Review: Scrublands

Scrublands
Written and Drawn by Joe Daly
Published by Fantagraphics Books. $16.95

One of the best parts of the reviewing gig is to find a fresh new voice. South African cartoonist Daly is the latest, and this book seems like an audition, presenting a fascinating range of work and concerns that one hopes he'll continue to explore for years to come.

Daly's absurdist side is present in much of the stories and strips, from the Damaged Good strips that present childhood memories full of giant vegetables and carnage to the fractured comedy routines of uninhibited Kobosh and straight man Steve. Strange, plump creatures keep popping up in the stories, ripe for killing or mating, with artist Steve reappearing in the book as the bewildered analogue of Daly, the only normal guy in the book, a man of conscience who can't make sense of the world and needs a little weed now and then just to accept it.

The book's self-described centerpiece, "Prebaby," is either going to be the highlight or the biggest piece of filler for readers. It's a silent story that feels like a short animated film, a bizarre childbirth tale bursting with imagery that wraps fear, love and desire of women together in round, red landscapes and menacing fish. It's a powerful experiment that works on many levels. However, the preceding story, "Aqua Boy," has nearly the same impact in a shorter form and using blunt words rather than just images. Fantagraphics has found another big talent.