Writer/Artist: Mario Gully
Publisher: Arcana Studios
Mario Gully has blown me away! His comic, Ant #2 is better than Ant #1 and I LOVED the first issue! Mario is building an incredibly interesting and complex narrative filled with real world characters. This creator does not pull punches when it comes to his creations; they have HORRIBLE lives, but persevere in the hope that tomorrow will be a better day!
If you missed the first issue, here’s my review of Ant #1. Take a moment to read it (or better yet, buy the soon-to-be available Second Printing of Ant #1. It’s worth it!)
I like Mario’s art. I like his pacing. I like his ideas. I like his views on superheroes as escapist entertainment. I like his characters. I like his comic.
And most of all, I like him.
Now, I’ve never met Mario and I’ve only spoken with him briefly over a message board once. But that does not make a difference. Mario Gully has put a good deal of himself into this comic and his work shows a great depth to his personal character. I get this impression from the handful of interviews I’ve read with him and also from his ‘The Last Word’ (an essay by Mario in the back of issue #2) where he reveals something important, how he conceived of Ant. Now, most ideas that hit creators come during a quiet moment on the john. Honestly, you’re alone and your letting your mind wander because thinking about the task at hand is… well, gross. So, as an example of the genius of an idea, you’re thinking about flying to another planet… that’s being plagued by tax auditors and ice cream that ruins when it gets too cold… the character, Willy, arrives to find God is in the details of this world that tells us so much about ourselves! (This is an awful idea that I just made up. Oy vey).
However, Mario didn’t just crap out the idea for Ant. Let me put the significance of these words into context. Ant is the story of Hanna Washington, a little girl trying to escape the realities of a bad life. Dad’s wanted for murder. Mom’s a striper. Hanna has no friends. And in order to escape this dismal right now, Hanna writes and fantasizes about growing up to be a misunderstood superhero who does not have to put up with anyone’s shit. It’s a bizarre power fantasy with a twist…
ANT DOES EXIST!
How this meshes with Mario’s creation of Ant is simpler than it may appear. Mario Gully was convicted of robbery years ago. He served his prison term. During those years Mario hit on Ant, this character that has the power to escape from Mario’s messed up life to do something worthwhile.
And if you allow me to read even more into this - Symbolically, Hanna represents Mario’s good nature as he tries to escape the from his out of control life. And the character Ant signifies this physical comic book, publishing this comic represents Mario’s escape from his wayward ways to something better.
I realize I’m interpreting a great deal from 54-pages of story (over two issues) and 1 page of confessional text, but I feel this series is Mario’s memoirs and it has some serious power. Does it have problems, yes, but they are barely noticeable when compared to the message that he delivers through Ant!
Ultimately I see Ant as one of the best stories available today! Give it a shot!
If you want more on Arcana’s Ant, try www.ArcanaStudio.com.
For more information about Egg, click HERE.
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