Lovern Kindzierski

‘The Shame Trilogy’ is a fantasy graphic novel written by Lovern Kindzierski and art by John Bolton. Mother Virtue is an ugly old lady but full of goodness and everyone in the village likes her, especially the children, who she loves in return. Sadly, she has never had a child of her own. One night, she selfishly wishes for a child of her own and the words are overheard by Slur, a force of dark, dark evil who looks quite a lot like the alien in ‘Alien’. In a bad immaculate conception, Slur implants a life in Mother Virtue which will become a daughter named Shame and will mean trouble for the world.

Mother Virtue takes action to stop Shame after the child is born. She summons the nymphs and dryads of the forest to guard her, turns her home and the woods around it into a living prison then leaves. Shame is indeed powerful and even as a child can bend reality. She is cruel and gives the nymphs and dryads who were her playmates new distorted forms, including enormous breasts like Hugh Hefner’s playmates! The fact that the normal beautiful ladies have small bosoms and only the distorted ones have large may be a sly feminist comment by the artist on our peculiar plastic age or it may not. In general, there’s a lot of female nudity, continuing the fantasy tradition of soft porn that dates back to thirties ‘Weird Tales’ covers featuring ladies being whipped. Anyway, continuing with the story, ‘Shame’s father sends shadow beings to help her escape the prison and she plans exquisite revenge on her mother.

That’s the plot for the first half of book one and I don’t want to give away any more. There’s a nice twist as book two begins. Suffice to say that it’s still a story about good versus evil and evil seems to be doing well if that’s not a misuse of the word. Healers are burned as witches and Shame’s army is crushing all opposition. She hangs about her palace dressed a bit weirdly to show off her breasts and thighs. The use of sexual imagery, nubile young ladies beautifully drawn by John Bolton, is presumably meant to attract male readers. The use of women as the most powerful figures in the story should attract female readers. It’s only fair to warn potential purchasers that it all gets pretty dark at times and this isn’t one for the children.

All in all, it’s pretty good. John Bolton’s art is absolutely outstanding, every panel a thing of beauty and of pen and ink and watercolour. Even if you didn’t like the story you could buy this just for the art. The hardcover edition is gorgeously printed on lush paper and is magnificent just as an artefact. There are many splash pages you could cut out and frame and put on the walls. But please note that the story is entertaining, too. There are bonus features as well, a long interview in the back of the book with the artist and writer and some character sketches and background on its creation. The graphic equivalent of extras on a DVD, I suppose.

A lovely book that may one day be a prized collectors’ item so snap it up quick if you like this sort of thing. I do.

Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at www… (more)

The creators claim to be inspired by 1970s cinema like Dirty Harry and Taxi Driver, but this work seems to skew more strongly to 70's exploitation fare. The plot is simple enough: to avenge her sister, a small town sheriff becomes a high-end Washington, D.C., prostitute (please note: she doesn't go undercover; she just becomes a prostitute, NBD) and randomly assaults and kills people consequence free until she feels she comes close enough to the right one to call it a day.

If this was supposed to be over the top satire, I feel like I missed the wink. It seems to play out earnestly if nonsensically.

I was a little thrown when the likenesses of Robert Redford, Sam Elliott and Robert McNamara were used for some of the side characters, but the creators actually have a two-page spread laying out all the celebrities they used, including a whole bunch I missed. It made me remember the time singer Amy Grant sued Marvel for drawing her on one of their covers: https://www.cbr.com/when-doctor-stranges-girlfriend-was-amy-grant/. I hope the celebrities used here have more of a sense of humor.… (more)

Normandy Gold
By Megan Abbott & Alison Gaylin
Artwork by Steve Scott & Rodney Ramos
2018
Titan Comics/ Hard Case Crime Comic

1970s, Washington D.C.
Sheriff Normandy Gold is seeking vengeance for the brutal murder of her sister, Lila. She learns Lila was a prostitute, working for Felicia Vane whose biggest customers are in politics.....
Gold finds herself in the middle of a 1970s prostitution ring that can be followed all the way to the White House.
The artwork is really well done, coloring is great. The Hard Case Comic series is a really cool series, that takes the 1970s book series and has crafted them into graphic novels and comics. Exceptional!… (more)