Broken Frontier

J. Chris Campbell has one of the most unique voices in modern alternative comics and this one-man anthology drives that point home.

Three shorter stories accompany AAttic Bugs@ to make up the first issue of Zig Zag. AAttic Bugs,@ which takes up the majority of the book centers on the trippy adventures of two bugs from an unknown plane to a movie theater to a foiled car-jacking. The other stories center on jokes about everything from questionable hiring policies to the tons of paperwork required for doctors.

As I=ve read various anthologies over the past few years, I always made sure that I read the stories by J. Chris Campbell as soon as I could. In this collection of short stories, Campbell does not disappoint in the slightest. Readers, myself including, may take some time to wrap their heads around the first story, but it is nonetheless intriguing and morbidly funny. After a one-page joke which is not hilarious by any means but worth reading, AAttic Bugs@ begins. The entire, incredibly bizarre story kept me thoroughly entertained through small jokes and apparently random story elements that eventually tie together. Anyone who enjoys a random style of humor would do well to check out this story (which continues in the second issue of Zig Zag). The final story, meanwhile, is pure satiric fun.

As much as I enjoy J. Chris Campbell=s one-of-a-kind stories, his art makes him truly stand out. His art is extremely stylized and totally unique. This book does a fine job of showing his art off, too, especially in the color sections. It was smart of AdHouse to include some color sections here, because Campbell=s great color sense makes his work absolutely stunning in full color. The two-color sections to be found here are no less appealing, though. Throughout the book, Campbell shows off an effective storytelling sense and great character design work. The opening two-page spread is a thing of absolute beauty and the cover truly makes the book jump out on the stands. Campbell=s art style may take some getting used to for fans of traditional comic art, but with an open mind, everyone should come to love it.

J. Chris Campbell=s short stories are just as appealing grouped together as they are in anthologies, and it pleases me that he is planning on tackling a more extended story in AAttic Bugs.@ AdHouse finds the good stuff once again: J. Chris Campbell=s Zig Zag truly shines out from the drab super-hero comics on today=s comic racks.

-Eliot Johnson