Why Don’t Things Fall Up?

November 4, 2024 11:07 pm ,

Has a child – or anyone else – ever asked you why the sky is blue? Could you explain why ice cream melts? Have you forgotten why scientists think the universe started with a Big Bang, and do you understand the difference between respiration and breathing?
Why Don’t Things Fall Up? will gently remind you of everything you may have learnt once upon a time, but have somehow forgotten along the way. If you’ve ever changed the subject when a child has asked for homework help, or if you have the curiosity of a seven year old yourself, or if you know everything but have forgotten the basics or don’t want to know anything except the basics – then this is the book for you.

Using questions asked by children as a starting point, Alom Shaha (who has spent over two decades trying to help people of all ages understand this stuff) takes us on a tour of the “big ideas” of science from his unique perspective. His experience as a dad, a teacher and science communicator means he knows exactly what people don’t know -and especially the misconceptions and other intellectual hurdles which prevent us from grasping key ideas. Combining his proven skill for explaining science with storytelling and flashbacks to school experiments, Why Don’t Things Fall Up? reminds us that science is not just for scientists – it’s a human endeavour that enriches all our lives.

Alom Shaha

Back in 2021, we had a Q&A with Alom Shaha about one of his titles for primary age children (and their families), Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines. We’ve kept in touch on social media (sadly no more twitter for me but we’re both on Bluesky) and it came to my attention that his “popular science” book for adults is being published in paperback this week (Alom very kindly sent me a copy)!

Some readers will know that before my MA in Librarianship, I did a BSc in Geology following A-Levels in biology, chemistry, and geography. Science was my favourite subject all the way through school, I gave up English as soon as I was allowed to and didn’t choose any arty GCSEs, but I really appreciate this line from his introduction:

I think science comes from the same thing that drives us to make art, music and literature – our response to being alive, existing in this world, and the urge to make sense of it and share what we have understood with others. Science is not only for those who want to become scientists, just as art is not only for those who wish to become artists; it is a human endeavour that enriches all our lives.

This book is officially for adults but would also be really interesting to older teenagers. Somehow Alom has, very cleverly, extended a primary school answer to questions such as ‘why is the sky blue?’ into in depth and accurate explanations without ever patronising the reader or leaving them behind. He brings in fascinating background information to scientific discoveries that almost certainly aren’t included in school text books but that will also lead readers to wanting to do more research. Having had a scientific focus during my education (albeit 20 years ago), I thought I’d be nodding along and just appreciating the style, but I definitely learned things I swear I *never* knew! My favourite popular science book (that I’d also recommend to older, interested teens) until now is Bill Bryson’s ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’, but this is a much more focused text…that is also significantly shorter…not including information “just” because it is interesting but also because it is just about all directly relevant to our everyday lives. He also shares some great practical ideas to actually see the science.

If you haven’t come across Alom before, do browse his website as it is full of ideas for all ages and abilities, including video directions for lots of his practical ideas. Why Don’t Things Fall Up? is published in paperback on Thursday 7th November by Hodder & Stoughton.

Posted in: Uncategorized

TEAR-ifying Free Comics across the UK with The Monster Fun Collection!

October 10, 2024 9:08 pm ,

OCT 2024 – Rebellion Publishing is celebrating the launch of The Monster Fun Collection with special “tear-away” posters across the UK.

Four “tear-away” posters can be found across London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester. These offer kids and parents the chance to tear off and keep a giant A3 comic page from The Monster Fun Collection’s Steel Commando: No Time To Lose and The Leopard From Lime Street: Birthright stories. The posters are on display now until 20th October, and can be found at:

  • London – opposite Lewisham Station, in archways
  • Birmingham – Highgate Road, by Woodfield Road
  • Glasgow – Skypark, Pointhouse Road
  • Manchester – Trinity Way

“We wanted to do something exciting to celebrate our new line of Children’s graphic novels, and it’s not often you can go on a hunt for a giant comic page with your kids,” said Rebellion CEO, Jason Kinglsey CBE, “It’s so important to find new, fun ways to get children excited about reading, and we’re proud of what we have already achieved with our Monster Fun series. Now, our latest comic The Monster Fun Collection offers children a fun reading experience, focused on some of their favourite characters.”

