Publisher: Alternative Comics

A FINE MESS #1 is the first issue of Matt Madden’s latest experiment with the singles format.  It collects several cartoons done from the past and some more recent work he’s been active with in Oubapo-America, a branch of the French workshop for potential comics, Oubapo.  The American branch was founded by Madden, Tom Hart, and Jason Little.

This book is generally in black and white, with the notable exception of the largest story in the book entitled “Night of the Grossinator”, which is done in a gorgeous 2-color format.  This issue is worth it for this story alone as this tale of Guard Tindell is charming and witty and visually interesting.  Much of the rest of the book could have been considered bonus material after reading this, but for the fact that the stories hold their own.  It is an interesting journey watching the cartoonist grow. Earlier pieces such as the 1995 “House Music” which was originally printed in PULSE! Magazine are fun to look at for the historical place they hold in Madden’s career. The cartoons chosen from the Oubapo-America work Madden has done in “Excercises in Style” are entertaining in a very academic way and the page layout is smart right down to the bold type/faded type header at the top of each page.

In the forward essay, Madden indicates that this issue is to be considered a deluxe issue for later issues won’t have “fancy 2-color inserts” although use of color has not been ruled out.  We’ll have to see how that works out because the Night of the Grossinator piece is really the strongest piece in the book, not only for its excellent story, but also for the visual presentation and the 2-color experiment.

This single format anthology book makes a strong debut. 
Highly recommended.