-
Jumper Movie Review
by
2008 Director: Doug Liman Script: David S. Goyer, Jim Uhls, Simon Kinberg Cast: Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson, AnnaSophia Robb, Max Thieriot Film trailers just cannot be trusted. Take Jumper for instance, which promised an epic science fiction tale focussed on a war between “jumpers” (individuals able to teleport) and the…
-
There Will Be Blood Movie Review
by
2007 Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson Script: Paul Thomas Anderson Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier Loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil! Paul Thomas Anderson’s most recent effort is an epic portrait of prospector Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day Lewis), an animal of a man whose lust for power is unhindered by any degree of…
-
Vantage Point Movie Review
by
Dir: Pete Travis Script: Barry Levy Cast: Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, Edgar Ramirez, Ayelet Zurer It’s 24 by way of Rashomon in this high concept thriller, which sees the assassination of William Hurt’s American president during a summit in Spain. Vantage Point offers the same incident from multiple perspectives;…
-
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns TPB Review
by
DC, 1986 Story: Frank Miller Pencils: Frank Miller Inks: Klaus Janson Colours: Lynn Varley Is there really anything to say about Frank Miller’s 1986 vision of the Dark Knight that hasn’t been said already? So… Robin’s a girl, joker dies, and a geriatric Batman beats the crap out of Superman with a pair of enormous…
-
Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 Graphic Novel Review
by
Originally printed 2005 by Archaia Studios Press Story / Art:David Peterson Children’s writer and illustrator David Peterson has received considerable praise for his mini-series Mouse Guard, and its microcosmically epic world of anthropomorphic mice. The world that Lieam, Kenzie and Saxon inhibit is a delicate, magical realm that, though not entirely original, feels fresh in…
-
Control Movie Review
by
2006 Director: Anton Corbjin Script: Matt Greenhalgh, Deborah Curtis Cast: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Alexandra Maria Lara, Craig Parkinson, Joe Anderson, Toby Kebbell, James Anthony Pearson, Harry Treadaway, Andrew Sheridan, Ben Naylor, Phil Hasted, John Cooper Clarke Dismantled on the eve of their first US tour by the tragic death of frontman Ian Curtis, Joy…
-
Superman: Doomsday DVD Review
by
Director: Bruce Timm, Lauren Montgomery, Brandon Vietti Screenplay: Duane Capizzi Voices: Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters With few exceptions, adapting a treasured, often extensive, comic arc into a feature length film is a daunting, thankless task for any director; it is impossible to compress the “soap epic” element of the superhero comic medium into…
-
Cloverfield Movie Review
by
2008 Director: Matt Reeves Script: Drew Goddard Cast: Michael Stahl-David, T. J. Miller, Jessica Lucas, Odette Yustman, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel Man is a contradictory beast. As intellectual entities we romanticise our cities, elevate them as the culmination of civilisation’s greatest accomplishments. As the popcorn guzzling collective we love nothing more than to see said…
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.