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comics
COMIX!
So let’s get this party started.
The Couch. Written by David A. Byrne & drawn by Matt Magill
There is so much fun, and angst, to unpack here it’s thrilling. Dr. Warren J. Lee, a very white man who keeps getting confused for Korean due to his name, is a shrink in somewhere U.S.A. He has issues that make him socially dysfunctional. Lots and lots of issues. He fires his secretary, who is also his girlfriend, via email. He deals with OCD patients in a way that borders on torture, and is up to his heiney in debt. He doesn’t even know how to bill a patient. To make his life even more chaotic I should note that he lives in a universe populated with super heroes. Naturally they do not make his life better.
If you like some dark humor, an occasional psychosis, and a plot that keeps zigging when you expect a zag, then The Couch is for you. Click the link to read more and buy an issue or two,
Jelly Vampire by Ida Eva Neverdahl
Jelly Vampire follows the adventures of a young girl named Lulu. That will be the only normal fact from here on out. When she plucks her eyebrows they turn into butterflies. When she puts hand cream on her feet, her feet turn into hands. She meets a magical being who can make her life wonderful and eats it. She meets fascists. She turns into a giant worm. She becomes a princess of a candy kingdom and ends up killing, and eating, everyone there. We won’t even talk about the unicorns. That is a whole series that will send you to Mr.Lee’s couch above.
Each of the episodes of Jelly Vampire is short and free to read online. If you need a reference point just think of the Far Side on acid. I couldn’t stop smiling when I read the preview edition they sent me and I doubt that you, faithful reader, will be disappointed when you check it all out.
Brother Bones The Undead Avenger by Ron Fortier
In the mood to hearken back to the glorious days if yesteryear? Are the classic comic books of The Phantom, The Lone Ranger, and others, what’s missing from your life? If so, I have some great news for you. Brother Bones is cut from the same cloth as those classics but takes it in a whole new, and fun, direction. The hero is a former mobster turned monk, thus the “Brother” moniker, who gets whacked at a monastery and, in death, is given the chance to save his soul. So far so good. But, to make it all work he has to take over the body of his mobster brother. Oh, did I mention his mentor in death is a young woman he killed? I really should. Brother Bones is non-stop action writ large in stark, black and white, images. It’s a great read for all ages and it’s a fun series to follow.
Check out all the issues of Brother Bones if you want to make your day better.
So, there you go, three wildly different comics to enhance your cool factor. Trust me, bust these out on the bus and you’ll be hipper than the cool kids and a a lot more fun to talk to.
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Stuff We’re Paying Attention To
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The first thing you want to check out is The Spatial Shard by G. Russell Gaynor. It’s the prelude to the Edgeworld Series and it’s a rocking good read. Starting with a prison break, where readers have no clue who the good or bad guys are, or even what species, the book essentially starts in the middle of the story and then works its way back from there. It’s a fun technique and a great way to introduce readers to this universe.
The best thing about The Spatial Shard is that it, unlike many contemporary YA books, doesn’t talk down to its readers. It may not delve into the science behind its worlds but neither does it avoid some harsh truths characters are forced to face. For example, Imogene Amanda Schultz a/k/a Genie, has to deal with a mom who keeps redefining what it means to be dead, all while trying to come to grips with the titular shard who has embedded itself in her brain. Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention her little brother being a border line ninja and a slew of really nasty people who want what’s inside her.
In the tried and true tradition of YA novels the book focuses on a group of kids who grow, and learn, together. That is about the only traditional thing about it. The multi-verse it explores is fascinating. The ramifications of it are a great prelude for what’s to come in future books. And, best of all, the villains operate in gradations of gray. There may be hope for them yet. Or not. We’ll all just have to keep reading to find out.
Click the link above to get your copy and join Genie and her friends on their exciting journey.
Next on your list should be Super Ready Battle Armor by Bradley Adan & Michael Milham. This comic book series is a fascinating mix of old and new. The art hearkens back to the glory days of Love and Rockets while the story telling weaves between surrealism based messianic and urban angst.
The book starts out by introducing us to a neat dude named Infector, Fector to his friends, and a bizarre scientist named Professor Insanus. Infector has the ability to see how much life people have left. Later, after a brutal fight leaves his best friend, B. A., dead in an alley we are introduced to other abilities he has. I won’t give away the ending but Fector is forced to make some life changing choices on his own behalf and on the unwilling behalf of others.
Super Ready Battle Armor is a pleasant surprise all around. The characters are well written and interesting and the art is engaging and edgy. Click on the link above to make new friends and order your copy.
If you’re looking for even more, amazingly cool, indy stuff to make your world better, and all your neighbors jealous, just click here to check out other comics and novels we’ve reviewed.
We’ll delve back into science and stuff later. For now, check out these talented new creators and feel better about yourself.