1-5
Black and white (the onloy way to read comics!)
26pp
Zip is an independent British comic book. It’s written by Mike Scrase, illustrated by San Espina, and lettered by Ferran Delgado, with cover art by Vanessa Cardinali and is about imperfect super humans.
Set in the city of Bristol, It takes superheroes and re-imagines what their life experiences would look like (as inspired by a popular cracked.com article) using them as an analogy for disability.
The comic explores the passive, quiet side of prejudice which is fueled by ignorance and apathy, rather than the more traditionally understood motivation of hatred.
Civilisation was never built for super-humans. Yet all the while they have lived within it.
Unnoticed and marginalised, they took to acts of heroism to give themselves a sense of purpose in a society that seemed to have no place for them.
ZIP is among these heroes. Her superior speed makes the rest of the world appear as if it moves in slow motion. It makes fighting crime easy, but living a normal life a desperate dream.
In her care lives her ancient ancestor: a genius who achieved immortal life long ago – but at the price of having his mind broken.
Zip shoulders the burden of knowing that the only way to end his suffering is to find a way to kill him: but can it be done? And what if his secret for eternal life should fall into the wrong hands?
There is a link on the site where you can read the first five pages.
If that didn't wet your comics appetite then nothing will -not even my 490 page adaption of War and Peace! 👿 Someone did say "It's going to be preachy about disabilities like The Spiral Cage (by Al Davidson). We'll see as I start reading.
A simple but quite striking cover. Must be the colour as I have German and Finnish publications the covers of which I love the look of -and they all use this colour!
A very nicely framed panel. Close up is superb. I need to find out how the artist is shading his work because this is very effective.
Nice. Verey striking and I will comment on the covers. Black and white covers even the most nicely designed I have no problem with but it is attracting the "punters" (that's you lot who DO buy independent comics) and the first rule in publishing is -something Old school publishers/editors used to make very clear: "The book may be crap inside or a masterpiece but what makes it sell is grabbing the attention of the casual buyers!"
I have mentioned one puiblisher and a conversation I had with him at one of the old Comic Expo events in Bristol. Good quality printing, black and white but no one stopped or showed interest. I looked the book over and saw that he used a print on demand which meant he COULD have used a colour cover. I explained this to him but his response was "I decided on the black and white one!" ooooo-kay. I did suggest that colour was a good idea. A couple months later he emailed saying he had sold no books so went for my suggestion of a colour cover -he started selling copies.
The cover above is lovely and colourful and just shouts out "Super Hero!"
Very well done page and I wonder if this is colour work scanned to greyscxale or actual washes because it works very effectively.
Never stood on a roof in St Nicholas Market before. And, no, you really could not confuse that with anywhere else in Bristol. As a set piece panel it could not be better - the figure work, the shading and it looks this good without the use of any solid black delineation.
The introduction of Zip in issue 1 tells us a lot about her situation -Granpy and her rather bleak future;. The rather nice touches are things like her going on a dating event. There is also a lesson right at the start about not talkingh to the driver!
The conversations and situations are all well done by the writer and artist and that makes the characters come alive a lot more which means the reader keeps reading.
Above: colour and a very European feel to it. If this does not spark curiousity and purchases it would be a sad day for comics.
Issue 2 had a rather grim highight -also a lesson why you should never grab a super powered kid! yeuch. But we see Zip's monther, her birth and the discovery of her special ability. Yes, there is a point here but it's quite subtle. The action really picks up and the splash page is exceptionally well done and I think the onomatopoiea (text sound effect) says it all "KRAAK!"
Unless I have guessed wrong there is a strong Manga/Manhua influnce in some of the action pages. Nothing wrong with that and it looks very effective.
For isssue 3 the rat and The Hive is pretty brutal! We get introduced to one of the old heroes -Sunflare- and the action really ramps up. The story being very well paced from issue 1 onward. Issue 4...well, it is the finale (or is it?) and all the stops seem to be taken out with the artwork and the very nicely done time twist at the end of "the big fight" was a great touch. Oh, and Zip is killed. Or is she?
All-in-all, Zip is a great read with some nice art and I would have no trouble recommending it. If you can get copies do because there are so few great black and white comics coming out from the UK and apart from Black Tower I've found no (and I have asked) British super hero comics. So the answer to the question in the post heading is "Yes".
The print quality and paper stock is excellent so you are not buying a cheap amateur comicd. I cfan't wait to see what more is coming from Zip Comics in future and a thanks to Paul Ashley Brown for forwarding me details about Mike and Zip[.
Do not miss out!
psst! If I've wandered a bit in this review blame the heat and my crappy old eye sight! Thankfully good reading glasses are availablke (I have about 5 pairs near me!
