Gold Digger Highly recommended

Publisher
Antarctic Press
Writer
Fred Perry
Artist
Fred Perry
Country of origin
Japan
Year
1993

Gold Digger Annual #13

By David Rasmussen
18th Nov 07

There just isn’t enough of Fred Perry to spread about it seems.
Work on Gold Digger of all flavors (including the final DVD of the limited Animated OAV).
Work on SkySharks. Work he should be doing on S-Guild which he seems he’ll never do.
Work on Gold Digger : Peebo Tales he’ll never do. And so on and so forth.
Since cloning technology hasn’t been created yet capable of making an Army of Fred Perry it looks like other means might be needed to spread the talent pool abit and make more things happen.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, this Annual appears and brings with it delicious possibility.
Yes, if I read the info on the site right (and forgive me if I’m off on this one) Annual #13 seems to be an all fan project. Fans picked by Fred Perry for their quality of work for his big Annual.
Gold Digger by the fans, for the fans.

Seems to me it’d be a waste to just leave it at this.
So, as I review, I’m going to also look into thoughts on what should be next for these fine talents.
And yes, some of them are deserving of a “next” in their future endeavors with Antarctic.

Before I begin, let’s tell all you fan creators something. This is important.
I am NOT giving you a 5 out of 5 just because it’s Gold Digger (look at OAV Volume 2, which I only gave a 3 out of 5 to) and I’m not doing it because it’s Fred Perry’s series.
You got a 5 out of 5 because, guess what, you EARNED it people! You delivered the goods and (rubs fingers together) I scored what this title deserved. Hard work and determination should be rewarded, and a solid effort thus deserves an equally solid score. Yes, I didn’t like all the stuff in this Annual, but I also have kudos for each creator who sprung to the call and made these for us to behold.

First off the pin-up Artists. Overall solid work, and some are even my total faves.
Let’s see… J.L. Anderson’s a super cute, ditto with the work of Charlie & Robin Underhill (no relations to Bilbo & Frodo over at Hobbiton). Yeah, I am a tad bit picky ain’t I. But these are my total total faves, so you know… it’s how I swing.

Charlie & Robin Underhill
Hmm… I’d like to see them come back next Annual, only next time I’d like to see them tackle a whole story instead of just pin-ups!

Now the stories.
J.L. Anderson’s Letter to Britanny from a loving daughter
J.L. Anderson (whose pin-ups I adore) pens a short 4 page “letter” from Tiffany to her mom.
Oh damn! Ubercuteness alert here!! Don’t spoil it for everyone by releasing the content info, reviewers out there! Just let people read it for themselves!

J.L. Anderson
You know what? Fred Perry hasn’t (to my knowledge) done ONE single beloved Christmas Special. And if he has it’s been awhile and people forgot about it.
Something exceedingly cute and (heart stop) sweet. Maybe a totally awesome Tiffany/Charlotte team up.
After seeing how J.L. Anderson paired them up in part for Tiffany’s letter I’d love to see Anderson really step up to the plate for a major work assignment. Look at this! Look at this skill! Come on, this isn’t an ignorable talent here! Sure, we’re probably only talking a return next Annual but I’m telling you if you don’t take advantage of talent like this then you’re missing out!

Right here, Totally Gold Digger Christmas Special! Totally cute! Totally 5 out of 5 material! Totally needed! Now I’ll stop saying “Totally” already.

Brendan Edwards’ Charlotte’s Story
Speaking of those showing props to Charlotte (one of the most under explored characters of the franchise in my own personal opinion), we have Brandon Edwards set her up as the main character of a story.
I like the artwork (not the same level as Anderson’s Charlotte but it stands on it’s own merits), and the story is solid. Not bad at all, Mr. Edwards.

Brendan Edwards (PS - Odd that the inside front cover says his name is Brandon, while the story itself says his name is Brendan).
I am going to take it that (if) Antarctic is not rushing to sign J.L. Anderson they’ll be even less enthusiastic about signing Brendan Edwards. His talent is a step below Anderson, but it is still a worthy talent to consider (which will grow in talent until it‘s super slick in it‘s presentation). I’d like to see Edwards ply his skill on either a Charlotte One Shot or a Peebo Tales One Shot (with something called “ORIGINAL CONTENT”). Yeah. That’d be nice.

We’d probably be lucky if Mr. Edwards returned for another Annual, but again you have a talent here worthy of some focus even if it is a one shot a year. We’ll still benefit from his fresh talent, he’d benefit from the apprentice level work until his talent builds and more varied and greater work becomes available, and I am betting I will give his first work out of Antarctic a 5 out of 5 if he‘s given the chance.

Dan Conner’s GD-18 Tale
Of all four who tackled mini stories in this Annual, I have to be honest to say I was the least impressed with Mr. Conner’s skill. However, that being said, I like how he was the only one to bring back the much beloved concept of GD-18, and put together a fairly decent story to boot. The artwork is not my fave, but the fact he did that for us (and well enough scripting wise) earns props from me.

Dan Conner
How many pages are we shy of seeing a GD-18 Pocket Manga collecting all GD-18 content to date?
Don’t suppose Dan Conner here can fill in the last gaps with this story and maybe 1 or 2 more so we’d actually get one Pocket Manga out into the bookshelves before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Movie releases in theaters in Summer of 2010?!? That’d be nice. Sure, we’ll be lucky if he returns next Annual but still… it’d be nice (and yes, I’m repeating myself.)

Jerry Gonzales III’s Title Shot
The artwork is nicely done, and the story works… it just wasn’t for me.
But that’s all on my neck since it’s my personal tastes and not Gonzales skills that are at the heart of my reluctance to give this story a hug (and embrace it). You’ll probably like it, and that’s what counts here.

Jerry Gonzales III
Read the story and you’ll have a good lock-in to the nitche that J.G. could fill. Nuff said on that.

I like the whole fan content issue concept. Maybe next year I’ll even submit something… (must talk to him before the end of the year about it). Of course if I do turn in something I’ll have to pass on reviewing it… you know, there’s gotta be some unspoken law that you can review your own stuff… ah, I’m all giddy about the idea already. Oh joy.

Oh, as for this volume however? Solid work all around from all involved earns it a solid grade.
So all ye who contributed to Gold Digger Annual #13 I say bravo, well done on this book and all your contributions to it, and for your sweat and hard work I give each of you that all important 5 Merry Christmases out of 5. Don’t forget to come back next year! We’re all waiting to see what comes next!

Now if you excuse me, I have a contribution to plan. Bye.

-- David Rasmussen 18th Nov 07