TABLOIA #575 REVIEW

[Mitch Brown]

Reviewer: Mitch Brown, mitchbrown@comixfan.cjb.net
Story Title: The Lump, Part Four; A Dame’s Love Bites Like A .45 Slug In The Guts!; No Brick Board Nor Bars Shall Stop The Incubus’ Attack Of Lust; When impregnating Incubi Spawn Satanic Sex-Babies!; When Plpsplu Collides With The Honking Thing!

Where Giant Monsters Creep And Stomp!

Writer & Artist: Chris Wisnia
Pin-Ups: Ryan Sook, Steve Rude, John Severin
Editor-in-Chief: Rob Oder
Assistant Editor: Chris Wisnia
Cover and Logo: Damon Thompson
Business Manager: Wayne Jones

Recommended for fans of: Mike Allred, Sam Kieth, Jack Kirby, Mickey Spillane and crazy old Monster Movies!

In a comic book landscape littered with so called “realistic”, militarized supheroics, Chris (Ojo) Wisnia’s Tabloia delivers a refreshing breath of fresh air. Wisnia’s pet project is loaded with intelligent, good-old fashioned comic book fun, urged on by the creator’s obvious love for the medium. Tapping into the rich history of 1950’s pulp fiction, this lovingly-crafted homage to mid-twentieth century pop culture rarely disappoints, so it was with great pleasure that I opened my mailbox recently to discover a copy of the latest issue of this neglected treasure.

For those who missed out on our first look-in at the title, Tabloia’s premise revolves around a fictionalized weekly magazine of the same name. This periodical of “true tabloid tales for the sophisticated pseudo-intellectual” (supposedly up to its five hundred and seventy-fifth issue of its ninety-third volume) brings readers the serialized exploits of such classically-named characters as Dr. DeBunko; Doris Danger and my personal favourite – Dick Hammer: Conservative Republican Private Investigator, along with the book’s feature presentation of the mad scientist mystery “The Lump” and a slew of pin-up pages from some of comics’ most respected artists.

Wisnia has taken meticulous care in maintaining the illusion of Tabloia’s premise. The serials themselves are backed up with often-hilarious mock columns, letters and editorial from Tabloia’s readers and staff writers, including “The Sultan of Sanitation” Dr. Cleanie Santini’s Fun Sanitation Tips, pleas from readers to reprint classic serials from the magazine’s “past” (including the lost adventures of Dr. Mechanical Spider, a property caught up in a messy legal battle between Marvel Comics, Tabloia and the Crude Bay Times amongst others); and treatises from nine-year old readers on the mating habits of praying mantises. Not a single space in Tabloia’s thirty-two interior pages, nor its inner and outer covers is wasted, and after seeing the ever-increasing number of ads (is everyone else as sick of “Truth” ads as me?) in Marvel and DC Comics over the years, its more than welcome to find a book that’s actually worth its cover price!

Wisnia’s versatility as both scribe and illustrator truly shines this issue. As always, he impresses me greatly with his gift for sliding between genres and both narrative and artistic style, effortlessly moving between Eerie-style horror, hard-boiled satire and Kirby-esque monster comics. If you didn’t know better, it would be easy to think that there was a whole team of writers and artists at work on Tabloia, but no, its 100% Chris Wisnia (guest pin-ups not withstanding).

Sadly, Tabloia #575 is the next-to-final issue of this fine publication. Like so many other books in today’s market, sales have not been able to sustain this self-published labor of love within the pages of Previews, joining the ranks of so many quality titles in comic book limbo. The good news however, is that Wisnia has been able to finish out his major storyline in a double-sized final episode, coming up next issue.

Once again, I wholeheartedly recommend readers take the time to hunt down Tabloia. Every issue is a fun-filled romp through the halls of pop culture that should appeal to fans of the pre-Code era of comic books and classic cinema, that is sure to bring a smile to your face.


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Read ComiX-Fan’s interview with Tabloia creator Chris Wisnia here.

Visit Tabloia Weekly Magazine’s website at http://www.tabloia.com

[James Groves]

Excellent review, Mitch.

I'm going to try and get this... or at least try and find the last issue if i can when it comes out. I don't recall ever seeing it at my shop, so i'll inquire if they can get a special order in for me.

[Alex Groff]

Originally Posted by James Groves

Excellent review, Mitch.

I'm going to try and get this... or at least try and find the last issue if i can when it comes out. I don't recall ever seeing it at my shop, so i'll inquire if they can get a special order in for me.

Try to chase down/order the early issues as well. Some of my favorite stuff were the Republican Private Detective and Dr. Debunko.

The big problem is that stores don't order these books, and then people don't find them and forget about them. I think if people were in the habit of ordering books that sounded interesting, and if stores were willing to order those books and take note, "hey, people are curious about/reading these titles, maybe I should carry them," then we could avoid the problem of titles being cancelled all the time.

(None of this is directed towards you, James, because you do go out and order things. I was speaking more in general.)

[wisnias]

As usual, thanks for the kind words, Mitch and all. I really appreciate all your support of this struggling series. (Who wants to buy some stupid book that starts on #572 anyways?)

The giant-sized 48-page final issue (June release) is in Previews now (listed as "Tabloia #576 (Fifth Issue) published by Salt Peter Press), and will feature more of the usual:

1. Pin-ups of giant monsters by Mike Mignola, Ramona Fradon, and Tony Millionaire!
2. The (shocking? horrifiying?) conclusion to the mad-scientist/film noir mystery, "The Lump!"
3. "Dick Hammer: Conservative Republican Private Investigator!" (non-stop, gun-shooting, fist-fighting pulp-romance action!)
4. "Dr. DeBunko: Debunker of the Supernatural!"
5. "Doris Danger Seeks...Where Giant Monsters Creep and Stomp!" (Kirby-style monsters inked by Dick Ayers!)
5. And more fake letters from disgruntled fans, fun sanitation tips from the Sultan of Sanitation Dr. "Cleanie" Santini, and surprising sex science facts from Professor Pardi!

If your local shop can't get copies of back issues, please contact me at the www.tabloia.com website, so we can get you set up.