Indie Spotlight Review - Switchblade Stories

Rob checks out Switchblade Stories...

Switchblade Stories is a four-part story that's been created by Chris Askham. The narrative follows a bored housewife; Mindy Lou as a single event sends her life spiralling in a different direction. 

Now with her suburb life behind her, Mindy Lou has fallen into the ranks of the Main Street Furies - an all-girl gang. Now with her past life behind her, Mindy Lou has to fit in with the gang or get left behind. But with any good story - things don't stay good for long, and Mindy Lou will soon have to rely on her new friend - and love interest - Darla May if she wishes to survive.

Presented in a 1950s retro style, Switchblade Stories is a great mix of gritty, messy, action, with plenty of sex and romance. It certainly doesn't pull its punches and is packed with lots of adult content and situations. Switchblade Stories is as far removed from all ages as you can get. Which to be fair makes for a refreshing change. 

Created by one-man-band Chris Askham, Switchblade Stories is a pretty grand achievement. Not only has Askham written the story, but he also draws, colours, and letters it too! Issue #1 wastes no time in setting up Mindy Lou's character as she goes from bored, depressed housewife to murderer in a couple of pages. Leaving her life behind, we then follow the character as she skips town to eventually run out of money. Resorting to more illicit ways to get by, it's not long before Mindy runs head-first into Switchblade Story's secondary protagonist - Darla May. 

What then follows is a rollercoaster ride as Askham takes these characters through the highs - and lows - of gang life. From plotting to de-throne Main Street Furies leader Gloria to vicious gang wars, plenty of backstabbing,  and even a run-in with the law, Switchblade Stories keeps its tempo flowing at a high pace. 

Switchblade Stories is presented in a gorgeous 1950s style with clear influences from art deco and pop art styles of the era. Each issue is also interlaced with various retro-inspired adverts, with many of them relating to the plot within that issue. The attention to detail is also impressive too. Not only do we get some highly detailed character work, but Askham also adds a weathered feel to each page that gives the impression that you're reading a comic that's seen better days. It's a unique feeling that certainly enhances the atmosphere of the narrative within. 

While Switchblade Stories wouldn't necessarily be a comic I would gravitate towards, I'm glad that I've experienced its world. There's a lot here to enjoy, and fans of the mediums Golden-Age will get a kick out of the atmosphere that Chris Askham has built outside of the narrative. With no signs of ending any time soon, it looks like Mindy Lou, Darla May, and the Main Street Furies will be with us for a while longer. 

Rating: 8/10 

You can check out Chris Askham's work over on his website by clicking here. 

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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev