Welcome to the first Fourth Rail installment of the Two in One review, in which Don MacPherson and Randy Lander bicker about... er, I mean discuss various comics. This time around, they take a look at Tales of the Cherokee. Don: One of the great things about this online comics reviewing thing Randy and I do is that we a look at things to which we might not otherwise have been exposed. The small-press efforts of Gene Gonzales falls into that category. This is different from most comics out there, and it was a nice change of pace. Randy: I'm with you. I'm normally not a fan of split-books, anthologies or any book that features more than one focused story, but in this case, the multi-story format makes a lot of sense. Gonzales's book features a variety of Native American myths, and gives the reader the feeling of having sat down for a verbal passing down of stories. Tales of the Cherokee #1 published by Mandalay Books written & illustrated by Gene Gonzales edited by JC Vaughn Don: Many in the comic-book industry have been calling for greater diversity in the kind of material that hits the shelves. Super-heroes dominate too much. It's true. Those looking for something different in their comics will appreciate Gonzales's efforts here. He offers up three short stories that expose the reader to Native American myths. The result is educational, yes, but more importantly, it's entertaining as well. Randy: Indeed. In these pages you have a funny animal tale of sorts, a couple of romances and an epic origin story for the world. I'm reminded somewhat of Shanower's Age of Bronze in a way, as Gonzales has taken research from a variety of sources and varying accounts to form focused and intriguing stories. The origins of the work, Native American myths, give it a different feel from the pulp-, television or true-life inspirations of most comics. Don: What was most impressive about this book, though, is that Gonzales shifts the tone of the art and the writing for each story, demonstrating his versatility. The visuals for the second story -- "Why Does the Mole Live Underground?" -- were far more cartoony than the other two, and the tone of the script seemed aimed at younger readers. Not only does Gonzales offer something new with this comic book, he maintains a diverse tone throughout the book itself. Randy: It's probably more fun for the readers when Don and I bicker, but in this case, I'm going to have to sound off in agreement once again. Gonzales has the elements of a real success story here, combining unique subject material with true artistic talent. His work reminds me in places of Terry Moore and Carla Speed McNeil in its detail, sense of humor and expressiveness, and I also found that his style on the opening tale held some truly impressive depictions of animals. Don: Visually, Gonzales's strongest piece in Cherokee was the opening tale, "How the World Was Made." All of the characters are animals, and he captures their forms quite well. There's a more magical and iconic approach to the art for this piece. The artist has also developed a nice cover and simple book design in which to package his work. Randy: In the back of the book, editor J.C. Vaughn mentions that these stories are but the tip of the iceberg, and it's easy to believe. Gonzales has got something special in Cherokee, and with any luck, we'll be seeing a lot more of it in days to come. Don: What's really entertaining about this book is how easy it is to find elements of one's own beliefs and myths in that of another culture. There's a rich, soothing aspect to these stories that Gonzales has chosen to adapt. In a society in which many people's knowledge of aboriginal North American culture is gleaned from episodes of The X-Files and Northern Exposure, Tales of the Cherokee is a welcome and needed resource.