The Monster Fun Collection gathers two adventure stories from the monthly Monster Fun children’s comic, which launched in April 2022 with a changing roster of characters inside.

“With The Monster Fun Collection we want to show children that reading can be fun and exciting, and these installations do exactly that!” said PR and Marketing Manager, Jamie Elby, “I’m thrilled we could showcase The Monster Fun Collection with giant comic page to take home, and parents and young readers can know The Monster Fun Collection is here and ready to add some epic thrills to reading time!”

Steel Commando: No Time To Lose sees World War II robot hero Steel Commando travel across past, present, and future to defeat the forces of evil on an epic time-travel adventure. Meanwhile, The Leopard From Lime Street: Birthright sees young Billy Farmer unlock his powers after being bitten by a radioactive leopard (these things happen, right?), uncover family secrets, and just maybe save his home town from destruction from dastardly super villains.

Both Steel Commando: No Time To Lose and The Leopard From Lime Street: Birthright can be purchased now on Amazon or in the Monster Fun webstore, with an RRP of £9.99. More entries in The Monster Fun Collection will be coming in 2025

Posted in: comics

The Boy Who Cried Ghost

September 25, 2024 8:00 am ,

There’s a ghost in Richard’s wardrobe. Every day he carries out a series of rituals that he believes will keep the ghost trapped inside. He tries to tell his friends and family, but they dismiss his worries and concerns as being part of his OCD. But then one day, the wardrobe door is opened… And that’s when the hauntings begin.

Scholastic
Cover illustrator, Melissa Chaib and designer Sarah Baldwyn

I loved everything about this book: the main character, his friends, and the supportive adults. Adored the book recommendations, bad jokes, and actually-quite-scary bits…so I was very pleased to be able to ask the author, Ian Eagleton, some questions!

What can you tell us about your new book, The Boy Who Cried Ghost?
The Boy Who Cried Ghost is a spooky, thrilling, heartwarming and funny story, full of twists
and turns. It was inspired by my love of horror movies, Hocus Pocus, the Goonies, Buffy,
Casper, and a friend who used to tell the most terrifying ghost stories when we went away
camping.
Richard is just starting Year 6 when he has to move with his mum into his grandma’s old
house. He is angry and resentful and filled with worry about making new friends at a new
school. He is also consumed by obsessive behaviours, low self-esteem and grief. I always
think the best ghost stories are nothing to do with the ghost, but instead explore what it’s like
to be haunted by trauma. Over the course of his journey, Richard has to learn to accept
himself and understand how to start dealing with his OCD.

You’ve said that you have OCD and hope that it means you’ve portrayed it well, but
did that personal connection also mean that it was difficult to write?
So difficult! I really wanted the story to feel authentic, raw and challenging, as well as being
fun and gripping too. I had to dig deep and go back in time to explore my own experiences of
living with OCD. Throughout the story, we get to read Richard’s flashbacks and memories as
he comes to terms with how his brain works. These were all based on my own memories, so
it was often very emotional and draining to write. I remember being absolutely terrified as a
child and teenager by these strange, intrusive thoughts and all-encompassing rituals I
carried out. However, I do really feel that books for children and young adults are the MOST
important of all books and that my readers therefore deserve the absolute best of me. this
means putting everything I have into my writing, no matter how painful it might be at the
time. By the end of the process, I often feel a sense of relief and acceptance. Writing can
definitely be cathartic!

There is a growing selection of titles for children that feature mental health issues and
disability in a positive way, but are there any other books you’ve read that you think
represent OCD well?
There are three books which stand out for me. They are:
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
When I See Blue by Lily Bailey
A Flash of Fireflies by Aisha Bushy

Have you any suggestions for how those that work with a child/teen with OCD might
best support them?
As an adult, I read Because We Are Bad by Lily Bailey, which was life-changing and really
helped me understand what I had experienced myself as a child and teenager with OCD. I
would also recommend the following books to people who work with children and teenagers
with OCD:
The Man Who Couldn’t Stop by David Adam
Pure by Rose Bretécher
Brain Lock by Jeffrey M. Schwartz
I think these books portray the terror and uncertainty of OCD particularly well and would
really help people understand the complexity of this mental health disorder.

I would also remind people that saying things like ‘Oh, I’m SO OCD’ just because you like
things to be neat or tidy can be quite harmful and offensive to people who suffer with OCD.

