The Bedsit Journal #2 edited by Richard Cowdry

This comics anthology provides a nice sampling of some of the great cartoonists running around the UK small press scene these days. The A4-size zine is very nicely produced, with offset printing on good quality paper. The humor is outrageous, sarcastic, and sometimes raunchy—inspired by the life of the struggling artist, the bedsit denizen, and the single, male barhop.

Editor Cowdry contributes the majority of the pages, at times collaborating with Peter Lally and Trev Carolan on the stories and gags. Cowdry is an excellent cartoonist. His artwork is clean and crisp, his characters jump off the pages in moments of brilliant insight, twisted humor, and comical slapstick. There are several short comics that range from one to three pages about scoundrels like The Skipper, the big-chested, Crapper, and the perverse Peeper; as well as hard luck fools like "Fatty". But the issue's main feature is the laugh-packed saga of Going Solo in which a young would-be hipster is forced to go it alone on his night out clubbing.

Interspersed between Cowdry's gems are one- and two-pagers by Bird, Mardou, Fortenski, Tim Levin, J. Edward Scott, and Ann Cattrall. It's a nice balance of different styles and voices that completes an excellent anthology title.

The Bedsit Journal #2 is 32 b&w pages, plus a two-color cover printed on glossy stock. Considering the exchange rate of dollars to pounds these days, the $7.25 price offered at the Poopsheet Shop is a great deal for this tasty imported volume. Adults only. Official site.

R. Krauss reviews a mini comic or indie every Wednesday on Poopsheet Foundation.