Life In Four Colors Review
The Ineffables #1-3 by Craig Bogart
A little background about me. I love comic books. Been collecting them, reading them, drawing them, and writing them for decades now. Bought my first book when I was seven and I am working my way to over 8,000 books now. I am also working my way to becoming 43 in less than a year.
I think it's safe to say I will be collecting comics until the day I die. But recently, one gloomy afternoon while trying to work my way past the towering and almost menacing stacks of long boxes in my office/studio in hopes of finding a certain c.d I was looking for, I realized I either needed a larger office/studio or I just may have to get rid of some of these comics.
That thought really scared me and then a second realization dawned on me. Although I'm still not sure if I want to go that route I came to the conclusion as I started to flip through some of the long boxes in question it may not be as hard as I had originally thought if I wanted to thin out the herd. I was startled by the amount of comics that I own that I can absolutely, not even for the life of me, could not recall the most simple detail pertaining to the story.
I have a great memory, Really. But if I can't remember if I liked a book or hated a book....have no recollection of what the book was even about and I know I have read it at least one time before, that's just sad. Those books need to be weeded out.
One book, or actually one series that I won't have any problems remembering what I read is The Ineffables. I thought this comic series was just amazing! That is what I have read of it so far has been amazing.
You see just a few short weekends ago a really cool friend of mine (I won't say his name but his initials are Jef Price) was feeling sorry for me because I couldn't make it to Mid-Ohio Con this year so he picked up a couple of indy books he thought I might like and had them signed for me.
Just to make me feel like I was a part of the show after all. That's the kind of guy he is. Something about The Ineffables by writer/artist Craig Bogart made Jef think to himself....you know I think Bill would like that....and he picked up issues #1-3.
He was right on the money.
Man I'm telling you this stuff is wildly imaginative and really intelligent. Add in that subtle humor and an unique cast of characters and I'm hooked. The first issue introduces the reader to Mason, leader of the Ineffables. For years he lay dormant on Easter Island, his body buried beneath the surface of the Earth and just his huge stone ahead above ground. One day he just stands up and teleports to Mystery City....a city he was been secretly observing for centuries.
(Just for the record Mason is not one of the Stone Men of Saturn that once fought Thor and most of the time he seems to only have two fingers on each hand.)
We also meet regular cast members Chet Burnett ( a fringe reporter with a couple of secrets he's not even aware that he is keeping) and Clarity (who is actually a living piece of museum art).
That's how this book rolls.
It has hints of the Perhapanauts by Todd Dezago and Craig Rousseau. And Bogart's art actually reminds me a little of good friend John Wilson's work on the recently ended Monkeys Make The Worse Friends web comic on the Comic Related site. So right away I'm already feeling good about this book....or books as I found myself reading all three issues back to back in one sitting.
By the end of issue #1 I found myself loving the character Mason as he and Chet learn that the Mayor of Mystery City is very close to taking over the entire planet and the two of them must come up with a course of action.
Issue #2 finds Mason and Chet attempting to save all mankind from the threat of super science domination by creating a new religion that worships Elvis.
I kid you not. As crazy as that sounds....Bogart makes it all make sense, makes it work, and makes you laugh all at the same time. Intelligent comics that entertain you...what a brilliant idea.
Issue #3 Mason and Chet are joined in the field by Clarity as the team confronts a cemetery full of ghost robots powered by what else, dead batteries. I love this guy! Afterwards they discover the origin of the ghost robots is actually a super computer which refuses to accept new ideas.
Not going to tell you where they think to safest place to hide this thing is. All that PLUS we learn that the Zero Lab of their Mystery City headquarters actually shares the same space as several other comic books and you won't believe you drops by for a brief cameo appearance.
I'm not telling and neither should you.
After reading these three books I wanted to find out more about this series and checked out the Ineffables website to see what else Mr. Bogart had to offer and I was floored to discover that there were several more Ineffables books available. Including a trade paperback that features Abe Lincoln!!!! Yeah that Abe Lincoln who evidentially faked his own death so he could keep the Confederate Army from discovering the Fountain of Youth and ends up joining the team.
Here's the website in case you would like to check it out on your own accord.
http://www.theineffables.com/id1.html
Bogart describes the book as political science fiction. I describe it as a must have. A book that once added to any collection you will not have any trouble recalling the next time you run across it....if you're like me your response will be something along the lines of....Ineffables #2...I remember that book! It rocked!!
What are you waiting for? Don't keep your enquiring mind in the dark.
Bill Gladman - Bill is a writer and illustrator and currently working on several different projects including the first issue of an ongoing comic book series (Prodigy), an illustrated fantasy novel (The Book of Noheim), and the first of four illustrated science fiction/fantasy novels (Jack the Rabbit, Living Legend of the Purple Plains) as well as a light-hearted on going mini-comic (Three Wise Men). Bill also pens a column for Comic Related and will be doing a mix of regional convention coverage.
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