Boneyard

Boneyard is a new, quarterly comic book series that whips a dash of chills into a dollop of ha-ha just waiting for an audience hungry for adventure with a touch of different. That, at least, is what the publisher's press release promises.

Lo and behold and glory hallelujah, sometimes promises are kept.

The proof, of course, is in the plotting.

Michael Paris's grandfather died and left young Michael's plot in Raven Hollow, a town under a cloud of mystery and deceit. Sunlight ends where the city limits of Raven Hollow begin, and Michael's plot thickens as he is greeted by a mob bearing signs like "Undead Go Home!" and ""Just Say No To Evil".

No, Michael has not inherited a Nancy Reagan anti-drug campaign, silly. He has inherited a haunted cemetery that the Ravenites want destroyed, willy-nilly.

Why they wish it razed is best answered by why they wish it razed. Among the graveyard's outlandish eyesores is a female Creature From The Black Lavatory, a gigantic bulldog with horns and wings, a cigar-smoking skeleton, or a six-eyed centipede -or- something in sunglasses. But wouldn't you know that Michael's answer must come from the most frightening of the lot...a hot babe in tight, black leotards.

The additional required proof, of course, is also in the pencils (and inks, and visual and verbal timing, characterization, and dialog).

Wouldn't you know that the readers' answer on whether Boneyard is worth buying must come from the most hideous of any lot...the cartoonist. I mean, is this guy good, or what?

Cartoonist Richard Moore is good, and what a joy it is that this first 4 issue story arc sets the stage for intriguing characters who will fall into different and new plots for quite some time to come.

Therefore, my brother, let it be known that Boneyard is recommended for readers of all ages.

Boneyard #1/$2.95 22 pgs. from NBM Publishing/art and story by Richard Moore/sold in comic shops, by mail and at http://www.nbmpublishing.com/.

Review by Michael Vance