Boneyard #5
By Richard Moore
Published by NBM Publishing
Here's one that almost got away.
I bought this issue on the advice of Jevon at Electric City Comics in Schenectady, New York. He knows I write online comics reviews, but has never before steered me toward a title specifically for me to review it. Knowing that he has good taste in comics, and being of a mind to expand my horizons, I plopped down the $2.95 (oh, all right, plus probably forty bucks for other stuff, honey...I'm sorry! I can't help myself!) and brought home Boneyard #5.
A week or so later, I noticed I hadn't reviewed it yet. Then I began to wonder why, and realized I hadn't even read it yet. This is very unlike me. And I hate mysteries, believe me.
Moving some stuff at home over the weekend, I discovered the book down behind my bedside stand, rudely bent in half (despite its bag and board) and mocking me with its clever ability to avoid a timely review.
Well, it might not be timely, but here's my review:
Boneyard #5 was sold to me as a good jumping-on point, the beginning of a new story arc. In the way of all intellegent comics, the inside front cover features an introductory paragraph that brings new readers up to date on what has gone before. We learn Michael Paris has inherited a graveyard inhabited by monesters, but that the true evil lies with the townspeople, especially the Mayor, Satan.
This relatively quiet issue finds Michael being persecuted by the IRS and dealing with an unwelcome roommate, as well as the romantic advances of a sexy fish-woman. It's light reading, but very appealing, and with an attractive art-style that seems heavily indebted to animation techniques. I would have liked to see more of Michael's relationship with Abbey, a beautiful woman who has befriended our hero and is also a vampire.
I liked the lead character, Michael. His plight is funny and unique, and Moore is an inventive creator who paces the high-concept sitcom-like story well.
The sexual innuendo probably rules this out for younger readers, despite the artwork that would surely appeal to them. Boneyard is light, but not insubstantial, and if you're looking for a breezy and amusing read, it's worth checking out.