I love the diversity of your characters, in all your books. Are they ever based on
friends or colleagues?
Hmmmm. Sometimes they are. A good friend of mine told me a story once about how she’d
whacked a nasty boy at school around the face with a bouquet of stinging nettles. I was so
shocked and amused by this story – don’t try it at home – that I asked her if I could include it
in my first middle-grade book, which was Glitter Boy. She kindly agreed! In The Boy Who
Cried Ghost, one of the adults in Richard’s life is called Mr Levick, who is based on someone
I know. He often wears gender-defying clothes and is openly gay and I felt like this sort of
positive role model should be celebrated in the story.
Sometimes, however, my characters are based on what I like to call ‘wish-fulfilment’. In
Glitter Boy, James has an amazing teacher called Mr. Hamilton who is marrying his
boyfriend, Sam, and spends a lot of time talking to the class about LGBTQ+ history and
rights. This would have been transformative for me as a queer teenager, but it wasn’t
something that ever actually happened. I just wish I’d had a teacher like Mr. Hamilton who
could’ve supported and guided me.

I know a lot of the jokes were suggested by your dad while you were writing the book,
but do you have a favourite?
There’s a scene in the story where Richard’s stepdad, Tony, and his new school friend,
Quinn, are trading jokes and quips and I LOVE it! Here’s an extract from it, which you might
enjoy!

But Tony and Quinn were already walking off, chatting happily and loudly.
“I’ve been telling everyone at school about the benefits of eating dried grapes today,” Quinn
was saying animatedly. “I’ve been raisin awareness…”
Tony burst out laughing and slapped Quinn good-naturedly on their back.
“That’s nothing!” Tony began. “I asked someone at work today to bring me a newspaper.
They told me that newspapers are ‘old school’ and handed me their iPad instead. Well, that
fly didn’t stand a chance!”
“Oh … my…!” Quinn guffawed. “That was HILARIOUS! Tell me more!”

I think Tony’s joke about evolution and Darwin has to be my favourite though – I hope you
enjoy it too!

What are you reading at the moment and who would you recommend it to?
I’m currently reading A Ship in the Dark by Yarrow Townsend. It’s about a young girl called
Anna, whose father is arrested for smuggling. She sets out to prove his innocence and soon
discovers that the truth may lie on a mysterious, missing ship called the Albatross. Yarrow
Townsend’s A Map of Leaves was one of my standout books of 2022 and I am thoroughly
enjoying their new story. The writing is fresh. gripping and immediate, whilst also being
beautiful and lyrical, and the story is a rip-roaring adventure full of twists and turns. I would
recommend A Ship in the Dark to readers who have enjoyed The Girl of Ink & Stars and The
Lost Whale.

Posted in: Interviews, MG, Recommended by a Librarian, Reflecting Realities

From the Yoto Carnegies to The Carnegies

September 12, 2024 4:21 pm ,

Like a shadow in the night Yoto’s name and logo has been removed from the branding of the Carnegie Medals.

From:

To:

Back in 2022 news broke that Yoto had become the primary sponsor for the Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals and they would henceforth be known as the Yoto Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals. Then in September the UK library community was blindsided by the news that Kate Greenaway’s name was being dropped from the Medal that had borne her name since 1955 and henceforth the awards would be known collectively as The Yoto Carnegie Medals.

What had been billed as a long-term partnership (but in reality only three years) between The Carnegie Medals and Yoto Play is now over.

The url http://.yotocarnegies.co.uk now redirects to https://carnegies.co.uk/ and Yoto is gone completely from the Carnegie Medals Partners and Sponsors page. You can view a previous version of this page courtesy of the Wayback Machine here.

I had heard through a couple of contacts that there had been some unhappiness on Yoto’s side about the sponsorship deal, but nothing ever officially came to light so I shrugged it off as possible teething issues in the partnership.

In this era of shortfalls in funding on a national and international level, sponsorship is often a necessity, but as I have previously written, I (and many others) feel that dropping Kate Greenaway was a grave misstep. Furthermore, turning the medals into basically an advertisement for a for-profit organization cheapened them somewhat and pushed the library workers, who, since the beginning had judged and championed the awards further into the shadows.

