Harry here... And now, just to prove to all you males out there that indeed there are wonderful women that dig the same sort of material that your testosterone dripping selves adore, I bring you Lizzybeth. Lizzybeth is not some mutant girl. Not raised in the wild by an insane scientist (well I don't think so)... Instead, Lizzybeth is just a cool as hell lady that digs the world of comics. So girls... you see, comics are not just a guy thing. Guys, there is hope for you. Not only is Lizzybeth a cool lady, but damn she has good tastes in books... I can't wait to read her column each and every week...

This is Lizzybeth, a longtime visitor of this site, and I haven’t got a cute premise or format. Until AICN started posting comic reviews, I really haven't had anything to contribute to the site, since I live in the Midwest and apparently we don't like good movies here. After months of chatting about comics with my fellow Talkbackers, I was pleased to see AICN running some news and reviews for the comics industry, and now I'm here in the big type to share some of my opinions on the best and the rest of comics today.

Specifically, I’m here to write about some of the *non-superhero* comics out there. I’ll clear this up right off the bat: I don’t hate superhero comics. I used to read nothing but superhero comics. I had the obsession. It wasn’t a short lived affair either, it was one of those long, drawn-out, messy affairs that I still relapse into now and again. But, for reasons too varied to go into here, I’ve gotten rather tired of the superhero formula, and the majority of the comics I keep up with these days are in a completely different genre than the books that get reviewed. The comic books that I love are the "other" comics, the ones that don't involve capes and supervillians and suchlike. So, I’m going to try to fill you in a bit on what’s going on in the REST of the comics industry, a few of the little corners that don’t get enough of the limelight, along with some of the more talked-about efforts from the best talents in the industry.

When it comes to the studios, I’m not picky about which comics I pick up. These could be indie books, or they could be out of one of the bigger studios. DC’s Vertigo imprint, for example, puts out a great selection of books that don’t revolve around people in tights. Even Image has developed a fine stable of titles, including a few of my personal favorites. But there are a lot of other companies out there too that don’t get the distribution of the major imprints. Those are the books that get stuck on a crowded "other" shelf in the back of the store, if they make it to your local comics shop at all.

Browsing through the books from the smaller imprints, it’s somewhat of a mixed bag – lots of them are, admittedly, not very good. Even the better ones tend to be raw, not as professional and polished as the titles you may be used to, and sometimes hard to follow. You may pick up an Issue #1, and wait half a year for Issue #2, if it appears at all. The books that catch on and manage to keep up a regular schedule may dip wildly in quality, and the artist is liable to abandon the work to head for greener pastures. The big companies are starting to scoop up some of these underground writers, which may prove to be a smart move for them and a sad day for comics fans like me. We can only wait to see how this will affect the industry.

The descriptions following are for a few titles that are not too hard to get ahold of if your comics store is a decent one. I’m going to make it a policy to discuss the current issue of whatever series, and then give you a jumping on point in case it’s not a book you’re familiar with but sounds like something you’d enjoy. Sometimes, the current batch of issues just aren’t up to the standards set by the earlier issues of the series, but it’s a title with a faithful following that is worth checking out if only for a few past stories. As is the case with:

POISON ELVES #65. DREW HAYES, WRITER AND ARTIST. SIRIUS STUDIOS.

Poison Elves is Drew Hayes’ answer to all those ElfQuest-y cute and Lord of the Rings noble and wise elves who live in a kinder, gentler society that puts humans to shame. In PE’s world, Elven society is just as bad if not worse than our own. It’s got the glossy sheen (as much as this book does glossy or sheen) of elven nobility ruling the land, but down on the streets there are the prostitutes, the murderers, the starving brats, and some pretty nasty creatures lurking that aren’t going to be kind enough to shoot you in the head. These are the characters that Poison Elves is interested in. These characters are nasty sons of bitches. Even our hero, Lusiphur Malache, is a real piece of work. A former street urchin and current assassin and mercenary, Luse has the skills to stay alive but not the sense to stay out of trouble. The book follows him across Amrahly’nn as he encounters trolls, wizards, that clown that lives in his head, and of course loads of scantily clad women. Fortunately for me, the book has a wicked sense of humor and (most surprisingly) an occassional appearance of real depth and feeling. The art is a somewhat cluttered b+w pencil style with some extremely cool character design. There’s no holds barred on the language and gore.

