Two-in-One Review: Brian Clopper's Mini-Comics Don MacPherson and Randy Lander venture into worlds filled with monsters, aliens and ghosts, but don't worry... the creatures are just kids that populate the mind of writer, artist and teacher Brian Clopper. Don: Welcome to another installment of the Two-in-One Review, in which Randy and I chat about comic books and associated wares. We turn our attention today to two seemingly dichotomous ideas: monsters and education. Elementary school teacher Brian Clopper has a proven track record for blending his two passions: education and comics. Randy: Brian Clopper has produced a lot of stuff over the past year, and he sent us a variety of material to catch up on. They range from a professional package similar to his illustrated children's books all the way through to mini-comics, and each of them carries Clopper's unique signature. The Heebie-Jeebies Book One Mini-Monster Pals Volume 1 and Clearing Up Myth-Understandings written & illustrated by Brian Clopper Don: One thing is abundantly clear when one looks at all of these booklets and mini-comics: Brian Clopper doesn't believe in wasting a single idea, a single design. These books are replete with a seemingly unending array of goblins and ghouls... albeit harmless and even friendly ones. There's a refreshing sense of wonder and innocence that permeates all of this work. Randy: Indeed, Clopper's teaching seems to keep his mindset young. He blends the wild imagination of youth with a more focused storytelling style, and his creations seem ideally suited to the young audience he is aiming for. It's become a self-fulfilling prophecy that books for younger readers in the comics market won't work, but Clopper has proven that it's not for lack of quality material. Don: Heebie-Jeebies tells the story of Willy Nilly, a young monster who must contend with a prankster and bully named Napalm, both of which attend the Monster Academy in another dimension. I was disappointed the story cut off so abruptly, but this is a mini-comic after all. Though clearly aimed at kids, there's plenty of fun and personality in it for an adult to read along as well. Willy Nilly's characterization and circumstances reminded me more than a little bit of the premises for Clopper's digest children's books, Graham the Gargoyle and Norton the Vampire. But whereas those characters at least exist in the same world, Clopper has apparently developed a completely new set of characters and setting for the Heebie-Jeebies. My thought is... why? It comes off as a bit redundant. Why is he using these new characters to tell a story that others are already well-suited for? I'm sure there's a reason, mind you. Maybe I'm just far too used to the notion of shared continuities that are an inherent part of mainstream comics. Randy: Actually, I had much the same thoughts about Heebie-Jeebies as you did. Clopper's work, including the two books you read and also his graphic novel Marshall, Godling of War, have all shared the similar premise of children going out into a strange world to explore it. While it's a plot that has some appeal, I do miss the wider variety of stories that Clopper had to offer in his previous anthology work. The hero's journey is a fine structure, but Heebie-Jeebies read largely like more of the same thing I have read, when I was anxious to read something new. And I know that Clopper does not lack for ideas. Don: Mondo Monsters is something of a character guide -- a Who's Who -- of the innocent but macabre worlds inside Clopper's head. I don't know that many of these characters have been used in his stories, but the compilation of his ideas and designs makes for an impressive read. One gets an impression of an imagination that just can't be bottled up. It has erupted and resulted in these odd booklets and more professional digest publications. Make no mistake, though... these books will not be of interest to all adults. Those with kids serve as the target audience. Much of this material is designed to help children learn and develop their imaginations. Mind you, I couldn't help but be tickled by Clearing Up Myth-Understandings, in which Clopper takes a tongue-in-cheek but informative look at Greek myths. Randy: Certainly we agree that one of the best qualities Clopper brings to the table as a creator is his imagination, and it's in showcase projects like Mondo Monsters, Clearing Up Myth-Understandings and the Mini-Monster Pals that his imagination really comes through. In these books, Clopper almost speaks directly to his reader, joking around with them about things not to do in school if you're a monster or telling them things about "boring" mythology that might make it more interesting to them. For more information on Brian Clopper's work, visit www.brianclopper.com. Email Randy and Don comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.