The Complete Skizz

Skizz #1-2

by Alan Moore, Jim Baikie

The ultimate illegal alien! Alan Moore's out of print classic returns in a brand new complete collection!
When Interpreter Zhcchz of the Tau-Ceti Imperium crashed his ship into the small blue Hellworld -classed planet, the odds of surviving were stacked against him. Stranded in the polluted, hostile British city of Birmingham, 'Skizz' is befriended by Roxy, a plucky young local girl. But danger is ever present- from bad food to Prime MinisterThatcher s hostile government alien-hunters, this E.T. may soon be R.I.P!"

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 13, 2017

About the author

Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.

Reviews

[Chris Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last two Skizz stories are weird, weird things: the first sequel is actually pretty effective, nicely plotted and using a surprising throwaway moment to drive the plot. It’s scrappy but still holds to the themes of the first and is surprisingly satisfying as follow ups go. Cardew is still the breakout star of the thing and new character Baz fits in nicely, albeit sidelining Loz considerably - to the extent he’s entirely missing from the third story, although that could be a lot to do with Baikie’s time jump twist

The third story is... frankly mad. It’s silly and dumb and if it weren’t for the huge sense of humour that powers through it I could definitely see why it would annoy some people. For me it was just a baffling but highly entertaining bit of silliness, almost self referential at times. Baikie has a few big surprises up his sleeves and drops them with full impact - albeit impact that makes you question whether this is something real or just a fever dream of a comic. It’s ridiculous but joyously so and I would like to think a new creator could sympathetically pick up from the cliffhanger and create something special from it

[ComicNerdSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moore's Skizz is great, full of emotional weight and featuring Baikie's wonderfully breezy black and white art. It keeps moving forward full force, once I started reading I wanted to keep with it till the end. The color sections where Baikie did both writing and art, while not as emotionally resonant, were bursting with charm and pretty funny. Great stuff from these British lads, one of the better 2000 AD series!

[Charles Parke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Presenting all 3 Skizz stories. The first story by Alan Moore provides what may seem like an adult verison of ET with an Alien coming to an urban city, finding heroes in the unemployed and a rebellious teen and villians in the military industrial complex. The second story by Jim Baikie explores the long term effects on the human characters and gives a view of Skizz's culture (still as an outside observer as Skizz may be carrying a danger from exposure to humans) - while I do not feel the followup was necessary I enjoyed it. The third story sees Jim Baikie return as writer and seems all over the place with crossover with another popular 2000 AD character, Aborigines, time jumps from Rome to the far future, one character returning in a new suprising body, Skizz's child and estranged marriage partners, the wealthy lords and leaders of Skizz's home planet (presented as greedy, dim idiots spending the amassed wealth of their people while trampling their rights), along with a comic relief villian group trying to track down Skizz and friends. The third story is funny but seems out of place and to have little point-probably worth reading once but a weak closing for these characters story.

[Colin Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

First part was just as good as I remember - a kind of cross between ET and Boys from the Blackstuff. Part two by Jim Baikie alone expanded the background a good deal, in positive ways. The quality dipped slightly in the last section--some good ideas but a tad scrappy and lumpy in places, and there was a curious linkage to another 2000 AD property that didn't really serve much of a purpose--but all things considered this collection is great fun. Really needs to be a film, or a Netflix series.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://gnomeship.blogspot.com/2017/09...

[Ray Smillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading and thoroughly enjoying Skizz in 2000AD all those years ago and wasn't actually aware of any sequels until this year so I had to get this. The original story was partly in my memory banks and it was great to have my memory fully refreshed. Equally enjoyed the next storyline and loved the ending. Next and final tale was a bit Dr Who, with the time jumps but, nonetheless entertaining.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was tons of fun, and although it's considered classic Moore, it was new to me and lived up to the hype completely. Baikie's stories were just as imaginative and funny, and all in all this would be a good read for any sci-fi fan, especially those looking for a different take on the E.T. mythos.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading Skizz when it was first serialised and I enjoyed it. It has held up well and together with Skizz 2 which I had never read before it was a great compilation. Skizz 3 was an added bonus and a very different feel to it, but it was an enjoyable fast chunk of comic goodness.

[Howell Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story, written by Moore, was super! The second one, written and drawn by Baikie, was also quite good. The third one, also by Baikie, was the weakest one and got tiresome a few times, but the book in total was still quite good.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well paced story which basically follows the plot of ET.

[David Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given it a 5 star review, even though parts 2 and 3 are not of the same calibre as the original and best series, mainly due to the fact that they are fun and it's nice to spend time with Skizz

[Pryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first is really good. But its two sequels are not as good.

[David Varley-Doran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compete Skizz

This collects all three volumes of Skizz from 2000ad.

Skizz 1 written by comics legend Alan Moore with co-creator Jim Baikie on art, is pretty much a British retelling of E.T.
Skizz crash lands in Birmingham and is taken in by teenager Roxy. Before being scooped up and experimented on by derranged scientist Van Owen. Roxy enlists the help of some of her Dad's mates; handsome chancer Loz and the traumatised Cornelius to bust him out.

Despite the E.T story beats, there's some subtle storytelling below the surface that really helps build the world. Cornelius' past trauma, his struggle with unemployment, the reactions of working-class people to band together etc. Good stuff.

Skizz 2 sees Baikie moving up to writing and art, this time in colour. This is a decent installment and the one I remember reading at time of publication. It introduces Baz to the main group of humans. After activating an alien artifact, our returning heroes and Baz find themselves pulled back into government hands. Meanwhile, Skizz is trying to escape confinement by his own people. It's a decent adventure, let down only by the fact that Skizz and the human story barely interact.

Skizz 3. This was published mid 90s when 2000ad was widely considered to be at a creative low. And it shows. Baikie is solo again and changes the tone drastically. Skizz is underground, trying to introduce the concept of human like chaos into Cetian society. Roxy, Baz and Cornelius are in Australia and the third and most dominant story strand concerns the "comedy japes" of 2 alien hitmen, Wayne and Trevor and their terrible comedy Brummie accented Terminator as they travel through time trying to prevent Skizz' original visit to Earth.

All time spent with Wayne and Trevor is a proper suck and you just wish it was spent elsewhere. Roxy and Baz do nothing, literally. They just wait around for Skizz to return. There is a totally insane decision late on to tie the story into main Dredd continuity, which means any future stories will need some multiverse timey-whimey gubbins or retconning.

It's unlikely there'll be any future stories though, so it's sad to see Skizz go out like this.