Graphic Traffic

by Ryk McIntyre

Less talk, more Comics, as we offer some shadowy options for readers who, bored with the same-old, are willing to give loner artist a few dollars, just for doing what they do. And, these are The Good Stuff.

Magic Boy and the Word of God (James Kochalka – writer, artist, Super Star). From the sad/sweet, twisted imagination that gave us Little Mr. Man, crawls this tale of a poor little devil, a teenage elf, a girl who “flowers,” a bitter waiter-robot, God, and the spirit of a squirrel. ($3.95 – James Kochalka)

The Comic (Eli Stone – everything). Three short graphic-stories of the “I’m in my own fiction ’cause I can” school of indie books, but with a difference. This rocks. The art is very good, reminiscent of Moebius, or Phil Foglio. Great line-work, with a wide range of expression in faces, and well-drawn hands and feet. “The Birth of Zwib” introduces us to Eli and his vision, and by the time you get to “Time To Shut Up,” a delicious parody of time/space theories, it’s obvious this guy can write well too. Lastly, “The Day I Got All Liquidy” is a wonderful, costumeless story of a guy who acquires an ability just because. ($3.00 – Mail-order from The Comic, 534 Columbus Ave. #21, Boston, Ma. 02118)

I wish I could heap praise on yet another great issue of HellBlazer, but #105 just crapped the fug-out. An historical fiction, it supposes that Samuel Coleridge was put up to writing “Kubla Khan” by Angels, who hoped to use it to sway more souls to their side. An ancestor of John Constantine gets Coleridge the opium he craves for this particular vision, but then exposes and subdues the Angels, foiling their nefarious heavenly plan. Eh. The story is book-ended by some pointless scheme to bilk some suburban woman out of money. Jenkins and Phillips have done better, with less pretense. ($2.25 – DC/Vertigo)

Faring better is DC/Vertigo’s long-time Swamp Thing, although after this issue (#170) there’s one more to go. The first DC book to go where the Vertigo imprint would go, this book has seen it all. A friend calls this “an alternate universe” from the stories carved out by Alan Moore and Rick Veitch, but Mark Millar has never been less. He’s taken Swampy to logical extensions, and I expect his conclusions will give this over-looked title the tribute it deserves. ($2.25 – DC/Vertigo)

For sheer thrills and giggles, you have got to buy MonkeyMan & O’Brien (Art Adams)!!! Everything that was good about the really old Fantastic Four comics and Godzilla movies is in this book. Art is notorious for working at a fan-torturingly slow pace, but when he delivers, it’s hot ‘n’ juicy! Super-smart apes, a 6-foot lady with super-strength, her evil twin, giant monsters from under the earth’s surface, and the old “…and don’t call me Shirley!” joke. All this and a bitter, twisted, ugly villian bent on taking over the World. Oh, this is goood! And it’s a three-issue mini-series, so there’s more fun. Hop on now. ($2.95 – Legend/Dark Horse)

Speaking of Godzilla, and speaking of titles facing imminent cancelation, issue #14 was a return to the main plot (if you ask me) of G-Force, and the 300-foot lizard that pretty much sleeps wherever it wants to. At least the dreadful time-travel story wasn’t the final blast. Now this book can go out with some dignity. Yeah, you heard me. Dignity. ($2.95 – Dark Horse)

By next issue, DC will have finished it’s coup of the year with the fourth issue of Kingdom Come, their best mini-series since “The Golden Age.” If you haven’t seen this yet, go now. Even if this isn’t your thing, the painted artwork by Alex Ross is still as gorgeous as always. Hell, this man could paint the telephone book, listing by listing, and I’d buy it.