On the face of it reviewing Sector 13's 1900 presents a couple of challenges.
By their very nature anthologies are tricky beasts to review because they are usually designed to present a variety of different stories and art styles. Generally speaking whilst most anthology titles follow a singular overall theme or tone they often suffer because they are usually a mixed bag that can never satisfy all of the the people all of the time.
In this instance an additional dilemma presents itself. Whilst it is not mentioned in the pages of 1900 itself , the proceeds from several of Sector 13's titles are donated to NHS Charities Together which I understand is a charity that works together with a network of over 230 other NHS Charities across the UK, helping both staff and patients.
It is hard to be too critical of a title from a publisher with such overwhelming benevolent credentials. It could appear rather mean spirited.
Thankfully these potential roadblocks can be rather easily cast aside, because 1900 is actually bloody superb. I'll begin with a bit of history we all know:
Cover Image: Diego Guerra.
In 1977 a comic titled 2000AD was first published. You may have heard of it. It had a punkish revolutionary point of view that considered the future with a series of eye catching characters and engaging stories all told with a bold point of view that looked toward the turn of the century and well beyond.
Well, now then, imagine if you will, a hundred years earlier a similar comic titled 1900AD was published in 1877. Imagine it also looked forward to the dawn of a new century and it told a mixture of stories that challenged some of the existing social norms and proposed new ideas under the colourful veil of presenting new science fiction and fantasy characters.
This is the ingenious premise of 1900. It is such an brilliantly delivered conceit, it is actually remarkable no one has stumbled upon the idea until now. Like all great ideas they are obvious once they stare you in the face.
Whilst I will review every element of this debut issue, I have cherry picked the stories that leapt out at me to really concentrate on.
It is perhaps inevitable that the opening story Monarch is penned by veteran 2000AD writer Kek-W. The writer's script is complimented with beautifully stark black and white art courtesy of Italian artist Mauro Longhini, that is wonderfully reminiscent Steve Yeowell's work for Tharg on Grant Morrison's Zenith. Whilst not the same it is hard not to draw similarities in their styles, and this is no bad thing. This comparison is meant as an enormous compliment because the finished product these two creators produce is just simply joyous.
It is slightly Shelock Holmes, part Cthulhu, with a dash of the 1960s Batman TV series thrown in for good measure. Eight pages in and there is already a character I am eager to learn a hell of a lot more about. Kew W is one of those writers that always delivers but scarcely receives the level of recognition amongst fans he deserves. This is an excellent story, it is just a tight well written short story that accomplish a great deal in very few pages. There is a skill to that.
Art: Mauro Longhini.
Hell or High Water by Julia Round and artist Scott Twells presents a compelling story that is inspiring and yet also ever so slightly depressing.
Under the umbrella of a terrific premise the story raises the topic of women rights and equality. The creative team create an effective and concise story set well over a century ago that confronts the subject of gender equality in society, and even a woman's right to vote. It compels the reader to consider gender issues that to a greater or lesser degree inexplicably almost every country on Earth still seems utterly incapable of fully addressing.
This is exceptional writing that is hugely socially relevant, ever so slightly mockingly of the establishment, knowingly tongue in cheek in places, and cuttingly satirical all at the same time.
Art: Scott Twells.
From gender politics and equality to a gruesome tale of Poetic Penguins!
(If there has ever been a clumsier Segue I would like to read it.)
The Penguins Tale is just a huge big bag of fun fuelled lunacy. Pete Howard and Adam Brown's simple story of Antarctic exploration is a revelation. It is just splendidly enjoyable. It is a story told with a bouncy rhythmic approach to storytelling and language. Adam Brown illustrates proceedings with a crisp cartoonish style that is just utterly delicious. It is a violent and giddy delight.
I hope Pingu is hiding under his bedsheets for this one because this is the blood thirsty version of Happy Feet that the Mad Max director George Miller might have told if things had worked out very differently.
Art: Adam Brown.
1900 showcases other stories.
Radclyffe: Dawn of the Steamonculus is a text and art story that tells a claustrophobic monster story with gusto but just fumbles slightly with the hugely important themes I think it tries to tackle.
I know it is a very well written and nicely illustrated story. It just felt lacking. I could not engage with it. I dare say others will find it perfectly entertaining and absorbing. I began this review considering the notion that anthologies can't please all the people all of the time. This just wasn't my personal cup of tea. Sorry.
The Slow and Somewhat Irritated by Mark Bennington is an example of what makes British comics the best in the world. This is a one page story injected with a blatant dose of Dennis The Menace charm that revolves around an enormously daft but funny joke. I envy whoever has this one page story framed on their wall.
Feral Flynn by John Smith and artist Pau Scorpi irritates me. I have briefly interviewed John Smith in the past. I usually eat up anything the writer produces. Also Pau Scorpi's art is beautiful. There is a problem though. These six pages as beautiful as they may appear are too inconsequential. I want to love them, but after ten attempts to read the story I just find myself ....bored. This just does not quite take off. Arguable it may have functioned better as a illustrated prose story.
The Woman Who Killed Louis Pasteur is a complete nine page story that at first glance is beautiful to behold but it trips over itself. Here is a story that raises the subjects of vivisection, race and religion like rapid fire bullets out of a Victorian era style gatling gun. It is just all too much at once. The art is truly magnificent, but the dialogue and story is unfortunately an overpacked and overcooked stew of ideas that is painfully indigestible in nine pages. It is a feast for the eyeballs but a confounding mess narratively that demands a far longer page count.
With that in mind nonetheless every page is a genuine reminder of why we should all embrace more South American comics! The art by cover artist Diego Guerra is just sublime.
...and so we come to Penny Blood with story and art by Patrick Brown. If the 1900 was to become a ongoing success and considered 2000AD as a model to follow for said success Monarch ought to be the title's Judge Dredd, but Penny Blood could their Strontium Dog.
Art: Patrick Brown.
Alongside Monarch, Penny Blood runs a very close second as the strongest ongoing strip here. Like Monarch it introduces a character I desperately wish to see more of in the future. This first episode promises a vibrant and action packed ongoing storyline. I would love to find out more about the world Patrick Brown has begun to fashion.
There are other illustrations included by Hunt Emerson and Patrick Brown but a one page piece by the always reliable David Hitchcock truthfully stands out. You'll have to buy a copy to see what I mean, but it is almost worth the admission price alone. I am a fan.
My final thoughts bring me full circle. Anthologies are tricky to review. I very much hope 1900 will continue because it has everything going for it. Physically the first issue of 1900 is a professionally printed comic with a card stock cover that boasts very nearly 64 colour interior pages (with no adverts) to discover. It is a handsome handful.
Everyone expects a star rating out of 5 or 10. I'll say we have 85% out of a hundred score on our hands.
Look at it this way, how often does 2000AD average out at 85% quality? The Galaxy's Greatest Comic still sells several thousand copies every week of the year, and after nearly fifty years later Tharg is still forever experimenting to find the perfect formula?
This is just a first issue! So, this is a damn solid start.
I want to read more! Would that be okay please? When is issue two going to be available?
To find out more about Sector 13 and their titles here is a helpful link:
Box of Rain Magazine - Store