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Underground > Comic Books >

The Bigging Up of Eddie Campbell's Alec: How To Be An Artist

17:55 / 18.06.01

Well, first off, there's a Time review here...

Time Review

And then, well...okay

Eddie Campbell is a nice bloke who publishes autobiographical comics although he uses the name Alec for himself in the comics. He's a nice bloke because he replies to email personally. He also writes the best autobiographical comics out there. He has also been half responsible for the best comic in years, From Hell.

Now what has this got to do with the current book. Well, this book is about comics. Not in the way Understanding Comics was, but in the way that this is a pipe picture was about art. Sort of. It's hard to explain. But there are lovely touches...the Alan Moore scenes, the joy of being alive that exudes, the love of the medium and the hatred of so much within....there's also a good primer at the back for people who are new to comics, a go check this out section, and to bring it around on topic in a rough way, The New Adventures Of Hitler is one of those bigged up. I dunno why I'm saying big up, but I am, and it's juvenile and poppy and cool. Or not. Anyways, if you've never read that many comics, have a look at this. If you've read a lot, then check this one out. If you are at all interested in the comics scene in Britain in the 80's, that small moment when we thought comics were going to be huge, Watchmen and all that, then you have to read this.

Graeme McMillan

09:34 / 19.06.01

Even if you know nothing about comics and couldn't really give a shit about the UK comics scene in the 80s, this is still more than worth your time and money... All of the "Alec" stories are like being told a great story by one of your best mates, and this is no exception. Comic of the year for me, so far...

[ 19-06-2001: Message edited by: Guy Grand ]

12:35 / 19.06.01

Definately, definately worth your time.

-Big Hairy Alan Moore's marriage will have crashed and burned and the white suit is nowhere to be seen. The tiles are all over the place and nobody's putting them back now.

-IDEA: You know what...I think I'll become a magician!

Every panel is brilliant. Alec may be more accessible, but this is even more fun.

03:07 / 20.06.01

I thought it was brilliant. Brilliant brilliant. But why didn't he get into Bacchus? I thought that that comic lead to much bigger breaks in his career that the (brilliant) Alec saga did.

[ 20-06-2001: Message edited by: GMoney4life ]

07:45 / 20.06.01

Sleazenation, TV Nasty, Kooky, Alison and I (and probably others) all saw Eddie Campbell speak at the Comics 2001 convention in Bristol in May. It was great! He rambled like hell in vastly random directions and occasionally found his way back to the orginal topic of conversation, but all of it was facinating and humorous and full of the love of comics and art.

Because of hearing him speak and being intrigued by his tales of love, torment and spilt ink, I really wanted to buy the book. In fact it was the only book at the whole conference that I was interested in getting my hands on. (errrr, I'm not really a comics person, just read and know stuff by default via Sleaze)

But, due to being in a strange personal headspace and the general chaos of the weekend, when I finally got around to visiting his table ... THERE WERE NO COPIES LEFT! GAH!!!!

Oh well, that'll learn me! I'm sure I'll find myself a copy eventually.

But if you get anything this month - GET THIS BOOK NOW!!!!

20:15 / 20.06.01

funnily enough, sleaze tells me that angel has mostly liked the comics that he borrowed from me!

blockie, it's fab to see you back (in case you're confused, it's mac here. macavity on the board is someone else!) -- how's the babby?

back on topic -- still haven't read it but mr campbell is a charming geezer with some fab anecdotes....

09:58 / 21.06.01

Lewes is fine, crawling, gurgling, teething.... Yourself? Still not keen on the size of this place, it's impossible to keep up...

09:58 / 21.06.01

Been meaning to catch up on this stuff for some time. I've read some of his Baccus stuff and enjoyed it.

Quick query - is it worth starting with the King Canute Crowd, or does How To Be An Artist stand alone?

[ 21-06-2001: Message edited by: monkeypope ]

15:37 / 21.06.01

[QUOTE]Originally posted by monkeypope:

Quick query - is it worth starting with the King Canute Crowd, or does How To Be An Artist stand alone?

I'd say read King Canute first. It's creation is a pretty important part of How To Be An Artist, and reading it first would add something to enjoying the newer book.

16:44 / 21.06.01

Yeah, as Garrett said, there is some worth in reading King Canute first, but there is no need. Eddie Campbell has even changed the 'packaging' on each Alec book to stress that they don't really continue, but they do overlap. How To Be An Artist runs alongside Canute chronologically in places, I think whichever one you read first will give you insight into the one you read next.

The old Alan Moore intro to the Canute book did inspire one panel in the Artist book, however...

08:53 / 22.06.01

Excellent - Hopefully I'll get this at the weekend. Cheers for the advice.

I seem to have remember hearing a rumour about Campbell adapting another of Alan Moores spoken work pieces. Can anyone confirm this, or did I dream it.

[ 22-06-2001: Message edited by: monkeypope ]

16:39 / 22.06.01

Yes, Eddie is working on another Moore piece, Snakes and Ladders...check out www.eddiecampbellcomics.com although it seems to be down at the mo...

20:47 / 22.06.01

Yeah, the Campbell site is moving servers at the mo...

But...check out...The latest edition of the Eddie Campbell Comics periodical, Eddie Campbell's Bacchus Magazine, contains an eight-page feature on the artistic research behind the multi-awarded graphic novel From Hell.

08:09 / 23.06.01

And here's a newspaper article from an Aussie rag that is of interest...

From Hell/Eddie Campbell Chronicle Article

14:50 / 23.06.01

Steve Block, you've totally got a crush on Eddie Campbell. S'funny, was digging around this morning, found my _Little Italy_ and _Dead Muse_. Haven't read either in almost a decade, and honestly have forgotten what either is about. Pleasent afternoon ahead. Probably should get some wine.

Thanks for the links.

15:01 / 23.06.01

Yeah, mebbe, I hang around on his message board so that's where I get a lot of the links from, I also once wrote to him asking what to do with a bottle of thirty year old port I 'inherited', because he was the biggest wine expert I knew, and he was kind enough to write back and tell me.

I also think he deserves more exposure, I was shocked to see his Bacchus only sells about 1500 copies. That's tragic.

19:20 / 27.06.01

know what you mean about the size of this place, luv. specially when i'm not online all that much.

i forgot to mention that at comics2001 i picked up a copy of his first ever comic from 1974 and it was highly enjoyable. reminded me of the sort of stuff metaphrog do these days.

let's face it, most small press people deserve more exposure than they get....