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Rip It Up, Issue 136, 1 November 1988, Page 37

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TOYS by Peter Rees (Quid Pro Quo Prod.) Look up New Zealand, there's a new star in comics heaven tonight. Everything about this self-published 24-page gem radiates quality. Clean, crisp printing on good stock paper, very tight and evocative illustration and writing elevate the two very different stories of adolescence and self-realisation into the upper echelon of 20th century narrative art (no ■ - •• foolin'). ' Forget about the teenage mutants, ■ intergalactic battles and the other trappings of the bulk of mainstream comics (admittedly there is a duck in the

first story)... Peter Rees' deceptively simple and elegantly crafted work has more in common with the lineage of comics that gives the world George Herriman's KrazyKat, the Brothers / Hernandez's Love & Rockets, Chester Brown's Yummy Fur and Bob Burden's Flaming Carrot, amongst others (if these names mean nothing to you, get down to your local comic specialist shop and give yourself a treat). But don't just take my word for it; both' the prestigious Escape (comics of style and vision) in the UK and Gary Groth's Fantagraphics (publisher of The Comics Journal, Love & Rockets, Prime Cuts, etc) in the US have requested further work from Rees for publication and dissemination throughout their ; respective masses... which just goes to show that "some toys don' need batt'ries ...they go on their own!" So don't wait and pay import prices —support local talent now! Toys is available at all good comic shops (if not, ask) or by mail from Quid Pro Quo, c/321 Ashgrove Terrace, Christchurch, for $2.50 plus $1 post and packing. Give Christmas! , lANDALZIEL ARTDEKKO 1&2 Andrew & Roger Langridge (Stand Up Comix) Meanwhile back in Auckland a binary star is in ascendance. The dynamic duo of Roger and Andrew Landridge as Stand Up Comix have so far this year produced 2 issues of their excellent Art Dekko comic, featuring ArthurP.Dekko (esq.), bon vivantand man about town, and his sidekick (emphasis on the "kick") the not so triangular Gump. With these two it's always repartee-party time ranging from the basic knock-knock joke to the more conceptual graphic workouts. The Langridges love both the language and the mechanics of comics, constantly tinkering with both, resulting in some fun puns and thoroughly minced word playsthey win some and you wince some. ■ - Their inspirational catchment is large with references to and from a diverse. selection of modern music, art, television and comics (of course). I'd compare the feel of it with the mixed output of the likes of Bill Elder, Harvey Kurtzman (we're talking early Mad and Help here), Will Eisner, George Hemman... I'll stop there, and we're not talking swipes, just reverence; these guys have their own style. Issue 2 (32 pages) shows a developed and more confident approach to inking which is not to detract from issue 1 (28 pages). I look foward to future work, I understand they will be in the forthcoming NZComic Gazette Yearbook, roll on issue 3. Take a Dekko yourself at your local comic shop or write direct to; Arthur P.Dekko (Esq), . 102 Cliff View Drive, Green Bay, Auckland 7. $1.50 each plus 70 cents forthe stamp.

IANDALZIEL