Reviewer: Mathan Erhardt
Story Title: Comedy & Tragedy: Comedy
Written by: Brian K Vaughan
Penciled by: Paul Chadwick
Inked by: Jose Marzan Jr
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Colored by: Pamela Rambo
Editor: Will Dennis
Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics.
The issue opens with a very dramatic confrontation between a couple of pirates. It’s swashbuckling action complete with fencing and all. But, it turns out just to be the Fish & Bicycle Traveling Theater Troupe rehearsing for a show. Without electricity, artists have joined together to put on traveling shows for the country. This troupe just so happens to be in Northlake Nebraska, and the town den mother stops by to make a request; the town wants to find out what happened on their favorite soap opera.
That night, Cayce, the director, attempted to make what they planned on performing more relevant. Henrietta, an actor, then pops in for a chat. Suddenly they hear a scream. As they investigate, they find Manda, a child traveling with the troupe, and Edie, another actor. Manda claims to have heard a monster, the one that killed the men. Edie offers another theory on the plague. But, it turns out that the sound is coming from a familiar looking monkey. After discovering the monkey is a male, Cayce decides to write a play about the last male on Earth. Oh yeah, there is a weird ninja looking character lurking outside their tent.
This is Vaughan’s baby. It is a testament to the concept of the series that we can have an issue that features (potentially) none of the characters that we are used to, and still be a compelling read. It is also a testament to Vaughan’s writing ability. He has fun writing about the differences between art and entertainment. Since none of the main characters appear, this issue is more lighthearted than most, hence the story title.
Usually guest artists mean a jarring change of tone. But, Chadwick does an amazing job of keeping the tone set by Pia Guerra. Series inker Jose Marzan Jr. no doubt adds to the consistency of the look and book. The characters all look sufficiently distinct, and the den mother looks like she stepped out of the 1960’s, pearls and all. Of course, if you want distinct, the cover features an ape doing Shakespeare (which I haven’t seen since I picked up my DC Direct Gorilla Grodd figure).
