CHOSEN
Written by Mark Millar and Drawn by Peter Gross
Published by Dark Horse

While skipping school one day, Jodie Christianson is hit by a semi. Actually, the semi falls off a bridge and lands on him, and when he walks away unscathed, Jodie learns that he might just be the resurrected Jesus Christ. Disbelieving at first, his thoughts begin to turn when he begins healing the sick and turning water into wine. But he wonders: can it all be true? Is he really the savior?

CHOSEN is two-thirds of a really great graphic novel. Millar manages to hold many of his worst impulses in check, and there is a genuine feeling that he’s truly interested in exploring what would happen if Christ turned up as a twelve-year old boy smack-dab in the middle of Americana. Jodie struggles not only with questions of his identity, but with what kind of person he should be if it’s true: should he stop swearing? Masturbating? Or should he embrace the foibles of humanity, since that is what he is in his current incarnation? And when the only person who refuses to believe is the local priest, should he take that as a sign, or work to restore the man’s faith? These are solid, legit questions, and those sections of the book really work well.

Where the book derails, however, is that Millar loses the courage of his convictions. While there are clues laced through the book about the “twist” ending ahead, it feels like a huge cheat. It’s as if Millar gives up and realizes that he can’t do true justice to his own premise and instead goes for a cheap shock. I won’t spoil it for you, but needless to say, it doesn’t feel nearly as earned as if he had written an ending that stayed the course.

Gross illustrates the book wonderfully, as he brings a realistic flavor to Jodie and his world, keeping the proceedings completely grounded. Jodie and his friends look like kids without tricks of perspective trying to render them so. The colors are gorgeous, using an autumnal aura to enhance the middle-American locale of the book. There are also a number of excellent DVD-style extras, including concept sketches, an interview Millar and Gross conducted with one-another, and more. In all, this was a book that could have, and should have, been great from front to back, but comes up a bit short in the end.

SIBAM?

If memory serves, this may have already been optioned for film. It’d certainly be a project that could make it to the screen, though fundamentalists might wind up screaming bloody murder at the story’s twists at the end. One thing that CHOSEN has going for it, though, is that it wouldn’t be an expensive film with a lot of effects. Keep your eye on it.

SHORT TAKES

PENG
Written and Drawn by Corey Lewis
Published by Oni Press

“Peng” is the sound made when a player connects with the ball in “Advanced Kickball,” the sport that is the subject of Lewis’ latest gonzo bit of comics storytelling. We are introduced to the sport as it reaches its “final four” in the championship tournament, and follow all the action as the season draws to a close. But that doesn’t really begin to describe what’s going on in this book.

Lewis is part of a new movement of creators who create books based on “game logic”; to wit, things happen in the book because they happen. There doesn’t have to be normal rhyme, reason, or storytelling purpose. His SHARKNIFE (who shows up here, out of the blue) followed that pattern, and Oni’s other current great series, SCOTT PILGRIM (by Bryan O’Malley) uses it as well. What this means is that you have to approach the book a bit differently as a reader; expectations have to be pushed aside, because they will be brushed away but the whims of creative fate in short order.

In truth, that can make PENG a bit hard to follow at times, but much like some of the more esoteric manga we’re seeing cross the seas now, if you relax and let it come to you, it’s a fun, entertaining read.

MINIMUM SECURITY
Written and Drawn by Stephanie McMillan
Published by NBM

When I mentioned in my review of CHOSEN that Millar seemed to lack the courage of his own convictions, this book was certainly weighing on my mind. Stephanie McMillan has no such issues. This alt-cartoonist puts her convictions out in front of the world in the strongest possible fashion, and doesn’t back away even an inch from trouble. Or truth.

McMillan, a disciple of noted lefty cartoonist Ted Rall, is actually a much more talented cartoonist than him. Her work establishes a foundation that’s more layered in fact, and her artistic style has a softer edge that creates more of a light set-up for the kidney punches coming in the final panels. This is the latest in NBM’s “Attitude” series focusing on cartoonists whose work hasn’t gotten the widespread distribution and recognition that they’ve deserved. Certainly, that holds true for McMillan, a very intelligent, driven, activist artist. Give her a look.

THE SECRET VOICE #1
Written and Drawn by Zack Soto
Published by AdHouse Books

Shifting gars a bit, AdHouse delivers its first ongoing series, featuring the work of a cartoonist who has made his name in many of their other projects. Soto is a wonderful artist, with a real grasp of how to meld pop comics with an alt sensibility; there’s a sly, kitsch feeling to any book where the lead story features a heroic man wrapped in rags fighting rock trolls using the animated hand of their deceased leader.

What makes that story so fascinating, though, is that nothing about it feels unauthentic or out of the ordinary. Soto is so serious in his presentation that you are swept up in it and buy in completely as a reader, ignoring how outlandish it seems. Other stories in this compilation back up that sensation, as they tackle issues of identity, anger management, and loneliness. It’s quite amazing how he balances the conundrums.

Keeping with what AdHouse has been doing as a boutique publisher, the production value and book design are first rate, making this new series one to watch out for. And on a schedule that will see the book come out once every four months, you won’t go broke in doing so.

HERO SQUARED #3
Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis and Drawn by Joe Abraham
Published by Boom Studios

This nifty miniseries concludes on a somewhat down note, tonally, as the characters each begin to deal with the true fallout of having their own duplicate wandering around the world. For Milo, his confusion grows as the villainous version of his girlfriend Stephie shows him unusual kindness and affection, and for his duplicate, Captain Valor, his troubles begin and end at his unwillingness to forgive the Stephie from his world and his unrequited love for the one who loves Milo in his new one.

Yes, that is a bit confusing, I know.

What it breaks down to is that the creative team has created a romantic quadrangle with two people occupying the four spots. Got it? Good.

Issue three gives us a showdown between Valor and his Stephie (who goes by Lord Caliginous) seemingly over Milo’s fate, but really about the destruction of their own relationship. And with Milo beginning to see Caliginous’ side in a few things, which sticks the dagger deeper into Valor’s heart, just as he hopes to use Milo’s potential infidelities against him with his own Stephie. It creates an emotional quagmire not easily solved. However, as Giffen and DeMatteis finish the story with a sense of resolution, not completion, there would appear to be more fun waiting. HS returns next year as an ongoing series. I’m looking forward to it, immensely.

PVP #20
Written and Drawn by Scott Kurtz
Published by Image Comics

There’s nothing particularly special about the latest issue of PVP, which is really what makes it worth mentioning. As Kurtz draws near to having two years of the book under his belt at Image, I think it’s time to give him a nice tip of the cap, for a couple of reasons. One, for just surviving and sticking with it. The market doesn’t allow too many black and white books to live this long anymore. And if you can find Frank Cho and LIBERTY MEADOWS anywhere, good luck. He’s off making Marvel money. Kurtz, though, is thriving on his own book.

Two, Kurtz has developed his characters enough that he can sustain days worth of gags on something as simple as giving one of them a mustache. He can mine the gags from how they interact and talk to another and it doesn’t feel forced. That takes time, especially from a strip artist.

I’ve been following the current strips as he posts them online, and a recent series about the possibility that Jade might be pregnant was the best, and most subtle, work that Kurtz has done. Seeing that he understands the importance of not going for a cheap gag, and instead letting the situation play itself out organically really showed me something. Kurtz is a guy who has truly come into his own on his book, and it’s really a sight to see.

See you in seven.

Review materials may be sent to: Marc Mason, P.O. Box 26732, Tempe, AZ 85285. You can also find me at Happy Nonsense and The Comics Waiting Room

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