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The first 12 pages of "Jack and Lucky #3" are online now. I wanted to finish this issue for Comic-Con, but I ran out of time and had to end it on a cliffhanger again. I'll probably take an indefinite hiatus from "J & L" so I can start drawing my new series, "Kayfabe."

I've added some new concept art and a 3D section.

I have a new 7-page autobiographical comic, Drown, online. Next, it's on to Jack and Lucky #3.

Darren Schroeder, Silver Bullet Comic Books:

(J&L #1)
Being a bachelor myself, there is much to identify with in the amusing take on the life of a single guy. Jack's a computer programmer/character designer but spends most of this issue hanging out in book shops looking at the art section, watching porn, and hanging out at home with his giant talking cat, Lucky.

Anthony has produced a very well drawn comic. From the fantasy elements of a giant talking cat to the physical reality of the architecture of a Borders store, everything is flawlessly presented in a clean and straightforward style. Anthony excels in his character illustrations, depicting a range of characters. Fans of pin up girl art will drool over this book, as Anthony goes overboard populating the pages with gorgeous women wearing crop-tops, cut off jeans etc. It gets a bit much by the end of the book, but the penmanship can't be faulted.

Plot wise, Jack is single but wishes he wasn't. He can't help but notice all the pretty girls, but he always gets tongue tied when actually face to face with any of them. There's a lot of humour here, with Lucky's actions always amusing, but then a giant talking cat can't help but be funny. Jack's awkwardness around women is another running gag. By the end of the issue, a chance meeting with one of the pin up girls turns from bad to worse as Jack and Lucky actually fall down a cliff for the cliff-hanger.

This book seems to be aiming for a ladish audience with all the sexy women and porn on display, which is a shame 'cause the impressive artwork and humour make for a good read. Hopefully Jack will start meeting some more realistic female characters soon.

In a word: Cleavage

(Sampler)
In which Anthony tells us about himself in an amusing monologue. There is also a nice introduction to Jack in the form of a 12-step guide to happiness that tells us a lot about the characters. There is also a short preview of issue 2, which gives us a resolution to the cliff-hanger, some wet t-shirts, and jokes about Microsoft. As with issue 1, this is well drawn and pretty much an essential buy for those who enjoy issue one.

In a word: Amusing

(J&L #2)
When you share a flat with a 6 foot tall talking cat, you'd think that you could turn that to your advantage some how; perhaps sell tickets for the neighbours to come and look at it, or find a biology department somewhere who want something unique to dissect. But the first law of situation comedy always gets in the way, 'cause it states that any strange animal/ powers/empowered spouse will only attract other strange events, unwanted scrutiny, and unfortunate coincidences. For the Jack of the title, this manifests itself in the appearance of beautiful women wanting a date and the eventual fight scene.

So far in this series, Jack comes across as a bit of a dork who is at the mercy of the slapstick comedy gods. He trips over things, upsets his boss, hates his job, lusts after women, but can't construct a coherent sentence in their presence. There's a certain amount of enjoyment to be had at his expense, but a lot of it is just cringe worthy cliché. The missed-hit Billiard ball that causes a fist fight isn't that original and seems rather pointless. Jack is such a dork that readers could quickly start to lose patience with him.

From a design aspect, there is much to recommend in this book. Anthony displays some bold and elegant illustrations with very clean lines. All the characters are very 'animated', with the mysterious female being especially attractive without crossing the line into cheesecake.

Lucky, the giant cat, takes a back seat in this issue, not really doing anything more or less than acting as any normal roommate would. There is a hint of impeding problems in some of the details of this issue: just what does that demonic tattoo on one character signify? I hope it spells big trouble, 'cause the books needs some sparks. The goings on at Jack's workplace (a computer gaming company) seem a bit of a dead end for Jack and the readers. Jack needs a good kick in the pants so the comic can get going.

In a Word: Holding

This seems to be the beginning of a Hollywood-style loser-boy-meets-hot-girl sort of story that would probably appeal to young males everywhere. I can easily see it as a movie or a sitcom. What the reader knows right away is that Jack can't seem to score with women and that he's got a pretty juvenile, hormone-addled view of them. Also, his cat, Lucky, is humanoid, maybe seven feet tall and 300 pounds (I expect a "that's a lot of pussy" joke to show up at some point). The comic is slickly drawn (maybe too slickly at times) with lots of pop culture references, a little manga influence and its fair share of Frank Cho-style T&A.

