Week of 7/30/2023

A new month brings big announcements and reviews this week.

Comics

El Puro 6-7

I should probably warn you that from here on out, the El Puro storyline will get pretty graphic with blood/gore aplenty, references to SA, self-harm, and other generally unsavory stuff, so reader’s discretion is advised.

News

Commissions

Big news people! I’ve finally made the decision to start accepting art commissions using the digital art commissioning platform Artistree which protects both the artist and client At the moment, I’ll accept requests to draw subjects in my Shapes style. More info about pricing and whatnot can be found on my request form.

100 Subs Special

This week, I hit over 100 subscriptions on my mailing list, and it’s all thanks to you wonderful readers whether you discovered my work online or through meeting me at an event. For this momentous milestone, I’m taking the next step for the newsletter and running a Sunday edition containing reviews of older comics, some behind-the-scenes goodies (like WIPs and related commentary), and personal blog entries.

In my first installment, I’ll be discussing the obscure underground comic book Choice Meats #2 and my first-day experience attending Tampa Bay Comic Con. The Sunday edition will be under a new $7 paid tier (buying comics isn’t cheap so I need some dough to afford them on a regular basis). However, the Saturday edition will continue to be free for everyone so no need to worry about changes there.

Sammy the Critic

Taylor’s Egg Review

Taylor’s Egg begins in a grove where several expectant bird-like people known as duckles are seen lying down under tree shades. The surreal vision is subsequently shown to be a dream by our main character Taylor, a young adult who we see go through the daily motions with their eclectic friend group. This odd, ethereal sequence at the beginning is a launchpad to the comic’s focal themes as we see that Taylor’s dream is more than just a dream when they discover they’re carrying an egg. Not wanting any children, Taylor’s egg (pun unintended) is a stand-in for an unexpected pregnancy, bringing about a burst of mixed emotions handled delicately with poignant tact.

Amanda J Ellis’s black-and-white art and crosshatching are a marvel to behold and a powerful medium for raw emotion. It especially shines throughout the Better Brooding clinic scenes where Taylor’s anxiety heightens being portrayed through minimalistic backgrounds which are diverse in how they’re applied. Crosshatched blacks manifest a frightening uncertainty while white beams represent a relief from it before the panels recede to pitch black to show the dread from the revelation. What precisely the doctor reveals is left deliberately vague only giving away enough for the reader to have an idea of the situation’s gravity. Taylor pushing away the panels emphasizes their visceral rejection/denial of what’s being said.

While Taylor ultimately doesn’t regret their decision, it is one that poses a number of doubts and introspections about what could have been. How much of those feelings are influenced by natalism in society or instinct is up for interpretation.

There’s also an extra story about Loach, a side character, seeing his sister Megan again after spending a while apart. It’s a short and sweet palette cleanser that wraps up the book neatly on a high note.

Taylor’s Egg is available to buy digitally on the author’s Kofi page. Thank you Amanda J Ellis for the free review copy.