Episode 104 - Reviews of The Rise of Aurora West, Escapo, and Eyesight

This week on The Comics Alternative, the Two Guys with PhDs (who talk about comics) start off with a veritable love-fest of Paul Pope comics. They begin by looking at two recent titles, The Rise of Aurora West (First Second) and Escapo (Z2 Comics). The first, co-written with J.T. Petty and with art by David Rubín, is a follow up to last year's Battling Boy, although it is not a sequel to that earlier narrative, but a prequel. Here we are introduced to the exploits of the daughter, and young apprentice, of the adventuresome Haggard West. We see Aurora's early development, the origins of Acropolis' monster problem, and the full extent of Haggard's crime-fighting acumen. All of this is presented in Rubín's action-soaked black-and-white illustrations that, while distinct from Pope's style, reads as a visual relative to the earlier Battling Boy. Next, Derek and Andy discuss Escapo, stories and art that were originally created between 1996 and 1998 -- early Paul Pope, reminiscent of what you'll find in One Trick Rip-Off + Deep Cuts -- but now is presented in a beautiful hardbound edition in the tradition of the French bande dessinée format. The two stories that make up the core of the book surround the adventures of Vic, a young circus performer who is a modern-day Houdini, able to escape from any trap that is laid out for him, no matter how elaborate. In this way, and much like Aurora West, Vic is an adventure hero. The book includes sketches, other bonus material, and Escapo-related pin-up work from a variety of illustrators. The art is given new life through the efforts of Shay Plummer, whose vibrant colors complement the daredevil tone of Pope's story. The guys then go in an entirely different -- and more humorously disturbing -- direction with a comic that is completely new to them. Eyesight, written by Callum MacKenzie and drawn by Alex Hood, is a self-published minicomic that displays the entire DIY effect. Andy and Derek discuss issues #1-3, and they're not sure if they should laugh out loud, stand in bewilderment, or run away in unmitigated terror. This has to be one of the creepiest comics the guys have read lately. But it's a good kind of creepy, the kind that has you coming back for more...after you've cleaned your britches. And it's definitely a work Derek and Andy think their listeners should run out and get. In fact, you can support the creators by visiting their website, http://eyesightcomix.com, and getting your copy of Eyesight.