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STARS
by Bob Corby

$1.00 from Bob Corby, www.backporchcomics.com)

Reviewed by Matt Dembicki

Stars is short and sweet. It’s simply about creator Bob Corby’s favorite painting, “The Starry Night,” and how he loses himself in it by drifting into Van Gogh’s canvas when he can’t sleep. (Corby draws himself in a stick-figure fashion with “The Starry Night” as the background.) I particularly enjoyed the cover, which was done using a block-printing technique and provides a wonderful texture. (Seeing stuff like this inspires me to try to experiment more with my comics.)

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GREEN PIECE: TEARS OF A CLONE
by Jason DeGroot and Adam Owen

$2.00 from Adam Owen, www.orbitalcomics.net)

Reviewed by Steve Keeter

The intrepid lizard detective Green Piece tracks down a clone murderer on an alien world. Adam Owen does a smooth job on the artwork, inking his own work this time and he weaves pen and ink and computer generated backgrounds flawlessly, to very good effect. Jason DeGroot's scripting is more serious this time, although not entirely so, as he incorporates planetary politics into GP's world (there are pro-clone and anti-clone forces, and the planet's chancellor has his hands full trying to appease both). Dan Nauenburg contributes an excellent backcover, and Adam's very colorful frontcover is an eye-popper as well. It's another fine installment in one of the most entertaining small press series around, great for fans of sf fantasy and the noir influence just makes it that much more appealing.

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GREEN PIECE: GOOD COP, GREEN COP
by Jason DeGroot and Adam Owen

($2.00 from Adam Owen, www.orbitalcomics.net)

Reviewed by Steve Keeter

Some issues of Green Piece are exciting, some are tongue-in-cheek, this one is just plain hilarious! Our hard-boiled hero is split into two persons — one angry and destructive, the other peaceful and kind of hippy-dippy. The latter GP is especially wacky, rejecting guns and violence, and espousing such crazy counter-culture dialogue as "My aura is like gettin crowded man!" and "you need to meditate... become one with your inner hatchling!" Meanwhile, his violent twin chases down the bad guys mercilessly ("any last requests 'for ya get pulverized?"). Jason DeGroot's inspired scripting really makes this issue one not to be missed, aided and abetted by the top-notch illustrating talents of Adam Owen and Rome Maynard. Green Piece has never been this much fun!

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LOUIS: DREAMS NEVER DIE
by Metaphrog with Hey and Múm

(£8.99 UK / $14.99 US / €14.99, Metaphrog)

Reviewed by Heath Row

Another beautifully produced book from Franco-Scottish comics duo Metaphrog, this 52-page work is a graphic album in the best way possible: The lushly colored story comes complete with a CD or 7-inch record containing music by Hey and Múm courtesy of FatCat Records.

First, the book. Equally charming à la Mark Crilley's Akiko, simple à la Tom Hart, and visually surreal à la Jim Woodring, the story follows Louis' search for his aunt, who suddenly stops writing him letters. After a series of dreams, Louis ventures forth into the "pathways" to track down where his aunt lives. Encountering a robot insectiform, a mysterious postman, a stylized Hitler, and a young girl who leads Louis to his destination, Louis seeks to understand why he feels lonely even when he's not alone. I don't always fully understand where Metaphrog is going or what they're doing, but their work is delightfully serene and gentle while remaining darkly comic.

On to the CD. Featuring music as well as some animation, the disc features three audio tracks. Hey's "Dreams Never Die" is a clattering, meandering number featuring piano, breathy singing in French, and a sense of spatial density. Múm's version of the piece is only slightly more electronic in nature, blending glib blurbles and post-New Age soundscapes. The multitracked vocals on this number are astounding. You can see the animation — with a soundtrack by Hey and Múm — at www.louisandfc.com.

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THE SUPERNATURALISTS
by Patrick Neighly and Jorge Heufemann

(160 pages, $9.95, Mad Yak Press. ISBN 0-9717995-4-7, Diamond Order code AUG042841)

Reviewed by David Hedgecock

Detective Edgar Drake is racing against the clock to solve an impossible crime. What Detective Drake finds is a truth more horrifying, more disturbing than anything any detective in 1920s Manhattan has ever dealt with; a truth that will rock the foundations of Manhattan's social elite as well as his own reality.

Neighly brews a tasty concoction of dialogue, pacing and characterization and then has it outdone by the amazing artistic skills of Jorge Heufemann.

