|
The
Pull-Box:
ShotgunReviews.com's Ongoing Comics Column
08.04.03
by Troy Brownfield
Indies,
Vertigo and Manga Redux
Last time
out, I did four reviews in the Pull-Box space from a sampling
of various publishers. I figured I'd try that tactic again
with some other volumes that are definitely worthy of adding
to your shelf. All four are fairly recent releases, and should
be widely avaiable.
The oldest
of the four, though recently re-released in small size as
part of the ongoing teen marketing strategy, is Viz's
Ranma 1/2 Vol. 1. "Ranma" is the creation
of manga master Rumiko Takahashi; her "Ranma" series
alone has sold over 22 million copies in Japan. Among her
other works are "Maison Ikkoku" and "InuYasha".
Obviously, she knows what she's doing.
Ranma
itself relates a hilarious story with heart, wit and beautiful
art. The premise is beyond ridiculous, but Takahashi realizes
it brilliantly. Ranma and his father Genma are martial arts
masters; however, they fall into a cursed spring while training
in China and acquire the propensity for two unsettling transformations.
When splashed with cold water, Genma becomes a giant panda,
and Ranma becomes a girl. Now think about all the cold water
you get exposed to in a week, from rain to faucets, and you
have an idea of the problem. Couple that with the fact that
Genma has arranged a marriage between Ranma and his friend's
daughter Akane, herself a martial arts master with a strong
disdain for Ranma. Yes kids, hilarity ensues.
Ranma
1/2
remains a massive worldwide hit, both in manga and anime.
However, the new version should allow a wider audience to
embrace it. If you're a fan of well-done comedy with the ability
to suspend disbelief, check it out.
Another
older series that's getting a trade paperback release is DC/Vertigo's
Shade The Changing Man: The American Scream. This is
where artist Chris Bachalo first made his mark, and it helped
propel writer Peter Milligan into gigs like X-Statix. Shade
was originally a bizarre '70s Ditko work, and he was later
used in the '80s run of Suicide Squad. Milligan and
Bachalo reimagined Shade as a deeper, darker tale that plays
with the concepts of reality and madness.
Interdimensional
lawman Rac Shade comes to Earth from the dimension Meta, hoping
to stave off the insanity of our home dimension that's causing
a threat of chaos to both dimensions. Conflict arises when
Shade lands in the body of a convicted serial killer. A series
of circumstances team Shade with the daughter of the killer's
last victims, and they end up taking on The American Scream,
a primal force representative of American insanity.
The resultant
issues are surreal and intelligent with masterful art. Shade
always enjoyed a healthy cult following in the early '90s,
and it's good to see DC delving into the backstock a bit.
This particularly challenging series may not be for all tastes,
but it's a good ride for those who give it solid attention.
My final
two volumes to discuss are wildly different tales from the
wonderful Top
Shelf Productions. Pistolwhip: The Yellow Menace
is another genius entry is the world created by writer Jason
Hall and artist Matt Kindt. Blending the titular down-on-his-luck
P.I., a beat cop, a radio show super-hero that may or may
not be real, a crusader against comics, and a couple of dames,
Hall and Kindt detonate their '50s influences in terrific
blast of mystery and meta-fiction.
Kindt's
spare and pulpy art remains the perfect expression for this
kind of tale, while Hall's dialogue snaps just as sharply
as a Spillane novel or a Brackett script. This is the type
of graphic novel that's both simple and ambitious. It's a
fine detective story, but for those willing to consider the
subtext, it's so much more rewarding. To say much more would
actually be a disservice, as Hall and Kindt readily give you
everything.
Also from
Top Shelf is James Kochalka's Monkey vs. Robot and the
Crystal of Power, a follow-up to the great Monkey vs.
Robot. Kochalka's cartoony style (done entirely in purple
this time, reminiscent of my old friend Harold) attains a
kind of strange beauty as it depicts the ongoing battle between
primitive nature and sophisticated technology.
The plot's
very simple: the Mother Computer that administrates the robots
is down a power crystal. The monkeys have a crystal that is
sacred to them. And, as the song goes, they will have a giant
rumble.
Kochalka's
work always seems to turn on the thin line between whimsy
and sadness. You honestly feel badly for the monkeys as the
comparitively larger and stronger robots march in on their
way of life. Obviously, anyone that cares to pay attention
realizes that there are larger themes at work, with the two
warring factions standing in the place of pure allegory. I'm
always happy to Kochalka's work, as I think he's a rare talent
that resists categorization and isn't afraid to deal in ambiguity.
So there
we have it again: four more fine choices for you to enjoy
and pass on. If any of these titles struck your interest,
make sure to check out their respective home pages and find
more. Comics exist for all tastes and ages, and they're surprisingly
easy to find.
Contact Troy here.
|
