Young Liars #16
Cancellation sucks
Young Liars, already one of the best reads on the racks, kinda outdid itself this month with #16. This month's story is a stand-alone issue—really its first, given that complex and circuitous continuity of the title—and introduced a few new characters who, according to writer/artist David Lapham, may have made a much more substantive impact on the central cast of the title were it not for the comic's upcoming and desperately untimely cancellation. The issue itself reminded me a bit of Transmetropolitan #8, regarded by many fans as the best individual issue of the series in spite of its arguably negligible impact on the long-term story of the title, as it revolved around fourth-tier character Mary the Revival. Young Liars #16 is similar, following the life of a redneck family from Freedom, Arizona, the town that would later become Browning. This issue reveals a little bit about Loreli's past and leaves a lot open to interpretation, but is notable in the sense that—despite an inflated sense of importance and obvious social problems—Lapham told us last month that Ronald, the hayseed who narrates this issue, is actually telling the truth. Comic Related caught up with Lapham for a few quick questions about the issue.
Comic Related: First off-I think "population 897″ might be close to the same size as most of those Wal-Mart towns in Arkansas. I have friends who went to college out there.
David Lapham: Well, tell them to get ready for the $2.99 meal deal.
CR: I love the line, "I'm sure she would say something if I started dating a relative." I think the need to say it alone implies that it might not be true.
DL: I think it's true. I think it just speaks to the mentality of life in a painfully small place. There's just a lot that has to be tolerated. Anything short of murder or extreme habitual violence is going to be dealt with privately or ignored. If Ronald's mom had a couple boyfriends that got out of hand, what's she going to do? Make a stink? The trailer girl? It's only going to upset a lot of people and ultimately come back on her. Not much sense in staying miserable about it either.
CR: Have you lived around a reservation? The "international" joke is the kind of thing I hear from my ex-girlfriend who works at a casino.
DL: No. I'm just a genius.
CR: I'm also a big fan of the name-dropping in that "menu" panel. "Sandwich artist," "Standard Attrition." What's Mort's Dream? And is Moonbeam a Vaneta reference? heh.
DL: There's something about the whole issue which is kind of a Standard Attrition "thang" the other references are just a secret code to my Soviet handlers.
CR: So is there an intimation here that "Joanie" has been a plant with our merry band (heh-get it? Band?) all along, whether she knew it or not? Seems odd that someone from Freedom might just HAPPEN to hook up with Loreli.
DL: That's one of those things that we may or may never find out. This story came in before the "cancellation". I loved it so much and felt it was so strong it could stand on its own. And it does provide backstory. But there are definitely elements of how these characters fold into the main story that will probably be left untold.
CR: Is Freedom/Browning one of the elements that inspired Sparta, USA?
DL: Well, Sparta came first. But it's one of the things I like to do, create an insular town "in the middle of nowhere". I did it in Stray Bullets, too. It's a great way for me to create my own world that's broad yet still manageable. Plus I can get nutty with things.
CR: So is our man here a threat? Manager of the sporting goods department has access to some firearms...!
DL: We may never know, but I would say, you can't trust the guy with a SANDWICH! Firearms?...fishing tackle? I'd get out of Dodge.
CR: It's interesting that, because of our perspective on Loreli as readers, it seems unlikely for her to ruin this guy's life...but if HIS conspiracy doesn't hold water, does that suggest anything for our "usual" narrator?
DL: Ronald's story is a personal one and suggests a lot of confusion and sadness for him. As far as Loreli though, she has the unseen power of a billion dollar empire behind her. Whether true or not—or if she's aware or not—that empire could destroy him in an instant. I think, though, and the point of the story here, is that Ronald is just ground under the oblivious wheels of progress.
Want to talk to David?
Visit him at
STANDARD ATTRITION
jasonaaron.org/index.php
Russell Burlingame / Comic Related Columnist
Russell Burlingame is a journalist and columnist living and working in New York City. In high school, Russell interviewed Elliot S. Maggin for a review of the Kingdom Come novelization, and since then has worked consistently in and around the comics industry. He interned for Wizard magazine, and has freelanced for Wizard and Newsarama, in addition to a number of non-comics publications, Russell is currently working on a graphic novel based on Cap'n Internet, the comic strip that ran in his college newspaper; and a graphic biography of folk singer Phil Ochs with artist Marion Vitus.
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