Before it became a comic book, Wolff and Byrd: Counselors of the Macabre ran as a comic strip in a prestigious law journal as well as several small publications in the North East. This book collects some of those storylines that were published in the mid-80s. Cringe in fear of the possessed moppet that terrorizing Long Island! Shriek in terror at the thought of unraveling 1000 years of Arthurian Legend copyright law! Be amazed at the smug lawyer who developed the world's largest brain! Wonder at the CHUDs that live in Manhattan’s sewers, desperate for free legal advice!
This is classic B- movie fodder, folks… and I love it! But these were some rough stories.
Though this book doesn't contain the very first Wolff and Byrd strips, it appears that creator Barton Lash still had some kinks to work out before finally hitting upon that magic formula that made Supernatural Law one of my favorite Indy comics of all-time. The art is rough, but that is mostly due to Lash having to squeeze so much into a tiny 3- panel strip. However, Mavis does look quite right, Wolff's sister is unrecognizable, and what's going on with Byrd's hair?
The stories are missing something as well. For the most part, Lash's later works are brilliant satires and wry parodies. In this volume, I don't think he could decide yet whether to be serious and scary or go full on tongue-in-cheek. But by the last third of the book, when you get to the Beauty and the Beast TV Show parody, something clicks and it's like Barton Lash has finally discovered his alchemical formula for comics gold!
You know a lot of classic TV series have early episodes that for one reason or another don't seem quite right for one reason or another and experienced some growing pains. The first season of Newhart wasn't surreal enough. MASH tried to be too much like the movie version at first. And speaking of Growing Pains, that series didn't take off until it stopped focusing on Alan Thicke as the lead role and on the kids and their silly adventures instead.
It's one reason why I still give this book a high mark. The process of evolution for the Counselors of the Macabre was more enjoyable than some of the early stories. George Washington didn't wake up and was suddenly the Father of Our Country. It took time filled with victories and defeats.
Our society is so willing to pooh-pooh something that doesn't work right off the bat. Biggest case in point lately is the Batman V Superman movie. I think the Justice League sequels will dwarf the quality of this year's blockbuster. But it needs time and that's what Batton Lash needed to get this project off the ground.
Worth Consuming
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
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