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Issue 2 of 'Dump' is the latest publication from the Tayside based comics creator, David Robertson. The comic contains a variety of strips, ranging from one-page works produced with artistic collaborators to longer, more autobiographical works that are both written and drawn by Robertson.
The first story, Dump, nicely illustrates one of Robertson's key strengths: the juxtaposition between the often mundane nature of daily life and the absurdities that can be found within. This theme is continued in six one page strips, exploring such everyday scenarios as why people vote, social anxiety, and celebrity name association. The commonplace nature of many of the events depicted allow the reader to easily identify with the scenarios, with Robertson marrying this with a sly wit and a unique way of interpreting these familiar situations.
As enjoyable as these pieces are, for me the real success of the publication lies in the two stories that make up its second half. Autobiographical in nature, a 4 page story details Robertson's interpretation of the development of e-mail and the Internet, and how this has been reflected in his own life. A fascinating piece, it does a good job of highlighting not only the pace of change, but also how outlandish certain innovations seem in isolation and upon first introduction. Encompassing everything from Geocities to Twitter, Robertson also highlights his comic knowledge by providing a sly nod to technology from the Lee/Kirby run of the Incredible Hulk.
The final strip, 'Everything', is a treat. Produced from scratch as part of a 24-hour Comics Day event, this details Robertson's journey thus far, exploring the career, personal and social factors that have shaped his life to date. I am always fascinated by insights into the creative process and following Robertson's journey from youthful comic mash-ups to adult self publication is an engaging read. Robertson's art is not flashy but is simple and effective, a good fit for the everyday situations depicted in his work.
The format and production values of the title merit special mention. Modelled on the Penguin Classics template, the cover is instantly eye catching, while the reproduction inside is crisp and clear. The volume concludes with a short text piece from Robertson that gives an insight into the background for each story, as well as raising the tantalising prospect of a third issue of 'Dump' to be released in the future.
I must admit that I don't dip into the small press scene very often, but reading this work has reminded me of the quality that can be found out there and this is definitely an area that I'll look to explore further in the future. More information about David Robertson's work can be found at the following location:
Blog - http://fredeggcomics.blogspot.co.uk/
Website - http://fredeggcomics.piczo.com/
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