I do not know what the future holds for the Carnegie Medals, or which organization (if any) shall assume the mantle of Headline Sponsor, or if indeed there will be a headline sponsor going forward, but I will continue watching with interest.

Posted in: Carnegie, Carnegies, Kate Greenaway

The Undying Tower

September 2, 2024 8:33 pm ,

What if living forever was a death sentence?

Decades after the discovery that a small percentage of the population has stopped ageing, the Avalonia Zone is in crisis. From overpopulation to food shortages, the ‘Undying’ have been blamed for the state’s problems, banished to the fringes of society, and punished for every minor infraction.

When sixteen-year-old Sadie takes the fall for an attack by a rebel group, The Alchemists, she suddenly finds herself wrenched away from her quiet life and from her ailing father. Armed with little help and even less knowledge, Sadie is thrust into a cold and cryptic ‘correctional facility’ – The Tower. Here she’ll have to rethink everything she’s been told about the Undying population in an attempt to save the life she knows, protect a group of unlikely friends, and give voice to the voiceless in a society on the brink of catastrophic upheaval.

Melissa Welliver

After a long silence from me on the blog (sorry), please accept a guest post as an offering, from UKYA author Melissa Welliver all about the journey of her debut title, recently re-released by UCLan Publishing (she has also, in between, had 2 dystopian YA novels published by Chicken House, both of which are great fun):

From Self Publishing to Traditional

In 2019, I signed with my second agent and went out on submission with the book that would become The Undying Tower. We edited over the summer and then in late 2019, we hit the submission trenches… around 4 months before the pandemic hit. Obviously this meant we were submitting to editors that had been sent on Furlough. And this early in the pandemic, the work-from-home strategies hadn’t really been put into action, so we entered a traffic jam of manuscripts all seeking an editor. This went on for 11 months and I quietly lost hope for TUT and started a new project.

In November 2020, almost a year after we went on sub, we had interest from a digital first publisher called Agora Books. They were small but mighty, and really loved the book. They wanted to schedule a 2021 release and, while there was no advance attached, the royalties looked good. It wasn’t quite a traditional publishing deal in all the ways I thought it would be, but it was an offer. I bit their metaphorical hands off and we got going.

The book came out in October 2021 to a small but enthusiastic fan base. Over the next 6 months we sold maybe 500ish copies and I worked steadily on the sequel. In March 2022, the Agora team emailed to ask for a meeting. Assuming it was about book 2, I logged on, eager to chat about future plotlines. But sadly, the future of any plotlines had to go on hold, because the pandemic hadn’t been kind to small publishers. Agora told me they were folding, and the trilogy – plus distribution of book 1 – were going with it.

My editor was great and despite my initial concerns, she gave me all the publication files to allow me to self-publish, in the hopes of earning enough to self-fund book 2. I had signed up to a lot of festivals over the summer of 2022 that I needed to sell the book at, so this was a good short-term solution. However, the sheer workload of self-publishing soon took its toll. By the time I did my last summer gig, a panel at UCLan in late September, I was exhausted.

After the event, the UCLan editorial team pulled me for a chat to say they were pleased with my work and to ask about the book, so I explained it was self-published and in a moment of madness, I pitched the idea to them. They seemed enthusiastic, so I went home and asked my agent to submit The Undying Tower to them directly. And six months later in spring 2023, the mighty UCLan offered – an advance! Bookseller distribution! – for summer 2024.

So I always tell this little book’s story as this: once upon a time, there was a book that wouldn’t die. And The Undying Tower certainly lives up to its name to this day.

Posted in: YA

Neil Fucking Gaiman

July 29, 2024 5:16 pm ,

Neil Gaiman has a storyteller’s voice, rich and deep it draws the listener in and lulls us into a sense of relaxation that still leaves us alert and hooked on every word he speaks – honestly I could listen to him reading a shopping list his voice is that good!

I have been a fan of his writing since I borrowed Good Omens from my library – I was a Terry Pratchett fan when I started that fantastic work but by the time it was finished I had become a fan of Neil as well.

