Comixtribe 2015
And then Emily was Gone
Written by John Lees
Illustrated by Iain Laurie
Coloured by Megan Wilson
Oxymoron
Written & Lettered by Tyler James
Illustrated by Alex Cormack
Coloured by Jules Rivera
Normally i’m not a huge fan of the interior artwork that Iain does, it’s a style that I for whatever reason just find myself appreciating. Yet I found myself captivated by this short story as we meet Billy McTaggart. There’s something inherently creepy about how Iain was able to make this world of his so that as John’s story unfolds you see he’s either the victim of something evil or that he’s crackers. He’s got parents who can seem a little harsh and what his mother says to him yeah that can be a powerful thing to a kid.
So what happens in this little story is a great set-up for what’s to come next and involving Emily, at least hopefully. His parents think he ran away but from what we see he’s taken by this thing that comes for him and dag nabbit son this is some of the creepy ass stuff that as children would keep us awake in the dark thinking we were being visited by monsters but none so crazy monstrous as what we see.
This is just dark enough to be on the verge of creating new nightmares and ever increasingly interesting to keep you coming back repeatedly for more. Bizarre and wonderful this is the future of horror.
Oxymoron has become one of my favorite characters the way that Tyler writes him and Alex brings him to life he’s just perfect. Forget the Joker who keeps getting weirder and darker this guy is the real deal psychopath who can’t help but contradict himself constantly. Oh the introduction of Master Time with his old school villanry look, much akin to like Clock King has jumped up and I want more of him, go into the past get a story done with him and his arch-nemesis because this is what fun looks like.
So this would normally be the beginning of a first issue so it’s kind of important to read to go into the future Oxymororn mini-series. Plus Tyler is a sick twisted man who can actually make potty humor not seem the basest of humor as he aptly demonstrates here. Oxy has stolen Ananke, the last living chrono-fairy from Melvin, Master Time. Which coincidentally explains how he was able to be successful. There meeting sets up what’s to come next while getting Ananke’s quick recap history and getting to see her personality which shines through Alex’s work just as much as Tyler’s. She’s kind of rock n roll badass fairy and that’s a fresh new look.
While Oxy was the reason I picked this up the Emily feature will capture your attention as well and both books demonstrate why ComixTribe is a company you need to be reading and urging your local brick and mortar or subscription service to carry. Old school feel infused with modern mayhem make these worthy additions to your monthly reading!