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James Kochalka Reviews
May, 1997
Factsheet 5 #61
Comix Reviews
By
Chris Becker
This issue is a bit of a diversion for James. He's created a tiny planet populated by robot versions of people he knew from his childhood. Into this modern Stepford village he places himself, seemingly cognizant of the true nature of his surroundings, yet ignoring the reality at the same time. It's a quiet, slow paced story that is sometimes brutal in its depiction of childhood's amusements, especially regarding insect life. In one scene, James tortures an ant after it escapes him. "I'll give you a little pinch to cripple you." Then after mercilessly butchering another one, he says "I feel kind of weird about this now." Because the story is given in such a matter of fact way, it's both unsettling and funny. In the conclusion, his mechanical world is destroyed, leaving a bewildering ending where James is alone kissing this blobby creature. Stepping outside this fantasy, he addresses the reader directly, making us aware of our own hate-filled hypocritical epithets against our fellow man. He could have just written his story in a straightforward (and dull) manner, but by weaving it into such an elaborate setting it becomes much more intriguing and worthy of thought.
Magic Boy
and the Word of God
Magic Boy returns in this full-length tale of heaven and hell.
He's constantly caught between an inscrutable, omnipotent god and the
machinations of the devil. On a strictly visual level the story could
be considered comedic. Just as Jim Woodring utilizes cartoonish elements
to tell a sometimes brutal tale, Kochalka's simplified and cute artwork
carries a much darker story. When Speg the girl-elf has her soul taken
to hell, Magic Boy devises an elaborate plot to revive her. Kochalka has
been active in comics (and music) for years, but if you have yet to check
him out, you are missing one of the most promising names in the field
today.
Images, characters and likenesses © and TM James Kochalka