Press
Reviews for Side B: The Music Lover’s Comic Anthology:
- Alternative Press, Issue 255 [Cover]
“I am always a sucker for anthologies, especially good themed ones. … This collection is a good collection of some great new work and themes can provide a good outlet for folks to think outside of their usual comfortzone.”
- Robin McConnell, Inkstuds
“The best mix tapes include a few familiar artists even as they introduce you to a host of new favorites, and Side B offers a nice assortment of independent creators.”
- Lauren Davis, Storming the Tower
“You’ll keep this on top of the stack for a long time, replaying the best tracks.”
- Mark Campos, Poopsheet Foundation
“Side B is an impressive work. Besides the thump factor and its prodigious list of contributors, it’s a beautifully designed and produced anthology. … The stories explore a range of genres as well-comedy, tragedy, romance, mystery, and tributes. I could identify over a dozen stories that were my favorites for their writing, or artwork, or both. … There’s so much here that anyone will find plenty to be entertained by and to think about afterward. Side B is music for your eyes and will linger in your memory long after you close the covers.”
- R. Krauss, Comic Related
“Cartooning about music isn’t easy and is rife for failure if one isn’t completely committed. … Cartoonist and editor Rachel Dukes is so devoted to the topic that she has done a second anthology about music, SIDE B (the obvious sequel to SIDE A). It’s a “mom and pop” operation, assisted only by her fiance Mike Lopez and self-published at considerable personal expense. It’s clear that music is a strong enough force in their lives that they feel compelled to make this kind of commitment. … There’s an unabashed enthusiasm in each artist’s story, showing that allowing someone to go on at length about an artist they admire can reveal something about the storyteller as well.”
- Rob Clough, High-Low
“We all have our own taste in music, our own response to it, but whatever the songs or styles or bands, we all know what that feels like: the feeling of the song that speaks exactly to your emotional state. … This is a homegrown effort, easy to get behind just for that reason, and it has the feel of an indie scene throughout. But thankfully, none of the stories make you feel like you’re reading about a scene you can’t be a part of.”
- John Hogan, Graphic Novel Reporter
“Side B features a high level of storytelling craft throughout. … Kudos to Side B editor Rachel Dukes for conceiving of and compiling a thought-provoking book that sings.”
- Suzette Chan, Sequential Tart
“I was generally impressed by the high quality of the work here. Even with the pieces where I didn’t care for their chosen style, I could see skill underneath. … Many of the pieces are semi-autobiographical, or seem that way. I liked the approach, since made the book feel like hanging out chatting with friends. … With stories about record shops, mixtapes, and listening to entire albums, the book is almost a time capsule of how things used to be. Lawrence Gullo’s “Summer 1968? sums it up: music is about freedom. So far, the best anthology I’ve read this year. Get a copy and see for yourself.”
- Johanna Draper Carlson, Comics Worth Reading
“A few years ago I really enjoyed the anthology SIDE A: The Music Lover’s Graphic Novel from Poseur Ink press. Two years later, the flip side is here, SIDE B: The Music Lovers’ Comic Anthology, and it’s one of those rare cases where the B-side is even better than the A-side.”
- Synd-e, Syndicate Product Covert HQ
“Great theme, good book, LOTS of comics in it of which I’m certain you (yeah I mean you!) will like enough of them to agree with me that side b is a dang good anthology.”
- Xaviar Xerexes, Comixtalk
“A quality book all around. Poseur Ink did a great job and I hope they make more.”
- Shannon Smith, File Under Other
Reviews for Side A: The Music Lover’s Graphic Novel:
- Alternative Press, Issue 232 [Cover]
- Razorcake, Issue 41
|
“As a combination music and comic geek, I really liked this independent, lo-fi collection of personal stories about music in individual lives. (I’ve already re-read it!)” - Syndicate Product Covert HQ “Side A: The Music Lover’s Graphic Novel is often amusing, sometimes surreal, and easily relatable for anyone who still cherishes their first vinyl record. This is coffee table reading for the musically nostalgic.” - Adrian Villagomez, Absolute Punk
“Side A: The Music Lovers Graphic Novel is a good mixtape, and you’d do well to get to know the people behind it a little better.”
“This nice little anthology is a great read for the music lover out there…”
“Genuine music lovers will probably get a bit more out of this than I did, granted, but good storytelling is good storytelling regardless of the subject, or the fact that the reviewer may be less than passionate about said subject. Absolutely a wonderful anthology…”
“Compiling 33 short comic stories by dozens of underground writers and artists, the B&W collection is, by nature, hit-and-miss, but overall does a solid job of turning musical passions into entertaining graphic storytelling.” |
Reviews for Winter Bloo:
- Razorcake, Issue 40
Reviews for Intentionally Left Blank:
Intentionally Left Blank is a fantastic journal comic by Rachel Dukes that illustrates random day to day experiences often between her and her boyfriend Mikey. Although there isn’t much to read, each comic is whimsical and often offers experiences we ourselves can relate to. The layout of the web-comic is easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye. I finished it in one sitting and found myself inspired to the point of wanting to start a web-comic journal for myself. I give it a 4 out of 5.â€
