I've read surprisingly little Kabuki, the creator's seminal work. Most of my familiarity with Mack's work stems from his work-for-hire stuff for Marvel Comics, in Daredevil and Alias. I don't completely "get" Kabuki; there's a history and a context that's eluded me. But after reading The Ghost Play, I'm much more curious about it... not because I want to know more about the property and characters. It's because I want to re-enter this richly textured world of distorted perceptions and fragile humanity, to experience the emotion as opposed to the plotline.
A woman known to some as Kabuki lies in a hospital, her life hanging by a thread. She is a shattered thing, and her mind retreats from the agonizing reality (the least horrifying of which is her current predicament) and seeks out something comfortable and familiar and normal. In order to survive, though, that sense of normalcy repels while it soothes, and peace slips through her spiritual fingers once again.
That synopsis is my best guess at what this story is about. Mack introduces us to the title character's psyche through some stream-of-consciousness storytelling. Clarity is purposefully cast aside, leaving only feeling and atmosphere. The scrawled, child-like lettering conveys the title character's vulnerability and innocence, and the broken nature of the narrative voice paints a picture of a soul that's been broken. There's a desperation in the writing in the earlier scenes, in keeping with the dire tone that forces the character into herself.
The real strength of this book, though, is the art. Mack's use of multiple media is awe-inspiring, and one is instantly driven to compare his work here to that of Sandman cover artist Dave McKean. The use of photography also reminds one of the work of Stephen John Phillips and Steven Parke (I, Paparazzi). I'm most impressed that Mack is making this unusual piece of sequential art available in such an affordable format. This is the sort of thing one usually only sees in hardcover format or the like. The high grade of paper and clear eye for design make it work wonderfully in the traditional comic-book format, though.
The real purpose of this book seems to be to showcase the unique nature of Mack's creative approach in the industry. Not only does the main story spotlight it, but a reprinted interview in the back of the book offers some insight into Mack himself and the origins of Kabuki. This is an eye-opener of a comic book.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
