“Well, their cultural importance was the narrow-yet-deep sort of obsessive pop band. Pretty much anyone who wrote a zine circa then loved Kenickie, as you’re fully aware. When the whole cultural climate was going one way, Kenickie’s insistence that seriousness wasn’t actually antagonistic to intelligence was an absolute touchstone. They were and remain inspirational. Also, doomed, which I always liked. In terms of Phonogram, we use Kenickie for very specific plot-related reasons, to illustrate passion, how passion can be manipulated and how even the purest love for something can be twisted around. And a few other things. Seriously, I know I’m sounding really serious, but there are jokes. A lot of jokes. No, really.”

Talk to my old comrade in arms Simon Tyers about Phonogram on his music-blog, sweeping the Nation. Worth following if only for his lovely Kenickie Mp3s. The stripped-down Evening Session version of Sixties Bitch remains a thing of beauty.

Brisbane’s leading  street magazine, Rave Magazine in Australia reviews Phonogram. The full current issue’s available to download from their website.

“So, yeah, it’s tricky.  I live in fear of screwing it up.

Heh.  You read all these cheery interviews with people hyping up their books as “THE BEST THING EVER! IT’S LIKE WATCHMEN TIMES DARK KNIGHT RETURNS COVERED IN GLITTER AND SMEARED IN JAM” and I’m all “OH WE ARE SO DOOMED!  WHAT I WAS THINKING!  I’LL BE BURNED AS A HERETIC IN THE CHURCH OF KENICKIE!”

I’m scared of screwing up.  I don’t think I have.”

Answer Ten Questions for Comic Should Be Good’s Greg Burgas, including a worryingly indepth section where I discuss the narrative need for saphic sex acts slap bang in the middle of the comic.

McKelvie hasn’t posted this as he wants to keep Phonogram “pure”. And I counter - dude! - we’re total (”Sex Workers” - Ed) and you need to at least eat something this month.

McKelvie has made a limited edition hand-numbered run of prints. Making an enormous break from his normal art subjects, he decided it should feature a hot girl with tattoos.

It’s available to order from here, if you wish.

And to justify the Phonogram post, I’ve just set up a reviews section to link to the various critiques of Issue 1.

Cynical watchers may ask whether we’d have included such an expansive section were the reviews a bit iffy. The answer is: Not on your nelly.

Reviews are out en masse, and we’ll be giving them their own specialised section shortly. Interviews too, probably.

However, in the mean time, there’s a couple of more non-traditional reviews and coverage you may be interested in.

Firstly, iFanboy made us pick of the week. Which means that we were a major topic of discussion in their weekly podcast, which is available here. Go listen, and stay for their discussion of BOYS #1, FELL #6 too and their general cheery demeanour.

Secondly, Christy from The Daily Independent show mails us to say that she’s going to be talking about Phonogram on Today’s show. One at 1EST and the other at 8EST. Tune in, if not for us, for the fact they play McLusky’s “Day of the Deadringers” as the introduction music. To do so, go to ManiaTV and then press the live TV link at the appropriate time. For English people, that’s 6pm and 1am respectively.

The Solicitation for issue 4 is now up at Comics Book Resources. As always, available to pre-order from your retailer.

PHONOGRAM #4 (of 6)
story KIERON GILLEN
art & cover JAMIE McKELVIE

32 PAGES
BW
NOVEMBER 1
$3.50

“MURDER PARK”
Phonogram’s dark fantasy falls screaming into open horror and blackest satire as David Kohl crosses over into the Memory Kingdom of Britpop. In this very personal hell he sifts through bloody London streets for the clue to his dead mistress’ fate. Here Be Monsters… and Kohl isn’t out of place.

A brief update on what’s happening in the few days since launch. In short, apparently it’s something of a success. We’ve got stories that it’s entirely unavailable in central London and one shop’s had to re-order it four times. Which isn’t bad going for a black and white indie comic by two nobodies about a mid-nineties pop music fad.However, if your local shop doesn’t have copies, it should be stressed that it’s still available through Diamond (The major comic distributor). If you haven’t got one yet, making sure your local purveyor of fine sequential narrative has ordered more copies in is a worthwhile thing to do.

And for everyone who’s written to us, or written about us, or just read us… well, cheers!

It’s fun, this comics thing, y’know.

“Depending on sales, I’ve got plans for future Phonogram arcs. One’s called ‘Singles Club’ and the other ‘The Word Girl,’ both which I’d kill to write. I’ve got a couple of graphic novels that I’d like to do, which are both worlds away from ‘Phonogram’ (one crime story set in London in the fifties, the other a day-after-tomorrow romance, in the same way that ‘Audition’ is a romance). Something called ‘Cong,’ which I promised to write for Lee O’Connor. Some small press stuff, as I’ve still got love for the streets. There are a few pitches out in the world which I have fingers crossed for, and I’d appreciate if you did likewise. I probably should write some more. Oh - and I’m considering doing a ‘Phonogram club night, which strikes me as highly entertaining. You’ve read the comic. Now dance to it.”

A big launch-day interview with Arune Singh over at Comic Book resources about - well - Phonogram, obviously. Also, British music, my history with comics and assorted chat.

In three hours it’ll be Wednesday in the US, but I’m not sticking around for then.

Phonogram #1 is available today (Wednesday 16th) in the US for purchase from fine comic vendours. It’ll be in UK shops tomorrow (Thursday 17th). And we are informed by our Phillipines correspondant, that it’ll be available there on Wednesday too.

Read. Consider. Come back and tell us what you think.

And now, one last play of “Pop Scene” and bed.