Ancient Tales #1
Reviewed by R. Krauss
Ancient Tales from the Future #1
Review by R. Krauss
Written and drawn by James Rubino
Inked and lettered by Larry Blake
32 b&w pages, plus a color cover (with laminate coating)
2008
$4 (postage paid)
Website: http://www.jamesrubino.com
I love the title of this entertaining science fiction comic from James Rubino. The lead story is Jonah 2056, which is based on the Bible's famous Jonah and the Whale story. Rubino does a great job updating the classic tale, creating new races and creatures to reenact the story in a full-fledged science fiction setting.
Rubino's writing and artwork are top notch and Larry Blake's inks only add to the mix. In fact, I get the impression Blake added much of the texture and fine-line shading that gives the work its depth.
At 23 pages Jonah is the main event, but the book features a few other entries as well. The Horrible Monster written by Rubino and beautifully rendered by Blake is a six page morality lesson.
Vegetable Chatter by Rubino is an editorial gag cartoon with a not-too-subtle commentary on the material world. It's particularly timely after Wall Street's greed plunged the world into the current deep recession.
The book wraps with a religious poem entitled The Object in the Road.
Overall Ancient Tale of the Future is a terrific self-published comic. My only complaint is the obvious proselytizing. I have no problems with the message or the morality promoted by this book. I'd just like to see a more subtle, less heavy-handed delivery.
If you enjoy a good space opera with lots of alien encounters and outer space adventure, you owe it to yourself to give this small press comic a try.
Take A Look Inside
Reviewer Bio
R. Krauss reviews small press and mini comics on Midnight Fiction, Poopsheet Foundation and Comic Related.
Name: Richard Krauss
email: arkay@midnightfiction.com
Been reading comics: since I started reading Marvel comics in Junior High School.
Review Bio: After several years I discovered titles like Zap and Bijou at a headshop and was seduced by the freedom and variety they offered. When the new-wave comix era sprouted from the seeds of the undergrounds, I quickly joined the ranks of other struggling cartoonists with phenomenally low print runs. After almost a decade of small press comix, I retired and made a solemn vow never to return. Several years later the Internet happened and over time many of my favorite new-wave cartoonists got online. The bug bit again and I started exploring the new crop of small press cartoonists. Today's explosion of small press comics is more exciting than any time I've ever seen.
Favorites: Papercutter, Not My Small Diary, Slam Bang, Comic Eye, stuff from Main Enterprises and Weird Muse, to name a few.
Website: MidnightFiction.com
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