Hal Weaver is based in Riga, Latvia, also home of publishing house kuš! comics. He published seven issues of Reluctant Sadist from 1985 to 1989 (with an additional collected edition) and contributed to nearly a dozen other wonderfully obscure small press anthologies of the 80s. Like a lot of small press cartoonists he quit self-publishing for other pursuits, only to recently return to cartooning in 2023 with a contribution to Ugly Mug 7 and the revival of Reluctant Sadist with issue #8 in 2024.
Reluctant Sadist #9 is twenty pages, including covers, at A5 size with several shorter strips all written and drawn by Hal Weaver. This issue has a humorous “Bigfoot” theme with both covers and two strips devoted to the not-so-mythical beasts. ‘If You Go Into the Woods…’ is a litany of annoying habits of modern hikers and outdoor enthusiasts with a shock ending! While, ‘What, Me Worry? Yes!’ takes the perspective of a beleaguered Bigfoot complaining how modern technology makes their life so difficult, though the clever cryptid uses that same technology to get the last laugh.
While the writing by Weaver is sharp and funny throughout, the art on two other strips takes a more experimental turn. ‘Making Peace With Reluctant Sadist’ is an irreverent exploration of the reasons for the title Reluctant Sadist, the autobiographical story is well served by the text alternating with illustrations in a floating layout. ‘Maybe It’s You?’ is a delightful abstract strip, the intricate amoeba-like creatures dancing around the panels in a fascinating non-narrative.
In case anyone missed it, Weaver reprints his contribution from Ugly Mug 7 here, its African mask motif mirrored with the front cover’s stylized Bigfoot portrait.
This is a favourite form of small press comic, a single creator filling a comic with whatever is on their mind at the moment from their own unique perspective and style. We hear Hal Weaver is working on a book-length strip for the next issue. Whatever comes of that it will definitely be worth checking out future issues of Reluctant Sadist.
Hal Weaver (Writer/Artist) • Self-published, €5.00
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Review by Gary Usher