This used to be one of my favorite titles. I’ve been a faithful reader for years, but I’ve actually been passing over the new issues for quite awhile, only picking it up occasionally. It wasn’t until I read Issue #65, "Bauhaus", that I could put my finger on why. What’s wrong with this issue? The same thing that’s been wrong with the series for the past dozen issues and maybe more. Crummy pacing, pointless plotting, all indicating a general lack of direction. Look, Drew Hayes is never going to pass for an prize-winner author, but when at his best he’s a damn fine storyteller. He’s like that guy at the bar that spins you these fucked up stories that are still bouncing around your head once you’ve sobered up. And he used to have a great sense of timing and tension in his stories. Take for example Issue #20. We the readers already knew that Cassie, Luse’s girlfriend, had died in a pitifully unnecessary misunderstanding. But Lusiphur didn’t know it yet, and we spend the better part of the installment waiting for him to find out, while he’s distracted with trying to get himself out of being executed by the Assassin’s Guild. There’s real tension in these pages, not because of Luse’s current predicament but because we know in a few minutes it’s not going to matter, because Cassie’s brother is on the way with the news.. and when Lusiphur finds out that Cassie’s dead.. payoff. Lusiphur cracks. We can literally see him go out of his mind with grief, and he immediately begins slaughtering everyone in the room. The issue ends with Lusiphur being teleported out of the guild to end the battle, and the heartbroken elf collapsing from exhaustion. Now that’s an ending!

Now let’s look at this issue. This isn't "Lusiphur undergoes earth-shattering revelation." This is "Lusiphur and Jace go to a Haunted House." Okay, it’s a one-shot. Self-contained stories have worked well for Hayes in the past, so why not this one? Trouble is, it doesn’t add anything to this bigger storyline he’s got the book in, and it isn’t strong enough to stand on its own. We’re not learning anything new about the characters, and there’s no reason to care about what happens to the house. It’s a house of fear and anger that is awakened by the powers of that little pissant Wisp to reenact the lives of the previous inhabitants, pissing off Jace with a violent father figure and teasing Luse with a (surprise!) scantily clad woman. What are we supposed to take from this story? That child abuse is bad? Well, gee. Glad you cleared that up, man. Seriously, that’s a real and awful issue that Hayes is tossing into the mix here in a really half-assed way, and it just doesn’t go anywhere. Remember the tension, the energy that this title had back with Cassie’s death and Lusiphur’s quest for revenge? No tension here whatsoever. The pacing is crap. Wisp, for instance, reveals the "secret" of the house in exactly one page, and decides that he will give the house "one chance," to stop being all evil I guess, that lasts about 2 panels, and then he blows the house to smithereens. And that’s the end. Where’s the payoff? Okay, Luse got the willies, but so what? Does this story have any point? These are questions I have to ask of the title in general these days, because it seems to rush through each installment in a big hurry to get somewhere, and yet never seems to get anywhere. I was intrigued with the idea of Lusiphur bringing the Elven Fire to the Council, but there was no payoff for that either. He got to the council, and they sent him off almost immediately on this quest with Wisp that seems to have no point either. Where is this book going? I hope Drew Hayes has some idea. I’m not sure he does.

Honestly, I don’t think I can recommend the current run of Poison Elves. I’ve liked the occassional sequence but I don’t think I’ve really enjoyed a full issue in quite some time, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better. However, I do think some of the early bits of this title are a lot of fun. Some of the collected stuff from the I, LUSIPHUR days and the early run are genuinely funny, let-your-id-loose-and-run-a-bloody-muck stuff. I even like the scantily clad females, because some of them have real personalities and they get to kick ass. If only Drew knew how to draw them so that they didn’t all look alike. Anyway, if you’re looking for a good read in the PE universe, check out DESERT OF THE THIRD SIN, available in trade paperback form in any self-respecting comics store. It’s a self-contained story that a new reader could follow, with a fun take on the "genie-in-a-bottle" theme and a cool "Sword in the Stone"-style wizard’s battle. Not exactly original, but a good read just the same.

ROSE, #1-2. CHARLES VESS, ARTIST. JEFF SMITH, WRITER. CARTOON BOOKS.

ROSE is a three-issue miniseries, a prequel to the long-running independent series BONE by its creator, Jeff Smith, and new collaborator Charles Vess. It follows Thorn’s grandmother as a young woman discovering and combating the rise of the evil Locust King.

