Mini-Comic Shaped Like Cassette Tape Mixes It Up [Video]

Not many creators are in indie comics for the money -- at least not many that last -- so when someone creates something of their own it's a labor of love. This is a great thing for the consumer, because people who do things out of love don't tend to get sloppy or lazy. They're working towards something they want, and they pull out all the stops to get there.

In the case of Peter S. Conrad, and his "Attempted Not Known" series, pulling out all the stops means occasionally making the reader think their eyes are playing tricks on them. That's not a cassette tape pictured above. That's a 72-page comic book. Look closer. We'll wait.

Conrad wanted to get everything right, so not only did he order cassette tape holders online, in which to house his comics, he attached little plates to the side of the book to get the outward flare of the bottoms of cassette tapes. His detail work even extends to the inside cover.

Check out a video of the comic in action:

"Attempted Not Known" is a series of scenes connected with a larger theme. Although the characters and the tone of each small group of panels is different, it often adds up to a book that's extremely well done, but unsettling. Perhaps, though, that's just because of the tone of the last volume of "Attempted Not Known."

That's from a series of comics with the central theme of smoking. How it provides a backdrop to scenes, how it heightens or relaxes tension, and a successful quitter's continued longing for it.

Guess what that volume looked like?

For some would-be readers, the look of the books would be a gimmick. In this case, though, it's a sign of both art and craft harmoniously coming together. It's clear that Conrad paid attention to every aspect of the book, and that's a rare and wonderful thing to see.

[Via LaughingSquid]