Following on from Good Omens I found the first trade paperbacks for The Sandman, that series became one of my all-time comic favourites and is probably the series that I have read and reread most over the years. It was A Game of You that introduced me to a major transgender character, growing up in South Africa limited my (and many other people’s) exposure to the fact that trans people exist. After Sandman there was The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr Punch, Neverwhere (on videocassette – still the best way to watch that series), the two Death miniseries, his Death Talks About Life comic insert about safe sex practices formed part of my graphic novels in libraries thesis in library school.

When I moved to the UK in the early 2000s, I had opportunities to hear him speak in person (and get books and comics signed and personalized), fans would wait in life for hours to get something signed. As a member of the London branch of the Youth Libraries Group I championed The Graveyard Book as one of YLG London’s official nominations for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. I have purchased and still own many of his novels all of which have has signed.

Listening to his reading of Click Clack the Rattle Bag became one of my go-tos for Halloween library activities when I was a school librarian and All Hallows Read is a Halloween celebration that I have regularly participated in.

In 2017 as part of the CILIP Carnegie Medal celebrations I was selected to interview Neil live on Twitter, which was one of the most exhilarating times as a library worker and fan of his writing.  

His outspoken support of libraries and library workers gained him many more fans in the library world, when he spoke people sat up and took notice.

All this is to say that as a fan and aficionado of his work all I can say now is Fucking Neil Gaiman!

The four part podcast Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman from Tortoise Media is well-made and makes for compelling and difficult listening.

While commentators can and have been quibbling over the he said she said nature of the accusations, one thing is perfectly clear to me – what Neil is accused of, and has admitted to doing (even though he claims it was consensual and the text messages appear to bear this up) is wrong (if not illegal).

As a fairly vanilla person even I know that BDSM comes with strict rules to prevent abuse – the knowledge of safe words is in the mainstream. Plus you don’t try to (at best) seduce or (at worst) abuse people employed by you or your spouse (actually it is a fairly standard written rule that you do not sleep with employees) plus the 20-40 year age gap and massive power differential is just gross. Taking advantage of vulnerable young adults is something that happens all too frequently – and as someone who has worked with at risk young people I have seen the aftermath of this many times over the years.

Speaking personally as a library worker and human when the news broke I was gutted, Neil’s work had been part of my life for decades, I looked up to him as a phenomenal writer and staunch defender of human rights. However we cannot remain silent in the face of abuse no matter how much we may love or look up to the person accused! I unequivocally condemn his actions and stand firmly with his accusers. His behaviour has not only hurt those who he predated upon but also those who looked up to him and believed that he was an ally.

Links:

Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman Podcast

Exclusive: Neil Gaiman accused of sexual assault Tortoise Media

Tortoise Media

Bestselling author of The Sandman Neil Gaiman denies accusations of ‘sexual assault’ Bookseller article

Neil Gaiman Denies Sexual Assault Allegations Made by Two Women Rolling Stone article

A third women has come forward with allegations against Neil Gaiman:

When a dam starts leaking it is often not long before there are more cracks appearing and more leaks appear. Such is the curious case of Neil Gaiman with more accusations surfacing and a fifth part of the podcast from Tortoise. More links below:

Master episode 5: the NDAs

Tortoise Exclusive: Two more women accuse Neil Gaiman of sexual assault and abuse

Neil Gaiman denies new sexual assault and abuse allegations by two women Bookseller article

Posted in: Authors, Blogging, Podcasts

The Guantánamo Bay Library Association

July 19, 2024 5:37 pm ,

A few days ago in a fit of gallows humour after reading too much of the Project 2025 policy document I made a social media post referencing the Guantánamo Bay Library Association as one of the many threats contained within P2025 is the criminalization of library workers.

My joke (& fear) is that we will be rounded up in one of the purges following the expulsion of undocumented immigrants and, at best, locked up in Gitmo. The thought that there will eventually be a Guantánamo Bay Library Association (because library folk love organizing) came from that musing as did a belief that we can do something to sway people to avoid this path that looms before us. SO I have created this post where people can find resources to help push back against this possibility and (possibly) gain inspiration to educate our library patrons about this very real threat.

