Phonogram

[solipsistnation]

The collection of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's Phonogram came out recently, and I read the whole thing straight through for the first time the other night. It's a great piece of comics. The wikipedia entry linked there is dry and misses the point, as do so many wikipedia entries. There's also a web site with a blog.

Hm, how to phrase this?

It's the best comic I've read in a long long time. I wasn't even paying attention during most of the Britpop era-- I was too busy with industrial and electronics-- but reading this, I love Britpop too. I've never even heard most of the bands referenced, but I know exactly that feeling of being in love with a period in time and with the music that made it what it was, even acknowledging that it wasn't perfect, wasn't as ideal as I'd like to think it was but knowing that it MEANT to be and that's what mattered. I know how that feels, and how the right music at the right place can drop you right back there again.

There's a lot about redefining one's self along the way, and the refusal to do so. There are some very pointy digs at the 70's retro movement. There's a lot of music snarking. It's the kind of thing you'd think I'd like.

Here's the first issue. Its awesomeness will fill you and you will see.

Comments

[ksta.livejournal.com]

briiiistooooolllll

[greyarea.livejournal.com]

I wish I could get past the fact it's Gillen doing it. Something about him really rubs me up the wrong way, and the main character in Phonogram really smacks of how he sees (or would like to see) himself.

Nice to see Bristol and the Firkin getting some love though :)

[greyarea.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, and Page 45, which was my local comic shop when I lived in Nottingham. It's absolutely brilliant.

[bremxjones.livejournal.com]

"the main character in Phonogram really smacks of how he sees (or would like to see) himself."

Wot? A complete cunt.

KG

[greyarea.livejournal.com]

Fuck me, it's the candyman! ;)

For the record, I don't think (although I've only read the first issue) that the main character is depicted as that much of a cunt though, so, no, it's not that. He may be a bit of one, but aspirationally so - he's also fucking women, doing gigs, hanging out with sexually experimental people, and is "cool" (at least in his own mind). He's only reads like he's intended to be a cunt in the same way a character like John Constantine is. In fact, he's the the indie John Constantine - and who wouldn't want to be?

Fair play to you for not taking (more) exception to my somewhat snide, off-the-cuff post, though.

[bremxjones.livejournal.com]

Candyman's secret: Blogsearch.google.com

I have a thick skin on any criticism with years of being called a cunt for things I've written about videogames. For your specific criticism I have rhino-hide. It's not as if I didn't think some people would think it. :)

I do think it's a little bit of a shame that you're thinking that Kohl's in any way aspirational after the scene with the Goddess though.

KG