Zebedee and The Valentines

by Abs Bailey

Overview

Zebedee and The Valentines have just played the gig of their lives. The seven people watching them agree. With a big battle of the bands approaching, lead singer Zebedee and his motley crew of punks seem ready to blow up.

But when the Devil is booking your gigs and the competition is fierce, was it ever really going to be that easy? It may take a tragedy for Zebedee to turn his self-centered attitude around.

The debut graphic novel from incredible new creator Abs Bailey, Zebedee and The Valentines is a psychedelic tale of betrayal, tragedy and triumph told through the lens of the 80s, and with amps turned up to 11.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781910395547
Publisher:	Avery Hill Publishing
Publication date:	10/14/2020
Pages:	108
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Abs is a comic artist and illustrator living in Bristol, UK.
She graduated from the University of South Wales with a 1st Class Degree in Illustration (2018) and this year she is on Broken Frontier's '6 To Watch' list.
As well as self-publishing her own work Abs also featured as part of the Comic Book Slumber party collective that put together the Escape From Bitch Mountain collection.
She's inspired by music, old literature, and kids TV shows from the 70'sou can typically find her lounging around drawing on some form of public transport probably in a pair of spangly boots.

Editorial Reviews

08/24/2020

Bailey takes a disappointing trip into the life of a small-time London rock band on a bender of addiction, ego, and loss. Zebedee is the front man for his raggedy band, with guitarist Morris, bassist Rocco, and drummer Kate. After a stellar performance in an empty barroom, the group is recruited to perform at a massive charity show, promising their big break. But a rift between Zebedee and Rocco ends with the bassist’s relapse and deadly overdose, sending Zebedee into a substance-abusing depression and leaving the remaining players’ musical futures uncertain. Bailey’s character and page designs are a delight to behold throughout, from Zebedee’s Day of the Dead skull-like visage to the wild but chilling dreamscapes he visits while speaking with Rocco’s ghost. Despite the wonky and colorful visuals, though, the plot is a standard (bordering on cliché) tale of an egomaniacal wannabe star brought down to earth by a tragedy; moreover, it’s hard to develop sympathy for characters when the personalities on display are exaggerated narcissist or milquetoast with little middle ground. Zebedee’s fateful meltdown is brought on when a critic describes his vocals as “forgettable”; apart from quirky art, that is also a fairly apt way to describe this debut. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Confident and affecting… an intense and rewarding character study with surprising hidden depths.” - Broken Frontier

“A riot of color and whimsy… sort of like Edgar Wright meets Tim Burton meets Jim Henson meets Lisa Frank…in a good way.” - Bookriot

From the Publisher