Sol Pop 4 – Maps

A great example of what makes the UK comic scene so strong and vibrant at the moment, the latest issue of Solipsistic Pop is out now.

An ambitious package of printerly delights based on the theme of "maps", this latest anthology of UK comic artists pushes print, and printed comics in particular, in new directions with a breathtaking selection of print processes and papers.

At the heart of the package we have the main book – 80 pages of spot colour lovliness printed on Redeem 100% recycled, a natural coloured paper with excellent opacity which allows for printing on lighter weights of paper without the risk of show-through.

Wrapping around the book we have an intricate dust jacket, designed by Katie Green, which doubles-up as a map complete with teddy bears, ships, sheep, and Monopoly man top hats.

An additional three postcard sized comics extend the theme of maps and travel –  glow-in-the-dark ink adds a new context to one comic when you find a dark place to read it in, another lists a bingo checklist of  things to find in your area, and when you reach an appropriate destination the final postcard comic is printed on seed paper that can be planted once it has been read.

The entire package comes in a folder screenprinted with a blueprint, diagram-based design that fits perfectly with the cartological theme.

Solipsistic Pop's creator Tom Humberstone has written previously on  why printed comics rather than digital comics work for him and this latest edition of Sol Pop illustrates his argument perfectly.

Printing by Calverts and Henningham Family Press, Solipsistic Pop 4 is launched tonight at Concrete, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ.