Kieran Mangan - The Conspiracy of Haha

Illustrated & written byKieran Mangan &Regan Tamanui

On any given night, Regan Tamanui suffers anywhere between two and seven bright ideas; theres about a 35% chance that these bright ideas are not about otherworldly phenomena and that the next day he will install these thoughts and ideas in at least two dozen people. These two dozen converted will then go on to tell no less than 2 people each which will in turn discuss such findings to their friends and family. Within months, the change will begin to occur and before long no-one will be unawares of what was originally shared in the Ha Ha studios.

While none of the preceding statements are based whatsoever in fact I have been listening to this man for on ten years now and to say the least he is a productive one. To put it one way, HA HA takes unbridled imagination one step further with conspiracy theories and often reflects the fact that living amongst some of todays less than grateful, self-centered scumbags is often akin to brushing ones teeth with sandpaper.

The conspiracies of HA HA is the barbed-wire floss to counteract that; it is the means by which a thinker like Regan can bight back against the worlds shitty ways and its shittier inhabitants.

Sure enough Braddock is one of them too (especially when enjoying the fruits of life and becoming that certain vapid, over-privileged punk that everyone seems to know, or for a while will have to put up with). The Adventures of braddock reads as a comic account of the early years bonding the likes of friends found in environments cast through non other than themselves blaming each other for such hedonistic guidelines. All stories are true unless stated otherwise (no one has been abducted yet).So why would this man make comics about The Adventures of Braddock with tales of rampant drug use and sexual abandonment - stories of extra terrestrial abduction including cloning, shapeshifting and other elements of the comic book lifestyle? Maybe he is part of the conspiracy itself? Maybe he knows that without someone to share the story with, there is no story to remember. And for this we should be happy, for without Regan this book would not be in your hand.

Tell Me Something Scientific, is often the start of a good conversation with Regan. It will most likely end with anti-religious-fundamentalist messages, even though space, face value and anti-establishment type mantras will be included. But like any smart warrior, it is but a topic to discuss, a fleeting jest of human interaction and something almost anyone can experience with an open mind.

For a room without a door is just a box.
Maybe in part the pages here resemble that of storytelling, they are in fact both art and story telling combined in a modern, still being recognised form known as comic art. This too is another analogy for the mind of HAHA, two and one are the same until one understands the other. Or, as a wise man once said it is not how much money you have that makes you rich but being sure not to give any of it to the powers that be.

Despite its fluency and overall immediate making of story and images the conspiricies of ha ha is an undoubtedly unique insight to the life of one, two ,three and many others interested in recalling what they have done together and what they can do as a group and be lucky enough to reflect on these salad days.

Though some works here may come off as inaccessible, its the unrelenting humour that carries the true direction of this collection. While still maintaining enough of their who are you and who am I attitude the friendship and laughs shared is definatly the allure. It vividly recalls and rehashes all of the punk artists most essential ideals and motivations whilst supplementing them with some seriously pulverizing neo-monolithic questions, cementing the conspiracies of ha ha as a classic autobio/comic/art/philosophy piece that will surely go forth to be known as one of the greatest of its kind in this world (as well as all other worlds).