Two-in-One Review: McFadden's Funnies Join us on an exotic journey to an unusual place... Pittsburgh, actually, as Don and Randy review the indy non-fiction comic, McFadden's Funnies Don: I'll give him one thing... David McFadden crafts comics that are unlike anything else you'll find on a comics-shop shelf. His fascination with the history of both his hometown and his family shines through in this quirky anthology book, as does his appreciation of eccentric people, places and practices. Randy: Indeed, McFadden's Funnies is very different from most of what I've read, although it is closest in style to the work I've seen in the better mini-comics and self-published efforts at The Expo in Maryland. McFadden, a psychotherapist, brings a love of stories and a whole lot of unusual experiences to the table to create a fascinating and unusual tableau. McFadden's Funnies #101 written by David McFadden illustrated by Tom Hall, Harry Dean Cupec, Don Simpson & Val Mayerik Don: The material that forms the foundation of the stories in this comic book are varied. We learn of McFadden's old neighborhood, the use of hypnosis to curb addiction, an historic family and house in Pittsburgh, and more. Each story has a common link though: each delves into a subject that's of personal importance to the author. And that personal connection shows through in the work. Randy: As someone who has settled happily in Austin with no plans to leave, I can relate to a love of your hometown. What I found amazing, however, was how McFadden brought Pittsburgh to life for someone like me, who has never set foot in it. While not every story revolves around the city, it's clear that the location has had a profound effect on McFadden. The work reminds me of a cross between the open autobiographical style of cartoonists like Harvey Pekar or Keith Knight, crossed with an old time feel and infectious appreciation that I most associate with the later works of Will Eisner. Don: Easily the most interesting story was the longest: the history of Sunnyledge, a noted home in Pittsburgh with a colorful history. And, of course, in which a couple of McFadden's relatives -- from different generations -- worked. The true story boasts an endearing theme of how unpredictable and enjoyable life can be. Randy: That's interesting, because I actually found Sunnyledge to be my least favorite story of the book, precisely because it was so long. I enjoyed McFadden's take on the various elements of his life and his city, and I wanted to see more of them, rather than extended pieces on one particular part. I found the story of the church that McFadden attended, with it's gaudy decoration and the pranks of his friends, to be a delight, and the two pages on Pittsburgh that opened the book served notice that this book had a definite setting. I'm also impressed by just how much McFadden covered, from personal anecdotes to local culture to the history of Sigmund Freud's smoking habit or the practice of hypnosis. Don: McFadden has a lot to say about these various subjects, and it makes for text heavy stories. In fact, some of these pieces don't really strike me as comics storytelling... more like an illustrated prose piece. McFadden also seems to shift gears suddenly, tearing off in a new direction. It makes for an unfocused feel at times, almost as though he has so much interesting information to convey that he can't decide which story he wants to tell about a particular subject. As a result, he tries to tell them all, and doesn't do any of them justice. Randy: Once again, I must disagree. I found the scattershot approach of subject matter part of the book's charm. This is the equivalent of a scrapbook in comic-book form, a combination of reminiscence and examination of interesting history. I will, however, grant that some of the storytelling could use a little tightening up as far as the text goes, particularly with artists who are clearly strong storytellers even without heavy text cues. And the art was another pleasant surprise in the book. I would have liked better credits in the book so that I could single out my favorites by name, but I especially enjoyed the evocative rendition of Corpus Christi, which put me right into an environment that, as a Methodist growing up, I had exactly zero familiarity with. Although the very realistic work done on "Hollyburgh," reminiscent of some of Steve Lieber's work, was a favorite as well. Don: The art boasts a professional tone; some it is even rendered by recognizable names in the industry (ie. Simpson and Mayerik). I also enjoyed how real-life clippings are occasionally incorporated. But most of the pieces boast an awkward visual flow. I often didn't know what image or what caption to jump to next, and it made already disjointed scripts seem even moreso. Yes, McFadden's Funnies has its flaws, but it's got its strengths as well, the greatest of which is McFadden's daring to be different. His message -- that there are weird and wonderful people and places all around us -- is a refreshing one. For more information about McFadden's Funnies, visit www.mcfaddensfunnies.com. Email Randy and Don comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.