Comic Book Guy: Let's Get Wasted

Even those who can’t read know that you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to issue #4 of Bad Press Ltd’s Wasted you may be forgiven, mainly because the cover art by Dave Taylor is akin to a flame for a comic book Moth. The cover might be simple with the glowing minimal colours, the palette of oranges hues and the sexy dame with two smoking guns, but start reading and you’ll see it’s more than that.

Created by Alan Grant, the Scottish writer who has worked for DC, Marvel and Dark Horse (bit greedy), Wasted is published by his Glasgow-based production house Bad Press Ltd and distributed through Avalon Wholesale. The first issue began as a full colour comic but shifted to black and white print, something that has been known to alienate a sector of readers who just can not function without colour. The artwork here is still crisp and punchy, and none of the artists drop the ball, allowing Wasted to keep a steady fan base.

Indeed, never shy with their promotional spiel, Bad Press describes the book as follows: “Drawing on the local Scottish scene and wider UK talent beyond, Wasted has built a firm quarterly schedule, distributing over 5,000 copies across the UK to Independent newsagents, 24 hour corner shops, garages, comic and record stores.  Wasted also has roots planted firmly in Amsterdam…For only £3.25 Wasted checks in at a hefty 68 b/w pages.  Inside are a variety of wild and wacky strips.  It is unique stock that’ll appeal to many customers.”

While the writing talent is of the highest calibre, the artwork by contributing illustrators such as Jon Haward is of equal measure. His own credits include Judge Dread and Spectacular Spiderman among a bevy of other media work. The 68 page book contains episodic strips such as Alan Kerr’s Lusi Sulfura who, you should know, “was sent to Earth to drag souls to Hell – but couldn’t be bothered.” War on Drugs by Alan Grant and Gibson Quarter sees the cover-mentioned Johnny K as possibly the stand out within the issue.

As a strange lovechild of power house graphic novels and adult humour comics, Wasted reads like the result of a drunken one night stand between Vertigo and Viz. Luckily, through the haze it retains quality;  but most importantly, it’s funny stuff.