Review: Dead @ 17, The complete first series
So, I’m not getting any work done tonight, I’m not in an unbeligerant mood, what will I do? I’ll start with the bad.
Josh Howard’s opening oeuvre in the comic world is good, but, I’m afraid that he doesn’t go as far as he should. He’s writing a story with religious connotations, nay, religious assertions, and he doesn’t break new ground or say anything controversial. He creates a subsystem, claiming to be contrary to the established mainstream, yet never deviating significantly from’t. I am disappointed.
That said, the writing’s solid enough (I’m more than a little worried that my first professional publication (ha ha ha, that was a little joke there) won’t be this seamless) for an artist’s early work (Miller aside that’s high praise). He has an unquestionably sensitive ear for teenage relationship drama, and there’s a good dribbling of sentimentality all around the bits that need it.
The art is great, though. I have a hard time conceiving of a world where this guy couldn’t get a pro assignment before this. Seriously. It’s the cream of the post-manga-American-style. We’re talking Chynna Clugston shit here. It’s sweet. For serious. Do you believe me yet?
Anyway, the shit that matters: There’s a bit of religious intrigue. There’s jailbait. There’s zombies (fuck yes, the zombies). There’s gun play. It’s worth your fucking money, kids.
Also, I’d like to apologize for copping out and just sticking in Wikipedia links. I am so very tired.
[EDIT] I feel it bears mentioning, and should the things I’ve been working on recently come to print it will become obvious, I feel strongly about people writing about religion.