If you like british movies from the early 70’s, such as the ‘Whicker Man’ or art fare like Nic Roeg’s ‘Don’t Look Now’ this is the comic book equivalent with a modern (or at least 80’s) twist.
Grayham Puttock’s ‘Alsatian Cages’ plays with your head in a cinematic way. Well written and illustrated, in a black and white style not dissimilar to the best of Arthur Ranson, the chapters play around in a different order.
Familiar faces jar a little. There’s Eddie Yeats driving the bus, Lou Reed, Leonard Rossiter, Tom Waits and other Easter eggs throughout the story mixed with characters who come and go, moving the story along, but all as inconsequential as guest stars and sub plots in a Lynchian movie.
The main story is of David Treen, a ‘Fisher Price’ band manager, who is searching answers about his childhood in the West Country. What he finds can only be described as a ‘mind fuck’ with shades of horror. Not gore or horror to shock but psychological horror that hits you page after page with bad attitude and dark humour thrown in.
An ‘enjoyable’ book what pleased me was a surprise ending I did not expect. It was sick and well worth the Kickstarter investment for this 180 page original graphic novel.
Like most great cult movies I hope more people will discover this book. It’s a slow burner that will become hot. Buy!
Tony Foster
ComicScene magazine 
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