Books: Orc Stain

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Orc Stain
By James Stokoe
2010





Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/


I never thought that a comic book could give me a head rush. I was wrong:

Orc Stain is a delirious, lip-smacking, chocolate cake of a comic that manages to make being fun, funny, exciting and wildly inventive look somehow easy. Even tho it says that one guy (James Stokoe: who is from right now a mini-legend in my eyes) is responsible for all the art and all the writing: it feels more like the work of a entire film crew - every character is so well formed, the background detail so deep: with every small element imbued with it's own unique personality and the whole world: not only feeling so well thought out and considered (which can sometimes be kinda boring) but it's also manages to feel fresh and spontaneous (which is what makes it such a great head rush to read).  

Even tho it reportedly has it's roots in heated conversation about The Lord of The Rings and the morality of Orcs (erm - ok then) Orc Stain doesn't actually require any previous knowledge of the works of Tolkien to enjoy. In fact - and I might be sticking my neck out a little here - apart from use of the word "Orc" I don't actually think there's any real connection between the two (see: the article below on Getting Past The "O" Word). Instead of being set somewhere in Middle Earth - everything takes place in the far distant future and instead of a story that follows around a group of lovable, well-behaved hobbits - this is a world where all the characters everywhere are dastardly and traitorous and utterly amoral (which for me: is a big selling point).

Yeah: I give bonus points to books which have characters who shout out "Oh tits!" Because - damn it - that's good writing.  

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Links: Comics Should Be Good Review of Vol 1, iFanboy Review of Vol 1, Comics Alliance Orc Stain Preview, Too Busy Thinking About My Comics Article: On James Stokoe's "Orc Stain": Getting Past The "O" Word.

Further reading: Prophet, Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth Saga, The Umbrella Academy, Chew, Elephantmen, I Kill Giants, The Manhattan Projects, Hard Boiled, Just a Pilgrim, Smax, Tank Girl: Tank Girl One, Scott Pilgrim, The Hobbit.

All comments welcome.