From the Shadow of the Northern Lights

Originally inspired by the counterculture work of Robert Crumb, the comical aspect of MAD, and the storytelling of the master director Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish magazine Galago began as a publication of political satire during the late 70s. In the three decades since, it has grown to become the flagship of the Swedish alternative comics scene. The anthology, From the Shadow of the Northern Lights, gathers 200 pages of some of the finest comic artists Galago and Sweden has to offer, including contributions from David Liljemark, Marcus Ivarsson, Mats Jonsson, Knut Larsson, Kolbeinn Karlsson, Liv Stromquist, and Loka Kanarp.

"Galago, the publisher of this b&w anthology, started as a Swedish political satire magazine three decades ago. Now, it showcases alternative comics inspired by Robert Crumb and Ingmar Bergman, with an emphasis on dark humor. Other adjectives that accurately describe the work are 'melancholy' and 'anguished.' This book was originally assembled as the catalogue for an art show focusing on 13 of these cartoonists, and similar others have been added. Thus, this collection brings unknown cartoonists to a wider audience. Contributors include David Liljemark, Marcus Ivarsson, Mats Jonsson, Knut Larsson, Kolbeinn Karlsson, Liv Strmquist and Loka Kanarp. Artistically, it's a wide-ranging sampler, with simple work reminiscent of Jeffrey Brown, nightmarish imagery, and thick, chunky, cartoony influences with bold toning. Thematically, it mostly tackles the usual alternative topics of quotidian incidents, sometimes using animal characters to make them more striking. If you're interested in finding new alternative comic work before it's widely known, this is perfect, guaranteed to be fresh just through unfamiliarity. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)