"Motenai Comics" are a schizophrenic combination of absurdity and everyday things, where giant talking cats appear in the same panels as young men craving the attention of the girl they're crushing on. It's an entertaining mix, often very funny, and more than occasionally uncomfortably familiar.

The book is a collection of shorts exploring the finer points of young life, like getting a job, finding a girlfriend, pursuing your dreams (unsuccessfully), and missing the best moments of your life (Poor Jack - the protagonist is knocked unconscious during a most inopportune time, just before the first moment of gratuitous nudity in a comic I've seen in a while that didn't feel absolutely foolish to me).

The art is a pleasant blend of hard shadows and stark whites, and would look gorgeous in comic strip or book format. Overall, "Motenai Comics" are an odd concoction of everyman and geek's life bizarreness that will have you alternately laughing and squirming.

I still don't get the giant talking cat, but hey, can't win 'em all.

W.E. Elliot, Almost Normal Comics:

(Sampler)
It's comics like these that give the small press its legitimacy. The art and the stories contained in this "Sampler" easily rival anything you're going to find being put out by the mainstream publishers. Anthony begins with a short personal story about his appearance and then introduces us to a character named Jack. Jack has the same problems as most of us. Landing the dream job and meeting the perfect girl. And like most of us, Jack has to settle for something less than what he was seeking. The character of Jack is very appealing and I found myself wanting to read more about this likable loser with weird hair and a giant cat sidekick! If you're tired of being let down by small press comics that just don't deliver, then prepare to have your faith restored by Motenai Comics Sampler!

(J&L #1)
Well how sweet is this?! If I couldn't convince you above how great these Motenai Comics are, then I'll try it again. And this time you can have a peek at Jack's giant cat sidekick too (that would be him on the cover)! Okay, in case you don't know how I do these review things it's like this: I grab comics off my drawing table at random, read 'em, and then write something about what I thought. I try to keep the stack of comics in the order I received 'em. Why I'm telling you about this is because the events in this particular comic, Jack and Lucky, actually take place before the events in the above reviewed comic, Motenai Comics Sampler. Okay, just wanted to clear that up. Anyway, this is issue number one of Jack and Lucky and you'll be the lucky one if you can get a copy of this super cool, funny, and magnificently drawn book! Once again (for the first time) we're introduced to Jack, the likable loser and his cat, Lucky. Jack, having no luck in the love department, resigns himself to another night at home with his giant cat drinking beer, eating blueberry pop tarts, and watching porn. The following day Jack and Lucky hit the park where Jack cruises for chicks. And that leads into the other comic. I can't praise these comics enough. The stories are funny and easy to relate to, and the artwork is, well just incredible! Don't trust my judgment? Just visit the web site. I say get 'em both and get 'em quick 'cause this Anthony Hon dude is somebody you're going to be hearing more about!

(J&L #2)
Okay, I've said this before, and I'm going to say it again, if you haven't checked out one of Anthony Hon's comics yet, you better hurry up 'cause this guy's too good to go unnoticed for very long! And I'm not talking just about his drawing, which is outstanding, but also about his ability to tell a story. In this issue, Jack has just regained consciousness after nearly drowning. He was saved by the mysterious Luna, a beautiful and possibly dangerous girl. Aside from Luna, Jack's life seems to be going down the toilet. Well, he does have Lucky, his giant motorcycle riding cat, but not much else. As for Luna, this issue, she and Jack go out on a date that ends up turning into a barroom fight. This is a quality comic in every sense that is more than worth the price!

Ah, finally! An indie book about a slacker guy that’s not only funny and interesting, but well-drawn and well-planned! Okay, I’m being a little harsh here; there are plenty of others out there that are good (Chiaroscuro immediately springs to mind), but lately I’ve run into another plethora of the type of indie books that give indie books a bad name. Jack is a twenty-something with a video-game-company job, no girlfriend, raging hormones, too much free time … and a giant cat for a roommate (the eponymous "Lucky").

The other reviews of this comic that I’ve read seemed to have a problem with Lucky, since he’s the only large talking animal we see in this universe, but as a long-time Cerebus fan, I didn’t even bat an eye. Hon’s writing is very easygoing, as is his art. Don’t get me wrong, he’s very talented, but the art feels unplanned, smooth, laconic.

Others keep comparing Hon’s style to Frank Cho’s, but I’d go even further back. When I first read this, I thought, "Hey, there’s a lot of dark shading in here, and it’s b&w, but it doesn’t feel … harsh. It shares a lot with, say, the Mahfood style of art, but it doesn’t feel quite like that. It reminds me of something … " After thinking about it, I realized that it reminded me greatly of the early issues of Jeff Smith’s Bone: simple and cartoony, with curves galore, but with characters that weren’t taken lightly or treated as animated characters. Of course, one can’t mention Jeff Smith without mentioning Walt Kelly, and that’s where the real influence lies here. I could be completely wrong, but this reminds me a lot of that old-school style.

