Pipedream Pull List Extra: The Stars Below
Back in August we reviewed the sublime Thoughts on a Winter Morning from Kurt Busiek and Steve Lieber and published by digital only imprint MonkeyBrain comics. This was one of those highly personal and deeply charming books that make you cherish the depth on offer in the world of digital comics and now MonkeyBrain have done it again and released another, equally wonderful, but delightfully simple book in the shape of The Stars Below by Zack Smith and Rich Ellis.
If I were to describe this as a dialogue free, black and white book about a pigeon, you would justifiably be a bit wary and think that sounds incredibly dull, but that is to do this book a huge disservice. Yes, it is a book about a pigeon, and yes it has no dialogue or colour, but it is utterly compelling and quite mesmerising. Smith’s pacing of the story is sublime, with subtle scene setting, dynamic action and a sweet ending. Meanwhile Ellis’s work oozes charm and character making the pigeon’s emotions clear without ever resorting to cartoonish anthropomorphism. With some beautiful and clever layouts, including a splash page of the bird being chased through an office block by an eagle and a brilliant Will Eisner inspired final page, this is a real showcase for Ellis’s deft touch.
Although this book might not sound like everyones cup of tea, at the bargain price of 69p means it is well worth downloading and will charm and delight in equal measures while reminding you that not every comic has to be packed full of supernatural scares and superhero slugfests be utterly wonderful.
The Stars Below is available from MonkeyBrain comics on ComiXology for 69p
EXCLUSIVE! Mark Waid talks Marvel Infinite, Thrillbent 2.0, the future of digital comics and Kingdom Come the iPad app! | Pipedream Comics
February 12, 2013 @ 7:12 pm
[…] titles I recommend are Power Play, Atomic Robo, Marvel’s Infinite Comics, and the magnificent “The Stars Below,” hands-down my favorite comic, print or digital, of the last […]
PIpedream Pull List: High Crimes, Denali, Phabula, Unfair (MonkeyBrain Comics) | Pipedream Comics
February 19, 2013 @ 9:55 pm
[…] stuck in an anthology. We’ve seen them do this expertly with Thoughts on A Winter Morning and The Stars Below, but adding to that list now is Unfair from writer Vance Sumner and artist Sandy Jarell. Centring […]
“I love that every time you turn the page on an iOS device what’s coming next is a surprise” Kinski creator Gabriel Hardman discusses the best of digital comics and how to name a pet | Pipedream Comics
May 14, 2013 @ 5:05 pm
[…] lo-fi story of a man and a missing dog is in the same subtle real-world veign as the brilliant The Stars Below and Thoughts From A Winter Morning, and will be available exclusively via ComiXology this […]
Revealed: Our top 10 favourite MonkeyBrain Comics | Pipedream Comics
July 4, 2013 @ 10:09 pm
[…] #6 The Stars Below Another one shot in the vein of Thoughts on a Winter Morning, except The Stars Below is an even harder sell for your average comics reader – it’s a black and white book about the day time adventures of a pigeon! Written by Zack Smith with art from Memorial artist Rich Ellis, The Stars Below has the kind of gentle touch and emotional beats that you just don’t get in comics all that often. There’s virtually no dialogue and so Ellis’s art is allowed room to breath, especially with the beautifully rendered skylines and architecture he is given a chance to revel in. The bird itself is brilliantly realised mixing great expressions with a true draughtsman’s touch to produce one of the most unique books around and one of the best pigeon adventure stories you’ll ever read! You can read our full review of The Stars Below here […]
Revealed: Our top 10 favourite MonkeyBrain Comics | Pipedream ComicsPipedream Comics
July 28, 2013 @ 8:41 pm
[…] #6 The Stars Below Another one shot in the vein of Thoughts on a Winter Morning, except The Stars Below is an even harder sell for your average comics reader – it’s a black and white book about the day time adventures of a pigeon! Written by Zack Smith with art from Memorial artist Rich Ellis, The Stars Below has the kind of gentle touch and emotional beats that you just don’t get in comics all that often. There’s virtually no dialogue and so Ellis’s art is allowed room to breath, especially with the beautifully rendered skylines and architecture he is given a chance to revel in. The bird itself is brilliantly realised mixing great expressions with a true draughtsman’s touch to produce one of the most unique books around and one of the best pigeon adventure stories you’ll ever read! You can read our full review of The Stars Below here […]