Comic Artists Direct

It is this reviewer's opinion that the separation of DC's mature readers titles in 1993 into the Vertigo line was a milestone in comic book history. Marketing an entire line of comic books to adults was a major shift in the comic book landscape, as important as Stan Lee's writing for adults in the 1960s and Heavy Metal magazine's American release in the 1970s.

Marketing an entire line of comic books to adults was a major shift in the comic book landscape, as important as Stan Lee's writing for adults in the 1960s and Heavy Metal magazine's American release in the 1970s. Sure, Marvel tried an adult line that failed. But Vertigo thrived and is still alive today, even after the departure of Karen Berger, one of my all time favorite editors. If you haven't read the early comics that started Vertigo - Sandman, Hellblazer, Shade, Sandman Mystery Theater, Swamp Thing, Doom Patrol, Animal Man - you are missing some excellent comic book literature. Yes, literature.

With the release of Vertigo comics, the unique opportunity presented itself to release miniseries to adults. This opened up interesting possibilities for writers. Imagine, in a stand alone miniseries, major characters can be put through major changes and even killed off! It also offered great opportunities for artists to work outside the accepted norm for comic book artwork. Add to this an "up" time in the industry for sales and you have a wonderful place for imaginative comics.

Let me take some time to review most of these early efforts. Many can be found in bargain bins or, at least, for good prices if you shop around.

American Freak - A five issue series written by Dave Louapre and drawn with a scratchy, in your face intensity by Vince Locke. Damien Kane makes a frightening genetic mutation from an ordinary young man to one of the ghastly Unmen previously presented in Swamp Thing.

Let me say first that I love surprises and even confusion in a tale, as long as loose ends are tied up at the end. It is hard to know where this one is going, but when it gets there, you say, "oh, yeh!" You really feel for the doomed Damien, and, through him, feel for the other freaks he encounters. An interesting exploration of how people find purpose and learn to live with themselves.

Blood, A Tale - A four issue series written by J.M. DeMatteis and wonderfully painted by Kent Williams as if everything ware a dream. This was originally a 1987 Epic Comics series, Marvel's early attempt to enter the adult comic book market. It was reprinted by Vertigo in 1996.

DeMatteis is one of my all time favorite writers, especially his Vertigo work, with his themes of spiritual awakening. Here, it is more like his Moonshadow series, a journey through strange lands as a metaphor for life. I don't care for this type of unfocused fantasy as much as many other DeMatteis miniseries, although my wife enjoyed Moonshadow a lot. I like more of a grounding in the here and now - if anything can happen, where is the structure? Still, if you enjoy fantasy, Kent Williams does a masterful job of painting this one.

Blood and Shadows - A four issue series written by Joe Lansdale and drawn with each oozing body part lovingly rendered by Mark Nelson. This one is all over the map and I'm not going to reveal where it goes so you can enjoy it. It begins with "gumshoe" detective Chet Daly investigating a missing person in East Texas in the '40s and goes - elsewhere - from there. Chet attempts to kill the immortal God of the Razor.

The "charm" of this series is the blood and guts strewn across the page, drawn in detail. It is gross, but an adventure that is both fun and depressing at the same time.

And they seem to be having a good time setting an unsettling mood with it, unlike the Vertigo of today where gross violence is used as comedy release. To me that can get old. This one sets out to scare and, yes, it worked on me.

Breathtaker - Her name is Chase Darrow, whose love sucks the life from those who pursue her. And all men pursue her, even when they know what will happen to them. This four issue series is written and painted by Mark Wheatley and drawn by Marc Hempel. It is also collected, these days, into a single volume.

Some (should I say many?) traditional comic book fans simply hate the way Marc Hempel draws. This is some of the best work I've seen from him, cartoony with an edge. And the rich, painted colors don't hurt, either.

The plot turns into kind of a wacky chase, but I liked the Chase character a lot. She was definitely not what I expected this siren character to be. Thumbs up on this series.

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