These are some resources that may be useful:

Unite Against Book Bans
ACLU Supports Bill to Block Book Bans
Defend Your Right to Learn: Join In The Fight Against Classroom Censorship

EveryLibrary helps public, school, and college libraries win funding at the ballot box, ensuring stable funding and access to libraries for generations to come. We also support grassroots groups across the country defend and support their local library against book banning, illicit political interference, and threats of closure. https://www.everylibrary.org

Banning Books and the Law: https://www.findlaw.com/education/student-rights/banning-books-and-the-law.html

Kelly Jensen of BookRiot has been sounding the alarm about the threat to libraries for years: https://bookriot.com/category/literary-activism

Penguin Random House How We’re Fighting Censorship: Legal Action: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/articles/what-were-doing-legal-action

Lawsuits Against Book Bans Begin to Gain Traction https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2024-01-11/from-iowa-to-florida-lawsuits-against-book-bans-begin-to-gain-traction

https://pen.org/issue/free-the-books

A tip sheep for library workers facing harassment https://pen.org/librarian-tip-sheet-harassment

Illinois’ new anti-book ban legislation is an initiative of Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, who was sworn into office as the state’s 38th Secretary of State in January 2023. https://www.banbookbans.com

17 States Are Considering Laws That Would Imprison Librarians https://www.vanityfair.com/news/17-states-are-considering-laws-that-would-imprison-librarians

The School Board Project https://www.schoolboardproject.com

A while ago I put together a basic intro to Project 2025 booklist providing a visual representation of some of the changes that will be enacted if the aims of Project 2025 are put into practice, as well as links to the relevant chapter of The Mandate for Leadership that details how this will happen: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/1412410137_jclmatti/2561987729_project_2025

Columnist Molly Jong-Fast and historian Thomas Zimmer about Project 2025—a controversial roadmap unveiled by the conservative Heritage Foundation outlining a radical vision for a second Trump administration. They discussthe projects plans to reshape the U.S. government, ranging from increased presidential control to dismantling protections for minorities and marginalized groups. Zimmer provides insights into the four pillars of Project 2025, the implications for American democracy, and the potential broader impacts on society:

Posted in: Advice, Advocacy, Libraries

Are you ready for some Monster Fun?

July 18, 2024 9:05 pm ,

JULY 2024 – “Everyone’s gearing up for big superhero moments in the cinema, but Deadpool and Wolverine isn’t for all comic book fans – but our graphic novels are! With super cool heroes that can rival those big screen characters.” says Monster Fun Editor Keith Richardson, as Monster Fun launches it’s first two graphic novels in The Monster Fun Collection this summer. This new range of graphic novels for children aged 7-12 collects up exciting stories from the epic Monster Fun comic, giving children a whole new range of books to love!

In fact, our new graphic novels will keep kids entertained throughout the summer holidays. Keith continues, The movie’s age rating prevents so many young comic book fans from experiencing it. But The Monster Fun Collection won’t be doing that. We have brilliant books with stories suitable for all ages, and definitely a great alternative for those who won’t be allowed in to see the movie!

The Monster Fun Collection aims to undoubtedly be the highlight of this year’s school summer holidays. After all, it’s not every day that a brand new line of children’s graphic novels launches!

The Children’s Book market shows children are devouring graphic novels like never before, with 425% volume growth in the category since 2019 (Source: The Bookseller), providing a more fun reading experience over traditional novels. The heroes of our graphic novels may have graced just the pages of the Monster Fun comic rather than the silver screen, but will provide the same amount of joy and entertainment to those who read them – as well as the main hero of each book having been around years longer than Marvel’s big screen characters!

The Leopard From Lime Street is the UK’s answer to Spider-man, and was published for over a decade before Marvel’s merc with the mouth even graced a comic book page. Meanwhile, whilst Wolverine made his first appearance in 1974, our very own metal-plated soldier Steel Commando has been kicking around since 1970! Whilst the versions found in The Monster Fun Collection are rebooted for a new generation of readers, the admirable qualities and fun stories that made these characters endure the test of time are present in the new graphic novels.

So what are the new books all about? Steel Commando: No Time To Lose sees World War II robot hero Steel Commando travel across past, present, and future to defeat the forces of evil on an epic time-travel adventure, whilst The Leopard From Lime Street: Birthright sees young Billy Farmer unlock his powers after being bitten by a radioactive leopard (these things happen, right?), uncover family secrets, and just maybe save his home town from destruction from dastardly super villains.

