3 out of 5

A periodic series of mini comics Josh started working on during the pandemic, then continuing – maintaining the themes that type of project suggests / entails – on a random schedule thereafter. Rating such a thing is kind of silly: this is something that, to me, is produced more as an exercise to keep one’s brain busy, and as an outlet for thoughts and feelings that may not be fully formed, but need somewhere to go. Josh then allows us a peek at that, polishing up the products into lil’ DIY mini packages published by “Mother Fucker Enterprise,” or MFE.

The earlier entries, deep in pandemic paranoia, are shorter and more random bursts: inked drawings (not sketches, it should be said; these aren’t sketchbooks) of goopy creatures, sometimes with penises, and captures of the emotional frustrations and fears of the time. As we get into the following years, the page numbers increase, and we get a couple of handwritten text pages, maybe some sequential panels, and some autobiography. Perhaps the number of penises goes down. And as mentioned, the general vibe of antisocialness and worldly discomfort continues, though maybe you can see those themes in Simmons’ work in general.

These are peeks behind the curtain. Nothing that might be a must-read for a JHS fan, and limited in their rereadability, but they’re also appreciated curios of effort and creativity that are / were worth supporting so we can give Josh the brainspace (and some funds) to continue doing his thing.