Together they produce a giant, 160 pages worth of great reading in a beautifully designed package for the tiny price of $9.95. You simply can't go wrong.

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SHUCK THE SULFURSTAR #1
by Rick Smith

($2.95, www.sulfurstar.com)

Reviewed by Matt Dembicki

I'd heard of Rick Smith's Shuck before but never had a chance to read it. Since Smith was relaunching the title with a new issue No. 1, I thought it'd be a good place to start and get acquainted with the book. Smith has a nice, cartoony style, but I had problems following the story. First, all the characters speak in a dialect, which makes it difficult to read through the book. Smith writes in the letters page that he did this to distinguish Shuck's world from our own. I think he could have accomplished that without using a confusing "lankwich." Second, the story is a bit fragmented. I simply didn't have a clear picture of what was happening. I know there's a play where an angel battles Shuck (a devil or demon), and at the end of it Shuck takes a break from theater and heads to a town called Thicket. It also happens that a little girl and her mom who watched the play are also headed to Thicket to see the girl's grandfather for an undisclosed reason. Shuck and the girl and her mom cross paths near the town. That's about all I was able to ascertain. The rest seemed esoteric. I'm sure Shuck fans get it, but it wasn't a good issue for a new reader to jump in. I also wanted to note that the back cover has an installment from Smith's online dream comic "Sawlogs", which I really enjoyed. I used to read it, but drifted away. I'm glad I was reminded that it's there!

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FANTASY THEATER #15
by J. Kevin Carrier and company

($2.00 from J. Kevin Carrier/ 8913 Eldora Dr./ Cincinnati, OH / 45236 USA. Web: members.aol.com/fantasytheater)

Reviewed by Steve Keeter

Scott McClung starts off this issue of J. Kevin Carrier's exciting anthology comic with a bang — both of the gorgeous full-color covers are by him, and both are knockouts. There are three stories within, all stylishly illustrated by J. Kev. The best is a team-up super-hero adventure, featuring Lady Spectra, Sparky, and the Reaper... and this one really pulls out the stops. Not only does the trio have to battle nazi zombies, but also flying insectoid monstrosities, a vampire, and traitorous FBI agents! Plenty of thrills, chills, and action in this one. The remaining strips demonstrate a much lighter, and wryly humorous touch... as a barbarian is tricked into sleeping with an ogre-woman, and the Grim Reaper attempts to bargain with Phantos, who is trapped in a shadowy dimension. The humor lies in the denouements of both yarns, especially the Phantos tale. Also featured is a lettercol, which includes drawings of Kevin's characters by Jim Pack, Will Terrell, and others. Fantasy Theater #15 is another fine issue of one of our favorite small press comics, a title that never fails to deliver the goods.

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SUPERNATURAL LAW #40
by Batton Lash

($2.95, Exhibit A Press, www.exhibitapress.com)

Reviewed by Heath Row

Batton Lash has been publishing this black-and-white independent comic book series for 10 years. Originally titled Wolff & Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre, the series followed its existence as a comic strip, which debuted 25 years ago. Despite the comic's history, this is the first issue I've read. With nods to Will Eisner and Dan DeCarlo, this 28-page anniversary issue is told from the perspective of the building in which Wolff & Byrd have their office, 13 Court Street in Brooklyn. The storyline addresses the other tenants of the building, as well as a hunchback, Vulcan's Mirror, a wizard, and a werewolf. While well drawn, the story isn't really my cup of tea. That said, the inclusion of an active letter column and fan art is a nice nod to the series' long run — and long-time readers.

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VAMPSPEW Episode One
by Steve Feldman

($2.00 ppd from Steve Feldman/ 1402 W. Jackman St./ Lancaster, CA 93534 USA. Web: www.stevefeldman.com)

Reviewed by Steve Keeter

You want to read a really great vampire comic? Vampspew Episode One is one heckuva fine debut from Steve Feldman. A man on a walking tour of eastern Europe stumbles upon an ancient castle, where he is bitten by strange insects and becomes a vampire. He soon encounters opposition of the traditional sort (villagers with pitchforks), and also makes some weird friends (dancing, partying, festering dead monks). The story is told entirely with captions, which makes it seem more like classic literature than the usual modern comic fare, especially as Feldman has quite a talent with wordplay. And the synergy between words and pictures is superb, the moody illustrations adding a sense of surrealism. This is some exceptionally fine work, a polished and intriguing comic you'll want to read and read again. Recommended.

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