The subject matter, however, is certainly not child-safe. In this issue alone we have binge drinking while watching interactive porn, so don’t let the big kitty and happy-go-lucky look fool you: this is not a kid’s comic. Also, since Jack’s looking for a woman, we have plenty of prospects paraded before our eyes, and they’re quite saliva-inducing. Another point past reviewers have brought up: the … bustiness … of the young women in this comic. But they forget that that’s how we young males see the world when we’re hard up: women are divided into "fuckable" and "not fuckable," and those that fall into the former category become much more attractive as the days pass, until everyone under fifty looks like a buxom centerfold just waiting to be doused with cold water. Abstinence is like alcohol: the longer you stick with it, the prettier everyone gets. Sorry to be crude, but it’s true.

Along with my copy of J&L #1 I received a sample of issue #2, which I have to say looks like it’ll be just as good as #1. Here’s hoping that this comic gets to go on for quite a while; Anthony draws expressive, interesting people and writes light and enjoyable stories that stick with you later, like a pleasant taste.

(J&L #1)
OK, take a look at the cover. I know that giant cat thing was right there, but it still really freaked me out when I saw it for the first time. See, the first six pages were all about Jack trying to pick up a girl in a book store. When he came home for the day, without even thinking this was odd, there's a giant cat sitting on his couch watching TV. Maybe I missed an introduction or something, or maybe giant cats are the norm in his world, but I stopped noticing by the end of the issue anyway. About the only complaint I have about the issue is that Anthony seems to to be unable to draw anything but gorgeous, buxom women, if that's really a complaint. Other than that the art is nothing short of phenomenal and the sampler comic he sent me showed that he can draw regular women too. I don't see how he could ever hope to put something this detailed out on a regular basis, but I'm more than willing to check it out while he does. Send him an e-mail or check out his website, why don't you?

(J&L #2)
Quick, what's Anthony selling with that cover? Not that I begrudge him his constitutional right to draw beautiful, shapely women or anything, but a little bit of subtlety never killed anybody. Strangely enough, the inside of the comic is mostly about Jack and his job, which involves coming up with new ideas for video games. He also gets the recap of what happened to him when he almost drowned in the last issue, and at the end of a crappy day he gets asked out by Luna, that girl on the cover. I might have mentioned this before, but his art is damned near flawless. He skimps out on a background or two in certain panels, but you could only say that if you expect lavish backgrounds in every panel. As it is, more often that not there's a lot going on in the background, and I'm just floored by the sheer talent of this guy. What about the story? Oh yeah, the story. It's building, is all I can say about it right now. Looks like there's more than the obvious to Luna, and things might heat up at work, and what the hell is up with the giant cat? For a book this gorgeous, I'm content to sit back for a few more issues and wait for the story to develop. Contact info is up there, it's $2, buy these now before he's tremendously famous!

In the span of less than a month, another creator sent me a small press book that I honestly can't pass up reviewing and thus again putting my "I generally don't publicly critique small press books" proposition as untrue. Despite looking like a well-put-together basement comic, Jack and Lucky is quite professional and overall rather good.

Essentially it's the story of an aspiring artist, Jack, and his woes in finding companionship amongst the opposite sex. Unlike the usual wallowing in indy autobiographical melancholia, the book instead takes a greater humorous tack and rather than following a depressed protagonist around, introduces Jack's "pet" a giant, anthropomorphic talking cat, Lucky, and as they say "wacky hijinks ensue".

You could say that Jack and Lucky shares an artistic and conceptual aesthetic with Frank Cho's Liberty Meadows, especially given the fact that all of the women in both books seem to be large-breasted and constantly perky, but Jack and Lucky edges it out given the fact that not only is it better in terms of story, it's also quite a deal funnier. The artwork itself is crisp and clean, similar again to Cho's style, simplistic and yet not overly stylised.

Currently you can check out the book at the link above, as well as the conclusion to the the situation to be included in #2.

Hon's writing style is perfect for this tale. For whatever reason, he ably pulls off the book's odd premise. The first issue deals with Jack's quest to find himself a woman. Judging by Jack's attire of comic shirts, it's obvious he lacks the experience to approach the ladies. When Lucky and he go to a local park, Jack's luck changes, and it's not all for the good. My only complaint about the book is that Hon asks us to suspend our disbelief a tad too much in this light hearted romp. Where does Lucky come from? What's his story? I mean, cats like this shouldn't simply go unnoticed when walking the streets, especially when there's a dog who, well, is simply a dog. Still, it's a funny and enjoyable enough read that it can be easily passed over. No doubt an explanation will pop up soon enough.

