The sky and surroundings of Rorke's Drift late in the evening of the 22nd January 1879 bear the scars of the day's intense fighting. Tired, desperate with everything hanging in the balance, the battle's outcome is far from clear.
A couple of quiet but tense panels from my forthcoming re-mastered Zulu Water Cart Rescue comics, art by me, colours by Matt Soffe.
22nd January always resonates being the anniversary of both the Battles of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift back in 1879 which had a profound impact on the Zulu Nation which still echoes today, 143 years on. Certainly in recent years, the Zulus themselves have taken their own history centre stage and commemorate their ancestors victory at iSandlwana with memorial services, speeches, re-enactments in an almost celebratory fashion.
I was lucky enough to witness this for myself on the memorable 140th anniversary battlefields trip three years ago where, with a small group of intrepid adventurers we toured and explored various significant sites in deepest Zululand paying our own respects as invited guests, (as part of historian Ian Knight's group) at iSandlwana and a more intimate affair at Rorke's Drift, both attended by the UK's splendid Die Hards, re-enactment group.
I treasure these memories and the moments spent chatting with Zulu, South African and British travellers all of whom paid their respects to those fallen all those years ago, which I do so again today and remembering those who, since that trip, are no longer with us.
My Accent UK buddy, Dave West actually spotted this great article on John Freeman's ever reliable Down The Tubes comics news site before I did and I thought it sounded familiar?
Checking out John's excellent article confirmed by thoughts, that this was one of the BD's I picked up when last in Brussels in summer 2019 - oh for the days of eazy, safe European travel to return!.
I've long since fallen in love with the 9th Art since making our first trip to France many years ago and since then have steadily built up a sizeable collection of tomes, most of which have never been translated into English.
My Francais sadly remains basic, but with strong art, a dictionary and a bit of perserverance, you can get the gist of a well told story and I've taken delight and inspiration from my BD souvenirs over the years in a way that a holiday T-shirt or trinket just can't match!.
In any case, The Sherlock Holmes book really caught my eye with it's distinctive art and cover, which like most BD's is hardback but with a unique die-cut so you can indeed see "Inside the Mind" of the great detective!
The interiors follow this novel idea with intrically designed pages, panels and pictures which carry you carefully through the story, following the clues and making discoveries as you go - it's a real visual treat with lots of innovative tricks to enjoy along the way.
The creators, Cyril Lieron and Benoit Dahan make a great team and have really come up with a fun and novel way of giving new life to the old detective.
We are lucky these days that more and more European works have now been translated into English so we can finally fully enjoy them and many of my recent favourite reads have come from Cinebook or IDW EuroComics impressive Corto Maltese or Magnetic Press's Sergi Toppi collection etc. In his article John hopes that someone too will pick up this Sherlock Holmes series so fingers-crossed, in the meantime I'd settle for being able to safely travel to Europe again and pick up the next installments in person!
It seems a long time since I posted about some of my favourite reads, which is a shame as I'm probably reading more graphic novels and comics than I've done for a long time - thanks to my favourite local comic shop, Scott's Pops & Comics!
This doesn't necessary mean I'm up to date with things, although again I am
reading and aware of contemporary releases far more than before, but at least I
am catching up with things as they come to me or I re-discover them from a
previous reading pile or forgotten shelf! So, without committing to doing a full 'best of', I will as time allows in the weeks ahead, try and highlight a few of my recent standout reads, such as;
Mike Mignola's adaption of Bram Stoker's Dracula (IDW)
A feature on the ever excellent Cartoonist Kayfabe's YouTube series (essential viewing for any comics creator and enthusiast!) led Scott to tracking down for me this excellent 2018 hardback reprinting of Mike Mignola's adaptation of this now classic version of the Dracula legend in the 1990's by legendary director Francis Ford Coppola.
I'd not paid a lot of attention to the movie at the time so passed on the
original Topp's Comics adaptation which itself became a bit of a collector's
item, with many claiming it was a 'turning point' for Mignola, discovering his
distinctive art style from a tight Roy Thomas script. Certainly Mignola's
trademark blacks and gothic styling are evident on every page, (although the
inking is actually done by John Nyberg) and the original comics pre-dated
Hellboy by at least a year.
In any case, IDW's excellent hardback is in oversize format about 1.5 times
the comics and maybe half the size of the original art, reprinted here in stark
black n white which best shows off the art and sets the story perfectly.
There's also a delightful bonus section with about a dozen pages of Mignola's
original pencils and covers which round off a great package.
An odd read for January perhaps but I think I originally read this around Halloween, which obviously is better timing?. It certainly made an impression and, not normally being a fan of horror, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this, given the familiarity of the story and my indifference to the movie, (which I will now endeavour to rewatch!) but maybe it was just one of those occasions when the whole creative team complemented each other perfectly to execute a dramatic story in such a compelling way, comics at their very best!
Recommended
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well we may all be a bit battered and bruised by 2021 (and 2020!) but we made it this far so best pick ourselves up and get on with it!
I generally don't announce a lot of the plans I make as, a bit like 2021 (and 2020!), they don't always come off but I am fairly well placed to make the year ahead a special one for all those who have been patient with me in recent times with regards to new comic releases!
Yes this year should finally be the one - or did I say that last year - well a bit like Beetlejuice or was it Candyman?, I don't want to say the name three times but this;
happen!!
Watch this space!
