What Should Be On Your Shelf #50

I have decided to create a new segment here on Comic Makers called "What Should Be On Your Shelf!" Yeah I’m not happy with the title either but just go with me here. I know you, my fellow geeks and nothing gets you more rock hard than showing off your bookshelf to your jealous fan boy friends. Well that and William Shatner singing "Rocket Man!"



But hey who wouldn't?

Today I'm featuring the "Local" a hardcover from Oni Press first published in 2008.



Here's the skinny, written by Brian Wood and illustrated by Ryan Kelly, the series follows Megan a modern day hipster nomad from her teens to her late 20's as she travels around the country trying to find herself. What she is running from and what she is trying to find is slowly revealed as you read her adventures. When we think about indie comics there are no better examples than Local. What I find amazing about this book, is that not only is it beautifully drawn but you find yourself really connecting with a fictional character. Wood is an impressive writer because he finds a way to make us fall in love with a character, who when it comes down to it, is a very flawed human being. She tricks people, abandons her lovers, runs away from her family and even when the stories don’t revolved around her, her presence is felt. I'm sure I am not the first to bow to Woods abilities as a writer but I have to say "Local" is a feather in his cap and now on your shelf.



But wait lets take a minute to worship Ryan Kelly’s artistic abilities here for a minute. Because not only will you notice the staggering detail this man puts into every panel but, you may find yourself recognizing the settings Megan encounters. This is because Kelly and Wood partnered with artists from those cities to get sketches and/or photos of their neighborhood to be drawn in the book. Kelly is definitely an artist to keep an eye on, and hopefully we may see him work on more mainstream work, although you will see allot of his work being featured in DC’s Vertigo line.

Now your probably asking yourself, "Dave why should I put such a gigantic hardcover on my shelf, can’t I use this space for my Essential New Warriors trade?" My answer is first you are a sad, sad man and second think of how smart and hip you will look to have such a beautiful piece of art on your shelf. Not to mention chicks dig giant graphic novels, its like Spanish fly or so I hear, I myself have not seen a woman since 1989.

Local can appeal to a large market of comic fandom. If your strictly in the capes and tights section of comic store “Local” is definitely a nice way to explore the independent comic market. If your already into the Indie scene then Local will appeal to those sensibilities. And best of all if you or someone you know has never read comics then this is a great comic to get your feet wet. With a impressive page count of 376 and a retail price of 29.99 Local is a steal.