Zombie Marge, putting fun back into comics...

Delightfully irreverent and funny...

Halfway through Tim Fuller's Zombie Marge it suddenly dawned upon me why I've fallen so in love with Indy comic books.  For too long now I've been unhappy with mainstream comics.  I wasn't happy with them because they're just not fun to read anymore.  I'm so tired of intergalactic wars of "epic" proportions being fought by superheros who somehow need to be socially relevant, politically correct and continually tormented by their inner demons.  I'm sick to death of the half White, half Black, half Latino characters struggling with their homosexuality while they battle to save humanity in galaxies far far away while their lovers lie dying on planet Earth of Aids.  Mainstream comics are just too damned preachy, boring and pretentious these days.  No wonder folks aren't buying comic books anymore, it's cheaper to turn on our televisions and watch daytime dramas for free. 

Zombie Marge is none of the above things.  Zombie Marge is refreshingly witty, funny and irreverent.  It takes me back to the days of Hellboy Junior and Ren and Stimpy.  Zombie Marge, and so many of the other books being produced by Tim Fuller, are just plain good-old-fashioned fun.  This is what's being forgotten in the comic book industry today.  Not every comic book has to be an epic tale of Herculean warriors battling the forces of evil to save the universe from the super villain of the month.  There's a market for books like Zombie Marge.  There's a market for a good laugh and Tim Fuller fills it admirably.  Look, for those of us working ten to twelve hours a day, often times six days a week, the last thing we need when we sit down to read a comic book for relaxation is one more source telling us how we should be thinking about the "major" issues of the day.  All we're looking for is a good laugh, a bit of respite from our busy work week, and that's where a book like Zombie Marge comes into play.  Zombie Marge is a break from the realities of daily life, not another reminder of how rough and horrible life is these days.

Hoohah Comics is Tim Fuller's home on the Internet and it's loaded with a treasure trove of books guaranteed to make you smile when you could really use one the most.  You'll find Tim's Little Olden books, Sham Comics, The Blue Beagle, Twelve-Way with Cheese and so much more.  You'll find books you can enjoy with your kids as well as books to amuse your more sophisticated stoner friends.  Yeah, I said it, your stoner friends. We, uh, I mean they, like a good laugh too.  Whether you like ongoing web comics, digital comics or hard copy books, Tim Fuller has you covered.  And best of all?  You'll truly find something for the entire family to enjoy reading.  That's something I just don't find in the big two comic houses these days.  Surf on over and check Tim out, you'll be glad you did.  Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Nix Comics; comics for cool kids.

Comics for cool kids, like us...

Time for the first review of some of the great books I discovered at the Independent Creators Expo 2014.  I've been pouring over comic books since the evening the con ended and I'm happy to report that the amount of quality materials I received there has warmed my heart during one of the worst winters Ohio has experienced in a very long time.  Let's get to it, shall we?

Nix Comics is a unique blend of some of my all time favorite comic books, Mr. Natural, Not Quite Dead, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and Tales From The Crypt.  Writer/Editor, Ken Eppstein, has skillfully managed to combine an obvious love for rock and roll music, classic morality-tale horror and an appreciation for sarcastic humor into a quarterly comic book guaranteed to satisfy the appetite of the Indy comic book reader looking for something truly different in the Indy scene.  You won't find superhero makeovers and rewrites of stories already written to death in Marvel and D.C. comics in Nix Comics.  What you will find are a collection of short vignettes intelligently written and skillfully illustrated by artists including, Ryan Brinkerhoff, Joel Jackson, Darren Merinuk and Michael Neno.

 Between the front and back covers of a Nix comic book you'll find mature tales of horror based around characters like the musician who wouldn't sell his soul to the devil or the Narcissistic guitarist.  You'll also find socially relevant and thought provoking pieces like Man Loves, God Kills?. You'll also find irascible characters like Bus Stop Ned and funny parodies of classic comic book ads.  And that's what I find so enjoyable about Nix Comics, every turn of the page brings something new.  And Ken understands the difference between mature content and titillating illustrations.  Ken understands that good stories don't need to be wrapped in spandex, bolstered by breasts, babes or sexual innuendo.   Good stories are just as engaging as hard bodies in skimpy costumes.  I found this approach to story telling refreshing.

Nix Comics aren't just about rock and roll either.  You'll find some great Western stories and an excellent  book for parents and children featuring a cleverly designed character named Boy Howdie.  Everything I sampled was smart, engaging and entertaining.  Comic books like these are the reason I read Indy comics almost exclusively these days.  Rather than trying to breath new life into exhausted character stereotypes and story lines, Ken is producing fun and imaginative comic books based upon solid story telling and visually delightful illustrations.  If you're looking for some quality Indy comics, I'd strongly encourage you to go online and give Nix Comics some well deserved support.  Ken Eppstein and friends are truly deserving of your time and hard earned money.  Trust me, you won't be disappointed.