Murder Mystery and Other Stories Review - A Whimsical British Comic Delight
How about some Murder Mystery tom foolery that's light on both murder and in fact mystery as we follow the not so daring exploits of Sourdough and Hopps in black and white art with a funky cartoon style? Prepare for a giggle with Murder Mystery and Other Stories from Sam Hardacre.
Sam Hardacre is a comic artist from Halifax. He is one third of the comic-creating tripod that is DabHand Comics, and his previous works include Daily(ish) Comics and My North Star. The daytime designer is a prolific comics thinker and also quite fond of pairs of things, as evidenced by his two cats and two children. Slightly mysterious, enigmatic, talented creator introduced, it's time for a review.
So, let's start with the art. Sam Hardacre has a very cool, funky art style. It's a playful and exaggerated caricature cartoonish style. This very fun and inviting style suits the silliness on offer wonderfully. As such the character work is brilliant and full of exceptional quality. It's not just the character work that's on point, as Sam has a great eye for detail, filling every panel with extra life and substance. Even at one stage flirting with decency by the inclusion of male full frontal nudity but the attention to detail is undeniable. It's interesting to note as well the use of the cover as an actual part of the story, as opposed to normal title cards, making it a clever inclusion.
Another excellent portion of the art is provided by the use of black and white with greyscale shading that creates the most idealistic atmosphere to suit the murder mystery genre aesthetics. The quality of this art oozes through the charming endearing characteristics of its cartoony style that perfectly boosts the experience on offer. Expertly silly fun. Now for the story.
Murder Mystery and Other Stories is chock full of trope hugging sensibilities and very British silliness and dashings of punnery. It has all the Hallmarks of period detective duo investigation with daftness set to dizzying maximum. The stories revolve around Detective Sourdough and companion Hopps, a duo of questionable resolve. Sourdough is a talented detective. Although what that talent is proves to be the biggest mystery on offer. The benchmark for mystery, in fact, gets decidedly lower as each story progresses, which only adds to the absurdity presented.
Sam Hardacre's use of language in Murder Mystery is very well crafted giving all the perfect notes of thigh slapping, fine dine quaffing, stiff upper lipping upper class period voice, while slipping in silly punnery and fun turns of phrase. I mean anytime you can throw in the word tallywacker or ruddy is always hilarious in my book. Murder Mystery does not intend on imparting any great message or socio-political commentary. What it sets out for, and indeed provides, is a small collection of stories that will make you smile and chuckle, which is a valuable currency in itself. It's simple stuff done with strength, which is often the hardest storytelling trick to pull off, especially when being funny. All round mirth tickling, entertaining stuff.
Intrusive italic interruption inquiring interest in investment. Invest in this book. It's worth making yourself smile, then, when the book has succeeded, come back and support us with a share or a monetary donation on our Ko-Fi below. Cheers, loves.
For fans of murder mystery, crime fiction, who dunnits, sillyness, crime fighting of sorts by a whimsical and hapless duo named after a writers friends particular enthusiasm for beer and bread, tally whacker, pun names, daft exploits, mystery without mystery and black & white art with a strong style of exaggerated caricature, unravel the delights of Sourdough and Hopps Murder Mystery and Other Stories.
To get your copy, you should go to https://ko-fi.com/skinnydrawnboy/shop, where you can get very reasonably priced signed copies. Or for just a few quid more, your copy will be sketched as well. What a bargain.
Review: 4.4/5 Very solid.
