[review] [ZUM!] Hope For The Future #4

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Hope For The Future #4
review by Pete Doreé

A sort of 'shared world' anthology, this; reminiscent of the late, 
great Duckdale Express.
Writer/artist Simon Perrins produces the 'framing story' of Hannah, 
Lee & Greg: three students out on the town telling each other 
Halloween stories.
His drawing style is semi-realist, making his characters moderately 
likeable (well, they are students).
The first proper strip is 'Rock Club of The Damned', and it's the 
weakest here, although John Lycett Smith's art is interesting and 
very like Simon Gane in places. I prefer his prologue that opens the 
book, as it seems more finished.
In a similar stylistic vein is 'Greg's Psychedelic Breakfast', but 
Richard J Smith's art is even more rushed; particularly on the 2nd 
page, but he does juxtapose art & narration perfectly, making the 
story funnier.
In both cases, these two artists have good, fun styles; there's just 
not enough finish. This is something you can't say about John 
Welding's 'Stones Holes & Dogs. Like a more detailed Denny Derbyshire 
this is an atmospheric tour de force, particularly as we follow 
Hannah into a mysterious cave.
On the whole, this is a good comic. The only real drawback is that 
Simon seems to have a problem with endings. None of the featured 
stories finishes successfully, and the 'framing story's' end is far 
too obvious. He is however quite good at characterization and pacing 
and like his artists has an interesting, appealing style. It all just 
needs tightening up.


For more info see:
http://www.zumcomics.info/h/hopeferfuture.html#4

discussion:
http://forums.pauljholden.com/viewtopic.php?t=210