Other short stories
I know of two other short stories which are not included in Vellevision.
The first one is "Out at the Movies" - nice play on words -
included in Mind Riots, a comics anthology about lives of teenagers
and their difficulties. I must say this is not my favorite Vellekoop story,
maybe because his characters seem less alive than in the other stories.
The other one is "A Heterosexual's
guide to gay cruising". This is the first story by Maurice Vellekoop
I've ever read - Thanks, Gilles ! - and as such, one of
my favorite. But
objectively, there's everything in this story which is supposed to explain
the gay point of view to a theoretical straight reader : gentle humor
(why do gays always seem befogged ? They're looking at a guy !),
clichés aplenty (the young gay gets a first job selling men's underwear),
and drawings of all manners of men. It's at the same time very funny and
affectionate for its characters. I'm still wondering why they didn't include
it in Vellevision.
The ABC
Book
This book is probably one of the strangest I've ever seen, and surely
the only gay porn book that straights can appreciate.
The idea is very simple : for
each letter of the alphabet, a word and a short sentence introduce a drawing
of men having - or about to, or having had - sex (I'll let you
imagine what are "Firemen sliding down poles" !). The characteristics
of these drawings are the joy and pleasure which the characters are showing.
They don't take all that too seriously, and they love it. It's sex as
it should always be (at least for me...) : happy and fun.
Moreover, Vellekoop's art is at its best. The way he draws men is at the
same time very sensual and slightly humorous, cartoony and strongly manly.
The colors are also beautiful, warm and subtle.
It might be hard to believe, but I've shown that book to my straight friends,
and they loved it. I think that a porn book which transcends sexual interest
is something rare enough to be praised.
So, buy this book for yourself, for your lover, for anybody who enjoys
sex and art. They'll thank you for it.
|