Two-in-One Review: Shuck Oingo Boingo were right, it is a dead man's party, and it's happening in Shuck, which Randy Lander and Don MacPherson examine in their newest Two-in-One review. Randy: As a reviewer and a comics fan of many years, I've read a lot of comics that can be easily summed up in one sentence. Shuck is not one of those comics; in fact, it's quite odd, but there's something compelling about it as well. Don: Shuck is a study in contrasts. It boasts a delightful innocence and a mature depth as well. It's a simple story about a simple soul, but the writers have a lot to say about humanity using bizarre, inhuman figures as their characters. Shuck is like nothing else you've ever read before. Shuck #1-2 published by Shuck Comics written by Rick Smith & Tania Menesse illustrated by Rick Smith Randy: Basically, Shuck is about a demon who was a former soul collector, who now lives in a quiet little town. He's friends with a little girl from next door, he brews beer and he throws Halloween parties for the dead so they don't get into trouble. He also laments the loss of his wife, Gaia, who sacrificed herself to save a grove of trees not so long so. Shuck seems to be some strange combination of Dante's Inferno and Song of the South, which sounds like an impossible blend but actually retains the charm of the latter and the intelligence of the former. I found the affected speech patterns of the characters a little difficult to read at times, but I can't deny that they gave me a feel for the style of the book throughout. Don: Easily the greatest strength of the title is how the writers celebrate language by completely disregarding its rules. The dialogue in this book consists not of words, but of sounds. The phonetic approach to the script harkens back to the early days of comics and The Yellow Kid, and it adds an odd but genuine degree of fun to the reading process. Randy: Though the premise is not exactly simple or easily grasped, the stories certainly are. Shuck spends his time trying to keep friends out of trouble, or doing an unpleasant job to earn time with his wife, and though the circumstances surrounding these plots are unusual, the motivation at the heart of the story is easy to relate to. In addition, if you forgive his unusual appearance, Shuck comes across as a likable, friendly, average guy. Don: Despite the seemingly inherently darkness of the supernatural elements, Shuck boasts a light and innocent tone, and it's reflected in the art as well. The character designs strike me as something that might arise from a collaboration between Jill Thompson and James Kochalka. The lettering is clear and easy to read, but it captures the oddball but fun nature of the dialogue as well. Randy: In terms of artwork, Shuck diverts from the norm as well. The book is printed on yellowish, sturdy paper with cardstock covers, terrific production values for an indy book. This sort of faded, classic paper style fits right in with Smith's artwork, which features incredible use of grayshading, some imaginative designs and a distinctive look. his storytelling, generally sticking to a six-panel grid, is likewise easy to follow and well-done. Don: The creators have obviously put a lot of effort into making sure this comic book was done just right. The paper quality is unusual and even adds to the odd, symbolic mood of the story and art. Shuck is going to turn some heads in the indie comics community, no doubt, but boasts plenty of universal appeal so as to entertain those outside of that niche corner of the industry. For more information about Shuck, visit www.sulfurstar.com. Email Randy and Don comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.