Art Wetherell (1961–2003)

This short graphic novel is the work of two Englishmen, Art Wetherell and Terry Hooper. The late Art Wetherell is probably best remembered for his 'Star Wars' comics for Dark Horse, and also worked for 2000 AD and Marvel UK. Hooper is a distinguished figure on the UK comics scene, working as an writer, artist, editor & publisher since the 80's and currently behind the ComicBitsOnline site. In the early nineties, Eros Comix brought them together to create this, volume four in the illustrious show more and lengthy Eros Graphic Novel series. The story is deceptively simple: two women meet and enact Lesbian seduction scenes in four distinct historical periods. Times change, but the location appears to be identical. The couple always seem to be the same women, despite the changes in costume: one blonde, one dark haired; both spectacularly buxom.

What makes it special? Art Wetherell clearly loved women, and knew exactly how their bodies work. His instinctive feel for figure drawing gives the girls a personality and a physical reality far beyond your routine inflatable fantasy figures. Hooper fills what could have been a very sketchy pretext with telling detail. Each episode has its own plot development and the last explains the time loop the characters find themselves in. There is an unexpected warmth to it all; there are sexy period costumes and the use of outrageous toys, but lots of giggles and kisses as well.

I've seen the book offered for collectors prices on the web, but as of writing, 'warehouse find' copies are available direct from Eros Comix at the original price. It has also been reissued by My Excess through Lulu. Wetherell also produced the confessional series 'Treasure Chests' for Eros. That's an impossibly vulgar double entendre of course, but for those of us who love erotic graphics his work is, in fact, a treasure, and deserves to be in print. show less

Galvatron's back? Wait, he never went away? So Rodimus and his friends helped save the literal actual universe, then go home and find that their home has changed from a condition of stable intergalactic war to one of defeat and dead friends and stuff. But wait, they must have won in the end, because Rodimus is able to tell the student about it. Poor Blurr though. That said, my childhood Blurr toy lost its head, so we had a spare Blurr head knocking around to play this scene with, if I'd show more known about it of course. show less

Star Wars – Jabba the Hutt: The Art of the Deal collects the four Jabba titles from Dark Horse Comics, “The Gaar Suppoon Hit,” “The Hunger of Princess Nampi, “The Dynasty Trap,” and “Betrayal,” written by Jim Woodrin with pencils by Art Wetherell, inks by Monty Sheldon, colors by James Sinclair, Matt Webb, Rachelle Menashe, and Pamela Rambo, and letters by Steve Dutro. The stories follow Jabba’s various business exploits, double-crossing prospective business partners and show more stealing from anyone he encounters however he can. Though fun at times, this is no Tales from Jabba’s Palace and leaves much to be desired. It does not match up with much of Jabba’s history from earlier or later Expanded Universe works, let alone the new canon. Wetherell’s simple art is adequate for the stories, which usually revolve around Jabba thinking he has the upper hand in a deal, only for a double-cross, and then Jabba gets his petty revenge. In this way, the work resembles the fictive account that Tony Schwartz wrote about a self-indulgent 1980s real estate developer that lends its name to the title of this collection. Those looking to have the complete Dark Horse Star Wars collection may find this interesting, but it is not their strongest work. show less

Recently acquired the Print On Demand reprint of this from My Excess, featuring a new cover from Dave Gordon, and with stories correctly credited to Terry Hooper. Hooper provides a series of outrageous sapphic encounters set in the sixties and seventies. These stories were originally published as a series of five comics by Eros / Fantagraphics, and the covers are reproduced on the back of this edition. I'm afraid it's a bit of a disappointment after "Two Hot Girls" - Wetherell's figure show more drawing lets him down on occasion, with some jarringly spindly limbs and awkward poses, and there is a disastrous sequence where he chooses to use crude and very heavy inks to suggest the effect of nylon on thigh. Perhaps a rush job? But the action is relentless and when it's good, it's very, very good - the District Nurse story is outstanding.

The POD production values are also something of a let down, with pages marred by print flaws. Nevertheless, it's good to have a hardcopy of this, and My Excess promise more erotica from Hooper in future. A compilation of the parallel series of (mostly) hetero-themed 'Treasure Chests' comics by Wetherell from Eros would be nice. show less