I’m really not going to talk too much about this one. Those two names up there are enough reason to fork over $5.95 of your hard-earned money for each copy. Jeff Smith is one of the most envied comics writers in the business, who created and published his own title and now has a veritable empire of BONE stuff, including an animated series that has been in the works for freaking ever and should be coming out sometime next year. He has won a well-deserved following through his humorous, mysterious, and imaginative story-telling over the ten years (!!!) he’s been writing and drawing his comic. As fantasy titles go he’s one of the best writers around, and this miniseries is no exception. Then there’s the art. This is 40+ pages of Charles Vess watercolors in each issue. With no ads chopping up the art, and the slightly longer format, it reads more like a picturebook than a comic. Charles Vess, well known for his artwork in some critical issues of the seminal SANDMAN series and in his own titles, BALLADS AND SAGAS and STARDUST, has a deceptively simple artistic style that becomes more intricately detailed the longer you look at it. Here, the characters are rendered in an almost cartoony manner that somehow makes them even more lively than a more realistic style would have accomplished, which is well in keeping with what we are used to from the BONE universe while expanding the palette to include some wonderful, lush backgrounds. He’s simply one of the best painters currently working in comics.

While I’m sure a lot of current BONE readers will really appreciate this miniseries, it’s also a great jumping-on point for new readers or for people who want to enjoy the limited series on its own. Though ROSE has a number of characters that will be familiar to BONE readers (not in the least the great red dragon, and of course the stupid, stupid rat creatures) it can stand alone from its sibling series. Princess Rose is an endearingly adventurous and kind-hearted character, and Briar a chilling contrast to her sister’s warmth. Vess’s art brings a really different and individual tone to this story, more solemn somehow while remaining true to the world that Smith has created. If you love fantasy, or you simply want a beautifully executed comic, you will really enjoy ROSE.

MIDNIGHT NATION #6-7. J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, WRITER. GARY FRANK, ARTIST. TOP COW STUDIOS.

While I’m not acquainted with Straczynski’s other work (most notably his much-praised television series Babylon 5), I have to say that Midnight Nation is the most intriguing title I’ve read in some time. It’s a slow burn, and it really takes awhile to get to know the characters and to get a handle on what’s going on, but the title rewards you down the line. To give a brief summary of the plot so far: David Grey (not the singer) has had his soul stolen, leaving him in the in-between place, not quite living and not quite dead. There aren’t many options for David to resolve this situation. The kindest option is death. If he doesn’t find a way to regain his soul, he will slowly degenerate into one of the seemingly lunatic and bloodthirsty beings known as the Walkers. Laurel, his guide while in limbo, will kill him before that happens. It is her job to lead him to New York, where he’ll either regain his soul or be lost completely.

It’s a wieldy premise, and not one that would have attracted me right off the bat. But there are little touches, here and there, that keep me with this title as we slowly learn more about the characters and their situation. The note that David leaves for his ex-wife, knowing he may never see her again. ("I’m sorry. Forgive me. Forget me. I love you.") Laurel’s little touches of weakness beneath the iron facade, and perhaps even a bit of rebellion against her role. The biblical references, which range from the humorous (David describes his mother-in-law as a "pillar of salt looking for an open wound to pour herself into") to the ominous. In issue #7, I was particularly drawn in by David’s "dream," and in the aftermath, Laurel asking David if he is ready to die. I don’t know how they’re going to resolve the series, and that’s what’s got me intrigued. The way things are going, David may very well become a Walker, or even die. Or maybe Laurel will, somehow. I don’t know if this story’s got a happy ending in store, and what’s more, I’m starting to actually care. That’s a credit to the writing and to the art, which before I forget to mention it is a perfect complement to the story. It appears at first glance to be standard-issue Marvel-factory art, but proves itself to be a cut above, especially in the facial expressions.

Midnight Nation is about halfway through its run, which means it’s not too late to jump aboard. A trade paperback of the first 7 issues will be coming out next month, which will be a great chance to get caught up. Whether you’re a Straczynski fan or not, keep an eye on this title. I have a feeling it’s headed for a spectacular finish.

- A few QUICK TAKES

LOVE AND ROCKETS, #1. LOS BROS HERNANDEZ. FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS.

It’s really not possible to review a single Love and Rockets title. L&R is an anthology series, which follows a stable of characters (some familiar from the former L&R series, and some brand new) through stories that span several issues or even several years of issues. L&R has a cumulative effect, not an immediate one. But I wanted to bring it up here in a blatant plug to remind everyone to GO GET THIS COMIC NOW! It’s is a series restart, which means this is where you get on. Pick up this issue, and number 2 when it bothers to come out, and number 3 when that does, and if the characters haven’t wormed their way into your brain by then, I’ll eat my computer. If I had to make a list of the most important indie comics creators of all time, the Hernandez brothers would top the list.

