Crime Comics: Choices and Consequences-Violence.

by
Maurice
Harter

It's going to be an interesting Holiday season. As we move through December's 31-day march to the millennium, Y2K is going to be the predominate subject on people's minds. By the time you read this, NBC will have already aired its TV movie about Y2K disaster, and even if it hasn't provoked mass panic, it's sure to have jolted people out of the widespread complacency that Y2K community organizers have despaired over. If you check out the daily links to Y2K news stories at Y2Knewswire.com, or browse their massive news archive, you begin to appreciate the depth and breadth of the problem. And you realize that all opinions about what's going to happen are just educated guesses. Can the human collective consciousness handle such a degree of uncertainty without experiencing a collective breakdown - or perhaps a breakthrough? One thing's for certain. You're going to want something to read. Despite another year of sales erosion, the comics industry wears a happyface mask and continues to put out books of interest to New Age grown-ups. So here is my annual roundup of comic book gift suggestions.

(Format code: os: ongoing series; ms: mini-series; sp: one-issue special; gn: graphic novel; hd: hardcover; tp: trade paperback)

Not surprisingly, in recognition of the approaching Year 2000 rollover, many comics have millennium-theme stories. One of the most intriguing is The Rain People (ms) from Caliber Press. Deep within the Rain Forest, a fanatical group plots to cleanse the world of evil. Led by a charismatic dark shaman, the Rain People have discovered a natural drug that enhances psychic powers but weakens the will. They intend to dump it on city streets and recruit an army of zombified super-soldiers. Standing against them are the Spirit People, a network of psychics determined to prevent Armageddon. The theme is explored at a more personal level in Fatalis (sp). A rich and powerful man who's extended his life span realizes that the price of immortality is a gradual detachment from all the things that make you human, like love and compassion and integrity. Drawn into a web of murder, he's forced to make hard choices when he uncovers a growing threat of Biblical proportions that could end all life as we know it.

Of course traces of apocalypse are all around us today if we open our eyes to the disturbing reality. Caliber's character Kilroy is a restless spirit drawn to the scenes of human suffering. In Kilroy is Here: Pride, Prejudice and Persecution (sp), the long-suffering hero attempts to aid the victims of war-torn Sarajevo. The heart-wrenching story is seen through the eyes of an eleven year old girl, the editor of the city's only surviving newspaper, a French soldier working for the United Nations, and a global news network employee.

Then there are the tragedies of the past. Red Diaries: Conspiracy of Silence (ms, tp) takes an in depth look at the intricate web of intrigue, secrets, and lies that surround the death of Marilyn Monroe, and implicate JFK, the CIA and the mob. More innocent detective work takes place in The Sherlock Holmes Reader (os), which features both classic adaptations and new stories about the legendary English sleuth.

Dark Horse Publishers continues to survive and thrive with its mix of comics featuring popular movie characters, Japanese manga translations and original concepts. In Aliens: Apocalypse - The Destroying Angels (ms) a deep space rescue specialist discovers that the seemingly soulless creatures are no violent aberration of nature, but components of cosmic evolution. Star Wars: Vader's Quest (gn) tells the untold story of how the obsessed Dark Lord discovered the identity of the hot-shot pilot and Jedi wannabe who destroyed his Death Star. In Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Catwoman (ms), an encroaching evil unites these two self-appointed protectors of their respective urban and natural jungles. Too Much Coffee Man's Parade of Tirade (tp) collects the first eight issues of Shannon Wheeler's zany satire-saturated, caffeine-injected series. American Splendor: Terminal (sp) reveals what Harvey Pekar's life is like after his bout with cancer (unflinchingly portrayed in the riveting graphic novel, Our Cancer Year which I previously reviewed).

Two Dark Horse releases have strong metaphysical themes. Feeders (sp) is the story of a nun working in a hospital who develops an obsession with a confused patient. This journey into religious madness is a comics prequel to an upcoming film, Eyes to Heaven. And if you thought everyone inside the Pearly Gates is on their best behavior, guess again. R.I.P.D. (ms) reveals to us mortals the existence of the Rest In Peace Department and the devoted dead officers of divine law enforcement who patrol Paradise, helping to keep the heavenly peace.

DC Comics offers a plethora of product aimed at holiday sales. Sure to garner media attention is Superman: Y2K (sp). When the Earth goes dark at midnight on millennium New Year's Eve, it's up to the Man of Steel and his Justice League companions to discover why. When the lights finally go back on, the city of Metropolis will never be the same. Also super noteworthy is Superman For All Seasons (ms, hd), the awards-nominated story that explored Clark Kent's inner and outer journey from the Midwest plains of Smallville to the concrete canyons of Metropolis.

The Dark Knight has spent the year dealing with the aftershocks caused by a powerful earthquake that leveled Gotham City, panicking citizens, setting off a mob turf war and freeing his most deadly costumed villains from Arkham Asylum. Batman: Cataclysm and Batman: No Man's Land (tps) begin collecting this engrossing storyline. Another intriguing Bat-book is Batman: The Chalice (sp). When a simple-looking bowl is delivered to Bruce Wayne, forces for good and evil battle for its possession. Could it really be the Holy Grail? And if it is, what should Batman do with it?

