Michael Vance   Mark Allen   Michael Vance Books
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Levitating nuns? Frogs hatching from meteorites? People attacked on the streets by wild, supernatural animals? What's happening in Mega-City One? It's the job of Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson to answer that question in a graphic novel entitled Anderson Psi Division: Shamballa.

For those not familiar with the character, Cassandra Anderson comes to readers from the cast of 2000 AD Books' Judge Dredd mythos. It's not a body of work with which I'm overly familiar, but I'm glad I took the time to get to know this particular piece of it.

Written by Alan Grant, Shamballa combines science fiction, high adventure and horror to produce a story as chilling as it is exciting to read. Grant's well-paced storytelling keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. His characterization also hits home, especially where the main character is concerned.

Cassandra seeks to cope with the death of people close to her, a task made all the more difficult considering the tendency of her telepathic abilities to deepen those relationships. Add to these personal struggles the madness going on around her and Anderson becomes an almost classic tragic figure.

As superior as Grant's work is, however, Shamballa is made all the more impressive by the work of artist Arthur Ranson. Ranson has a photorealistic style that is one of the best ever seen in comics or graphic novels. In my opinion, the gentleman's attention to detail, which incorporates very fine line work and amazing textures, can be classified as second-to-none, if such a classification exists. If it doesn't, it should be created just for him.

If there is a drawback to Shamballa, it is that those unfamiliar with the world of Judge Dredd will not have any background on the characters. It's a small fault, however, and won't distract from the story much, if at all.

Anderson Psi Division: Shamballa is highly recommended. Find it at comics shops and online auctions or retailers. Anderson Psi Division: Shamballa, published in 1991 by 2000 AD Books, 64 pages, $8.95.

Review by Mark Allen

In an age of knights and dragons, when humankind is commonly terrorized by reptilian nightmares on leathery wings, a boy receives a sword; a sword which will lead him on his path to becoming a man and a knight, himself. In short, for those who enjoy great fantasy, Armorquest is for you.

Writer Ben Avery infuses his characters with rich three-dimensional qualities. None more so than Timothy, the main character of the book, a young man bitter over his father's death and eager to avenge it on the dragons. Equally interesting, though very limited in appearance, is the "shepherd" who gives Timothy his first glimpse into the amazing nature of the sword. Oops! There I go, giving more away. Let it suffice to say that if you want to bring readers back again and again, give them interesting characters with believable motivations and a little mystery. Avery does so quite well.

Then, of course, there's the art of Sherwin Schwartzrock. Drama. Emotion. Evocative imagery. All of that and more awaits those who have yet to feast their eyes on his work. His wonderful grasp of character expression lends a great deal of realism to the tale. Again, it's always good to help readers feel what the character feels. That, coupled with his ample (and appropriate, considering the subject matter) use of blacks, adding depth and a slight sense of the macabre to the artwork, helps make this one of the finest graphic novels I've seen this year. In fact, the cover itself is a gripping testament to Schwartzrock's talent, and is the main reason I stopped and picked it up, rather than moving on to one of the many more mundane choices on the racks.

Yep, Armorquest is where it's at, folks. And, in case you haven't already guessed, it's highly recommended. And, get this: it's recommended for all ages! Find it at comics shops, at www.communitycomics.com, and at online auctions. Armorquest: Genesis Volume 1, published by Cross Culture Entertainment, 72 pages, $7.99.

Review by Mark Allen

The South has risen again, ya'll, in one of those rare anomalies, a comic strip that is actually funny. Kudzu is not about the South Bronx or even South America; it concerns the folks of the American South.

And Kudzu is now just minimally about Kudzu, a young Southern boy. Reverend Will B. Dunn has won the popularity war within the tiny, bordered kingdom of Bypass, North Carolina (a stone's throw from Mayberry and Andy Griffith), and left the strip's namesake in the dust.

This volume samples the first ten years of the popular comic strip and its nutty cast: a morbidly obese Caucasian who wants desperately to be black, a cheerleader refining the art of gold- digging, the ultimate 'bubba', and, of course, the right Reverend himself. All are a broad parody and satire of the nuances that characterize the South as imagined by anyone not living in it.

Cartoonist Doug Marlette also has a substantial knowledge as well as a healthy suspicion of religion. With Will B. Dunn as his spokesman, Marlette explores the world of the televangelist with his tongue firmly in cheek, and the result is a rare, insightful humor.Marlette does it all with a minimalistic style of art that distances a reader enough from reality to make the often distasteful downright funny.

Underneath all of the insight, humor, and skepticism about religion, lies a real compassion for his subjects. What ultimately makes Kudzu so wonderful is that you will find bits and pieces of yourself in its characters. And, in those rare moments of complete self-honesty, you will admit you are most interested in...you.

Even White Boys is highly recommended.

Even White Boys Get The Blues/186 pgs., Times Books/available from store-front & online books stores, www.dougmarlette.com and on-line auctions.

Review by Michael Vance

Alex falls asleep to awaken to adventure in his dreams! This classic theme (possibly the origin of all storytelling) is explored in The Dreamland Chronicles: Book One, a massive volume closer in style to Peter Pan than The Lord of the Rings.

In Dreamland, Alex battles a Cyclops, wields a magic sword, and travels through imaginary realms with a rock giant, a fairy, and a Princess. Only Alex’s twin brother believes this Dreamland is real.

The storytelling, both through words and pictures, is entertaining and flawless, but it is Scott Sava’s art that is unique in comics, and stunning. It is computer generated, looks almost three-dimensional, and is guaranteed to glue the attention of readers of all ages to every page.

In fact, the art is so riveting that it initially distracts from the story.

It is a distraction that quickly vanishes into a world of awe and wonder and fun, which, frankly, should be the result of almost every comic book.

The Dreamland Chronicles wins the highest possible recommendation for readers of all ages. The Dreamland Chronicles: Book One/285 pgs. and $19.95 from Blue Dream/art and story by Scott Christian Sava/available in comics shops and bookstores and at www.thedreamlandchronicles.com.

Review by Michael Vance

Fifty pages of new material have been added to an earlier published collection of adventure stories by Jack London. In his day, he was the most popular writer in America, and is best remembered for fiction that pits man and beast against nature.

These stories are well adapted, but their impact is sometimes weakened by non-climatic endings (London’s fault) and very cartoonish (i.e. minimalistic) art that dilutes the illusion of reality.

This volume is recommended for Jack London fans. Graphic Classics: Jack London/$11.95, 144 pgs., Eureka Productions/various artists and writers/sold in bookstores, at www.graphicclassics.com, and comic book shops.

Review by Michael Vance