Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Barcode: Catalyst, Brian Hardison, Daniel Thollin, erik hendrix, J.M. Thakar, Jackie Diaz, Rey Miranda, Run By The Gun, The Evil Tree

Spotlight on ComiXology Submit – Run By The Gun,The Evil Tree, Barcode: Catalyst

Every week, there is quite a selection of new comics available that have been added to ComiXology via their creator-owned Submit platform, and here at Bleeding Cool we're taking a moment to point out some of the titles that have caught our attention this time around that you might find as wacky or as intriguing as we did. This week, it's genres, genres, genres, from rock comics to old style horror and strange science fiction, but each one definitely marches to the beat of its own drum.

Top Pick:

Run By The Gun #1, written by Rey Miranda, with art by Brian Hardison

I suppose I've seen enough indie comics and 'zines to know that the plights of a rock band are popular subject matter, and can be handled in an endless variety of ways, from humor to psychedelic approaches, usually with a touch of glamorization for the goal: the rock star lifestyle. Run by the Gun manages to take some of the same tropes and strike a distinctive chord (pun, sorry) mainly because it relentlessly undercuts glamorization but also because artist Brian Hardison is quite simply a very talented guy. In the first case, our band is struggling for attention and success (the usual situation) but guitarist Peter goes all "Falling Down" in classic style of rebellion against the status quos of society and there's a clever opening transition between glamor and the realities of his life, oppressed by an office job and an increasingly hostile pregnant girlfriend who is rather brutal about wanting him to give up his stupid dream.

It's all about degrees, and the comic ramps up the uncomfortable confrontations between our dreams and the unforgiving day to day life that cuts us down to size. Watch out for those stark rebellious moments for Peter, but I won't spoil them by being specific here. Hardison's black and white interiors (on a book that seems to have reached print in 2012 but digital here for the first time) have little touches of Archie, of manga styles, of indie autobio trends, but also a tendency toward smooth, flowing lines and strong layout choices that give this book artistic clout. Together with the plot choices from Miranda, the art bumps the book up to a high quality product that does rival mainstream publication: it would not be too much of a stretch to envisage this as an Image book if the writing is as strong on future issues. But one more feature is interesting and appealing too: it has accompanying music available from a connected website, composed by Zambia Greene. As far as music/comic tie-ins go, this is a particularly winning combination.

You might also like:

The Evil Tree #1, written by Erik Hendrix, with art by Daniel Thollin

I brought my own assumptions to this comic too, and was pleasantly surprised. From the description, about a rustic farmhouse, a bunch of city dwellers and menacing stuff going on of a supernatural variety, I presumed it would be difficult to create an original feel or content. The comic has a way of getting around that, partly due to the detailed writing of Erik Hendrix blending in aspects of modern life in an understated way–like the vagaries of wifi connection, the use of headphones and ipods, and the clash of cultures between New York and the suburbs, that work very well. The other part of the equation is Daniel Thollin's art style, which reminds me of Jeff Lemire and Becky Cloonan without being the least derivative. The cover harks back to pre-code EC Comics days, with its unabashed axe-wielding threats, and is quite funny and riveting in its own way due to its boldness. Interiors are colored with an interesting range of choices, with polar cold and snowstorms using white and blue to offset more lush reds, browns, purples in a wide range. The opening sequence is one of the strongest in this first issue artistically as we see inside the mind and experience of the main "haunted" female character and see the real fear and gothic creepiness that is to come.

The pacing on the comic is smart: having put the axe on the cover, the reader is primed for the first appearance of the axe chopping firewood as this group of oblivious friends wanders into suspense territory. Another feature borrowed from film that works and creates a dash of humor is the reveal to the reader and ignorance of characters as strange faces peer from ice "behind" characters and evil vines snake up through the snow when none are there to see it but the reader. It's the slightly humorous aspect of this that enlivens the story, that is quite serious in many ways as we watch the psychological deterioration of our "haunted" female lead and the touching emotional worry of her partner, both contrasting with a happier couple of friends visiting. There's more than a little hint of Poe here with the isolated, death-associated female character and the increasingly nervous male lover trying to "bring her back". It's an appealing comic as a package, and one that defies the tropes I expected to hold it back.

Barcode: Catalyst #1, written by J.M. Thakar, with art by Jackie Diaz

I'm really going for genre comics this week, though that is my personal inclination, and this one is a mash up of history, sci-fi, and perhaps mystical elements. I know enough from watching my friends reading indie comics to realize that part of what they are looking for is the wild and the strange, getting a feeling that they are wandering through an unknown land and discovering odd experiences, and this comic definitely fits the bill. It's a historically-set piece against the backdrop of WWII, but taking in volcanic erruptions and strange meteors while compressing pulp-like war elements into its personal relationships. Scientist Dr. Vermar is imprisoned and on a quest to return to his family, but not before being obliged to study the strange geological goings-on nearby. The pulpy dialogue is at times melodramatic and even funny, but not out of keeping with comics that were actually created during this era, but instead of going for pulp art styles, artist Jackie Diaz does something fairly wild and wonderful by going with intense photo-realism and a blend of photography and artwork with highly detailed digital resolution. It's a challenge to the senses, and definitely not a nostalgia comic in terms of artwork.

The uncanny realism sets you on edge and gives you the sense of being in an alien landscape where you recognize some features–like uniforms and 40's style hairdos and dresses, but feel adrift regarding the tropical landcapes and vistas. For that reason, this is the comic for readers looking for their weekly dose of  "I've never seen anything like this before". It remains to be seen how the plot will shape up but the dense detail in the storytelling in the first issue suggests it's not a quick read that will leave you feeling the comic was a light purchase. There will be more strange adventures and stranger visual experiences to comic in Barcode: Catalyst.

Hannah Means-Shannon is EIC at Bleeding Cool and @hannahmenzies on Twitter

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!