Vertigo, DC's publishing imprint for offbeat, sophisticated non-superhero comics, is in transition. Most of its original flagship titles have been cancelled and none of the replacements have made much of an impact. Bridging the gap has been a yearlong celebration of the tenth anniversary of The Sandman, which culminates with two new releases. In The Sandman: The Dream Hunters (hd) writer Neil Gaiman returns to his creation with a tale exploring Japanese folklore, about an ill-fated romance between a humble young monk and a magical, shape-changing she-fox. The book features lavish painted illustrations by legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano. In non-fiction contrast, The Sandman Companion (hd) offers a thorough examination of the groundbreaking comics series. The book interweaves critical analysis by author Hy Bender with behind-the-scenes anecdotes and personal reflections by Gaiman, cover designer Dave McKean, the various artists who illustrated Gaiman's visions, and celebrity Sandman fans. It's the perfect gift for devotees of the Dreamlord.

Vertigo is also publishing a number of millennium-theme comics. Each story begins on New Year's Eve 1999. In Totems (ms), Swamp Thing, Black Orchid, Animal Man, Shade the Changing Man and Cliff Steele from the Doom Patrol (all refugees from cancelled series) band together to battle a millennium-obsessed madman with the power to distort reality. Creation is also threatened in Brave Old World (ms). In the ultimate Y2K paranoia scenario, the computer bug causes time itself to flip back to 1900, and a network of elite programmers attempt to hack their way back to the future. Pulp Fantastic (ms) deftly blends pulp noir and science fiction in a tale about a detective at odds with religious fanatics who left Earth at the turn of the 21st century. The Four Horsemen (ms) is a black comedy about (you guessed it) The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Famine, Pestilence, War and Death), who come to Earth to usher in the Tribulation and discover that modern day evils have rendered them inconsequential. And in I Die at Midnight (sp), a young man despondent over a romantic breakup swallows pills in a suicide attempt. When his girlfriend shows up to reconcile, it sends him on a frantic chase for an antidote through the teeming crowds of New Years' Times Square.

Other forthcoming Vertigo titles of note: Faith (ms) transports us to a bizarre Purgatory populated by mythical creatures, misfit angels and bodybuilding nuns. The Proposition Player (ms) is a poker card shark who plays a bar prank, collecting vouchers for the souls of a roomful of people. But the stunt is taken seriously by ethereal envoys and he finds himself in a tug of war between an angel named Bill and the seductive Hell Mary. In The Witching Hour (ms), a modern day sorceress moves through Manhattan, offering ordinary people a chance to change their lives. And the Vertigo: Winter's Edge III (sp) anthology features holiday-theme stories and previews of upcoming Vertigo projects.

Fantagraphics Publishing continues to offer a home for comics creators with a unique personal vision. Combustion (gn) is a compelling tale of a soldier lost in a war-torn country, illustrated with expressionistic woodcut style art. Monkey Food (tp) is a collection of fondly remembered and lovingly rendered vignettes about being seven years old in 1975. Creator Ellen Forney recalls her upbringing in a liberal suburban family where "Free to Be…You and Me" was the prevailing philosophy. Stories include getting caught reading Judy Blume's Forever, family Sundays at the local Unitarian Society, and arm-wresting the second grade bully. And Bitchy Bitch and her co-workers anticipate the millennium (and dread Y2K apocalypse) in the 30th issue of Roberta Gregory's Naughty Bits.Of special note from Fantagraphics: The French Publisher L'Association solicited the international comics community for ten page wordless comic strips on the subject of the 20th Century. They were flooded with submissions and the results appear in Comix 2000 (tp), the world's first two thousand page comic book. Though pricey ($75), the book offers a fitting commemoration of the millennium with its celebration of comics art.

Fan favorite writer J. Michael Straczynski (creator of the popular sci-fi TV series Babylon 5 and Crusade) makes a foray into comics. In Rising Stars (Image, os) he explores what being super-human might really be like. Daredevil Visionaries: 'Guardian Devil' (Marvel, gn) is co-written by cult film director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma). A frightened young woman entrusts the blind super-hero with a young infant being hunted by killers. She claims the kid has special powers and is destined to lead humankind to salvation. Much lighter in tone, The Princess and the Frog (NBM, hd) is adapted for comics by grandmaster cartoonist Will Eisner. It's the latest in NBM's popular series of fairy tale adaptations. And In Fushigi Yugi Vol. II: Oracle (Viz, tp) a Japanese high school girl on a pilgrimage to a Chinese shrine is trapped inside a cursed mirror while her evil reflection is set free. This is an excellent example of shojo ('girls') manga, which actually has appeal to both sexes and all ages.

