February 15, 2007

{     Three Very Small Comics     }    

I have already praised the awesome Tom Gould for his Robots, Monsters, etc. (here). Now it is time for more praise for his lovely Three Very Small Comics series, the latest of which is still fresh of print.

Published once again by Cabanon Press (the publishing house Tom uses to distribute his comic marvels), Three Very Small Comics is a tiny publication: in format, it is smaller than your hand. But the small barrels contain the best wine they say... and from this one, expect to get a buzz as well as a great taste!
Everything is crafted with that extra attention to details typical of Tom's productions: great care is given to each element. Inside the hand stuffed brown envelope, there are three small comics, different one from the the for subject, format and materials. And absolutely lovely.

One of the comics is usually a poster, in Three Small Comics III printed on yellow paper; another a small booklet and the third can vary: on the issue of Three Very Small Comics released just a few weeks ago, it is a long foldable strip.

Part of Tom's inspiration seems to derive from a Medieval past, with kings, queens and knives and this is the case for the third issue: not for nothing he is from the UK and based in London, where the presence of royalty is hard to forget! But there is a modern side as well: austronauts are often represented, but they are not immersed in today's super modernity. Here space seems what it was in the 60s: a yet unexplored land where to venture with curiosity for some unclear final purpouse.

What I actually enjoy the most though, is the mistery: ghosts, skulls and other esoteric creatures populate a lot of the frames and a strange, massive, black being (the Hairy Monster), which reminds me of the Golem of ancient tradition, is a haunting presence in a lot of his work.

Whichever theme you feel the most, any of the issues of Three Very Small Comics will abduct you into a strange world. Get ready for the ride.