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Since @AndrewGnash was showing off Michael Allred’s neato Vertical comic, I pulled out my collection of @AllredMD comics, culled in the 90s at the fever-peak of my #Madman mania! I hunted far & wide for these treasures! Thus begins the mighty #Allredthread .
This diminutive, foil-enhanced beauty is called an “ash can” for some reason. I think it was a promo item for a convention. Placed next to a full-size comic for scale. Big floating eyes... we’ll see flotillas of floating eyeballs in Mike’s work! Paid $10 for this @TGENashville.
@AllredMD’s first published comic, if memory serves, was DEAD AIR, an apocalyptic tale inspired in part by his work as a radio DJ while serving in the Air Force. (How much of that did I get right, Mike? I think those details are from a Comics Journal interview 25 hrs ago.)
The first appearance of Madman, AKA Frank Einstein, was in CREATURES OF THE ID. Check out the wraparound cover (finger mine)! Frank’s story is one of several short features. This was a nifty era of experimental, risky (and sometimes risqué) black & white indie comics.
When I saw Frank die in a car crash, his soul ascending into the stratosphere to meet Jesus then suddenly pulled back to the land of the living with a jolt to the electrodes... I knew I had found my tribe.
Printed on newsprint - that ink will come off on your fingers!
Printed on newsprint - that ink will come off on your fingers!
I believe after that came @AllredMD’s GRAFIK MUZIK and GRAPHIQUE MUSIQUE series. I found the -IKs but could never track down the -QUEs. Frank Einstein, G-Men From Hell, Dr Boiffard, I think The Cheetah, and of course eyeballs. Pure, unadulterated wackiness!
The first all-Madman comic was this 3-issue series from Tundra. Frank has a full cowl over his head until it tears open & his hair spills out. In the flip-action corners, Frank does a li’l dance then throws a rock at you! Features innovative shading design thruout. Omniglorious!
