Spinner Rack: Our Cancer Year

 

 Our Cancer Year 

Originally Released: 1994

Written by Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner

Drawn by Frank Stack

Our Cancer Year documents indie comic writer Harvey Pekar's real-life struggle with lymphoma as well as the impact it had on his personal relationships. The book is co-written by Mr. Pekar's wife, Joyce Brabner, a co-star of the book.

This is the perfect example a comic book for people that don't read comic books. It showcases what they have to offer as a serious art form; a medium to be taken seriously. There are no super heroes, capes or cowls. Simply said, this is a real story told by a real person in comic book form.

 Our Cancer Year is probably one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. Sometimes it's painful and sometimes it's hilarious, but it's always interesting. This man, along with his wife, lay it all on the line for the benefit of  readers and that's awesome. The honest, rough edges make this book what it is.

Btw, for the uninitiated, if the name "Harvey Pekar" sounds remotely familiar, a movie based on his life (and parts of this book) was released in 2003. American Splendor, starring Paul Giamatti as Pekar, captures this guy's life, as told in his graphic novels, perfectly. I highly recommend it.

Spinner Rack: Adventure Comics #431

 

Adventure Comics #431 - "The Wrath of the Spectre"

 Originally released: February 1974

Written by Michael Fleisher 

Drawn by Jim Aparo 

A couple of years ago, at the suggestion of multiple comic book bloggers,  I was advised to check out Michael Fleisher's Adventure Comics run that centers on The Spectre (issues 431-440). When I heard it involved one of my favorite comic artists, the unbelievable Jim Aparo, I jumped on it.

This is easily one of the coolest, strangely grotesque and original stories I've enjoyed from 70's comics, which really excelled in bringing back horror comics with the relaxation of the Comics Code. Each issue features Jim Corrigan and his ghostly alter ego, The Spectre, coming into contact with and ultimately killing a bad guy or group of bad guys. It's got an excellent noir quality to it, but the real treat is seeing the unique ways Fleisher has The Spectre dispatch his odd foes. He melts them, cuts them in half with giant scissors, turns them to sand and lots of other gruesome methods.

The stories immediately reminded me of the Tales from the Crypt TV show, which was obviously itself originally a comic book. I believe Fleisher cited old horror comics as an inspiration.

And to say something about Jim Aparo's art: it's excellent, as always. Jim's artwork is among the most consistent I've seen in comics. Just like Jack Kirby, you know exactly whose working the pencil by just catching a quick glimpse of the pages. 

Jim continued to work on Adventure Comics doing the pencils for the Paul Levitz Aquaman stories, which includes the rather shocking death of Aquaman's baby at the hands of Black Manta (issue 452, I believe). That run treated Aquaman with respect (much like he has gotten since DC's "New 52" launch), which is the best way to handle the character. It's also really good stuff.