Review: Candy or Medicine volume 16

I received Candy or Medicine volume 16 in the mail this week from editor and publisher Josh Blair. Candy or Medicine is a mini-comic with 16 quarter-sized pages, black and white, printed on premium paper.

Allow me first to explain a little about Candy or Medicine to those who haven’t heard of it.  Candy or Medicine is a quarterly anthology comic that consists of comics and artwork of just about any subject matter.  You never know what you’re going to find inside when you pick up an issue.  Chances are you will find something inside that is worth the dollar you paid for the book!  In the spirit of full disclosure, I have contributed to Candy or Medicine.  Specifically, I did a two page story in volume 12.  But today I’m talking about volume 16, so let’s get on with it!

The cover is by Emi Gennis.  The cover illustration is a clever play on the title of the book.  A slot machine with candy and medicine on its reels!  Great idea!  And the lady pulling the lever, well, I think I remember seeing her last time I was in Vegas!

The first comic is called Ziff and is by Jim Gullet.  Ziff is the meanest fist of the apocalypse!  Ziff comes to a village of lizard men to collect a bounty.  Ziff himself isn’t a lizard.  Or at least I don’t think he is.  I’m not sure what to call him in fact.  The art is very nice with lots of thin line work and the storytelling is well done.  The perspective needs some work, but I like the overall look of the story.  Scratchy/doodle-ish like a mini comic should be!

The second strip, by Nate McDonough, doesn’t have a title.  It is a little tale of a very short man who encounters larger and larger people on a street.  Neat, stylistic art, and a nice twist ending make it a rather charming piece. Since it has very little dialogue, the storytelling must be very clear and it succeeds admiringly well.

Art from Waltz no. 63

Waltz no. 63 is the last sequential tale in this volume.  It has some very creative artwork and is all about the things that may exist in the woods.  Small, tight panels and very creative illustrations make this little strip a nice ending to the book.

But it doesn’t end there!  There are two more illustrations, by Andy Nukes and Robert Dayton that are a nice little coda to the book.  Andy’s is a funny drawing and Robert’s is a nice little joke.

Candy or Medicine volume 16 is available for $1 plus shipping and Josh also accepts trades from other publishers.

Josh always seems to put together fun little comics for Candy or Medicine.  To see more checkout Josh’s website where you can order his books and download some more for free!  You can also order from his etsy site.  Josh also writes his own blog, with many entries on small press and other comics.

For information about the creators featured in Candy or Medicine, click here.