pen-monkey:These photos hardly do Issue 2 of ISLAND any...

pen-monkey:

These photos hardly do Issue 2 of ISLAND any justice. The magazine does not disappoint. Each of the two issues have been packed with content but unlike it’s predecessors; Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated and the like, Island is devoid of advertising. Surprisingly this gives something this rich and well put together a strangely mysterious vibe. It’s like finding a house in the woods with no roads leading up to it but the table set and the cupboards fully stocked. It’s an engaging book, from the beauty of Will Kirkby’s opening spread, the humor of Brandon Graham’s intro, Ludroe’s finale of Dagger Proof Mummy, the wild Habitat by Simon Roy (a rad blend of his work on Prophet and his own Tiger Lung), Emma Rios’ lush cover art and the finish of her I.D. Story, and the cinema sewer finish from Robin Bougie, there is bound to be something in there for you.

Even my 6 year old daughter became enamored of the cover art. She held the book for a while before I engaged her about it. We ended up discussing it for a good half an hour with her deciding that it reminded her of the river dragon in Spirited Away “except it’s a girl”.

The real excitement to be found here is where does it go next? How does it change and transmutate with age?

If they keep going like this it will age like the proverbial fine wine.

I have to admit I’m nervous every time a new one comes out. Sounds dumb but in my 44 years roaming the Earth I’ve found that when something comes along that’s this good, something that fires on all cylinders that it doesn’t last - that it can’t last. But fuck it, buy it and read it ragged and if it stays I won’t kick it out of bed, and if it goes let it go out in a blaze of glory because it’s better to burn out than to fade away.

nice (thanks for the nice words– I’m a little too happy that we’re getting to do Island and that it’s clicking with some people so well)