You Should Be Reading: Vic Boone

Posted: February 7th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , | No Comments »
"Vic Boone: Malfunction Murder," art by Geoffo

“Vic Boone: Malfunction Murder,” art by Geoffo

 

Vic Boone is everything I miss about comics.

For a while now, I’ve found myself — let’s say, “disillusioned” — with the books coming from the Big Two. It’s not as if DC and Marvel aren’t producing some good comics, or even books I’m interested in. But for some reason (all the “universe-changing” events, reboots, crossovers, deaths and resurrections, with none of the fun, maybe?) I just can’t seem to get excited about any of it. And I’ve got to admit, I was beginning to think I was burned out on comics altogether.

Luckily, it also seems to be high times for the small press and independent publishers, and Vic Boone is one title at the top of the list.

Or actually, it’s a book that should be at the top of the list. Criminally, the title has been largely overlooked by the comic-reading crowd, in spite of being named an IGN Editor’s Choice, a Best of 2011 and a winner of Stumptown Comic Fest’s Reader’s Choice Award. Those are accolades creator and writer Shawn Aldridge — along with artists including Geoffo, Jeff Winstead, and Jason Copland (of Kill All Monsters) — has earned the hard way; by being that good. Vic Boone is crazy in the best sense of the word, melting down crime noir, science fiction and smart, tough-guy banter and rebuilding it into something that powers smoothly down a road of its own making.

At once familiar but original enough to seem new, Vic Boone is a private detective making his way through a retro-futuristic world filled with dangerous dames, human flies, robot bartenders, gorilla security guards and shadowy men with bad intent. Aldridge’s tight script-writing keeps things moving, developing the plot and dropping clues for the reader without feeling rushed or shallow. He also has a well-practiced ear for dialogue — the character of Boone could easily be smarmy or grating, but instead comes across as a classically charming rogue with a troubled history masked behind bravado and wisecracks. The art varies with the artist, but is generally well-suited to the tone of the comic or a particular story. For example, Geoffo — the artist for Vic Boone: Malfunction Murder — has a cartoony but expressive style that highlights the humor hinted at in the script without losing any of the necessary brawniness. The line work looks simple at first glance, but delivers weight and detail.

Do yourself a favor and read the first issue of Vic Boone: Malfunction Murder for free right here, and then buy the first and second issues from 215Ink. You can even read the Vic Boone: Sea of Trouble short released for Free Comic Book Day 2012 and boggle at Copland’s fantastic Tentacle-Eye Monster, which is a thing of beauty. Go on — support a great series, and support independent comics!


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