Small Press News- Check out PJ Holden’s The Simply Incredible Hunk and Other Small Press Comics For Free At Myebook.com
A couple of days ago PJ Holden tweeted that he had made some of his older comic work available to view for free on the website Myebook. I did not have time to check out the comic at the time, and only got around to viewing it this evening. I am familiar with Myebook from my Small Press Sunday feature on Orang Utan Comics and my reviews of their comics Alpha Gods, and FTL #1 & #2. Until this evening I had not spent much time browsing Myebook, so I was surprised to find that there is an amazing amount of small press comics available to view for free on the website.
I thought it would be a nice idea to highlight some of these free indy comic releases, and let readers know a little about them.
Independent Creators
The Simply Incredible Hunk
Written By Malachy Coney
Art by PJ Holden
Originally Published in 1997
The Simply Incredible Hunk is (if you hadn’t already guessed) a parody of Marvel’s classic character The Incredible Hulk. The story begins with the U.S. Military on a manhunt for a giant, pink and hairy beast which has escaped from a top secret nuclear test site. This creature, ‘The Hunk’ has absconded with a ‘Beatnik’ kid, not that the army care about that, they just want the beast subdued, and the problem contained. The story then snaps to an hilariously twisted version of the origin of ‘The Hunk’, before we again follow him and the beatnik kid on the run from the government. On their escape all sorts of hijinks ensue, including battles with alien ‘greys’, encounters with a reincarnated roman deity, and a nuclear missile gone awry…. it’s a wild ride, filled with tons of fun and frolics, and with a twist at every turn. If you like your comics full of lighthearted immature humour, you will love this comic!
PJ’s art on this book is quite different from some of his later work, and is far more cartoony in style. It reminded me quite a lot of Eyecandy, the comic that he and Al Ewing produced for the iPhone. See Here.
As well as being viewable for free on Myebook, PJ has made a .cbz file of the comic available to buy from his website. The file is available in medium resolution (image sizes 760×1115 pixel wide, file size 6.3Mb) for £0.99, or high resolution (image size 1590×2333 File size 18.8Mb) for £1.50. I bought the high res file, and it is gorgeous!
Made of Fail #1
Written & drawn by: JensAltmann
A collection of Jens Altmann’s hilarious webcomic of the same name. The series follows Craig the wannabe, Ben the retiree, Amy the fangirl, and Don the actor. Join them for their misadventures that are made of fail.
Orang Utan Comics
Orang Utan Comics were spotlighted recently in Small Press Sundays. Orang Utan have several releases available to view for free on Myebook, including:
Alpha Gods: Part One & Alpha Gods: Part Two
Writer: Ian Sharman
Artist: Esquiel Pineda
In the year 2086 humanity faces a new threat, Extra Humans. The government is struggling to cope with the growing number of mutants, aliens and supernatural beings who are living amongst us. People are beginning to panic and so, in 2050, the Department for Extra Human Affairs was established with a remit to try and contain the problem. By 2086 the situation has escalated, so they have formed a new rapid response strike force, the Alpha Gods. Who better to police the Extra Human community than Extra Humans themselves?
Click here to see my review of Alpha Gods #1 & #2
FTL #1
Writer: Various
Artist: Various
FTL is Orang Utan Comics’ brand new anthology series! Expect the very best quick fire stories in these pages, from some of the most exciting creators working in comics today.
The first senses shattering issue will take you to a future Earth ravaged by a war between humans and robots, you’ll see a young girl seduced and corrupted by the darkness of vampirism, you’ll ride with a group of vampire hunters as they hunt the last true vampire, and you’ll see terrifying beasts return from myth and legend to lay waste to mankind!
Click to see my reviews of FTL #1, and the upcoming FTL #2
I should also mention that all of Orang Utan’s comics are available to buy in print from Indyplanet.com
Unico Comics
Unico Comics are another company that were recently spotlighted as part of Small Press Sunday.
The Legend Known As…
Writer: Michael Burness
Artist: Steven Howard
The year is 2027 and it’s been 13 years since the Kato environmental disaster. The world has changed, Governments have fallen, and society is holed up in the ruins of what ever cities are left. It should be said that not all of society live this way. In a small city in New England an 8-year-old Thomas, his mother and his sister Katie live. Like everyone their lives are lived in fear of the gangs that roam what is left of the cities. That is until an unknown man enters the ruins and starts cleaning the place of the scum.
Click here to see a full review that I recently did of ‘The Legend Known as…‘
Think ‘Spooks’ meets Philip K Dick with television influences including ‘The Avengers’, ‘The Professionals’, ‘The Champions’, and ‘The Prisoner’ and your close to the feel and direction of this comic
If you love children then you will hate Uncle Tickle! Once upon a time there was a beloved TV kid’s show host named Uncle Tickle. When his show was canceled after many seasons he lost his mind and killed everyone in the studio it was filmed in during his live TV finale. Now he travels the country dispensing his own sickly humorous brand of retribution to all the bad little boys and girls while making special friends with the police along the way.