Hon is also quite the artist, with a firm grasp on drawing the everyday despite Lucky's oddball place in this real world. When Lucky cooks Jack breakfast, it's almost equivalent to Kirby's ability to present the Fantastic Four livivng as everyday folk. You really think nothing of it and just go along for the ride. The black and white look is used to great effect, and things never get muddied.

Jack and Lucky was a pleasant surprise in my mail box. Let it be one in yours!

The Joint: You're going to need to take a stop over at Hon's website to really see the range of work that this guy is capable of. When I finished reading JAL #1, I went over to get ordering info for this issue to place in this review (for it WASN'T PRINTED INSIDE THE ISSUE ITSELF *ahem!*), then was quite surprised to see that not only does Hon knock out comix like he's just moonlighting in zines as a pasttime in between his *real* job at some *real* comic book company, but he's also pretty damn accomplished fine artist. But this review is about JAL #1. This joint follows Jack, your typical bohemian type with a giant cat-thing named Lucky for a pet and I suppose, roommate (I suppose when your cat is a bipedal and larger than you, it becomes your roommate, no?). Jack can't seem to make it with the chicks, and time after time he strikes out, succumbing even to such depths as watching virtual porn with cat-pet-thing-roommate, Lucky. Finally, Jack stumbles upon the brilliant idea to go trudging into the park with Lucky in hopes that his monster pussy will be a magnet to the same...err...well. So what hijinx follows? As usual, you'll need to find out for yourself, dear readers. According to the liner notes in the back cover, this is Hon's first comic book excursion. That said, I hafta admit, by looking at this production overall, I want to think that this is just some sick little joke that he's playing on everybody. It would seem for a creator's first time out that there would be a lot of flaws that were indicative of such fledgling activity. I honestly can't find anything to gripe about. JACK AND LUCKY is humorous and engaging in its story, sequentially it flows quite well, the illustrations are just expertly rendered and just feels like a total pro product that could hold guns against many of the established alternative comix that are available. But if we're to believe that this is a maiden voyage, I say more power to you, may you keep on sailing for quite awhile...just put some ordering info inside your comix!

(J&L #2)
Jack is a young, hip-but-losery guy who works in the graphics department of Explosive Games. Lucky is either his pet or his roommate (the line is blurred on account of he is a seven-foot bipedal cat). As issue two opens up, Jack is still unconscious from the fall he took in part one, shortly after meeting what just might be the girl of his dreams. The story follows Jack as he goes through some brick-brained shenanigans at work and finally hooks up for a date with Luna - who turns out to be more than a handful of trouble.

This comic could develop into something very special. The art is clean, pleasant, and quite well done. The characters are not fully fleshed out yet, but there is a sense in these pages that Mr. Hon knows exactly what he is doing. The world of JACK AND LUCKY is one of the mundane spiked with plenty of whimsy, where a girl with a sense of humor and an eye for danger can turn more heads and work more magic than any giant talking animal ever could. As the story and characters grow, I expect that they will become like familiar old friends, with a world that you’ll want to drop in and visit any time you get a chance.

This book is a complete knockout. Anthony's work is simply top rate. Jack and Lucky is a very funny book about a young slacker and his search for love in a world populated by gorgeous women. Oh yeah, and he lives with a six foot tall beer drinking cat too. If Oni Press doesn't give this guy a book, they are retarded.

Like many other young creators, Mr. Hon brings us a story of an aspiring artist looking to meet the right girl. Jack has a hard time getting up the nerve to speak to the attractive women he sees around him. Instead, he goes home to a giant talking cat, and they watch DVD porn together.

The cat character, Lucky, makes this book stand out from the many other examples of this genre available in self-published comics, but he's handled oddly. For example, he can cook Jack pancakes and bacon for breakfast, but he can't open his own can of giant cat food. With his laid-back demeanor, he's kind of a combination of Tawky Tawny and the Cowardly Lion.

Jack apparently lives in the same neighborhood Frank Cho portrays in LIBERTY MEADOWS, the one where all the women have the same large-breasted figures. If you like that book, you might enjoy this one -- JACK & LUCKY certainly has better jokes. You can read this issue online at Mr. Hon's website, where you'll also find out how the cliffhanger resolves.