Slab-O-Concrete
Encyclopedia
Slab-O-Concrete Productions was a British
mail order
distributor
and publisher, founded by pavement artist Peter Pavement, Dave Hanna, Emma Copsey and Chris Tappenden, operating mostly in Brighton and Hove during the 1990s. Initially selling British
small press
comics
and zine
s (including Pavement's own Pavement #0, #1, #2+3 and Pavement Pizza #4), Slab-O-Concrete also imported publications from the United States
, Australia
, and Europe
.
Slab-o-Concrete was originally based in Sheffield
; it moved to Hove in 1995. After intensely ramping up its publishing line in the late nineties (including moving into CDs and prose books), Slab-O-Concrete was laid low in 2001 as policy changes in the book industry caused cash flow issues.
industry. Instead, publisher Pavement made connections with underground
publishers, zinesters, independent record label
s, and other subcultural
scenes.
, Ian Carney
, Craig Conlan
, Alan Moore
, Woodrow Phoenix
, and Aleksandar Zograf
.
In 1998, Slab-O-Concrete published four titles in partnership with Amnesty International
. The comics were designed as 16-page minicomics with card stock covers, designed to be sealed and used as postcards. Ilya's A Bowl of Rice was about the forcible relocation and killing of Shan rice farmers in Burma. Enrique Rodríguez's Freedom from Discrimination was a story about maltreatment of and violence against street children in Brazil
, and undocumented, unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States
. Dan Jones' Just Deserts told the story of a female Filipino
migrant worker
's false conviction and punishment in Saudi Arabia
. Peter Arkle's Love told the story of Mariana Cetiner, a Romanian
woman arrested and imprisoned for allegedly attempting to seduce another woman. In 1999, Slab-O-Concrete published another 16-page mailable minicomic called Donna's Day, by Donna Mathes and Peter Bagge
.
One of their final publications, in 1999, was The Worm: the Longest Comic Strip in the World, by Alan Moore
and a "galaxy of greats," which was published in association with the Cartoon Art Trust and the Swedish Council for Cultural Affairs. "In one single working day, over 125 British cartoonists gathered together in one place to create 'the longest comic [wordless] strip in the world.'" The Worm featured introductions and explanatory text in English, Swedish, and French.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mail order
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
distributor
Direct market
The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for North American comic books. It consists of one dominant distributor and the majority of comics specialty stores, as well as other retailers of comic books and related merchandise...
and publisher, founded by pavement artist Peter Pavement, Dave Hanna, Emma Copsey and Chris Tappenden, operating mostly in Brighton and Hove during the 1990s. Initially selling British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
small press
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
and zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
s (including Pavement's own Pavement #0, #1, #2+3 and Pavement Pizza #4), Slab-O-Concrete also imported publications from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Slab-o-Concrete was originally based in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
; it moved to Hove in 1995. After intensely ramping up its publishing line in the late nineties (including moving into CDs and prose books), Slab-O-Concrete was laid low in 2001 as policy changes in the book industry caused cash flow issues.
Distributor
In general, Slab-O-Concrete rejected the traditional comic bookComic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
industry. Instead, publisher Pavement made connections with underground
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
publishers, zinesters, independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
s, and other subcultural
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
scenes.
Publisher
By 1994 Slab-O-Concrete had developed into a publisher, repackaging small press comics and zines for the bookshop market and originating new works. Notable creators published by Slab-O-Concrete included Jessica AbelJessica Abel
Jessica Abel is an American comic book writer and artist, known as the creator of such works as Life Sucks, Drawing Words & Writing Pictures, Soundtrack, La Perdida, Mirror, Window, Radio: An Illustrated Guide , and the omnibus series Artbabe.Abel has stated that her major work is not...
, Ian Carney
Ian Carney
Ian Carney is a British comics writer. Born in Liverpool, Merseyside on 11 September 1962, carney began writing comics in the 80s for Fleetway Editions in the UK and First Comics and Dark Horse Comics in the US...
, Craig Conlan
Craig Conlan
Craig Conlan is a Scottish comics writer/artist.He is best known for his character Hairy Mary, who has appeared in two graphic novel collections and several minicomics, all through Brighton publisher Slab-O-Concrete from 1998 to 2002....
, Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, Woodrow Phoenix
Woodrow Phoenix
Woodrow Phoenix is a British comics artist, writer, editorial illustrator, graphic designer, font designer and author of children's books.He was a contributor to a number of British comics magazines including Escape, Blaaam! and Blast! and was part of the British small press comics scene in the...
, and Aleksandar Zograf
Aleksandar Zograf
Sasa Rakezic is a Serbian cartoonist, author of such works as Life Under Sanctions, Psychonaut, Dream Watcher, and Bulletins from Serbia....
.
In 1998, Slab-O-Concrete published four titles in partnership with Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. The comics were designed as 16-page minicomics with card stock covers, designed to be sealed and used as postcards. Ilya's A Bowl of Rice was about the forcible relocation and killing of Shan rice farmers in Burma. Enrique Rodríguez's Freedom from Discrimination was a story about maltreatment of and violence against street children in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and undocumented, unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Dan Jones' Just Deserts told the story of a female Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
migrant worker
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
's false conviction and punishment in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Peter Arkle's Love told the story of Mariana Cetiner, a Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
woman arrested and imprisoned for allegedly attempting to seduce another woman. In 1999, Slab-O-Concrete published another 16-page mailable minicomic called Donna's Day, by Donna Mathes and Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge is an American cartoonist. He is the creator of Buddy Bradley, Hate, Neat Stuff, Martini Baton, and Sweatshop, Apocalypse Nerd and Other Lives. His stories often use black humor and exaggerated cartooning to dramatize the reduced expectations of middle-class American youth...
.
One of their final publications, in 1999, was The Worm: the Longest Comic Strip in the World, by Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
and a "galaxy of greats," which was published in association with the Cartoon Art Trust and the Swedish Council for Cultural Affairs. "In one single working day, over 125 British cartoonists gathered together in one place to create 'the longest comic [wordless] strip in the world.'" The Worm featured introductions and explanatory text in English, Swedish, and French.
Music
- 17%: Hendrix Was Not the Only Musician!, by Billy ChildishBilly ChildishBilly Childish is an English artist, painter, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist...
& His Famous Headcoats (1998) - The Attack of Everything, by Jad FairJad FairJad Fair is an American singer, guitarist and graphic artist, most famous for being a founding member of lo-fi alternative rock group Half Japanese.-Biography:In 1974, with his brother David, Jad Fair founded the lo-fi group Half Japanese...
and Jason WillettJason WillettJason Willett is an American musician, known largely for his work with experimental rock groups including Half Japanese, Can Openers, Pleasant Livers, X-Ray Eyes, The Dramatics, The Jaunties, The Attitude Robots, Leprechaun Catering, and many more...
(2000)
Comics
- Amnesty International minicomics
- A Bowl of Rice, by Ilya (1998) — published in partnership with Amnesty International
- Freedom from Discrimination, by Enrique Rodríguez (1998) — published in partnership with Amnesty International
- Just Deserts, by Dan Jones (1998) — published in partnership with Amnesty International
- Love, by Peter Arkle (1998) — published in partnership with Amnesty International
- Anarchy in the UK: the Comic (1994)
- Artbabe in Pigskin vs Paintbrush!, by Jessica AbelJessica AbelJessica Abel is an American comic book writer and artist, known as the creator of such works as Life Sucks, Drawing Words & Writing Pictures, Soundtrack, La Perdida, Mirror, Window, Radio: An Illustrated Guide , and the omnibus series Artbabe.Abel has stated that her major work is not...
(1999) - Assume Nothing: Starring Liliane: Evolution of a Bi-Dyke, by Leanne Franson (1997)
- Axis Mundi, by Ian CarneyIan CarneyIan Carney is a British comics writer. Born in Liverpool, Merseyside on 11 September 1962, carney began writing comics in the 80s for Fleetway Editions in the UK and First Comics and Dark Horse Comics in the US...
and Garry Marshall (2000) - Bad Hair Day, by Craig ConlanCraig ConlanCraig Conlan is a Scottish comics writer/artist.He is best known for his character Hairy Mary, who has appeared in two graphic novel collections and several minicomics, all through Brighton publisher Slab-O-Concrete from 1998 to 2002....
