British publisher SelfMadeHero are releasing a tribute anthology spotlighting novelty independent electoral candidate Count Binface. Unauthorised and unofficial, with contributions from over 30 cartoonists, the 72-page Count Binface Comic Book will release August 6, retail for £9.99, and part of the proceeds will go to UK homelessness nonprofit Shelter.
Leader of the Recyclons and an intergalactic space warrior with a trash can for a helmet, hailing all the way from Sigma IX, Count Binface is the creation of British writer and comedian Jonathan David Harvey. As Count Binface he has stood as an independent political candidate in general, special, and mayoral elections since 2019. This year has been particularly busy for the Count as he only just recently concluded his campaign in June’s Makerfield by-election (special election) which Britain’s newest Prime Minister Andy Burnham contested to officially assume office.
Count Binface is currently standing in the Clacton by-election against Reform MP Nigel Farage who – facing questions concerning a £5 million undeclared donation – dramatically resigned in protest and announced he would immediately stand for reelection in the same constituency. A safe seat for Farage, none of the major British political parties are contesting – leaving the public to enjoy the spectacle of a Binface-Farage faceoff. Expect plenty of trash talk on the doorsteps of Clacton before the polls close on August 13.
The Count Binface Comic Book is SelfMadeHero’s second anthology paying tribute to a political personality, following their tribute to then-Labour Party leader (and member) Jeremy Corbyn in 2017. Unlike the Corbyn Comic Book, this one had a much tighter turnaround – with the idea, planning, call for contributors, and execution coming together in the space of a couple weeks in order to be printed and ready ahead of the Clacton election.
According to SelfMadeHero’s Managing Director Emma Hayley:
“I’ve been a fan of his ever since learning of his policy to nationalize the singer Adele. After Count Binface said he was standing [in Clacton], I started contacting all the great comics creators and cartoonists I’ve worked with over the years.
“It has been a hectic few weeks. I’d like to thank all the writers and artists who went the extra mile because they believed in this crucial work of political satire. And because they thought it was a funny idea to celebrate a guy dressed as a bin.”
The full list of contributors includes Nick Abadzis, Krent Able, Steven Appleby, Andrew Attwell, Rachael Ball, Becky Barnicoat, Henny Beaumont, Hannah Berry, Abbigayle Bircham & Bobby Joseph, Paul Ashley Brown, Grazia Caleo & Louis Netter, Darryl Cunningham & Jonathan Edwards, Dix, Kate Evans, Babak Ganjei, Fraser Geesin, ILYA, JAKe Detonator, Rich Johnston, Rebecca K. Jones, Jonesy, Dave McKean, Peter Morey, Rob Murray, Woodrow Phoenix, Anna Readman, Scarlett & Sophie Rickard, Martin Rowson, Mark Stafford, Bryan Talbot, Edward Taylor, and Myfanwy Tristram.
The press release is a hoot:
“For years, Earth has staggered from one crisis to another. Politicians promised solutions. Experts offered analysis. But the planet still seemed headed into the proverbial trash. Then Count Binface arrived from planet Sigma IX. He took on prime ministers, mayors, and snooty pundits. Along the way, he became Britain’s most beloved Recyclon, defender of common sense and tireless champion of the Lovejoy box set.
“The Count Binface Comic Book brings the universe of “Old Binnie” to glorious life. Expect space battles, political nonsense, cosmic bureaucracy, recycled wisdom, and more heroic rubbish than you can fit in a wheelie bin”
The UK has a venerable tradition of oddball political candidates, some of which unaffiliated with any of the main political parties. Satirical or novelty candidates (and parties) officially stand in constituencies as a form of protest and also as a way to encourage electoral participation. They seldom draw a sufficient amount of the electoral vote but they definitely make the process (especially the announcement of the results) more entertaining. An environmental campaigner dressed in a fox costume was also going to participate in Clacton’s special election but stepped down because they feared it was becomng a bit of a circus.
