Publisher: Avery Hill Publishing
Writer: Ricky Miller
Artist(s): Julia Scheele (‘Electric Dreams’ part one, Cover Art),
Rebecca Strickson (‘Sunday’),
Jazz Greenhill (‘Memories’)
Release Date: Available now!

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Sam Says…

In this collection we get an insight into the rise of an indie band against a Twin Peaks London, with a bit of time travel thrown in for good measure. That’s a lot to cram in to one issue, so the narrative is split into three distinct sections; the first grounding us in the present and the lives of ‘Electric Dreams’, a short flashback of how the two main characters met, and finally a flash forward to the end of their lives.

The first one presents us with a bare, washed-out London. While I love the palette used, to make London empty seems all kinds of wrong. Sure, it could be a metaphor for the hollowness of the main character, Ricky Stardust, but that’s probably a little ‘on the nose’ for my tastes. There’s a lot of contrived, overtly self-aware stylistics at play here, and like the protagonist it all seems rather smug and self-satisfied (which could be the point, of course). Which leads to the fundamental problem I had with this issue – the main character simply didn’t engage me, and his Scott Pilgrim-like imaginings only added to my mild irritation, rather than drawing me in.

It’s a great shame, as the two other tales are far more captivating. The art of ‘Sunday’ is quite stunning, and supports the flow of the narrative; and, I suspect, had it opened the volume as a whole, would have made me care a lot more. Likewise, the whimsical style of the final tale is matched by Greenhill’s quirky line drawings, and the slightly self-indulgent storytelling seems more forgivable, somehow.

Perhaps I am being a little harsh, but it seems to me small press and indie comics somehow have to work harder for loyalty. I want to love them for their efforts, but in the case of Metroland, unfortunately, I’m just not feeling it.

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Hazel Says…

At one point in this comic, the protagonist Ricky says “I think I’ve done something to my brain.” Oh, he has and unfortunately we are party to the existential, dreamscape dialogue. He also declares “I’m pretentious” and unless this comic is some kind of in-joke, I am inclined to agree with Ricky. Oh lord, is this autobiographical?!

Ricky Stardust is part of a band, Electric Dreams, with revolving members. He dreams of Metroland – which is somehow significant to a girl called Jess who Ricky seems bonded to. He has a one-night stand. That’s essentially it. The art is lurid, cartoony and just odd. Mostly a palette of hideous blue and pornstar pink.

Then there’s the little ‘memory comics’ that have vastly differing artworks. One, in digital watercolour, shows us how real Ricky may have met real Jess and got his Stardust name. The best thing I can say is Ricky has a beagle. I love beagles. I have one myself.

Unfortunately, this comic just wasn’t for me.  Or anyone but Ricky.

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You can grab yourself a copy of Metroland #1 and make up your own mind over at the Avery Hill Publishing website, priced just £5.

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