Flock of Dreamers: An Anthology of Dream Inspired Comics - Softcover

Dreams have always been a fertile resource for creative artists, including comics artists. For this anthology, 22 cartoonists were invited to contribute short comic strips derived from their dreams. The 22 are rather a motley bunch--obscure artists from the small press scene and from overseas appear alongside old hands, who offer the most convincing work, such as Robert Crumb's depiction of an airborne ride atop the "Helicopter Girl." A few sleepers are here: coeditor Kathman's account of four recurring childhood dreams and Ashley Holt's entries from a "Dream Notebook." Yet few entries convey the effect of the most disturbing dreams. Many consist of single images; although some of these are vivid, they lack the impact of the longer, multipanel pieces that offer the narrative pull of effective comics--and memorable dreams. All in all, an intriguing if rather lightweight offering. Gordon Flagg