Catching up and cracking up with THE AUTEUR

By pghhead -

 

THE AUTEUR #3  (Oni Press, May 2014)  THE AUTEUR #4  (Oni Press, June 18 2014 release date)  Written by Rick Spears.  Illustrated by James Callahan.  Colored by Luigi Anderson.  Lettered by Sick Rears.  www.onipress.com 

   The madcap parody of Hollywood (and to a lesser degree. modern society) that is THE AUTEUR continues in sarcastic fashion with Issues #3 and #4, leading up to the Issue #5 conclusion of the first story arc (more, perhaps?  . . . Please?) entitled “President’s Day”  (not in honor of the holiday, but the name of director/producer Nathan RexAuteur 3’s latest exploitation movie).   As with previous issues, this is intended for mature adult audiences (just the ones that read comics, mind you) and comes with the contents page disclaimer: “The shocking scenes you are about to see are not suggested for the weak or immature.:”  (Who’s left after that?) 

       Writer Rick Spears is sick, in a good way.  The script he brings up and spews out is like a breath of fresh air to those readers used to more semi-serious but still fantastic fare.  THE AUTEUR is grounded in reality (no super-heroics here) but it’s a reality as shocking as the real world can be  - - as long as it’s viewed through hazily tinted shades hiding bloodshot, hallucinogenic eyes.  Not since Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas has there been a tale as paranoid, weird and wacky as THE AUTEUR.  The art team of Callahan and Anderson is a perfect choice to illustrate and color this frantic fable.  The style will remind of classic MAD magazine (when it was an EC comic) and the wonderfully creative Little Annie Fannie  (a parody of Little Orphan Annie that ran for many years in PLAYBOY magazine).

       Having served as self-appointed defense for a serial killer in Issue #2, desperate producer Nathan Rex hires the bloody murderer as a special consultant to the “President’s Day” film.  In Issue #3, crazed killer Darwin decides to stand in for the actor wearing the President Lincoln mask and costume and takes method acting far too seriously.    Prior to this the opening pages feature an audition for the female lead portrayed in titillating fashion.  True to form (this is an exploitation flick, after all), it’s an audition of breasts (panel after panel, oh my).  

The Auteur #4_Page_01

    After the action scene becomes too raw and realistic, Nathan takes Darwin aside and gives him some pointers : “No more killing the cast!  If you must, keep it to critics, and agents, and anyone in development.”  A disappointed Darwin makes a side trip to the beach and takes out his frustration on a school of sharks. (Hard to tell the difference between them and Hollywood agents, I suppose). 

   Here’s another funny line / sequence:  Nathan then gets his sights on the attractive woman (Madame Coconut) that  he spotted (and dreamed about) from Issue #1.  As he tries to recruit her to replace the leading lady (and also charm her into sleeping with him) he introduces himself: “Nathan Rex.  I’m in pictures.”  The response:  “Coconut.  I fall from The Auteur #4_Page_07trees.” 

         Despite the developer’s keen interest in the film after viewing the dailies with new director Rex, Nathan has a change of heart and decides to turn “President’s Day” into a modern romance.  He attempts to transform the script based on his own lust-filled desires and motivations.  Of course, nothing can describe his heartfelt emotions like a great on-screen explosion.  (He’s also hoping that at the appropriate moment, this could be meant to seem like the earth just moved for the object of his affections.) However, there is a bit too much in the stunt, and the earth actually moves.

  How he will overcome this latest setback to the production is anybody’s guess.  The answers (and surprises, I’m sure) await us in the forthcoming last chapter in Issue #5. 

In addition to a great story and art, the covers to THE AUTEUR have been very expressive.  Both Issue #3 and #4 pay homage to the classic chest –burster from the ALIEN  films.  If you can’t be bothered to pick this up monthly, at least pick up the eventual trade paperback!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robert Kirkman: Invincible, Walking Dead, Wolf-Man

By -
Image
I wasn't actually a huge fan of Robert Kirkman when I first started reading his books.  He was competent, sure, but I didn't see the appeal-- The Irredeemable Ant-Man was a boring side story in the middle of  Civil War and  The Initiative (although I've since changed my mind about this), and his  Ultimate X-Men run was, in many places, a mixed bag (although I did very much enjoy his "Phoenix?" storyline).  And  Marvel Zombies  just seemed like a ridiculous idea--not that I bothered to try it at the time. Now, though?  I've completely reevaluated my opinion on his work, and when his name is attached to a project, I'm far more likely to give it a look.  I don't know if I'd classify him as a master storyteller or a comics icon--but he's very skilled, he has an incredible knack for dialog, and he writes stories that, no matter how ridiculous, seem real .  In a medium where characters frequently violate the rules of physics, that's not alway...
Read more

INDIE COMICS: Huffin’ & puffin’ B.B. Wolf’s got the blues

By pghhead -
Image
BB WOLF AND THE THREE LPs  (Top Shelf, May 2010 hardcover, black & white, 86 pages,   $12.95)  As told by JD Arnold with illustrations by Richard Koslowski What got my attention immediately was the pairing up of a classic fairy tale with musical motifs.  That’s a combination that pushes two of my “hot buttons” - -  so I made it a must-read.  I was not disappointed.  This is a very entertaining and cleverly designed work that rivals Bill Willingham’s  creativity on the long-running FABLES series from Vertigo. As if taking the classic tale of the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs and turning it upside down wasn’t enough to interest, BB WOLF AND THE THREE LPS  serves as an allegory for the oppression of  the black population in the deep South (Mississippi) in the 1920’s.  While they may be free (wolves),  the governing bodies (pigs) have the power to deny them their land, homes and possessions and even own the...
Read more

more random readings from May 2009

By pghhead -
Image
What else did I finish reading last month?  Here’s a cross-section of various titles . . . . . . . . . WITCHBLADE #126 “War Of The Witchblade Part 2” by Ron Marz and Stejepan Sejic  (Top Cow/Image) Preface:  Now here’s an interesting concept! = In order to attract new readers to its’ titles Top Cow is giving out free books each month as part of it’s Let Us Win You Over project.  ( www.topcow.com/freecomics )  Every month it’s a different title. And they work through different comics shops each month as well.  In April the title was Witchblade #126 and one of the participating dealers was Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, DE (my preferred supplier) so voila! - - - I find a copy in my hands. Since the last time I explored the Witchblade series the mythology has expanded to a battle between the forces of light and dark with each side choosing its agents on Earth, hence the Darkness vs. the Witchblade.  I’m still not overly interested in this typ...
Read more