Tile

Tile #1 &2

Tile 1: downtown [insert your city name here]

Tile #1 © Billy McKay

Tile #2 © Billy McKay

Tile
Billy McKay

Links:
Mail:Billy
Further ZUM! reading:
Invisible Robot Fish

The two issues of Tile that I have here were a lot better than I expected them to be at first sight.
Issue 1 contains the main story, Tile, which is continued in issue 2. The second issue also includes an unusual few pages showing some 'rejected' pages and a complete one-off strip and a letters page.
Tile is about a Wrayk called Eric. There are three wrayks, which are creatures one third human, one third animal and one third machine. They were created by Myx, a mad dictator - what else? - and programmed to return when he is ready to take over the universe, i.e. now. Eric has returned, appalled at what he is, meets up with a sand beast called Sarl, with whom he battles the rocket frogs while seeking out Soop, an 800 year old traveller, who has the secret to the salvation of the city of Tile (aaaahhh!!!), which Myx has banished to the fourth dimension. At the end of episode 2 our heroes are being approached by a strange ship heading straight for them.
Exciting, eh?.
Yes, well it is really, in a strange sort of way.
It is also very distinctively drawn, in a bold angular style, with very effective three colour card stock covers. Billy McKay also has a nice line in throwaway humour. I would say there is a talent here to be watched.
Maurice Wakeman

Tile #3

Tile #5 © Billy McKay
A spiral-bound US size comic featuring a battle between odd-looking friends and a giant mystical spaceship (or something). Apart from the occasional panels, which are impossible to navigate, the drawback to this title is the fact that it's pointless. Imagine Grant Morrison writing and Richard Case writing Fred Hembeck's pencils on a revival of the 50's Marvel monster stores but with none of the fun.
It's odd and idiosyncratic so some people may find the style appealing, art being subjective and all, but it all boils down to a silly punch-up in the dessert. Never hideous, but never engaging either.
Nigel Lowrey.

Tile #1
22 25x17cm pages, spiral bond, 3 colour card stock cover.
Tile #2 & 3
24 25x17cm pages, spiral bond, 4 colour card stock cover.

Received at ZUM! HQ:
23/3/00

Tile
Each $1 or 4 stamps(US)/ 4xICR's

Tile Comix, Billy McKay, PO Box 542, N Olmsted, OH 44070, USA