Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Price: $29.95
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 1-56389-779-2

BIZARRO COMICS is perhaps on paper one of the best ideas that DC has come up with in recent years. Take a selection of respected indie creators (several of whom have worked for them before or are working for them now) and give them free rein with the DCU. Then release it as a hardcover that die-hard fans will buy regardless of the price.

But is it any good? Will it still appeal to fans of the indie press while drawing in new readers? Will it stay true to the characters, or will it be a Vertigo style remake of the concepts? These were all questions that ran through my mind when I first heard of the project.

The book consists of 26 individual stories by various creators, bookended by a two-part story by Chris Duffy and Stephan DeStefano, running to 240 pages in total. The bookend story serves a link between all the stories, giving them a purpose while setting the tone for the book.

The bookend story is entitled 'Bizarre Wars', and features Mr Mxyzptlk and the titular Bizarro in a 75 page tale centring on the fifth dimension, with perhaps the best use of Mr Mxyzptlk since Alan Grant's one shot several years ago. The first chapter also features double-page spreads by Gregory Benton, John Kerschbaum and Gilbert Hernandez.

In between the two bookends are the stories that form the real reason why people were so excited by this book. Most of the stories are by creators who would normally never be associated with superheroes, and feature some teams that are perhaps a little unexpected.

The majority of the stories are humorous, generally involving a different style of humour than is traditionally found in the mainstream DC books, but never anything offensive. This makes this book suitable for all ages, and its unconventional representations of superheroes make it a useful introduction to alternative comics. It would be the ideal book to give to 14 -15 year olds who are starting to tire of superheroes and wish to branch out into non-mainstream books, especially with the biography section at the back of the book, which provides information about the creators, including upcoming projects and noteworthy works.

The first story of note is the Eisner award-winning 'Letitia Learner: Superman's Babysitter' by Kyle Baker. Originally published in the ELSEWORLDS 80-PAGE GIANT, it was responsible for getting that special pulped, and is reprinted here for the first time. It isn't quite as controversial as it was made out to be. While still an enjoyable read, it doesn't really have anything that warrants pulping in it.

Evan Dorkin contributes writing or art no less than six times, the most memorable occasion being the 'Solomon Grundy: Bored on a Monday' story with D'Israeli, which is a fun piece, only 2 pages long, that really makes the reader smile.

Several other creators turn up more than once, especially in the writing department. Many of the writer-artists illustrate a piece for another writer, write a piece for another artist, or both. This adds nicely to the book by not providing what is necessarily expected of the creators.

Some of the creators involved are critically acclaimed, award winning underground self-publishing types who appear to have been lured in by the prospect of being given carte blanche, whereas others have worked for DC in the past and appear for that reason. A good example of this is Eddie Campbell's 'Who erased the Eraser?' with Hunt Emerson, which captures the feel of the Batman TV series, while also giving it a good comedy twist.

'Supergirl and Mary Marvel in "The Club House of Solitude"' by Dylan Horrocks and Jessica Abel showcases two impressive up and coming creators, and provides both with additional exposure. 'GL Corps: The Few, The Proud' By Will Pfeiffer and Jill Thompson showcases a team that have worked together before, in DC Vertigo's FINALS, and again since, in the pages of X-MEN UNLIMITED, and they make a great team.

One of the best stories is 'Bats out of Heck' by Ellen Forney and Ariel Bordeaux, both little known in the world of mainstream comics. The story itself is a tale of childhood innocence that resonates well.

Other standout stories include 'Aquaman in "Porcine Panic"' by Andy Merrill and Jason Little, which features a very different take on superheroes, and 'The J'onn J'onzz Celebrity Roast', by Evan Dorkin and Carol Lay, which is a very witty one pager.

Sadly the book is not without its faults. The format is reminiscent of the old British BEANO annuals, something that US audiences probably wouldn't notice, but was off putting if you had ever read any as a child. The bookend story seems a little extravagant at 75 pages; the book could have sold without it, and may then have been cheaper and could thus have attracted more readers.

The design of the book is superb, but I would question the use of Matt Groening as cover artist. Not because of his art, which is excellent, but because he doesn't qualify as an alternative cartoonist. As the creator of THE SIMPSONS, he has actually defined a lot of cartoon styles over the past decade, making him strictly mainstream.

Overall this is a nice package that will appeal to fans of alternative comics. Unfortunately the high price point will have put a lot of potential readers off, which is a shame, as the book does genuinely showcase some of the best underground creators in the industry, unlike many other books that claim to do the same.

Bizarro Comics lives up to expectations, with only the few minor grumbles, which is a pleasant surprise. This book is highly recommended for anyone that wants to try new creators out, and for people who just want something different. And if you're the sort of reader that turns their nose up at the thought of superhero titles, then this may be the one time to ignore your instincts.

Lawrence Rider is the author of REAL LIVES.

This article is Ideological Freeware. The author grants permission for its reproduction and redistribution by private individuals on condition that the author and source of the article are clearly shown, no charge is made, and the whole article is reproduced intact, including this notice.