Small Press – Killjoy #1 by Robert Brown
I have to thank Camila at Orbital Comics for pointing this one out to me. I wasn’t at all familiar with Robert Brown’s work, but his new series Killjoy is a joyous exploration of childhood memories and simpler times (despite what the title may suggest).
Described as ‘a comic for the discerning nostalgist’, I can certainly see where Robert is coming from with that sentiment. The I Am David homage cover immediately drew me in, and for anyone else who was forced to read Anne Holm’s novel as a child it will bring back many memories (although not necessarily good ones).
The interiors maintain the same standard as the cover and perfectly straddle the line between poignancy and awkwardness. There are moments to make you laugh, others to make you cringe, and an overwhelming flood of sentimentality for the innocence of childhood. In an age where that’s all but disappeared, Killjoy makes for a delightfully indulgent read.
I look forward to issue 2 in 2012 and trust it will once again transport me back to a time when life was simpler yet somehow felt more complex. Although these are Robert’s own stories and experiences, they awakened a whole host of memories in me which, I believe, is one of the intended by-products.
Killjoy #1 is available now from Orbital Comics or direct from Robert himself. For £2 you really can’t go wrong! Check out his website at: http://pygmyking.blogspot.com/
(Apologies for the incomplete image of I Am David. I couldn’t find a better picture of the original, so hopefully this is enough to jog your memory or give you some idea of the similarity between the two covers.)