Binge-worthy Backlist Bonzana: ‘Skin Horse’

Looking for something to read while stuck at home? The Smash Pages crew recommends opening up a browser window and taking a ride on ‘Skin Horse.’

As people isolate and wait out the coronavirus, many industries, including the comics industry, are in a bit of a standstill — leaving comic shops without a supply of new weekly comics.

With that in mind, we’ve introduced a new feature, Binge-worthy Backlist Bonzana. While new comics might not be arriving for a while, your local retailer, online site, digital comics provider or favorite creator can still supply comics that you might not have read yet.

Today Tom Bondurant looks back at one of his favorite webcomics, Skin Horse.

Launched in December 2007, Shaenon K. Garrity and Jeffrey C. Wells’ Skin Horse is about a government agency charged with rescuing sentient non-humans created by mad scientists. Most of the cast are rescued non-humans, including Sweetheart the dog, the reanimated Unity, Gavotte the bee swarm and Moustachio the steampunk robot. Tip the psychologist is Skin Horse’s main human agent.

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Binge-worthy Backlist Bonanza: Terry Moore’s ‘Strangers in Paradise’

Looking for something to read while stuck at home? The Smash Pages crew recommends a meet-up with ‘Strangers in Paradise.’

In the current climate, many industries are in a standstill as people isolate and wait out the coronavirus. The comics industry is no different, with Diamond Comic Distributors shutting down, leaving comic shops without a supply of new weekly comics.

With that in mind, we’ve introduced a new feature this week, Binge-worthy Backlist Bonzana. While new comics might not be arriving for a while, your local retailer, favorite online site, digital comics provider or even favorite creator can still supply older comics that you might not have read yet.

Today Corey Blake revisits old friends between the pages of Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise. Watch for more from the Smash Pages crew over the next days and weeks.

In this age of social distancing and isolation, there is a strong need to reconnect with old friends, fictional or otherwise. Cartoonist Terry Moore has an uncanny ability to create instant lifelong friends in his comics. His current project Five Years brings together characters from almost all of his previous comics into one storyline. As that series (and all comics) are forced into a pause, it’s a good opportunity to revisit old friends.

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Binge-worthy Backlist Bonanza: The extended John Allison library

Looking for something to read while stuck at home? The Smash Pages crew offers some helpful suggestions, starting with the many selections available from the John Allison universe.

In the current climate, many industries are in a standstill as people isolate and wait out the coronavirus. The comics industry is no different, as Diamond Comic Distributors shut down, leaving comic shops without a supply of new weekly comics.

With that in mind, we’re introducing a new feature, Backlist Bonzana. While new comics might not be arriving for a while, your local retailer, favorite online site, digital comics provider or even favorite creator can still supply older comics that you might not have read yet. Today Tom Bondurant shares the joy that comes from reading John Allison’s comics. Watch for more from the Smash Pages crew over the next few days and weeks.

Because John Allison’s Scary Go Round universe spans 20-plus years and a few different webcomics series, I feel pretty secure in describing it as “sprawling.” The main portal at www.scarygoround.com is organized helpfully by comic, with links to print versions where available.

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