Bad Breath Comics #1
Reviewed by R. Krauss
The cover of this self-published comic provides a sly snapshot of what's in store for readers inside. The well-groomed man appears to be an ordinary member of society. But the smirk on his face and the twinkle in his eye provide a hint that his outward appearance isn't the whole story. He looks good on paper, but inside he's full of dark, impish humor, laced with sarcasm. Bad Breath Comics consists of four nicely drawn stories with full page illustration breaks between them. Mediocre Mel is a humorous 1-pager featuring a stand-up comic who delivers a non-stop series of second-rate gags. Zombie A Go-Going Gone is a 4-page nightmare with flesh-eating zombies lumbering toward a brutal surprise ending. Galaxy Nuts is the issue's longest story at 5 pages. It's an outer space yarn that centers on the rivalry between the pilot and his robotic crewmate. Lots of gritty, witty rapartee in this one. The last story, Pros and Conspiracies, is an outrageous lecture that paints the world in black and white. All things considered, this is a solid small press comic and a steal at $1. The artwork is the book's strongest asset. Juresko's drawing ability is very good. His characters are realistically rendered and his storytelling skills are developing nicely. What's decidedly alternative about this comic is the humor. The book is adults only for language and a little nudity. You can see Juresko's portfolio and order this issue at his website. |
By Josh JureskoTake 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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