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I Can’t Give Everything Away: Creativity in a Deteriorating World
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in ColumnOn resolutions, balancing kindness with productivity, creating while living through interesting times, and finding the joy in the process rather than the project.
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The Current State of Carl Doherty (and Shelf Abuse)
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in BlogIt’s with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to… resume blogging yet again. Apologies in advance to fans of comics criticism and quality journalism.
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Yes, After Two Years I’m Finally Resuming My Graphic Novel
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in BlogI’ve finally been able to book a week off work and resume the project, which is now a larger and more cohesive graphic novel called Sarfend.
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Yes, ‘The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott’ is as Good as You’ve been Told
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An unbelievably accomplished effort that hits home at every level and will be spoken of for years to come.
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‘Mongrel’ is a Powerfully Conflicted Study of a Religious Upbringing
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Begum’s murky, abstract art works best when it’s at its least lucid, with several nightmarish scenes that descend into psychological horror.
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‘Paying the Land’ is a Nuanced Investigation of a Sensitive Subject
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Sacco’s art and storytelling are at their densest and most nuanced yet.
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Thank You Jason Vorhees
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in BlogA few months back I had the most vivid of dreams, in which I was being chased by Jason Vorhees, through the Southend Odeon…
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Flotsam In Disguise
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in BlogI love taking our little podenco Dobby along the Westcliff beach on a Saturday morning. You never know what rare wildlife you’ll spot, such as this lesser speckled Transformer in its natural habit.
Shelf Abuse
Storytelling, comic books and self-publishing
To better focus my efforts, Bothersome Books, my wee publishing imprint and home to my novel and short stories, has merged with Shelf Abuse. Expect several new releases this year.
Shelf Abuse: Sporadically Singing the Unsung Since 2006
Welcome to Shelf Abuse, the blog of British writer, web/graphic designer and occasional illustrator Carl Doherty.
What started out in 2006 as a blog about comics, gradually leaning more towards self-published and creator-owned works, has slowly transitioned into a home for my own self-published efforts, and a place to share my opinions on art, literature, cinema, storytelling, publishing, design, animal rights, depression… and yes, still comics. You’ll also find the occasional guest article amidst my mercifully brief rants.
Current Site Status
Due to an increasingly dense schedule, I’m no longer officially accepting review submissions. Hopefully this will eventually change, but not looking likely any time soon.
However, my love for indie comics hasn’t diminished in the slightest. Please do feel free to follow me on social media, add me to your mailing list or inform me of your new book. I can’t always reply, but I always appreciate hearing about new books.