The economically depressed state of the industry isn't depressing small press comics publishers, judging by the many noteworthy titles available. Dreamwalker: Autumn Leaves (Avatar, ms) advances the saga of Karen Brinson, a sensitive young woman with the ability to enter people's dreams. But while traversing her mother's dreamscape, she uncovers a devastating family secret that causes her to question everything she thought she knew. Strangers in Paradise: Sanctuary (Abstract Studios, os, tp) continues collecting the acclaimed series about the tumultuous friendship between two very different women. The suspenseful science fiction mini-series Astronauts in Trouble (AIT/Planet Lar, tp) is finally available in a collected volume. A companion book details The Making of Astronauts in Trouble (tp) and includes all five scripts, production art, even the mini-comic that sparked the series.

Stupid, Stupid Rat Tales: the Adventures of Big Johnson Bone (Cartoon Books, ms) is a sister series to the popular comic Bone. Old Man's Cave (tp) is the sixth collection of Bone tales. Expect this comic to get major media buzz when the Bone animated movie is released. Small Press Expo 99 (CBLDF Pub, tp) and Comic Library International Vol. I (CLI Pub, tp) are two anthology showcases that pack a wide variety of storytelling and art styles into their pages. In The Extended Dream of Mr. D (Drawn & Quarterly, gn) a man collapses and is brought to a hospital ward. The cause of his breakdown is revealed in a series of vivid dreams extending over forty days of unconsciousness. The conflicts that existed between Native American Indians and western settlers are detailed in Screaming Eagle (Discovery Comics, gn, hd). And The Collective (Duality Press, os) is a colony of humans on a planet far from Earth struggling to create a new world. But separatist movements and hostile alien life forms threaten their efforts. Can the granddaughter of their charismatic leader quell the dissatisfactions and rekindle the vision of a new age utopia?

With issue #34, Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre changes its name to Supernatural Law (Exhibit A Press, os, tp). But the focus is the same as a pair of lawyers protects the rights of various monsters and other metaphysical entities. Social satire with bite. The acclaimed Stray Bullets (El Capitan, os, tp) which I recently reviewed is exploring the root causes of violence and its impact on innocent bystanders. The first twelve issues are available in three affordable trade paperbacks. And long overdue, Alan Moore's magnum opus From Hell (Eddy Campbell Comics, tp) is finally available in one volume. This widely praised 560 page graphic novel offers a thoroughly researched, meticulous dissection of the political, cultural and psychological forces surrounding the Jack the Ripper Murders. Social comment is also present in Unknown Quantities (Funny Valentine Press, sp), a benefit anthology that commemorates October's March of the Americas, the protest walk to the United Nations to draw attention to the cause of economic rights. All proceeds go to the Kensington Welfare Rights Union.

Dignifying Science (G.T. Labs, tp) is a collection of true comics stories about women scientists (many little known). The book follows on the heels of the awards-nominated Two-Fisted Science (tp) which showcased male scientists. In Lost Valley: A Trashy Tale of Excess (Highwater Books, sp) school children learn how a landfill is created and try to stop one in their community. A nice gift for eco-activists. And a corporate run Hell takes on the celestial conglomerate called Heaven in Fred the Possessed Flower (Happy Predator Comics, ms, tp). This wicked satire features God, Satan, The Tooth Fairy, The Boogeyman, Cupid, Fate and a Burning Hedge. The trade paperback collects the original six issues plus seven new stories.

Mystic Funnies #2 (Last Gasp, os) continues the life lessons imparted by granola guru Mr. Natural to his spiritually earnest yet personally inept disciple Flakey Foont. Expect the usual anti-social commentary by underground comix maestro Robert Crumb. Rising star Brian Michael Bendis has made a name for himself with his noir-styled crime comics. Hollywood noticed his talent, and in Fortune and Glory (Oni Press, ms) Bendis shares a shockingly honest account of his experiences in Tinseltown. The comic includes appearances by real life personalities including Clint Eastwood, Uma Thurman and Drew Carey. Also from Oni, Nobody: Sacrifices (tp) presents the case files of a mysterious investigator of the paranormal who herself is more than human. She can change her face and become anyone at will.

The Vampire Lestat returns to comics in Anne Rice's Tale of the Body Thief (Sicilian Dragon, ms). The world-weary vampire hunts a serial killer, unaware that he's also being stalked. The series also serializes an unpublished Rice story treatment written for TV. In Monsters in My Tummy (Slave Labor, os) creator Roman Dirge impishly visualizes the creatures that embody our emotions during times of turmoil and heartbreak. Goodbye Chunky Rice (Top Shelf, gn) is the quirky tale of a little turtle who leaves his home and friends and sets out to find the deeper meaning of life. It's both funny and touching. Bulletins From Serbia (Slab-O-Concrete, hd) collects the documentary comics that cartoonist Aleksandor Zograf posts regularly on the Internet. His internationally acclaimed stories infuse journalistic reporting with personal vision.

Finally, over 125 artists helped create the self-proclaimed 'longest comic strip in the world'. The Worm (Slab-O-Concrete, sp) was plotted by Alan Moore and illustrated by the cream of British cartoonists, many that you've seen in Vertigo books. The comic benefits The Cartoon Arts Trust.

Have a Joyous Holiday and an uneventful New Years (knock on wood).