Having ignored all my best Simon Cowell "Go on, boy -I'll make you famous! (but poor)" lines, "Old Slow Hand"/"Panting Pazzer"/"Wonder Maid" (?! -I have the photo somewhere). From his humble beginnings as a scribbler working on 1980s legendary comic, Vigilante Vulture, a few strips -including one in Coffin Blood- and some he might wish to forget like his Phantom Detective strip. Oh, I keep it all.
But he will probably not be remembered for....
OUTLAWS OF THE URBAN FOREST-
The Series That Never Was!
Yes, Paul Ashley Brown may be better known these days for Browner Knowle but back in the day...well a few years actually back in the 1980s...he was the artist struggling with over-written scripts for a comic that attracted the attention of many top UK comic creators (no, it was not porn)...Vigilante Vulture!
There were a few forays after that but the comics industry is full of crooks as Mr Brown discovered -though he did take legal action and get his money (but not work) back off one UK publisher.
Now, unless you know him (not in the "Biblical sense") you will know that he can produce some great humour work -drawing Peter Lallys Donald Hamilton for instance. There is, if I can ever scan it, a comic strip telling of the Southbank TV show special on my career, presented by Melvyn Bragg. And much more.
You see, when he doesn't put a lot of thought into comics designed to drive people to despair, Mr Brown has a quick cartoon style that he can turn to some very funny strips. In that sense he has never explored the idea of turning these into a comic which is a great pity.
Mr Brown was also inspired by my classic 1983-84 mini series Outlaws Of The Urban Forest and in..2008(??) he set to work on a follow-up which, sadly, never got completed and I really did like the art/story and as everyone knows I never ever allow people to work on things I started unless I like what I see.
I have some of those pages but here is a cover mock-up -the black and white version and the vibrantly coloured version.
Great stuff and I'd like to see more of this type of thing from him. He has the ability and style and CAN do it.
In case he reads this, he never does, I'd like to point out I've been ill so I probably never ever said anything kind about him.
Mr Brown's work has appeared in Stripburger and he's usually at all the hip, beat-cat zine events building up his ever growing reputation. And having already been to Japan in 2014 he had to, of course, visit Finland where he was hailed as a taxi innovative comicker.
Remember this CBO item?
Bristol Artist Paul Ashley Brown In Finland Exhibit
Here is a photo of the man himself at the exhibit followed by an article from Helmet.fi
Helmet -http://www.helmet.fi/fi-FI/Kirjastot_ja_palvelut/Rikhardinkadun_kirjasto/Tapahtumat/Paul_Ashley_Brownin_sarjakuvia%2852116%29
Paul Ashley Brownin sarjakuvia
Paul Ashley Brown graduated from The University of the West of England in 2001 with a First Class Honours Degree in Illustration, Since 2008 he has self-published seven issues of Browner-Knowle, his zine collection of short, poetic melancholy narrative drawings and comics, as well as other small one-off titles. His work has also been published in the pages of The Illustrated Ape, The Comix Reader, and Stripburger. He lives and works in Bristol, England.
But, Mr Brown's Small Press offerings are much sought after, including, with some memorable full page illoes, Anon....
So It Is Writ. So It Must Be. Anon. The Return Of Paul Ashley Brown
Paul Ashley Brown
Browner Knowle Publications
8 or 16 pages
A4 or A3
£3.00 + £1.00 p&p
Ordering: contact Paul through his website at: http://www.paulashleybrown.co.uk/#home
The Bristol art leg end that is Paul Alouitiuos Makepiece Kitchener Lady Chaterley Brown -aka Ashley Simpson aka Paul Ashley Brown was bound to return.
There may be a few who wonder why I've written "A4/A3" and "8 or 16 pages"? Simple. This is an un-stapled, loose-leaf offering offering double spreads so they are A3 folded to A4. There is the usual collection of eccentrics and sketches from life and do not panic -still the faint hint of depression here but all enjoyable.
However, there is ONE reason why you ought top get a copy of this latest offering. If only the story behind it were included but it is a case of "protecting the innocent". Here is that reason:
Anon 2
Paul Ashley Brown
Browner Knowle
A4
16pp
I have no price here...?
Firstly, this is printed on a slightly tinted paper which looks nice but fecks things up on scanning. So I had to turn 'em into black and white art pages. Does look better with the tint, though.
I have written "16 pages" but that is not quite accurate. This book is not stapled and that is for a very good reason: the pages open up to make four A3 posters. My favourite of these is this one:
You do get the one page treats such as "Humpty On The Edge Forever" that Mr Brown calls "Mon déchirant chef-d'œuvre de la vie!"** And who could argue with that? I do like the use of solid black and white here which balances out the page.
Yes, no cover logo...and yet we knew it was Anon 2 because Mr Brown told us so.
Here is a comparison with Storm which I just reviewed. This is an art style I've not seen anyone other than Mr Brown employ and it works for style of story telling -whether simply illustrative or text accompanied. I don't have any problem recommending this -simply contact Mr Brown and ask the cost!
Paul Ashley Brown
BK Books
A5
Black & white
24pp
£4.00
Now before I start, that web address I have just spent an hour trying to find. Paul Ashley Brown everywhere (mostly from old CBO postings) but no web page so I'll have to look into this.
The cover...well, this is just another Bristol street scene and walk through Bedminster any day of the week and you can spot these...tatters. In fact, another good example is "The Walking Man" -as seen below:
erm
Nice, nice solid blacks. Mr Brown really could become an artist you know. You know, I feel sorry for the poor utterly depressed man who stood on Perot's Bridge in the City Harbour. Looking into the murky, beckoning waters but terrified of jumping in just in case someone pulls him out and he contracts Weil's Disease. All the time some git with a sketch pad is saying: "Yes. Like that. Keep that look of total and utter despair until I've finished!"
Let's cheer things up and take a peek at Mr Brown after he's met up with a certain Mr Northall (a rival if the truth be told!) for five minutes.
Seven pages showing that Mr Brown CAN indeed draw sequential works or comic strips. Compliment with a slap. See what I did there?
_______________________________________________________________
Now, when I referred to making investments for the future by buying Small Press books Browner Knowle is a perfect example. Very low print runs, around 50 copies and no reprints, a popular creator with a following who is a "name". So if you grab copies of his zines then in ten years (rather than 40-50+ years with mainstream comics) you ought to see a reasonable return if you sold them.
If you want really -really- rare then go for Ben Dilworth 1980s zines.
But in the meantime, as the Boy from Knowle would say, "I'm off to soak up the misery"!
I've tried plying him with excess caffeine but publishing Outlaws has eluded me. You can catch up with Paul on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/paulashleybrown/
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