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15 May 2009

Knocked 'Em by Patrick Dean

Big Deal Comics & Stories No. 10 "Knocked 'Em" by Patrick Dean.
Huge tabloid sized single story comic book. Hand painted with spot coloring.

One of the main things I look forward to at each year's Fluke show is getting Patrick Dean's latest comic. Patrick's Big Deal collections usually contain short stories and strips full of wacky robots, monsters and hillbillies but this edition of Big Deal is a big departure. Big as in huge. You really have to see the thing. "Tabloid" does not properly describe it. It is very tall. It is a great looking book with an awesome color cover. The interiors are black and white with some red in the appropriately gruesome spots.
Patrick's style is a fusion of all the best lurid elements of silver age sci-fi and horror comics fused together with all the best lurid elements of men's magazine gag comics. Most of his comics are packed with jokes and clever banter but this book is a more serious silent piece. Still, it's got the wacky situations and monsters I expect in an issue of Big Deal. I don't want to say too much about the story because it would ruin the wicked ending but I'll just say that it explores a situation where two lovers are hiding things from each other... and monsters. It is a really fun read and every panel is beautiful. It's the type of book you will want to flip through over and over again each time you pass by it.
We are only about five months into 2009 but I already think that this book is going to be one of the must have minicomics of 2009. I seldom tell my readers how to spend their money but I seriously recommend you visit Dean's website and request a copy. He was only charging five bucks at Fluke but really, he should be charging at least twice that. While you are there you can check out some of his other Big Deal stories. Enjoy.

Your best pal ever,
Shannon Smith

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