Phoo Action, the cult favorite comic by Mat Wakeham and Jamie Hewlett, comes back in epic fashion this December courtesy of Titan Comics, after years out of print. This has been in the works for years, with Wakeham and company working extensively to ensure that this book can be the best version of itself possible – and they’ve succeeded, because the end result is remarkable. Just like the 90s, Phoo Action is back with a vengeance and demands your attention.
Fans of Hewlett and Wakeham’s work with Gorillaz might be unfamiliar with one of their very first collaborations. Initially published in The Face Magazine, a UK cultural touchstone of the 80s and 90s, Phoo Action is a series of comic strips focusing on the misadventures of Whitey Action and Terry Phoo. The series has a bit of everything, from irreverant humour, hyper-stylish visual presentation, unusual crime-fighting and a touch of political satire and commentary that’s all the more topical now. It’s similar to Hewlett’s work on the legendary Tank Girl, with elements of what would become Phase 1 of Gorillaz’ in universe storyline, to which Wakeham contributed extensively. For at least a decade, the series has been completely out of print, and has become a bit of a rarity item – I would see resellers put issues of The Face containing Phoo Action up for sale for ridiculous sums, due to the later success of Gorillaz. Wakeham has been working alongside an extensive support team since the COVID-19 Lockdown of 2020 to try and get Phoo Action back in print in one massive deluxe edition, to get it into the hands of a whole new generation of readers who are fans of Wakeham and Hewlett’s work.
I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to a launch party to celebrate the release of the book on Thursday, 28th November. Held at The Cartoon Museum in London, and hosted by them in collaboration with Titan Comics and Mat Wakeham, it was a wonderful night. The positive atmosphere was infectious – it was a well earned victory lap for Wakeham and company, finally getting to see their blood, sweat and tears pay off in the gorgeous hardcover volumes right in front of them. Everyone seemed a mixture of exhausted, relieved, proud and excited, and were more than happy to give people a glimpse into the book and discuss the history of how it came to be. There were speeches held by a representative from Titan Comics, as well as Wakeham himself, who detailed some of the rollercoaster-like history of this book, and how much it meant to him to see everyone there to celebrate its release. It was a wonderful experience, and getting to see original Jamie Hewlett artwork in the flesh is something I won’t ever forget seeing – one of the best in the medium in my opinion, albeit admittedly I am biased.
The book itself is a marvel to behold. In addition to the Phoo Action comic, there’s dozens of pages of behind the scenes material – Hewlett’s test sketches, designs and page layouts, Wakeham’s scripts, interviews and pitches. There’s an entire prose novel set in the world of Phoo Action, with new illustrations from Hewlett. There’s also articles and informative pieces on both creators and what 90’s UK culture was like. It’s nearly five hundred pages of material, with effort put into every single page. It’s a tome fulled with vital and important information for those who want to aspire to create something like Phoo Action, and it’s perfect for both old fans wanting to learn more and new fans just getting involved now.
This edition is a result of years of passionate love, labourious hard work, and uttermost dedication. You can see it on every page – every single aspect of the the book, across every single edition, is designed with care and detail. It’s wonderful to see something like this in the flesh, and incredible ode to human persistence and passion for art above all else. If you are a fan of Wakeham and Hewlett, or Gorillaz and Tank Girl, or just generally 90s fashion and culture, you should absolutely check out this book. While it isn’t cheap (and why should it be?) it’s a more than worthwhile purchase. I am still making my way through the book, because I can’t help but pour over every single page and bathe in how remarkable it is that it even exists. It’s on sale December 3rd 2024. Get it, read it, obsess over it, and appreciate the passion and the craft.
