
HELP! by Ethan Llewellyn and Francis Todd. 2025. Self-Published. 32pp. £10.00.
Sometimes the obvious choice alludes you. I kept thinking I would probably like this comic and, once I dived into some Instagram posts, I was hooked. Ethan Llewellyn and Francis Todd have created something genuinely fun. They go through a distillation process–not just a simple smash and grab. It’s not cool, or highly ironic, to basically trace over someone else’s work and these guys don’t do that. The creative team of Llewellyn and Todd are honest lads who are equally inspired by the legacy of comix and enjoy creating their own inventive and original work.

From “Nice Tits” by Ethan Llewellyn.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check out their work on Instagram, for starters. That’s their creative laboratory where stuff has a chance to brew and take hold. The book they have available collects a certain batch of what they’ve been up to on social media and other places. I believe getting a copy of HELP! is a great way to not only support rising talent but an excellent way to keep these guys on your radar. Their latest stuff indicates that they keep getting better and are in it for the long haul. Once a set of characters and whatnot has gotten a chance to settle in, it just keeps moving forward. That’s what’s happening here: the gags get sharper, the art gets sharper and we’re all happy.

From “Skid the Cat” by Ethan Llewellyn.
UK cartoonists Ethan Llewellyn (creator of NAFF) and Francis Todd (Caribou) are the talents behind this anthology showcase drawing inspiration from 80s-2000s North American alternative comics and the UK scene. This comic debuted at London’s prestigious Gosh! Comics late last year. It alternates between Llewellyn channeling Daniel Clowes and Todd channeling Jesse Moynihan. This is a more vulgar version of Clowes; and a more subdued version of Moynihan. You have stuff like Llewyn’s ongoing gag about his alter ego attempting to befriend a heroin junkie. And you’ve got dreamy stuff from Todd about creatures from distant lands and other esoteric content. If I’m in an impatient mood, I could say that I feel like these two lads are creating bits that are more in a developmental stage than being outright compelling. But the funny thing about these sort of anthologies is that they’re true workhorses ready to take a beating, waiting for the reader to reconsider.

From “Clean Slate” by Todd Francis.
I think of all the pieces in this book, I was mostly intrigued with Llewllyn’s “Skid the Cat!” for its audacity and leaning hard into a vulgar itch he needed to scratch. Its very uninhibited approach is notable with its sense of danger and chaos. I also must admit that I enjoyed Todd’s “Clean Slate” about the mysterious outsider who must prove himself to a village within a castle.
What Llewllyn and Todd bring to the table is not only a lot of enthusiasm but a lot of honest hard-working talent. I think this debut issue is a terrific start. These lads are going places. I can see they have the confidence and persistence to keep getting better and keep moving forward. These guys will move mountains, I’m sure of it. This book is easily well worth the price of admission. Buy HELP! now before everyone else.


































































