Lovely Ugly Cruel World #3 / 20 Pages / $1 / http://www.lunar-circuitry.net/cruel_world
This is another of the comic zines that I’ve discussed in the past, but the main exploits that are covered in the comic are about two individuals, Francis and Sam. This time, much like a twenty-year old episode of The Young Ones, are trying to find something to do, and end up offering up the suggestion of drinking. Compound that with the sub-plot of trying to get rid of a coffin, and going through some old albums ( Wire’s oft-reviled Manscape being an example of this), and one gets a compelling story to read. While the episode has about as much happening in it as does the average episode of Friends or Seinfield, the serialized style of the magazine offers little but to try to continue with the story until the rising action begins. The style is indescript, lightly drawn but more figurative than realistic. The mixture of hand-writing as well as typed up word bubbles do a great deal in establishing a difference in mood and attitude between the two main characters. Pretty much, all the action takes place in the living room of the main characters, with the story wrapping up just before they go into the bar. A diverse locale is not absolutely necessary for an interesting story, and I believe that Lovely Ugly Cruel World really exploits this fact. However, where there is a lot of build-up to the most interesting action, I still wish that there was more going on in this issue. Oh well, perhaps next time.