Life In Four Colors: Book Review
IFX #8 FEATURING MR. MASH UP
Anyway...my apologies to all involved. I hope the wait is well worth it and thank each and everyone of you for you patience in the matter. I'm playing catch up now and this review is the one that is the latest of the three...so let's get the ball rolling, shall we? The book is the brainchild of the Hamtramck Idea Men (H!M)...a close knit creative think tank that always pushes the limits of creativity with their original and unique brand of storytelling and this latest effort is no exception and follows suit with the type of stories I expect to read from these guys. This latest issue of the book focuses on Love....amidst the strange trappings of dimensional travel, inter-galactic war and even demonic rituals. All the things you actually expect to find in an issue of IFX. And with names like Ozzy and Byrne in the book's credits how can it not grab your attention. It most certainly grabbed mine. Before we go much further I need to point out that these guys are not the Ozzy and Byrne you may be thinking of....but it doesn't really matter. I'm sure the other two guys would like this book just as much as I did and as much as you will as well. Johnson, the same guy they gave of the incredible tale of Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman spins a new tale about Arin Zahne...the product of a demonic father and an alien goddess. Zahne, also known as Mr. Mash Up has been labeled the "Black Sheep" of his family despite his albino appearance. Perhaps the thing that earns him any respect at all is an interesting mutant ability that comes in very handy when encircled by Screemer warriors. Staying true to the connecting theme of the book the strongest aspect of the story is the fact that although "Mr. Mash Up" gets little love form the inner most members of his family and fellow Defenders of the Faith...he seems to have won the undying affection of a dimensional traveler who has also fallen in love with a planet called Earth. This charismatic adventurer, Delfi Matrix, attempts to lure Mr. Mash Up away from his own home dimension and the senseless war with the Screemers, not to mention his ungrateful family, and tempts him to follow her to this far away planet. The story ends with the question of will Arin and Delfi indeed head for Earth. All indications are that they will and this leads to quite a few possible future stories. The book also contains a story appropriately titled "Deal with The Devil" written by Josh Brown and illustrated by Nick Mueller. Another twisted tale of the darker side of love as we see just how far one man will go to retrieve his wife from the land of the dead...and the very depths of Hell. Josh writes a very good story embellished nicely by Mueller's artwork, but it is a tale I can't really share too many details without giving away crucial elements of the story itself. The title is foreboding enough...when a man comes to the conclusion that the only way to get what he wants is to force the Prince of Lies into a pact against his will....I think you can sense where this thing is going. Nothing good comes of it. Just think "One More Day" but played backwards on your turn table. The most amazing thing about the book....not only do these guys go against the grain when it comes to creating their stories...they do the same when it comes to pricing the book. They stare the growling recession beast right in the eyes and slap it in the face with a book filled cover to cover with amazing story and art that only cost the reader two hundred and ninety-nine pennies. Want a copy for yourself? No dealing with the Devil is necessary....just hit this website. Look for them April 18th & 19th at S.P.A.C.E! Bill Gladman - Bill is a writer and illustrator and currently working on several different projects including the first issue of an ongoing comic book series (Prodigy), an illustrated fantasy novel (The Book of Noheim), and the first of four illustrated science fiction/fantasy novels (Jack the Rabbit, Living Legend of the Purple Plains) as well as a light-hearted on going mini-comic (Three Wise Men). Bill also pens a column for Comic Related and will be doing a mix of regional convention coverage.
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