Pistolwhip: The Yellow Menace
134 pgs.
#14.95
From Top Shelf
Written by Jason Hall
Drawn by Matt Kindt
Sold in comics shops and at www.topshelfcomix.com

My mama told me that if I couldn't say a Kindt word (sorry, I couldn't resist) about someone, I should say nothing at all. But since I do have to write this column...

Pistolwhip is about an actor in the late '40s or early '50s (it is hard to tell) who becomes the superhero he pre-tends to be on the radio, a man who wants to censor comic books, and a gumshoe detective called "Pistolwhip". Throw in a couple of hot babes. They are all entangled in mystery and a supervillain named "The Yellow Menace". Sounds like a fun premise, doesn't it?

Add to the plot several special sections imitating old comic books, pulp magazines, and advertising, and this graphic novel is bound to be a winner.

Well...

Matt Kindt's art is doodle.

That isn't an insult. It is an art style. But if you don't like the art on, say, Peanuts, the comic strip, you won't like the doodles on Pistolwhip: The Yellow Menace. Sure, the tech-niques of visual storytelling are fine, but style means personal taste, and some readers will find Kindt's work less than palatable. Why?

Pistolwhip is film noir on paper without the gritty, shadow-drenched atmosphere that is film noir.

Noir (sorry again) is the writing all that suspenseful, the plot that twisted and devious, or the ending surprising.

Sorry mom.

MINIVIEW: Castle: The Man of Cinder-Blocks [Quarter Bin Comics] You can waste your money of a slick comics package with junk inside, our try a fanzine with excellent art, plot, characterization and dialog.

Castle is a stone man who looks like a chess piece and fights like a superhero. This adventure is drenched in style and humor and deserves a slick package. Until it finds a publisher, you can buy your copy by e-mailing rocksgraphic@hotmail.com.

Michael Vance

Any statements made, expressed or implied are solely those of columnists or persons interviewed and do not represent the editorial position of the administration, who does not accept responsibility of such statements. All characters and artwork shown are trademark and © of their respective owners.