Scene 15 - Dark Places

15/04/07

As I recall, I promised to bore you about Castle Waiting at some point. And I always try to keep my promises, so here it is - a boring Linda-Medley-is-great rant. Those of you who already know this may now leave. Everyone else has to stay and listen - my Uzi says so.

The weird thing is that the first time I picked up a copy of Castle Waiting, I didn't like it. I got handed it by one of the people at my favourite comics store, who thought I would enjoy it. And I decided I didn't - I can't remember why. But it kept getting mentioned; in articles, by my favourite comics creators ... until finally, three or four years after I first picked up a copy, I found this gorgeous hardback book in Edinburgh. I wasn't sure whether to buy, but then I found out it was £12, and I pretty much had to - just for the experience of buying five hundred pages of hardback bound comic for £12. (That never usually happens).

And why, oh why did I not listen to everyone else in the world?

This comic is great. It's set in the world of fairy tales, but though there is magic and odd creatures, that isn't the main point. The stories are very much grounded in the characters and their experiences of life. Of course, a story like that depends on having real, believable characters (whether they're humans, storks, water sprites or whatever); and of course, this one does. They're likable, they're fun, they're interesting. You want to know what happens to them, how they're going to deal with whatever is thrown at them next - whether it's trickery by a surprisingly likeable (but not very nice) demon, or just going shopping (with a stop at the pub, and highway robbery).

Then there's the art. Linda Medley draws the most lush, beautiful art I have seen in a long time. You know those fairy story books when you were little, with the lovely, intricate black and white prints of fairytale landscapes? No? Okay, well, I do, and her art reminds me of those. It's delicious.

I should also give a mention to the actual book itself - it really is one of the best made comic collections I've come across. I don't think there's much chance of the usual problems with the pages falling out, and the paper quality is great.

Anyway. Go buy the first Castle Waiting collection by Linda Medley. And also the singles, so she can keep making them this time.

Rant over - you are now free to go.