Jean Baptiste Baigorri’s Cramond Island by Irkus M. Zeberio

(Caption: My weekend was made complete by the late discovery of Saint Agur Delice – a new product, introductory offer, only £1.50. I hope it’s good, I love Saint Agur!)

From contemporary poetry to a contemporary graphic novel. All the genres, all the forms this week. Aren’t I switched the fuck on? And new cheese!

This book was strange. I enjoyed the visuals, and I enjoyed bits of the dialogue, but it very much felt like (which it is intended to be…) part one of a series. So, obviously, it had quite a bit to “set up”, introduce. Which I’m not certain, in terms of narrative, it did effectively. Some nice ideas, some very black and white capitalism-left wing analogies created (a little crude in terms of politics – a factory called “Hell” ruled over by an obese, giant glutton, for example), but occasional snatches of idealogical wit seep through.

“There’s nothing they fear more than poetry for the masses” being a particular gem. And perhaps how the book sees itself. Maybe in issue two it will be, but for me, this one wasn’t…

I did like the aesthetic, and I do very much like the idea of Nobrow as a publishing house, having enjoyed things they’ve published before. I’m just not certain this one was as successful as I’d hoped it would be. Which is a shame.