Like most of us, going to the comic book shop is as much a social event as an opportunity to feed my insatiable addiction to funny books. I often meet with Jon, Jane and Richard to talk comics and browse the shelves, as well as shooting the breeze with the guys who work there. It’s a nice experience and most of my favourite books have been picked up on recommendation, by one of those guys. Last Thursday (when the steam powered paddle boats deliver our new books) Richard and I were looking at the Trades. “You should read this mate, Mark Millars 1985” I picked it up, it looked very cool, “read about it online” he assured me. So I picked it up, paid for it and left the shop with him. The recommendation would have been somewhat more encouraging if on the way back to his car he hadn’t turned to me and suggested “ Not sure if its any good or not, but if it is, can I borrow it from you?”. Could he have stitched me up? Had my usual reliable buddy suckered me into buying a pup on the off chance it was any good. Should I have already known about this 6 parter, and really been able to make up my own mind?

No, no, and yes (to yet again answer my own questions).I should have been all over this superb piece of work by Scottish wordsmith Millar and artist Tommy Lee Edwards. This Trade may well be one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read for as long as I can remember.

1985, it’s a story about a comic book obsessed teen who is finding escape and solace in comic books, to cope with the break down of his parents marriage and his inability to bond with his step father. Strange things start occurring as he visits with his drop out Dad, the site of his fathers childhood friend, an imposing old house where Toby is convinced he spots the Red Skull.

Is he going mad? He convinces himself he may well be until his sightings can no longer be written off as the paranoid visions of a lonely and damaged young boy, as the who’s who of the Marvel rogues gallery start turning up in his town a wreak havoc. The sneaky ne’er do wells have found a way of opening a portal from the Marvel Universe to ours, and free of the pesky superheroes, there is nothing here to stop them running amok... Toby of course (with the help of the Avengers) saves the day, and for his Dad, a ghost from the past is finally laid to rest (it’s a great ending and I’m not going to spoil it here).

I should have had faith in Rich’s recommendation, he’s not let me down before, but here he really has pushed me in the direction of a genuine treasure of a comic book. It manages to mix a fragile a delicate story about a Father and a son, and a childhood trauma that was never truly healed, against the back drop of barmy Marvel bad guys blowing seven shades of shit out a quiet little back water town.

But of course the story is only part of it the art in this book is truly outstanding and used with superb effect. Tommy Lee Edwards uses differing styles to differentiate between the vivid and bright Marvel Universe which these rogues are escaping (and in which Toby finds himself looking for help), and the darker, drab REAL world in which he and his Dad are stuck.

1985, is a true classic, and it’s one of those book where, I feel stupid for missing first time round, but thank my lucky stars I’ve got friends who point me in the right direction. Its so good that really I should be buying Rich a copy of his own rather than borrowing mine. Look I’ll do you a favour, pick it up read it, if its any good, make sure you lend it to me right?