Petrichor by Gareth A. Hopkins – An Unusual Review for an Unusual Book

Petrichor by Gareth A. Hopkins

“The war rages. People are slain. Vince Hunt decides he doesn’t like pork pies. This week, Dan Butcher doesn’t imagine painfully murdering someone on the commute – and the world will never be the same again.”

Yes, you’re absolutely right. I made that quote up. It has nothing to do with this comic or its story.

Outrageous, huh? So why open with it, then?

Because I’m actually alluding to the snarky debate about what is “allowed” to be a comic I often see popping up on the social media feeds of the pompous, snarky and “cool”. Various formats and delivery systems are argued over until we end up “reverse flippin”.

So let me make this very clear. I have always considered the work of Mr Hopkins to be comics.

Petrichor by Gareth A. Hopkins Sample Art

Gareth is a very thoughtful creator and I enjoy talking about his work with him. He often steps outside of the comfy world of superheroes, the autobiographical and horror and sci-fi – and cats – to create something monumentally different yet nonetheless intriguing and original.

With Petrichor, he takes a step forwards to something new and different. Something altogether more intimate and idiosyncratic.

In the life we lead the seeing of the hidden and honest face of even the person that you think you know well can occur through the art that they produce. In this book, the creator combines his own true voice with the abstract art he has of recent time become known for.

The black and white art reminds me alternately of a detailed rock face or a crystalline structure or even the wind blowing over a beach in winter. But what Gareth does here is something more, and It’s incredibly moving. Hovering above his visuals are some personal thoughts and words, of the moment to moment of his day. It’s like we are hearing his thoughts as they float over art, that we are interpreting beyond their meaning.

I know…. I’m not making much sense. This book is more of an experience you have to observe for yourself – and in saying that, I realise that I have written far too much for something that just needs to be read.

I can only do justice to this comic by saying that you should read it and think about it….

Petrichor will be out soon.

Get yourself a copy.

I generally don’t know what I am talking about but I do know that this is very, very good!

Petrichor by Gareth A. Hopkins Sample Art

Many thanks for reading.

• You can find more about Gareth at www.grthink.com or follow him on Twitter @grthink



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