Unico Collections - ONE
Writer: Various
Artist: Various
‘Unico Collections’ was special because it was started by UNICO COMICS and the AMATEUR COMICS GUILD and put together an amateur only comic book open to any artist or writer from across the UK who felt they were up to the challenge to make their own comic. This means that the people who are wanting to break out into the comic world will be given a chance to show their talent through this graphic novel and give them that rare first step on to the small press network through website, shop and convention sales.
Unico Collections - TWO
Writer: Various
Artist: Various
‘Unico Collections’ was special because it was started by UNICO COMICS and the AMATEUR COMICS GUILD and put together an amateur only comic book open to any artist or writer from across the UK who felt they were up to the challenge to make their own comic. This means that the people who are wanting to break out into the comic world will be given a chance to show their talent through this graphic novel and give them that rare first step on to the small press network through website, shop and convention sales.
I should also mention that all of Unico’s comics are available to buy in print from Lulu.com
Beserker
The Dead, Kingdom of Flies # 1
Writer: Alan Grant
Artist: Simon Bisley
Covers: Glenn Fabry
The Dead is a great zombie comic brought to you by the super team of Simon Bisley and Alan Grant, creators of Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment in Gotham, Lobo, Lobos back and Lobo paramilitary Christmas; with covers by the award winning artist Glenn Fabry. I have been reading The Dead in print, and have really been enjoying it, if you were thinking of picking it up, this is the perfect way to get a taste of the series!
Most of Britain has fallen to an invasion of zombies. There is no escape from their insatiable appetite for living flesh. But in Oxford, city of the dreaming spires, an unlikely alliance between a crew of firefighters and a pair of misfit soldiers has allowed them to survive. Now, with the city virtually overrun, it’s time to strike back!!
Church of Hell Issue #1
Writer: Alan Grant
Artist: Wayne Nichols
Covers: Simon Bisley
As with The Dead, I have the print version of this. There has only been one issue so far, so check it out here, and if you like it, why not tell your retailer to start ordering it for you.
They say if you repent your sins, you’ll be forgiven. They say if you’re truly sorry, your evil will be cleansed away. But it’s not only God who loves a sinner…and when you enter the Church of Hell, you don’t come out with a smile on your face. Unless the Devil has cut you a new mouth.
Renegade
Renegade Arts Entertainment Ltd. have only published one comic so far, which is Channel Evil #1. I found the comic pretty enjoyable, and am looking forward to more!
CHANNEL EVIL Issue #1
Writer: Alan Grant
Artist: Shane Oakley
The first issue of a new four issue horror series written by Alan Grant with art by Shane Oakley.
AAM/Markosia
AAM/Markosia are one of the bigger UK based small press companies. They have a large volume of work on MyeBook, so click here to see their library. I should be doing a feature on AAM/Markosia some time soon, so check back to see it.
Hope Falls #1
Writer: Tony Lee
Artist: Dan Boultwood
Twenty years ago they killed her - but some things just can’t stay dead. And the peaceful town of Hope Falls is about to be torn apart when Helen Gane returns for vengeance, looking no older than the day she died… And some debts can only be paid in blood…
Studio 407
I did some mini-reviews of several Studio 407 titles last year. I was pretty impressed with some of the content that this U.S. based company was producing, with Smuggling Spirits probably being my favourite of their releases. I had no idea that they had free content available on Myebook, so go check them out.
Smuggling Spirits
Writer: Ben Fisher
Pencils: Michael Henderson
Covers: Michael Henderson
Set in a nightmarish vision of the past where deadly monstrosities called “darklings” roam the shadows of Prohibition-Era America, Al Stone is a bootlegger who finds himself on the run when he inadvertently stumbles upon the bloody secret of the creatures’ survival. As the beasts close in to take back what’s theirs, Al and his young ward, Nathan, must make their final stand. Smuggling Spirits is a pulse pounding, thrill ride that blends the action noir of SinCity with the horror and suspense of Hellboy. Read what Rue Morgue calls “a shot of white lightning.”
Hybrid
Writer: Peter Kwong
Artist: Pablo Churin
When four friends decide to rent a schooner for the day, everything is smooth sailing until they encounter a derelict ship adrift in the ocean — a massive trawler that looks as if it had been dragged from the bottom of the sea. When they spot a frightened little girl waving at them from the bow, they have no choice but to investigate. As they get closer to the ship, they discover that the girl is not alone. Hybrid is an intense, and suspense filled horror tale that blends together the best of the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Dead Calm.
Well, that’s all I have time for tonight, but be sure to browse around Myebook, because there are tons of great comics availble to read for free!
Related posts:
- Small Press News: Alpha Gods Available to Buy in Print
- Small Press Spotlight: A Profile of Orang Utan Comics
- Small Press Comic Review: Alpha Gods #1 & #2
- Small Press Spotlight: A Profile of Unico Comics
- Small Press Comic Review - FTL #1
