I finally got around to buying and reading the second issue of Faction and I have to say - it was worth the wait (even if it only feels like yesterday when I was buying the first issue)! Issue two is bigger than issue one - 21 pages bigger (a grand 90 pages in total), and costs $5 more (priced at $24.95NZD) but is well worth it!
Inside there's heaps of good stuff, my personal favourite strip this time is James Squires' untitled two-page space strip, which is about an astronaut left behind on a planet (and isn't the only space strip in the comic, as Ectype by Damon Keen is the other, and is also a fascinating read).
I also particularly like Saurian Era by Cory Mathis, the artwork is good and it also reminds me of The Pirates Of Pangaea in The Phoenix.
All in all, the Faction team has turned out yet another masterpiece, flawless from top to bottom. Faction is a joy to behold, and be holding. It's great to see this successful New Zealand comic, it's not often you see any around, so be sure to grab your copy from various book stores and comic stores around New Zealand, or online at the Faction website:
http://www.factioncomics.co.nz
The second issue of the New Zealand comic Faction is ready to preorder now. Issue two will cost $5 more than issue one meaning that it comes with a price tag of $24.95 (plus postage if you buy online), but it does have 90 pages whereas issue one had 76.
Faction was originally due to come out once every six months and so far it has (issue one came out in January), but sadly it will now be coming out annually.
If you can, I'd recommend buying a copy as it is printed on very high quality paper but if the price is too steep for readers outside of New Zealand (I'm not sure how much postage would be) then there should be a free online version posted on their website.
Faction collects a load of fantastic New Zealand artists in one place and it's nice to see how much talent there is here. I'll be posting a full review of the comic when it is released later this month.
http://www.factioncomics.co.nz
Launched very recently was Faction, a brand new 72 page comic made by Kiwi's (that's what New Zealander's call themselves)! At first I thought it was going to be one long grahic novel but instead I was suprised to find a mixture of humour and adventure style strips, between two and ten pages (on average)! Here are some of the highlights (although all of it is top quality)!
Migrane is a short, eight page humour strip about two kids getting a present for their mum. After a crash of which they don't care at all about they walk into a nearby house for a drink and find a lady lying on the floor with a giant thing (I don't know a better word to describe it) coming out of her head! Art is signed by 'Ned', whos full name is Ned Wenlock.
One Giant Leap by Damon Keen is a very interesting strip about an astronaut who is separated from his space craft and has to try and get back. The only words said in this strip is the title and the creators name!
Do You Want To Talk About It by Matt and Sam Emery is about a man with a crazy dream about giant killer robots! I will say no more...
And finally, I'll show one full page, the last comic strip in the comic - Waves, Sea, Leaky, Moby Dick and Fish by Roger Langridge.
Faction is a superb piece of work, and I'll be getting a paper version as soon as I can - I was amazed by how much I loved it! You can find out more about Faction on their website:
http://www.factioncomics.co.nz/
And to find out about ordering a paper version or reading it online for free, click here:
http://www.factioncomics.co.nz/getfaction.html