Yes, I'm talking about Local again

Ryan Kelly posted a painting which will become the cover of Local #11.

click to embiggen


Now you know what to look for. And knowing is half the battle.

Local #9 - Oni Press (2007)

I can't say enough good things about this series. If you've been reading Noetic Concordance very much you've experienced the gushing. In fact, you can just read what I wrote about issue #8 for more information on the series.

Each issue stands on it's own but there is an overarching narrative featuring Megan who is my favorite character in comics right now. Issue #9 is the best (so far) of an excellent series. We learn more about Megan's childhood and we get some insight as to why she's in a different city every year. This issue is about coping with the death of someone close to you and it's told and drawn deftly.

Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly are teaming up to tell this gripping story and with this issue they really nail it. Each panel moves the story along at exactly the right pace and carries great emotional impact. I have enjoyed Wood and Kelly's work separately on such titles as DMZ and Lucifer but they are a dream team for a story like this.

Issue #10 is going to follow Megan's brother and how he copes with the events of issue #9. It looks like it's going to be a lot darker than Megan's version.

I can't wait.

Think Global, Read Local

Ryan Kelly posts this cool picture of Megan from Local as a reminder that issue #9 is coming out tomorrow.

Moore. Local. Heroes.

Melinda Perry Gebbie married Alan Moore. Neil Gaiman took some pictures. Yes, it's every bit as weird as you'd think.

Heroes is getting a spinoff! Hell, yeah!

You know when you go into your favorite comic shop on Wednesday? This is the cover of one of the books you should buy:

Sneak Preview of Local #11

Ryan Kelly gives us a sneak preview of issue #11 of Local. Local is my favorite non-superhero comic. It's in my top-ten list of comics of any kind. The writing and art are superb and I'll be sad to see it go with Issue 12.

Here's a sketch of a character known as "The Artist". No foolin' this time.

Local #8 - Oni (2007)

Looking for a non-superhero comic? Local may be the one for you. It sure is for me. The series follows Megan, a sort of indie everywoman, as she moves from city to city. She was 18 in the first issue and each subsequent story moves forward about a year so the final issue (#12) will wrap up when she's 30. Megan is truly dynamic. She is not only in a different city each issue she is a different person. We watch her grow and change and while the process is bumpy at times it's an enjoyable ride.

There are no superpowers or supernatural elements, here. Megan runs into the same situations the reader might. She makes mistakes, she sometimes learns from them and things don't always get wrapped up neatly. The issues have been presented in various manners. One of them juxtaposed a letter from Megan to her cousin with that cousin's daily life. This issue finds Megan waitressing in Chicago. She's 26 now and starting to grow out of a lot of the behaviors of her youth. Both the writer, Brian Wood, and the artist, Ryan Kelly, refer to this issue as a "Love Story" (quotes included) and it certainly is that. It's not a romantic comedy. In fact, it's almost not romantic at all and that is a refreshing change from the Official Hollywood Version.

The interiors are black-and-white which gives it a Cinéma Vérité feel. It's as if we're getting to see more than was intended which adds an extra thrill to the stories. The back issues should still be around and since each story is self-contained it doesn't really matter where you start. It's nice to see Megan's progression from place to place but the chronology is not vital to enjoyment of the series.

I'll be sad to see this one end and I'd like to see Wood and Kelly team up again.