wordsmithlind

In a universe long ruled by the Comics Code, Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk, in a world of big pecks, big tits, muscle hugging spandex and evil supervillains, it is amazing that Chazz, Petey and Rog can exist.  They are out of shape, normal, and rude; they drink too much, smoke too much and are slightly sexist, possibly misogynistic.  They are definitely not heroes here to save the day and most likely do not own guns.  They are your average Joes, with average (most likely below average) jobs, wrought with average problems.  They are not heroes at all. 

Comic books are one of the last mediums thought of when one thinks independent, DIY and the little guy (Kevin Smith did address this topic in Chasing Amy, but with all the fisting, that part of the story kind of receded to the background).  There are always cries against major record labels and the music industry, but people rarely think of the difficulties of entering the even more exclusive arena of comic books.  I recently came across such a book, Lost, at the recommendation of a friend.  To quote him in an email, “It’s called Lost, they wrote the script back in 2001, so fuck that island and its ongoing nonsensical ramblings.”  On that note, with the added distaste for the island, I saw no harm in giving the book a look.

Anyone that has ever grown up unsatisfied in the suburbs with its malls, big box chain stores, fast food highways and lack of things to do (unless shopping counts), can relate to the opening rant of the “loathsome protagonist…nah, too harsh…that guy,” about cell-phones, houses in the suburbs, fake people, and the aspiration for a career in writing (or any job that is not a standard 9 to 5).  Lost (book 1 of 4) centers around Chazz and his longing for love.  Chazz’s friends Petey and Rog offer him all sorts of bad advice and anecdotes to try to help him on his path to love.  The fact that it is a comic book helps the dialogue in that it allows for creative visuals to add originality to this tried topic.  Once again going back to the opening sequence, the fantastic artwork plays on the eyes as the word play plays on reader’s mind.  One of the more original bits of story telling I have seen.  

I am not sure how to comment on the actual artwork besides saying it is very good.  I have not read a comic book in over five years, so I do not know the direction that comic art has taken since then.  On that note, the artwork is very consistent, the characters rarely, if ever, stray from their look, and the overall quality of the book is impressive.  There is plenty of diversity in the size of the cells, the “camera” angles, the jump cuts, and the use of wide angle and close up “shots.”  The similarity between directing and cinematographing a movie (the choice of shots, the use of lighting, mise-en-scène, character position etc) and developing a comic book is one of the most underappreciated aspects of the whole medium.  Unlike comic strips which carry a standard format, the comic book allows for much more creativity, thus demanding more from the artist to keep the book interesting and appealing.  This is achieved.

All in all the book is well done and worth the read.  Fans of Kevin Smith will enjoy this book with its dialogue based smart-assedness and vulgar humor, and passing readers will enjoy it as well.  There might be some reservations and calls of misogyny, but remember, it is a comic book about lost twenty-somethings, they don’t know any better.

*To make your own judgments on the book, go to www.darthjayder.com

excerpt from Lost courtesy of Darth Jayder comics

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