Pete Gamlen already, along with those mentioned above, you’re in for a visual treat. And it’s free – what’s stopping you from having a peek?

• OFF LIFE Issue 12 is available from the OFF LIFE web site here – and you can order print copies to be delivered straight to your door – just £3.99 including P&P!

• Follow OFF LIFE on Twitter @OFFLIFE_comic

• Check out their stunning YELLOW project at http://offlife.co.uk/category/yellow

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.