(1997) - Bulletins from Serbia: E-mails and Cartoon Strips from Beyond the Front Line, by Aleksandar ZografAleksandar ZografSasa Rakezic is a Serbian cartoonist, author of such works as Life Under Sanctions, Psychonaut, Dream Watcher, and Bulletins from Serbia....
(1999) - Cheap Date: Antidotal Anti-Fashion, by Peter BlakePeter Blake (artist)Sir Peter Thomas Blake, KBE, CBE, RDI, RA is an English pop artist, best known for his design of the sleeve for the Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. He lives in Chiswick, London, UK.-Career:...
(2000) - Daddy is So Far Away, We Must Find Him!, by Wostok and Grabowski (1998)
- Doc Trader, by Jessica AbelJessica AbelJessica Abel is an American comic book writer and artist, known as the creator of such works as Life Sucks, Drawing Words & Writing Pictures, Soundtrack, La Perdida, Mirror, Window, Radio: An Illustrated Guide , and the omnibus series Artbabe.Abel has stated that her major work is not...
(2000) - Dole Scum: Co-starring Bunny Girl and Pig Boy, by Nigel Auchterlounie (2000)
- Donna's Day, by Donna Mathes and Peter BaggePeter BaggePeter Bagge is an American cartoonist. He is the creator of Buddy Bradley, Hate, Neat Stuff, Martini Baton, and Sweatshop, Apocalypse Nerd and Other Lives. His stories often use black humor and exaggerated cartooning to dramatize the reduced expectations of middle-class American youth...
(1999) - Dream Bytes, by Lee Kennedy (1994) — ongoing series
- Dream Watcher: Comics, by Aleksandar ZografAleksandar ZografSasa Rakezic is a Serbian cartoonist, author of such works as Life Under Sanctions, Psychonaut, Dream Watcher, and Bulletins from Serbia....
(1998) - Eager Beaver (Missive Device), by Ian CarneyIan CarneyIan Carney is a British comics writer. Born in Liverpool, Merseyside on 11 September 1962, carney began writing comics in the 80s for Fleetway Editions in the UK and First Comics and Dark Horse Comics in the US...
and Woodrow PhoenixWoodrow PhoenixWoodrow Phoenix is a British comics artist, writer, editorial illustrator, graphic designer, font designer and author of children's books.He was a contributor to a number of British comics magazines including Escape, Blaaam! and Blast! and was part of the British small press comics scene in the...
(1999, ISBN 1-899866-93-0) - The End of the Century Club: Countdown, by Ed Hillyer (1999, ISBN 0-9527386-0-0)
- Excreta: Stories of Bodily Fluids, by Ole Comoll Christensen (1999)
- Fishbowl 1 (1994),Fishbowl 2 (1995), by Chris Tappenden
- Floozie, by Jane Graham (1998)
- Gash, by Soren Mosdal (2000)
- The GirlFrenzy Aillennial: a Big Girl's Annual, by Erica Smith (1998)
- The Great Challenge: an International Anthology of Political Cartoons (1998) — exhibition catalogue to accompany the Great Challenge held at Oxo Tower Wharf, London, 1998
- Hairy Mary: Fun Fur, by Craig ConlanCraig ConlanCraig Conlan is a Scottish comics writer/artist.He is best known for his character Hairy Mary, who has appeared in two graphic novel collections and several minicomics, all through Brighton publisher Slab-O-Concrete from 1998 to 2002....
(1999) - Hairy Mary: Grrrl, by Craig ConlanCraig ConlanCraig Conlan is a Scottish comics writer/artist.He is best known for his character Hairy Mary, who has appeared in two graphic novel collections and several minicomics, all through Brighton publisher Slab-O-Concrete from 1998 to 2002....
(1999) - Handy Hints for a Consumer Society, by Chris Tappenden (1995)
- Liberty Fernando: a Story of Zits & Revolution, by Ole Comoll Christensen (1999)
- Lux and Alby: Sign on & Save the Universe, by Martin Millar and Simon FraserSimon Fraser (comics)Simon Fraser is a British comics artist and writer best known for his work on Nikolai Dante, a series he created with writer Robbie Morrison in 2000 AD.-Career:...
