Zines or comics rushed to get finished in time for conventions are never quite what they could be. Such is the story behind Abraxia’s Dream, a contribution-based comic zine. Apparently most of the contributors zine work in animation, and when SmallPox 2000 came up in Ottawa, the editor sought out these artists for their work. She claims the resulting comics stem from animators looking to let loose some of their own ideas and get their vision out there. While most of the comics range from okay to entertaining, they are far too short to be satisfying. There is enough material here to start and finish several different comics which I found to be distracting. Among the highlights are Tanithia’s Dream by Ron Huse, The Mask by Clayton Jacobs, and Pouk by Jose Pou. Hopefully, issue number two will feature longer contributions and stick to more serious work like those above and lose the comics like the immature Pee Pee Boy and the unfunny Vladimir & Estragon. (KJ)
comic, #1, fall 2000, 20 pages, $3, Editor: Suzanne A. Marsden, Publisher: Dragonhead Studio, 601-360 Bell Street South, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5E8, [email protected]