Postcards from the Ledge (No. 7)

By Robert Murray

Hi, everybody (insert Dr. Nick voice here)! Welcome to this special edition of “Postcards from the Ledge,” the column that asks the question, “What’s the skinny on Vertigo comics?” Since there are five Wednesdays this month (one of my favorite occurrences as a comic book fan), this week’s show is a wild card, meaning I can do whatever I want. Ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, wait, I can do that every week...

Anyway, I’m going to introduce or reacquaint you to many of the comic creators out there who have never worked on a Vertigo product before. It’s (Drum roll, please!) my Vertigo wish list! You didn’t think I only read Vertigo titles, did you? Oh, silly, silly fan...

Before we get into my rant, I want to inform you of some sad news I heard about this past week. I have learned from Staple Pop’s interview with inker John Lucas (and confirmed with other sources) that Exterminators will end with Issue #30, due in stores late May. Wow, this came as a shock for me, since this is one Vertigo comic I read immediately after buying it at my local LCS (along with Fables and Y: The Last Man). Granted, the sales were never that great, but it’s still one of the funniest books in comics. The details are still a little scarce right now, but never fear, faithful readers: “Postcards from the Ledge” will keep you up to date on this story as it develops in the coming weeks.

Now, here are the Vertigo Trends of the Week:

Naked Dudes: No, no, don’t switch to another web page! All three of the issues this week have naked guys getting beat down or (ahem) hit on. Well, Agent Kilcrop is only half naked, but still... Un-Men has a chainsaw cage match, Scalped features Dash disemboweling a particularly uncooperative criminal, and Exterminators shows AJ getting it on with King Tut(!) in the afterlife. Okay...

Tales of Death: Also, all three titles feature stories that revolve around the death of someone close to the main character. Exterminators #25 explains what happened to AJ after his untimely death, Un-Men #6 involves the apparent death of Kilcrop’s brother and father, and Scalped #13 begins the “Dead Mothers” arc with the discovery of Gina Bad Horse’s body.

Silent Panels: Finally, there was a strong tendency to include scenes in this week’s issues with no word balloons or captions. Un-Men started quietly enough, as did Scalped (including a moving three page conclusion featuring no words or sounds). Exterminators, a title not known for silence, features AJ’s escape from the afterlife in silent fashion, including a Tut-bird crashing into a stone wall. You’ll have to read this issue to understand...

Even though the holidays are officially over, I think I can still give you a list of what I want, namely the creators I would like to see writing or drawing for Vertigo who have never done so before. Now, I could go on forever about creators I love, but I have limited myself to ten creators who would be a nice fit for the style of comics Vertigo produces right now. Sure, I could have included Nicholas Gurewitch or Renee French on this list, but they don’t share a lot of the characteristics common in current Vertigo writers and artists. So, without further ado, here are the ten creators I would like to see wearing the Vertigo pin soon. They do get a pin, right?


Paul Azaceta: This talented artist has been a delightful find for me, handling the penciling chores for Boom Studio’s Talent and Potter’s Field. Now, he is the artist for the newest BPRD mini-series for Dark Horse, 1946. His style is very realistic and expression heavy, which would work exceptionally well with the kind of dramatic intensity that many Vertigo titles possess.


David Hine: A comic book writer with a lot of range, which is always an asset. I first got hooked on his work reading the excellent series District X, and I’ve followed his stuff ever since. He single-handedly revitalized Spawn after years of stagnation, has written a quality manga tale (Poison Candy), and penned one of the best Daredevil stories in my memory (Redemption). He has the kind of versatility that would serve Vertigo well.


Kazuo Koike: Speaking of manga, here is my favorite manga writer. He has produced the classic Lone Wolf and Cub, Crying Freeman, Samurai Executioner, and Lady Snowblood. Plus, he has American comic book experience, writing for X-Men Unlimited #50. Koike is no stranger to blood, violence, and sex, so he would fit in ably with the more mature stories that Vertigo produces.


Dwayne McDuffie: Yes, this is the same writer who produced the animated shows Static Shock and Justice League Unlimited. And the same guy who currently writes Justice League of America and the Fantastic Four. Why would I want such a mainstream guy writing for Vertigo? Because he has great dialogue skills, a terrific sense of humor (see Damage Control), and a respect for where comics can take readers.


Carla Speed McNeil: Oh, how do I love Finder? Let me count the ways: Great story, great art, great dialogue, great thoughtfulness...simply great! I know she worked on some minor work for a Transmetropolitan one-shot, but this is one talented artist who needs the much wider appreciation that Vertigo can offer.


Arvid Nelson: Rex Mundi is one of the finest conceived stories in comic books today, and it’s conception is due to the fantastic imagination of this man. His perfect combination of 1930s alternate history with a quest for the Holy Grail has created a comic book that is always intriguing, issue after issue. It’s so good, I could easily include artist Juan Ferreyra on this list as well.


Alex Robinson: What more can you say about this fantastic creator, the brains and pen behind Box Office Poison and Tricked? He has won an Eisner, gained the respect of many creators in the comic book community, and has independent comic fans waiting breathlessly for every project he produces. A master of graphic dramatic intensity.


Dan Slott: Right now, Dan Slott is kinda on my poo poo list for what he’s doing with the Amazing Spider-Man (Of course, I can blame the editors instead like any good comic book critic). But, one thing I can’t deny is that this guy knows how to write, period. Arkham Asylum: Living Hell was a great mini-series that really should have been a Vertigo book, and don’t even get me started on how excellent She-Hulk was before Peter David took over.


Fred Van Lente: Like Dwayne McDuffie, Van Lente has done a lot of “kids stuff” over his career, but his fine sense of humor could make for some excellent mature titles with Vertigo. I’m liking the direction he is taking the Incredible Herc, I absolutely love the Gonick-esque charm of Action Philosophers, and his Fantastic Four & Power Pack mini-series is more fun than I want to admit. Oops!


Aaron Williams: I have been touting PS238 in many of my reviews for SBC, and I will continue to do so as long as Aaron Williams is at the reins. He has taken the mythology of super-heroes and satirized this in such a way as to create something utterly unique. This is no fluke, since he has done the same thing with RPGs (Nodwick and Full Frontal Nerdity) and video games (the soon to be released Crispy Gamer). Oh, and did I mention this guy is a hell of an illustrator to boot?

Honorable Mention: Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze), Jeff Smith (Bone), Sean Wang (Runners), Joss Whedon (Now, what does he write again?), Walt Simonson (Thor), Matt Fraction (Casanova), and Peter Bergting (Portent).

How do you think I did? That bad, huh? Let me know your thoughts, as well as the millions of creators I left off this list, at murber74@cox.net. Next week, the train is back on schedule as we have an interview with a prominent Vertigo creator. I can’t tell you who that creator is, but you’ll be interested in what he has to say. Oh no, I’ve said too much! See you next week!

Thanks for reading!