It’s hard being an independent comic creator. Not only does it pay pretty poorly, for most, it’s even harder to get the word out about a project, which, in the case of 100 Dialogues between St. Jerome, a Cat and the Reader by Edward Taylor, is a darned shame. Because it’s absolutely brilliant.
Yes, yes, I know – the art is curious, and, some might say, primitive, but that’s the joy of Edward’s work, which we’ve been following here on downthetubes for some time, and has, rightly won him plaudits, and a deserved award. It’s the story that lures you in with any of his books… a gentle but entrancing beat to his stories, occasionally disturbed by strange events as an old man on a massive rubbish dump, St. Jerome, holds court to – well no-one, except a very acerbic cat, who he has no idea finds his pronouncements utter nonsense.
Why, it’s almost as if Edward has been listening to folk moaning on the bus to get a rhythm to this. Or dipped into any local social media group…
There’s no beginning or end to 100 Dialogues in a way – it’s rather a bizarre but often thought provoking wander through the mind of a very lonely, bitter and bemused old man, accompanied by a wickedly funny feline that has almost all the best lines.
Throughout, Edward displays an understanding of the comic form, of comic storytelling, in such a way that he cleverly breaks it without missing a beat, or losing his readers. It’s just… glorious.
If you’ve enjoyed his past projects such as 3 Stories featuring An Egg, A Saint, and Border Guards and Godzilla’s Lockdown Diary, then 100 Dialogues offers you more silliness, seriousness and enjoyable reading. If you haven’t read any of Edward’s past work, this is a marvellous place to start. Do check it out!
John Freeman
• 100 Dialogues between St. Jerome, a Cat and the Reader costs £20 + £5 p+p available via Paypal on Edward Taylor’s website www.edwardtaylor.pictures or (preferred method ) interested parties can email him edward@wras.org.uk and he will send bank transfer details
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Reviews
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