-
Barton Fink Film Review
by
1991 Dir: Joel Coen Script: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen Cast: John Turturro, John Goodman, Michael Lerner, Steve Buscemi, Judy Davis Deluded, pompous New York socialist playwright Barton Fink (Torturro) undergoes personal and professional deconstruction after moving to Los Angeles to write a wrestling movie for Capitol Pictures. Barton begins to suffer from writer’s block, a…
-
Hulk: The End Graphic Novel Review
by
2001, Marvel Writer: Peter David Pencils: Dale Keown Inks: Joe Weems with Livesay Colours: Dan Kemp “I am the weak piston in that engine,” Bruce Banner tells himself, as he endures the torment of Prometheus in this green-skinned take on The Last Man on Earth. Humanity has long passed, and Hulk has finally found the…
-
Secuestro Express Film Review
by
2005 Dir: Jonathan Jakobowitz Script: Jonathan Jakobowitz Cast: Mía Maestro, Jean Paul Leroux, Ruben Blades Were you to exit Secuestro Express five minutes in, you’d be forgiven for dismissing it as Lock Stock’s impoverished South American cousin. Grainy DV longs shots diverge with flashy character introductions, with Secuestro’s downtrodden scum introduced by baseball card profiles.…
-
Central Station (Central do Brasil) Film Review
by
1998 Dir: Walter Salles Script: Walter Salles Cast: Fernanda Montenegro, Matheus Nachtergaele, Marília Pêra, Vinícius de Oliveira, Former teacher Dora (Montenegro) writes letters for illiterate customers in Rio de Janeiro’s Central Station, and derives great pleasure from not sending them. When a mother is killed in a road accident outside the station, Dora sells her…
-
Brick Movie Review
by
2005 Dir: Rian Johnson Script: Rian Johnson Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emilie de Ravin, Nora Zehetner, Matt O’Leary, Lukas Haas, Meagan Good, Noah Fleiss, Noah Segan, Richard Roundtree After finding the body of San Clement High School student Emily (de Ravin) ex-partner Brendan Frye (Gordon-Levitt) vows to avenge her. Much like Napoleon Dynamite, Brick exists within…
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.