To paraphrase the late, great Douglas Adams, ‘I love deadlines. I love the sound they make as they go rushing by’. Yes, it is true, I am late again. Not that you’ll know. The fine folk at the Internet will undoubtedly post this column with a date of, oh, let’s say August 26th, when it is in fact being written on September 5th, nearly a week after LoveBomb’s comic book month has expired. And not that you’ll care either. Come on, let’s be honest… none of you actually read this column. We all know why you come here…same reasons I do…Jazz, Racie, Rocky, Silvia, and all the other lovely Bomber Girls. You don’t pick up Playboy for the articles, do you? Don’t you lie to me! But promise I did to deliver another Comic Book review column and, though often tardy, I do tend to keep my promises. Let us begin.

It is a bit sad, but not at all surprising, even now in this the Second Golden Age of comics, that the image first conjured when one mentions comics is that of the superhero. Yes, tights and capes still dominate the four-color landscape. Don’t get me wrong, for there are many great hero comics being produced now, more so than in any time in history. Oh sure, there have been great hero books throughout the years; The O’Neil/ Adams years on Batman, the same creators and their late 60’s take on Green Arrow, Frank Miller’s Dark Knight, Allan Moore’s Marvelman (later called Miracleman), and Warren Ellis’ Authority. All have, in their own way, paved the way for the excellent material being produced today. Titles like Brian Bendis’ Powers, Ed Brubaker’s Captain America and Iron Fist, and Mark Millar’s Kick Ass are all re-setting the bar and redefining the genre. But there is more to comics than capes, my friends, and that is what we have come to discuss today. Following are but a few examples of the fine, non-powers based comics to be found at your local comic peddling shoppe. You may have to search a bit for them. In many shops they’ve been relegated to the dark corners of the store. If you are lucky you’ll spy a sign reading ‘Independent Press’, or ‘Slice of Life’. But take my advice and find these books. You’ll be glad you did.

The Rabbi’s Cat & The Rabbi’s Cat 2 – By Joann Sfar. On the surface, The Rabbi’s Cat tells the tale of Rabbi Sfar, his daughter Zlabaya, and their highly intelligent, and talking, cat. And though the idea of a talking cat may seem fantastical, it is just one of a large cast of characters Sfar uses to explore the many facets of humanity and our daily trials upon this earth. Set primarily in Algeria during the early 20th century, Sfar uses the talking cat and his extended family to explore themes of religion, family, rebellion, and the struggle of tradition in the modern world. Though set one hundred years in the past, in a country I have never traveled to, and rife with religious doctrine for which I have no frame of reference, I found the characters of this book to be relatable as my own family. Regardless of our God, our homeland, or our age, we are all human, and Sfar has a uniquely profound way of showing this…through a talking cat.

Three Fingers – By Rich Koslowski – Three Fingers is a must read for anyone with a love for the classic days of animation. The winner of the 2003 Ignatz Award, Three Fingers tells the tale, ala Ken Burns documentary style, of the early days of animation. Using pseudonyms such as Rickey Rat, Portly Pig, and Buggy Bunny, Koslowski spins a tale of the classic Disney and Warner Bros. inspired ‘Toons, and uncovers the deep and disturbing secret at the center of their meteoric rise to fame. A dark and twisted homage to the characters we loved as kids, and an intelligent next step to the ideas put forth in Roger Rabbit. The writing is top notch and the art is Rich’s best (that is, until his most recent, yet to be released work, BB Wolf & The Three LP’s…follow the link:

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=2&title=620 )

Capote In Kansas – By Ande Parks and Chris Samnee – If you’ve seen the film Capote then you’ve already got an idea of what Capote In Kansas is about. The Graphic Novel follows Truman Capote to Kansas to investigate the brutal and unprovoked murder of family in their own home. The investigation would eventually become Capote’s novel In Cold Blood. Capote In Kansas is as much about the journey towards this literary classic as it is about Capote’s own personal journey. At first the cold and disconnected biographer, Capote begins to see the players involved as the human beings they are, developing relationship with not only those affected by the crime but those who committed it as well. Capote begins as a biographer of the events, and ends as an active participant in the lives of those left. Ande Parks obviously did his research, and portrays the characters with compelling accuracy. And Chris Samnee’s black and white art is stunning, rivaling, dare I say, the work of Frank Miller on Sin City. This is definite must read.
That’s all for this month, folks. Anymore and I’d be later still, and Mr. Editor hates it when I’m late (He beats me. No, really, please get help. I’m scared…