SUPERNATURAL LAW #34
"The Strange Case of Mr. Negativity"
Recommended (7/10)
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Exhibit A Press
Writer/Artist: Batton Lash
Art assists: Trevor Nielsen
Editor: Jackie Estrada
Price: $2.50 US |
Last month's "Huberis the Dybbuk" story seemed to derail the book's ongoing subplots, and it was a pleasure to see them return here. But the core plot -- the one represented on the cover -- is what really caught my attention this time around. Lash strikes a chord for a simple reason, as he taps into a universal personality type as the catalyst for the story. In the process, he employs a character design and art approach that's seemingly simple, but visually impressive.
Jeff Byrd has a new client, Nagy D'Viti, whose short stint working in a new age store, combined with his own sour attitude, has transformed him into something that physically repels everyone and everything around him. Meanwhile, Alanna Wolff meets with a husband and wife whose lives have been marred forever (literally), and there are developments in the love lives of everyone who works at the firm.
In theory, Lash's presentation of a negative man should be fairly simple in a black-and-white comic book... just use ink where one wouldn't use ink for that one character. But the visual is so effective, so striking, that I can't help but think there must be something more to it. Maybe it's the eerie glow around Mr. Negativity that makes it so captivating, adding a greater sense of depth than one would usually see in this B&W comic book.
Lash's script has obviously been carefully crafted, as new readers will have no problem picking up on who the characters are and what's going on in their lives. Lash sums up the love triangle in Alanna's life with just a couple of quick scenes, and I love that Jeff Byrd's everyman quality as a lawyer has wound its way into his humdrum social life as well. I found the real-estate subplot to be a nice touch as well; what could be more down-to-earth than a pair of successful lawyers considering buying their office building?
The greatest strength of this story is Mr. Negativity, and not because of the strong visual element the character brings to the book. No, it's because everyone has someone like him in their circle of friends... a guy who's a real downer, but that you just can't help but like and call a friend all the same. That universal quality accompanying dialogue really brought me into this unusual story.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
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