Review for downthetubes by John Freeman
The Book: St. Jerome and his Cat (we use “his” cautiously here, because this Cat is very much its own feline) stumble into the Land of Milk & Honey, get stranded in Nowheresville, are Swallowed up in Shadows and fall into the realm of a Nasty Neighbour, who then creates a Splintered World. They suffer Frightful Cleanliness before watching on helplessly as the Carnival Folds…
The Review: Regular readers of downthetubes will know I am a huge fan of award-winning graphic novelist Edward Taylor’s work, and Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Frying Pan: St. Jerome, a Cat and the 7 Circles of Hell, his latest, self-published graphic novel, is no exception.
If you were asked to distil this extraordinarily individual work down as an “elevator pitch” it would be “Fantastic Voyage meets Alice in Wonderland”, but don’t expect Raquel Welch to pop up in this absurdist journey, which sees St. Jerome and his fellow traveller, an acerbic, wisecracking cat, on a journey that takes them, at one point, through the body of a monster.
In this new tale featuring the returning St. Jerome and Cat, the grumbling, bewildered saint stumbles into the Land of Milk & Honey, gets stranded in Nowheresville, Swallowed up in Shadows and falls into the realm of a Nasty Neighbour, who then creates a Splintered World. If none of that makes any sense, but you are, however, suitably intrigued, the I would urge you to pony up some readies and buy a copy of this marvellous story which I read in one absorbing sitting and – you guessed it – thoroughly enjoyed.
The graphic novel is drawn in cartoon style, a thin disguise for a multi-level approach to storytelling for which Edward has earned much deserved praise for his earlier work. He utilises the comic form as a born storytelling, gently guiding the reader through a wondrous world, crammed with oddities and even odder encounters – including a fellow “beardie-weirdie” piloting a boat through “gastric goo”, a particular favourite.
I won’t do Edward the injustice of comparing him with other comic artists who create similar tales, because every independent creator brings something unique to their work and, for me, Edward is, perhaps, more Unique than others. I’ve heaped praise on his work before, of course, but each story he weaves, bizarre as they are, grow ever more confident in the telling pushing boundaries, exploring the comic form – this one even has a very important hole in one page! – and delivering an unusual but beguiling story.
So yes, I’m going to again recommend Edward Taylor’s work. It’s not superheroes, it’s not action adventure, but it is, for me, genuinely funny and, I know this is an overworked phrase, thought provoking. Do give Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Frying Pan a try!
John Freeman
Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Frying Pan costs £20 plus, in the UK £6 postage and packing.
You can buy a copy via paypal.me/EdwardTaylorPictures or email Edward via edwardATwras.org.uk (replace AT with @) to get details of how to pay via a bank transfer.
Other Reviews of Edward Taylor’s Work on downthetubes…
• In Review: 2 Stories (Both Involving an Egg)
• In Review: “3 Stories featuring An Egg, A Saint, and Border Guards”
• In Review: 100 Dialogues between St. Jerome, a Cat and the Reader
Creator Spotlight
Edward Taylor, also creator of Godzilla’s Lockdown Diary and Godzilla Tries to Get Out, won first prize in the 17th Manga Jiman competition hosted and organised by the Embassy of Japan in the UK, for his eight-page story, “St. Jerome 2.0”. He was praised for his unique style, innovative storytelling techniques and hours of dedication, which all helped him to first place.
He’s spent nearly 40 years touring nationally and internationally with the Whalley Range All Stars, a street theatre company he formed with Sue Auty. Drawing plays an important part in the early stages of every company production.
• Edward Taylor is online at edwardtaylor.pictures | Facebook | Instagram
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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, British Comics - Graphic Novels, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, Features, Reviews
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