Two-in-One Review: Complex City Don and Randy stroll downtown, wandering the streets of Complex City. Don: One of the best things about doing this reviewing thing is getting the chance to check out lesser known books, little self-published efforts that show a lot of passion and imagination. Complex City fits the bill. Randy: JE Smith sent us the four black and white issues of Complex City that were published, along with a note that the trade paperback, which concludes the story begun in these issues, will be published very soon. After reading these issues, I find myself anticipating that collection. Complex City #s 1-4 published by Better Comics created, written & illustrated by J.E. Smith Don: Complex City is an aptly named town. It's not like your other burgs, see. The top cop in town is Bulldog Malone... again, aptly named, as he's a walking, talking dog with the attitude and smarts to get the job done. Mind you, he has his soft side too. And then there's the other folks in town, like the city's sole super-hero, Bulletproof, two competing scientific geniuses -- Dr. Martin Handsome and the pubescent Fidge Dextro -- and a frightening vigilante known simply as Crazy Quilt. Randy: Well, Bulletproof isn't the sole super-hero who shows up in the book, though, which actually gives rise to my favorite of the stories presented here. Comparisons have been made between Astro City and Complex City, and it's in issue three, with a date between two super-heroes, that I really saw where some of those comparisons came from. Smith does have the same "man on the street" approach to the book, bringing super-heroes (or anthropomorphic detectives) down to a level where us mere mortals can relate to them. Don: Complex City is a like a sister community to Kurt Busiek's Astro City... had it been envisioned by a creator like Steve (Astounding Space Thrills) Conley or Mike (Madman) Allred. It's primarily a super-hero book, really, but it touches on other genres as well, like sci-fi and fantasy. Randy: I'd throw crime in there as well, or at least the investigative aspects of it. Though the focus shifts a little in the third issue, for the most part our protagonist is Bulldog Malone, supercop. The fourth issue, the beginning of an investigation into the mysterious vigilante in town, is particularly strong in the area of digging into a mystery and seeking out clues, although the safecracking in the first issue sets up a plot that runs quietly through the background of the latter two issues as well. Don: Despite a few darker elements, the overall tone of the book is one of fun. There's a purity, an innocence, to the storytelling, but not simplicity. The dialogue flows well, and Smith manages to flesh out the characters -- especially Malone -- quickly and thoroughly. Just about everyone has a likable tone... even a villain like Max of Two Minds. Randy: Oh, yeah. As you say, there are dark elements there, including the homicidal tendencies of Crazy Quilt, but most of the villains are more goofy than truly dangerous. Max's fanboy tendencies toward his favorite children's author is a delightful bit of characterization, and Bad Penny, Bulletproof's Ex, comes across more as angry and jilted than truly disturbed. Don: The weakest aspect of the book is clear: the art. Mind you, Smith's visuals aren't poor, per se. His character designs are often a lot of fun. It's just that his linework needs a little more polish. He's hovering in a limbo between amateur artwork and professional quality, and Complex City will be that much stronger once Smith's refines that aspect of his craft a bit more... or perhaps he could consider bringing on another artistic partner. Randy: I won't argue too strenuously with you... the artwork could be better, but I honestly thought it served the book well, and I think Smith hits the storytelling aspects as much as he needs to. There was never a point where I thought the artwork detracted from the story, at least. Overall, I thought this was a great package, a book that too many people missed out on the first time, and hopefully it will find a more successful life in a trade paperback edition. For more information about Complex City and Better Comics, visit www.bettercomics.com. Email Randy and Don comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.