Dogpatch Press

Welcome to Bessie, of Marfedblog, a comics review and criticism site. There’s furry stuff there, and much more, with the devoted curation of a fan doing exactly what they love. It’s my favorite kind of writing – thoroughly researched, thoughtfully presented, in magazine style long form. I suspect it may be underexposed considering the high quality, so if you like this, give it a follow. And expect more syndicated content reposted here.  (- Patch)

Each and every single one of Iris Jay’s comic creations sounds like one of the greatest film that was never made, ever. The descriptions of each read like the fevered elevator pitch of some fresh-faced starry-eyed youngster who has grown up on a diet of the trashiest entertainment, 90’s nostalgia and a deep love of forgotten films. Comic worlds inhabited by gun totting robots, gangster piloted mechs and laser-firing wolves partnered with grizzled FBI agents, all armed with the perfect action movie one liners. You are kidding yourself if you didn’t want to see a hulking supernatural fluorescent rat declaring “I  couldn’t free your minds. But I can free your teeth!”

Iris is a graduate from Savannah College of Arts and Design  (with a B.F.A. in Sequential Art and a minor in Story boarding, in case you were wondering) who has produced comics online since 2005. Ranging from self published mini comics to webcomics, including the bittersweet story of loss, Bunny, or the hilarious tale of obsession, Space Jam Man. Epiphany, her tale of religion, responsibility and errant slacker gods, started out as a  webcomic in 2008, becoming her longest running comic and eventually coming to an end in 2013 with a successful Kickstarter campaign which resulted in a print version of its entire run. Around two years ago Iris returned to the world of web comics with Crossed Wires  introducing us to Alan Winters, a geeky student by day and elite hacker by night who travels the online world under the super cool alias of ‘Ultra Drakken’ complete with a katana-welding dragon avatar. From page one Crossed Wires jacks itself into the cyberpunk tradition drawing strong  inspiration from writer William Gibson and influences from the criminally underrated 90’s  “classic”, Hackers. It’s a comic that should give a little bit of a nostalgic smile to the faces of those who recall a (slightly) more innocent time when people used the term “cyberspace” frequently and un-ironically. Hacking and database cracking are visualised by frenetic samurai  sword fights and shoot outs, juxtaposed with more down to earth scenes of our ‘hero’ and his ramman chugging gamer entourage.

Like the rest of her comic work, Jay’s Crossed Wires is characterized by bold lines, animated figures, playful monochromatic pop art colouring and smartly-paced action scenes,  this time firmly  entrenched in the visual language of video games.  Alex holds an everyday conversation about a mysterious girl at his college while battling through a first person shooter environment, complete with re-spawning and power up graphics, while others are set in vast kitch cyber landscapes with superb art, retro futuristic stylings and lovable slacker characters.

Crossed Wires can be read for free over at crossedwires.irisjay.net

Like the article? It takes a lot of effort to share these. Please consider supporting Dogpatch Press on Patreon.  You can access exclusive stuff for just $1, or get Con*Tact Caffeine Soap as a reward.  They’re a popular furry business seen in dealer dens. Be an extra-perky patron – or just order direct from Con*Tact.