Review by Win Wiacek

Michael Dowers loves the concept of crafting and disseminating Mini Comics and his last book Newave!- The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s described and reproduced hundreds of examples. It spotlighted with enticing, encouraging exuberance those driven artisans who crave a vehicle of personal expression.

This superb sequel is another massive brick of fun (over 800 monochrome pages, 178x127mm) taking a historical perspective, offering a trip through decades of free-thinking, self-determined free expression and technological developments. Many key figures in the creation and steady proliferation of this uniquely eloquent people’s medium are included, not only through examples of their groundbreaking work, but also through statements, interviews and fond reminiscences.

It all starts with Dowers who takes a broadly chronological approach, his introduction leading into ‘The Story of Quoz in Leonard Rifas’ Own Words’ (sample spreaad left) after which the breakthrough Quoz from 1969 is reprinted in its quirky absurdist entirety.

Justin Green lays claim to having created the winning format of mini comics in his reprinted blog ‘Statement’ before his groundbreaking Spare Comic? and inspirational Underground Cartooning Course (both from 1972) show us all how it should still be done. Gary Arlington is highlighted firstly through an interview he gave to Comics Journal reporter Patrick Rosenkranz then by his uplifting Awake! mini from 1972.

Greater access to improved reproduction technology led to an explosion of self-expression from the late 1970s, covering an astounding variety of topics. From 1981 and 1982 Tales from the Inside was inmate Macedonio M. Garcia’s description of a convict’s existence (sample art right), tellingly realised. Colin Upton is responsible for Diabetes Funnies, Jim Woodring and David Lasky’s Jesus Delivers offers some sage advice to the overly zealous spiritual seekers, whilst No Exit by Andy Singer offers a humorous glimpse at Yankee obsessions such as sport, pets and the justice system.

Wherever possible reproductions are preceded by interviews with the creators, and the major names of the scene are all featured. Matt Feazell describes his prolific career, followed by his work from 1981 and 1994. Some crossed over into mainstream funnybooks, Matt Howarth, Molly Kiely and Noah Van Sciver among them.

Notable is ‘The Story of Outside In’, an extensive collaborative effort spanning 1983-2003 as a succession of editors and publishers shepherded an ambitious idea and made a little history. Rick Bradford and Steve Willis conceived and produced 14 issues of a invitational mini which sought to print self-portraits by the movement’s many artisans (further described herein with a canny, funny strip of the book’s early days by Willis) before Dowers, Edd Vick, and Hall Hargit, and Bruce Chrislip recount their own tenures at the top covering a further 36 issues.

As beguiling and exhaustive as Treasury of Mini Comics is, the real draw of this compilation is that creativity is addictive, good work never pales or grows stale and the great stories and art will make you keen to have a go too. Volume Two follows, but perhaps you’ll make Volume Three.