Okay, let’s be honest… when someone hands me an anthology of independent stories that was self-published, I smile politely but I am usually not enthused. Self-published independents for me are usually like buffet lines, occasionally really good, sometimes really bad… but usually just so-so. Well, while at the Motor City Con, I was handed copies of Comics Obscura vol #1 and 2, a collection of illustrated short stories, illustrated and written by a group of students from Lansing Community College in Michigan. It has taken me a while to focus my attention on these issues for exactly the same reason I am highly likely to hem and haw when attempting to decide whether or not to go to the local Ponderosa steakhouse… I don’t want to waste my time on might be a really bad experience.

I am delighted to say that Comics Obscura was much more real steak than it was crappy macaroni salad. While some of the art lacked and some of the continuing stories and characters I just couldn’t quite get into (Penny the Pissed off Penguin didn’t do much for me), the majority of the content was palatable and straight out intriguing if not just pretty darn good. Two of the stories that stood out to me as great yarns waiting to be read were “Internal Essence” (written and illustrated by Avandrea – for whatever reason had the same feel to me as Elfquest) and “the Tao of Snarky: Private Eye” (written by DeMaago and illustrated by Jacot – a well paced sci-fi detective story). While their site seems like it is still in transition, you can get a look here. And here is an interview I found with Jay Jascot, one of the writers / creators / illustrators. While you have to sift through some garbage in these volumes, it will be worth your time and money to do to find the gems hidden within. Also, I am absolutely enthralled with Kurt Spatrisano’s cover for Volume 2. I am hoping to get a pic of that up for you guys soon.

 

Series Grade: B+