Review by Ed Sizemore

One of the books premiering this week at SPX is So Buttons #4 by Jonathan Baylis. As the cover boldly announces, this is his biggest issue yet. Since I’ve complained in the past his books were too short, I found this longer issue a welcome change.

This volume contains 11 short stories, each with a different artist. As with the previous issues, these are slice-of-life remembrances. The topics include baseball, movies, and getting to meet one’s idols. The stories are told with a nice blend of nostalgia and humor. Those looking for existential angst will have to search elsewhere.

Baylis and I are approximately the same age, so a few of the stories struck a chord with me. I, too, used to eat my M&Ms by color and remember making origami drinking cups and balloons. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to work in the same company as some of my childhood heroes. So I missed both the thrills and disappointments that brings.

Baylis always finds great artists to work with. Having Fred Hembeck draw the story about being an intern at Marvel is perfect. I love Thomas A. Boatwright’s linework. He’s able to capture of feel of those black-and-white movies. Baylis’s longtime collaborator, T.J. Kirsch, is excellent as always.

Folks heading out to SPX this weekend are encouraged to drop by Baylis’ booth and grab a copy of So Buttons #4. If you can’t make the show, then you can order books directly from Baylis at his website. He also has a list of comic stores that carry his books. Maybe I’m reading the wrong books, but upbeat autobiographical comics seem rare these days. It’s great change of pace to read a comic by someone who seems happy about his life.

You can read an 8-page preview at Issuu.