Did you miss me?
It’s crazy. I didn’t realize it’s been over a month since I wrote a review. I’m sorry I’m slacking on the content. Life got weird. Day job got weird. I’m weird. My bear paws haven’t been slapping the keys.
I’m going to try really hard to write more of these. Reviews. Updates. Maybe tell some stories (was thinking of fucking around and releasing some updated short stories every now and then).
I’m always trying to build up Blake’s Buzz, but it gets hard sometimes. I get stuck and freeze up, get in my own head and fuck shit up. I’m working on that.
I’m also working on new podcast episodes! There will be a new one on Sunday the 31st! I had a cool talk with a cool guest, and they’ve got a cool comic I think you all should check out.
Anyways, thanks for sticking with me.
Now, read this review and back this kickstarter!
—blake
Pocus Hocus #1-3
Allen Dunford words
Will Radford words
Brian Balondo art
Jasen Smith colors
Dave Lentz letters & design
Demons on your back? Parents up your ass? Vice-versa? Unclench and peep the solicit:
Pocus Hocus is the story of a Victorian-era magician named - you guessed it - Pocus Hocus, who sells his soul to a demon in exchange for actual magic powers. Years later, he comes to regret his decision, and sets out to reclaim his soul. It's going to be one hell of a good time.
Have you seen The Prestige? Pretty cool movie, right? I thought so too until I read the first 3 issues of Pocus Hocus. The mystical shenanigans within these pages make The Prestige look like it’s wearing fucking hockey pads (this is a Christian Bale Batman joke that works because Bale was also in The Prestige).
Seriously, this book is…
Don’t say it, Blake.
Don’t.
This book is fucking magical! You can’t ignore it, and you can’t fight the pun. Pocus Hocus succeeds on numerous levels: the art, the dialog, the story.
There is no sleight of hand here. There aren’t illusions or misdirections. It’s just awesome. It starts awesome and continues along that path for three awesome issues. The upcoming fourth issue will be awesome too. It has to. It’s too late to shit the bed now.
Allen Dunford and Will Radford have a truly stellar story, and it’s packed with a wonderful cast, rich in personality. Emily’s the kind of sexy magician's assistant we all want to fu–respect and watch evolve. Horus is the glowing pet we’ve always wanted. Ivan is the thirsty weirdo we need to clean our rooms. And Pocus… Well, I naturally found myself intrigued by him because I let my parents down long ago and can’t make them happy either.
That’s the grift of this comic: one son’s journey to appease his father. Unfortunately, for this son, he’s not really good at anything and has to sell his soul to a gambling addict demon for magical powers. The son, Pocus, uses these powers to walk in his father’s footsteps, but even with that big demon energy, Pocus’ pops dies unimpressed.
It sounds kind of heartbreaking, but thanks to the writing prowess of Dunford and Radford, it’s rather comical. These breakneck scripts don’t lend enough time to be sad, and, speaking of prowess, the art team on Pocus Hocus is mad-talented.
Brian Balondo’s pages are inspiring. The historical setting, the on-stage magic, and the characters really come to life through the art. There’s a lot of detail, and your eyes will appreciate it. Seriously, you should all go to the Kickstarter page and leave Thank You comments to Balondo.
Do it. I’ll wait…
Jasen Smith colors this wonderful world in a really unique way. The more mystical the scenes, the darker the arts, the more Smith shines and splashes the panels with a luxurious palette. Maybe it’s because I was raised Catholic, but I love that the darkness of sin and the mysteries rising up from the depths of hell add a lovely hue to the comic. They didn’t teach us that in Sunday school.
Dave Lentz letters the madness and does a damn excellent job. The end results are pages that would even make my parents proud (and, seriously, nothing ever does unless it’s my sister).
This comic is so damned good it got picked up by Source Point Press, but you can back the Kickstarter now and get all 4 issues! You can even get a trade paperback if that’s more your jam. You can even get a full-metal trade (which, I think, technically makes it hardcover, but I don’t make the goddamn rules).
It’s so damned good, I heard David Copperfield read it and cried. Those tears turned into supermodels that he brought back to his private island to do private things, and that dude made the fucking Statue of Liberty disappear on live TV. He didn’t shed a single tear for that one.
Jokes aside, Pocus Hocus is worth your money no matter how you want to experience it, and it’s got a lot of cool bonus goodies if you’ve got the scratch to itch those tiers. Click here to check out the campaign.
And now for some housekeeping…
I’ve got a real solid lineup for tomorrow’s (7/27) show! Charlie Stickney is back to talk Glarien! David Byrne is back to talk STAKE Present’s Jessamy! Will Allred is back to talk Crossover Division! Great writers. Great comics. And a great fucking livestream, if I may be so bold! Click here to set a reminder! Get lit and talk nerd shit!
These Wednesday night forums have been really fun, and it’d be awesome if we could get some more live viewers and YouTube subscribers (click here to subscribe). Liking the videos is also super helpful, and I’d appreciate if you took a moment to click that thumbs up.
As always, thanks for reading, watching and listening.