BOOK REVIEW: O’Dork’s Nonogon Series
Published in the United Kingdom by Pete Kennedy (aka Danny O’Cinneide)
I’m a chronic email-replier. Even if I’m taking a rest, I reply to my emails. It’s a really bad habit, especially paired with the fact I take a ridiculously long time to construct my reply. I do the over-polite “could you please, if it’s not a bother, maybe if you have time, let me know? Thanks so much” typa stuff. I’m working, studying postgrad and doing this mag so a lot of my time is taken up with emailing. Because of this, I decided to actively take a break. I put on a reality tv show, got comfy and started to relax. Then an email popped up. The subject line was: “Sending my books to you?”. Well, I couldn’t just ignore an email with that as the subject.
The email was from an UK artist who had been making comics since the 70s. How the hell can you not be completely intrigued by that bio?? Pete Kennedy is the author of several graphic novels and created the character Apulhed (originally Appleheadman before evolving into Apulhed.) The first line of the email was: “I've been doing a crazy lot of graphic stories about my creation APULHED” with an attached image. The character of Apulhed was so absolutely fucking cool, that I emailed back right away saying: Yes, yes, yes I would love to review your books.
The infamous Apulhed from Pete’s email.
Pete sent me his O’Dork books - Dreams of O’Dork, Visions of O’Dork, Fears of O’Dork, and O’Dork’s Nonogon Adventure - which follow the “artistic adventures of his [Pete’s] pseudonym Danny O’Dorke”. Pete’s O’Dork series is a wonderfully chaotic, psychedelic daydream and one of the most original art-books I have read in a while.
The unique art style of Pete’s work struck me immediately. He has this real “comix” style , reminiscent of underground NYC punk art from the 70s. Pete identifies his work as “hieornymous Bosch- style ugly monsters”, which I reckon is fantastic. His art reminds me of old school outsider artists like Daniel Johnston, and even has a feel of the legendary cartoonist, Robert Crumb (without the weird sexist undertones). He transforms ideas and metaphors seamlessly into art, not afraid to confront the reader with stark social commentaries and satires. Pete uses his characters as a “graphic voice” to speak up on issues such as war and poverty.
There is an anarchy in self publishing; It is an act of rebellion against the conventions of the publishing industry, and can often serve the minority communities who have been left out of traditional publication spaces. Pete’s work is the perfect evidence of the power of independent publications. He has been able to push his artstyle and his ideas to the very edge of each page, overlapping words and images, adding in transparent pages. Pete’s books give me this excited feeling, almost a sense of exhilaration. To see such creative freedom on the page, to see this off-kilter underground style in a published book, is such a joy to me. Self publishing really can change the world.
What I love most about Pete’s work is it is never clumsily satirical or obnoxious in any way. His work has a way of being both messy and clean, complex and simple all at once. He experiments with different art styles with elegance, and holds a strong command over what he wants to say and how he wants to say it. This strong sense of intention is what grounds his experimental art style. Pete’s work never feels random or nonsensical: He has complete control. This is what makes Pete’s O’Dork books particularly special. Beneath the mind bending chaos is a genuine social critique. And the fact I have to really engage with his art to find meaning is what makes Pete’s work so much fun.
You can order Pete’s books here
