After being out of print for years, Matt Wakeham and Jamie Hewlett’s cult favorite comic, Who Action, returns in epic form this December, courtesy of Titan Comics. This has been in the works for a number of years, and Wakeham and company have worked extensively to make this book the best version possible, but the end result is amazing and they are proud of their success. I did. Just like in the ’90s, Who action is back with a vengeance and commanding attention.
Fans of Hewlett and Wakeham’s work with Gorillaz may not be familiar with one of their first collaborations. First published in The Face Magazine, a touchstone of British culture in the 80s and 90s, “Phoo Action” is a comic series that focuses on whitey action and the misadventures of Terry Pooh. This series has a little bit of everything: irreverent humor, highly stylish visuals, unusual crime-fighting, and increasingly topical political satire and commentary. This is similar to Hewlett’s legendary Tank Girl work, and contains elements of what would become Phase 1 of the Gorillaz universe story, to which Wakeham also contributed heavily. This series has been completely out of print for at least 10 years, making it a bit of a rarity. Because of its subsequent success, I’ve seen resellers sell The Face, which includes Who Action, for exorbitant amounts of money. Gorillaz. Since the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Wakeham has worked with an extensive support team to reissue Who Action in a major deluxe edition, reaching a whole new generation of Wakeham fans. We have been working hard to get it into the hands of our readers. and Hewlett’s work.
Original artwork by Jamie Hewlett.
I was very happy to be invited to the launch party to celebrate the release of this book on Thursday, November 28th. It was a fantastic evening, held at London’s Cartoon Museum in collaboration with Titan Comics and Matt Wakeham. The positive vibe was contagious. It was a well-earned victory lap for Wakeham and his friends, who could finally see their blood, sweat, and tears pay off right before their eyes with a gorgeous hardcover book. Everyone had a mixture of exhaustion, relief, pride and excitement on their faces, and they were thrilled to have people take a look at the book and discuss the history behind it. It was. Speeches were made by representatives from Titan Comics and Wakeham himself, who detailed some of the book’s roller-coaster history, and he was thrilled to meet everyone in attendance to celebrate the launch. He talked about how much it meant to him. It was an amazing experience. And being able to see Jamie Hewlett’s original artwork live is something I’ll never forget. I admit I’m biased, but in my opinion it’s one of the best in this medium.
Matt Wakeham speaks at the Who Action Deluxe launch party.
The book itself is amazing. In addition to the Phoo Action comics, there are dozens of pages of behind-the-scenes material, including Hewlett’s test sketches, designs, page layouts, and Wakeham’s scripts, interviews, and pitches. There is an entire prose novel set in the world of Who Action, with new illustrations by Hewlett. There are also articles and informative articles about both creators and what British culture was like in the 90s. At nearly 500 pages, each and every page is packed with effort. This is a book full of vital and vital information for anyone wanting to create something like Poo Action, perfect for both old fans wanting to know more and new fans joining us.
This edition is the result of many years of passionate love, painstaking efforts and utmost dedication. You can see it on every page. Every aspect of this book has been carefully and meticulously designed across all editions. It’s amazing to see something like this live, and most of all it’s an incredible tribute to human tenacity and passion for art. If you’re a fan of Wakeham and Hewlett, or Gorillaz and Tank Girl, or just 90’s fashion and culture in general, you should definitely check out this book. It’s not cheap (and why should it be?), but it’s well worth the purchase. I’m still reading this book. Because I can’t help but pour over every page and soak in how amazing it is that this book even exists. It will be released on December 3, 2024. Get it, read it, immerse yourself, and appreciate the passion and skill.
Image of Who Action Super Deluxe Edition
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