Page 45 Review by Tom & Jonathan
All three John Allison self-published issues from the original mini-series together in a book at long last! Although we do also have packs of the GIANT DAYS SELF-PUBLISHED MINI-SERIES if you'd prefer those.
Of Giant Days 1 Tom wrote:
Free from the shackles of school Esther Le Groot thought, like any young goth, that university might be a place to find like-minded people. A place to swap corpse paint-tips and exchange existential banter into the night. Unfortunately being a headgirl in school brings an altogether more sinister clique into play, as the legion of drunken preppies try to steal her away. Now it's up to sheltered Enya fan Daisy and insomniac beatnik Susan to save her from becoming a bff in the hardcore Freshers crowd.
Be warned, there will be boxing, tutus, and come-uppance. Ah, Esther, the second most beautiful woman in Tackleford comes into her own in this punchy off-shoot from John's fantastic SCARY-GO-ROUND web comic. If you've ever been the new kid in town the empathy rays will be drawing you to this like a student to £1 drinks.
Of Giant Days 2 (at which point the series became full colour) Jonathan wrote:
"Were you CAREFUL?"
"In a prophylactic sense, yes, but... I may have knocked his guitar off the wall and broken it... while trying something."
"SAINTS ALIVE!"
"He wasn't pleased."
Featuring the return of crazy-haired introvert Daisy Wooton, the phlegmatic and rather blunt Susan Ptolemy, plus the divine man-mesmerising beauty that is Esther de Groot. Readers of the first GIANT DAYS may recall our friends are in their first year of University, having only just made each other's acquaintance in Fresher's week. Already firm chums, they're now settling in nicely to Uni life with all the endless socialising and lack of studying that entails. For Esther this also means pining for her boyfriend Eustace from back home and unwittingly attracting the romantic attentions of the completely harmless and also slightly gormless Ed Gemmell.
The fact that Esther is completely out of his league doesn't deter Ed from dreaming but he's going to regret revealing his crush to his streetwise new mate, and budding guitar god - in his own mind at least - Steve Shields. Cue one heated phone call from Eustace, a drinking binge at the rock night for the ladies down the Slag Pit (surely the best name ever for a night club?) , and a rather unwise decision on Esther's part about who to share a taxi home with. The next day there's a very forlorn Ed to console, a reputation to repair, and a guitar to... err... repair as well. Note-perfect British comedy from Mr. Allison, illustrated as exquisitely as ever.
Of Giant Days 3 Jonathan wrote:
"Isn't that Thom from Indie Society?"
"Yeah, with his pride and joy. Hey THOM, what's going on?"
"Heh, just giving Vetiver a polish."
"Vetiver?"
"My 1990 Fiat Panda. Once owned by David Gedge of the Wedding Present."
"Literally the most indie car EVER."
"Fully restored. My parents got her for my 18th birthday. Great for getting to gigs. We don't get the good bands here very often."
"Well, goodnight, Thom. Remember, hands on top of the duvet."
Ha ha, the University adventures of Susan Ptolemy and Daisy Wooton continue, and they have a new friend in the shape of acid-tongued Erin as they investigate the merits of the Indie music society, whilst their chum Esther de Groot gets further lured to the dark side by the Black Metal Society. Ed Gemmell, meanwhile, is still following Esther around like a lost puppy dog, bless him, even though Black Metal is really absolutely most definitely not his scene at all.
