Spike Trotman

A young cartoonist seeks out a mentor for his cartooning career but finds himself being schooled in a whole different way of life instead.

It's sexually explicit and fun, with a little dramatic story thrown in to boot. Set in the 1960s, I do feel the story sidesteps a lot of racial issues that should play a bigger part, but it's obviously going for something else as it centers itself on the white male lead's coming of age.

The last page really makes me want to rewatch the similar but much show more better Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. show less

Aw, I'm glad I ended my webcomic orgy with this. It's inventive, atmospheric, vivid, sepia; the dialogue is spot on except for a few eye-dialect excesses, and it's subtly alt-present in a Wings of Honneamise way (but totally different)--weird plugs, subcultures about Egypt and never telling a lie, neighbourhoods called "the sorrows" and the like. I find it intriguing and imma buy it and read the whole thing in real life one day. Mostly I like it because it gives you the feeling the author's show more imagination is like no one else's. show less

An absolutely delicious and spine-chilling read perfect for Halloween reading, The Sleep of Reason is not for the faint of heart. The twenty-six short comics collected here from dozens of budding new cartoonists and writers take the varied tropes of supernatural horror in many different, unpredictable directions. You never know what to expect as people's mundane lives are interrupted by horrors unspeakable, each drawing from some of humanity's deepest fears. Taking us from suburban everytown show more USA to Australia to deep space, the stories included here highlight many different styles and artistic forms, and, even better, showcase much diversity, in every sense of the word. The only complaint (if one can call it that) is that some of the stories end a bit abruptly, with little resolution, which may be a consequence of the short form as well as the inexplicable, futile nature of cosmic horror. A few also attempt a message of some sort, some more effective than others.

It is also worth mentioning that many of the tales included in the The Sleep of Reason head into some pretty dark territory. While not always horribly gruesome (though some gross stuff is included, of course!) a lot of mature themes are explored which may be a little much even for a teen audience. This adds to a feeling that no holds were barred in the creative process of the included artists, increasing the chill factor even more. My favorites were Do Better, by Kristin Cheney, Out of Chaos by Rachel Edidin and Kel McDonald, The Collection by A. Seago and T. Harrington, and It Comes Back by Brittney Sabo. show less

Full disclosure: I contributed to the Kickstarter for publishing this book. It's a wide-ranging collection of African folktales brought to life by a series of online comic artists; the styles range from fast and funny to solemn and detail-oriented, and they come from across many different African cultures. With fifteen entries in all, there's pretty much something here for everyone, and many of the stories are very, very enjoyable, including "Anansi Tries to Steal All Wisdom," "Gratitude," show more "The Lion's Whiskers," and "Isis and the Name of Ra." A couple of stories do end extremely abruptly, which seemed sort of odd, and at least one (with, unfortunately, otherwise quite fun art) seems to have been printed at a resolution that renders it fuzzy and indistinct. Taken in all, though, this is a great collection, and I'm very pleased to have helped in some small way to bring it to life. show less