, with lettering by Ali Kirkpatrick (1999) - Meet John Dark, by Darryl Cunningham and Simon Gane (1998)
- Pavement #0, Pavement #1, Pavement #2+3 edited by Peter Pavement, contributions Peter Pavement, Dave Hanna, Lawrence Burton, Adeline Wartner, Paul John, Welly, Andy Hemingway, Renee French and Chris Tappenden (1990-94?)
- Pavement Pizza, by Peter Pavement (1994?)
- The Plot Thickens (1997) — published with Brighton-based Armchair Comics
- Punk Strips, by Simon Gane (2000)
- SchwaSchwa (art)Schwa is the underground conceptual artwork of Bill Barker . Barker draws deceptively simple black and white stick figures and oblong alien ships. However the artwork is not about the aliens: it is about how people react to the presence of the aliens and Barker uses them as a metaphor for foreign...
, by Bill Barker (1995) - Simon Cat in "Taxi", by Nigel Auchterlounie (1999)
- The Slab-O-Concrete Sampler", (1990) edited by Peter Pavement
- The Slab-O-Concrete Inactivity Book, edited by Woodrow PhoenixWoodrow PhoenixWoodrow Phoenix is a British comics artist, writer, editorial illustrator, graphic designer, font designer and author of children's books.He was a contributor to a number of British comics magazines including Escape, Blaaam! and Blast! and was part of the British small press comics scene in the...
and Craig ConlanCraig ConlanCraig Conlan is a Scottish comics writer/artist.He is best known for his character Hairy Mary, who has appeared in two graphic novel collections and several minicomics, all through Brighton publisher Slab-O-Concrete from 1998 to 2002....
(2000, ISBN 1-899866-42-6) - The Slab Selection ", edited by Peter Pavement (1996, ISBN 1-899866-03-5)
- Spiral Dreams, by Al Davison (2000)
- Sugar Buzz: Live at Budokan!, by Woodrow PhoenixWoodrow PhoenixWoodrow Phoenix is a British comics artist, writer, editorial illustrator, graphic designer, font designer and author of children's books.He was a contributor to a number of British comics magazines including Escape, Blaaam! and Blast! and was part of the British small press comics scene in the...
(1999, ISBN 1-899866-33-7) - Teaching Through Trauma, by Leanne Franson (1999)
- Time Warp: The End of the Century Club, by Ed Hillyer (1999, ISBN 1-899866-20-5)
- Windy Wilberforce in The Saga of the Scroll, by Ed PinsentEd PinsentEd Pinsent is a British cartoonist, artist and writer born 1960 in Liverpool.-Biography:Pinsent has written and drawn his own small press comics since 1982, including characters such as Primitif, Henrietta and Windy Wilberforce...
(1995, ISBN 1-899866-00-0) - Witch, by Lorna Miller (1999)
- The Worm: the Longest Comic Strip in the World, by Alan MooreAlan MooreAlan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
and a "galaxy of greats" (1999) - XXX (Strip) Burger, by Stripburger Magazine (1999)
Prose
- Below Critical Radar: Fanzines and Alternative Comics from 1976 to the Present Day, edited by Roger SabinRoger SabinRoger Sabin is a writer about comics and lecturer at Central St. Martins in London, England. He is best known for his book titled Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels: A History of Comic Art and has also written newspaper articles on the topic of comics.-Books:...
& Teal Triggs (2000, ISBN 1899866477) - Billy Childish: & His Famous Headcoats; Hendrix Was Not the Only Musician, by Billy ChildishBilly ChildishBilly Childish is an English artist, painter, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist...
(1998) - Cometbus, by Aaron CometbusAaron CometbusAaron Elliott , better known as Aaron Cometbus, is an American drummer, lyricist, self-described "punk anthropologist," novelist, and author of punk rock zine Cometbus.-Personal life:...
(1999) — zine - Ground Level (1994) — zine about alternative comicsAlternative comicsAlternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
- Little Girl Blues, by Lee Kennedy (1994) – zine
- Spy TV: Just Who is the Digital TV Revolution Overthrowing?, by David Burke (2000)
- Towards 2012: the Journal of Millennial Mutation
- Part 2, Psychedelica (1996)
- Part 3, Culture and Language, by Gyrus T. Features, et al. (1997)