DEJA VU: THE POND. RICHARD MOORE, RADIO COMIX.

I stumbled across this one in the comics store quite by accident, and it’s really a nice little read. This ish is a one-shot, and it’s a good introduction to Moore’s work, if a bit light. There’s not much to the plot (Deja Vu and her shape-shifting familiar Wulf come across and destroy a hungry pond creature that uses a hurt little girl as a puppet decoy to lure passers-by) but sometimes simple is good. I’m convinced this guy must be related to Terry Moore somehow, because something in his style is highly reminiscent. That’s a compliment, just so you know. The protagonist is a "surfer witch" who is of course a babe but at least looks different from your standard comics bad girl, and she’s got a bad attitude that’s not the PG-rated kind. I’d like to see more of her. Also, loved the extra scene with the familiars trading dirty pictures of their masters. If you can’t find this title at the comic shop, try the artist’s website at FarWest Fans

LIBERTY MEADOWS #16. FRANK CHO, INSIGHT STUDIOS GROUP. Liberty Meadows is a comic-book sized collection of comic strips that I pick up every chance I get. It’s no Calvin and Hobbes, sure, but I always get at least a few giggles and one good guffaw out of every issue. It’s a fairly good-natured strip with lots of self-deprecating appearances by monkey-boy Frank and his cast of animals, vets, and the women who love them. This issue collects the strips leading up to and including the Great Weiner Dog Race, which is confusingly depicted on the cover by a picture of Brandy in the dress and pose worn by her blonde friend in the actual strips. Brandy would be the black-haired beauty found on most covers of LM. Yep, they lure you in with the babe and then hit you with the talking animals. Sneaky. Ask your Comics Store Guy to stock this if he doesn’t already; it’s getting to be a popular title. There’s also a website with a daily strip at THIS LOCATION HERE!!!

PICK OF THE WEEK

This is basically a past title that I’m really fond of. Some of you superhero fans are just recently getting exposed to Grant Morrison for the first time through his stint on X-Men. This is a good book for him, because he specializes in writing about outcasts, weirdos, and people pushed to the edge and over. He’s best known for his conspiracy-theory weirdo book The Invisibles over on DC’s Vertigo imprint. He’s also had a string of cool one-offs for various publishers, one of which is the book I’m pushing today: KILL YOUR BOYFRIEND.

The book was inspired, according to Morrison’s essay at the back of the book, by charismatic young serial killer Charlie Starkweather and the general idea of a Dionysus figure who sends women into a hysterical killing frenzy. Only about a step ahead of a string of "young killers in love and on the run" movies, Morrison perfects the theme with his usual droll humor and unusually sharp grasp of human behavior, especially strange human behavior. In his main character he also shows an understanding of your average teenage-girl-trapped-in-the-suburbs, and having been a teenage-girl-trapped-in-the-suburbs, this is something that I appreciate. As far as plot goes, to quote the back cover copy: "Girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy. Boy takes girl on violent rampage through English suburb. Murder, sex, drugs, and anarchy follow." In other words, it’s Natural Born Killers. Only good.

What I like about this comic is that it’s essentially a love story. Not just a love story, a pretty sick and twisted love story. And even though there’s other stuff thrown in about bored kids turning to violence to shock themselves into life, "floating identities," and the cowardice of pretentious art students, the book never really tries to be more than a love story and in doing so achieves exactly the right tone. Nothing’s really important except the whole archetypal mad affair, not even the names of the boy and girl. They’re just two crazy kids in love, who happen to kill a bunch of people and create general chaos.

KILL YOUR BOYFRIEND originally came out in 1994, through DC’s Vertigo imprint. It may be out of print at the moment, but it shouldn’t be too hard to dig up a copy. It’s one of my all-time favorite single issues in comics, and I highly recommend it.

I seem to have taken up quite enough bandwidth, so this will have to be the end. If I get the opportunity, I’ll take a look at some more "other" comics, including Castle Waiting, Strangers in Paradise, and Transmetropolitan.

Send all threats, whining, and recommendations to NeverWhere333@angelfire.com, and thanks for reading.

Lizzybeth

CLICK HERE FOR PART II: A special on ONI PRESS and Harry's Remember When....