The brand new Monster Fun Collection graphic novels, Steel Commando: No Time To Lose and The Leopard From Lime Street: Birthright can be purchased now on Amazon or in the Monster Fun webstore; where individual issues, international orders, and subscriptions to the monthly Monster Fun comic can also be purchased.

Posted in: comics, News

Read MISTY for Me

July 15, 2024 8:02 pm ,

First published in 1978, Misty was the brainchild of legendary writer and editor Pat Mills, offering thrills and chills for a generation of young women in the UK and featuring stories from creators including Shirley Bellwood, Jesus Redondo, Jordi Badía Romero, and Mills. Running for over 100 issues in total, each issue was hosted by Misty, who acted as a guiding voice for her young readers – and in this new anthology we’ll be telling stories featuring Misty herself for the first time!

This anthology features three brand-new chilling stories written by Simone, with art by Carola Borelli (The Deadliest Bouquet, Spider-Woman), Aly Fell (A Trick of the Light) and Marianna Ignazzi (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), alongside a fourth story written and drawn by rising star Letty Wilson (Owl People). Completing this spectacularly spooky package is a cover from Eisner-winning artist Tula Lotay (Barnstormers)!

I first encountered Misty after it had ceased publication, this was back in the early 1980’s and my family was visiting some family friends (a friend of my mother’s from her school days). I ended up perusing their bookshelf and discovered a pile of comics belonging to their daughters. It was largely back issues of Bunty, but nestled amongst them, like a spider just waiting to pounce were a couple of back issues of Misty.

This comic was special, even though I had only read a few of the issues memories of how I felt when reading them settled into the back of my brain and made a dark, cobwebby nest where they live to this day. I have tracked my love of mystery and the macabre to several formative experiences of my youth, one of the major ones being discovering that amazing comic.

My love for Misty was resurrected back in 2019 when I picked up a copy of Gothic for Girls: Misty and British Comics by Julia Round. Published by the University Press of Mississippi it delved into the history of girls comics in general and specifically the dark gem that was Misty. This review is not about that scholarly tome although if you can get your hands on a copy it is well worth a read.

I have said it in another review and will reiterate it here, 2000AD has hitting it out of the park lately when it comes to getting top flight talent writing for them. This trend continues with Gail Simone writing three of the stories for the Misty special. I have loved Gail’s work for years – from her Red Sonja stories to Batgirl, Secret Six and Deadpool, her horror comic Clean Room and a ton of other titles I cannot recall off the top of my head. There is also her god-tier trolling on social media – microwaving tea being something that got me before I realized who it was.

Gail is at the top of her game, and has been for a long time now, her work on this special is is no exception. Three gripping tales narrated by Misty, our guide into this land of horror. From her encounter with a true crime podcaster, through a stint in a grimy pub to a secluded nursing home where the death rate is just a tad too high… Each story is gripping and unnerving and completely different to the others. For my money it was the fourth tale, The Cracked Glass by Letty Wilson that left me with the greatest sense of disquiet. It may be because I have two young daughters but I had a sense of unease that I can still feel as I am writing this sentence.

The art accompanying each tale fits the stories perfectly, Carola Borelli, Aly Fell and Marianna Ignazzi each illustrated one of Gail’s pieces and Letty Wilson illustrated her own chilling work.

If you need something to cool off during the long hot days of summer then pick up the Misty 2024 Special – it will send an ice-cold chill down your spine!

Misty is published by 2000AD and will be available from July 17 in the UK and August 21 in the US.

Posted in: comics, Reviews

Project 2025 Threatens Library Workers

July 12, 2024 8:38 pm ,

This screenshot is taken from page five of the forward to the Heritage Foundations Mandate for Leadership.

The text reads:

Pornography should be outlawed. The people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders. And telecommunications and technology firms that facilitate its spread should be shuttered.

The definition of pornography is deliberately vague and appears to label anything not heteronormative as porn. Basically anything that appears to vaguely condone LGBTQ+ lives or exploring gender and sexuality.

The attacks on libraries with the addition of Project 2025 take on a more sinister, coordinated appearance. Any organization or individual that threatens the “innocence” and “purity” of children gets labeled as groomers.

Of course it is predominantly white children that are deserving of protection, but it is ever thus.

You can read the Mandate for Leadership here:

https://www.project2025.org/policy/

I will share resources examining this as they become available.

Posted in: Libraries, News