Imagine, if you will, that the staffs of DC's Vertigo imprint and Marvel's Marvel Knights line were given Heavy Metal or Metal Hurlant and told to mold it so it would appeal to a broader American audience. Comiculture is the result. The magazine not only provides a diverse array of stories in unconventional genres, but celebrates comics -- from the big publishers and small alike -- and pop culture in general. Comiculture is clearly a labor of love for a number of creators who often work out of the limelight in many titles thousands of fans enjoy each month.
The most striking aspect of this issue are the two radically different features provided by Steve Buccellato, the top dog in this little operation. The gritty metahuman crime drama of Joey Berserk boasts a style that more than a little reminiscent of Eduardo (100 Bullets) Risso's work, while his super-hero/pop-culture farce, Croak Monsieur, is far more cartoony and silly in tone, a la Ben Edlund's Tick. Not only does this magazine provide diversity in storytelling, but we get to see diversity in just one creator's work.
There's a great mix of mainstream styles and storytelling and more oddball, indy-spirit comic art as well. There's a remarkable balance in the material here, and it means that any reader -- be he a fan of mainstream comics, small-press slice-of-life stuff or someone who's new to comics altogether -- will find something about Comiculture to really enjoy.
This issue boasts quite a few ongoing stories, and I was surprised and pleased to discover just how accessible they were despite the short, episodic nature of the mag. The Joey Berserk story reads like the first chapter of the tale, not the second, and it was quite easy to delve into the Western world of Gunpowder Girl and the Outlaw Squaw.
I was particularly pleased to see interviews with and spotlights on lesser known -- but hugely talented -- comics creators like Kerry (Halo & Sprocket) Callen and Leela (Subway Series) Corman. Buccellato and company are trying to do something unconventional in the world of comics, and they respect others who do the same but in their own unique way. The writers and editors behind this magazine could probably get easy interview access to more popular talents in the industry, but they choose to shine the spotlight on creators with small audiences but tremendous and unique voices.
I hope more people do the same for the Comiculture crew themselves.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
