Text & Art by David Mack
SUMMARY:
Published under Marvel’s Icon Comics imprint for January 2007, this issue is entitled “Connecting the Dots.” The inside cover cites ten quotes, nine of which are attributed to readily-recognizable names. Told from its female protagonist’s point-of-view, Kabuki’s peculiar narrative includes describing a bizarre dream and breaking the ‘fourth wall’ to peer beyond the art paper she is drawn on.
Experimenting with a varying series of images and techniques – some in colors, most are in black-and-white (among them, actual household photography; sketches on graph paper; and cubism), the protagonist’s internal conversation is poetically rendered. The black-and-white final page is left romantically ambiguous.
REVIEW:
Lacking prior familiarity with the Kabuki series, this puzzling issue won’t be dismissed as pretentious and incomprehensible arthouse babble. Yet, writer-artist David Mack’s narrative doesn’t help newbies translate his storytelling. Even analyzing this comic’s letter-and-answers column doesn’t provide any helpful insights or clarification re: interpreting Mack’s creative style, either. Quite frankly, multiple reads just to hazard a critical opinion might not even do this unique comic sufficient justice. On that score, the mystifying Kabuki: The Alchemy # 8 is geared strictly for the character’s hardcore fans.
Mack’s visual expertise is hard to describe, in terms of the eye-popping magic he achieves on paper (i.e. the terrific cover image). In nearly forty years of reading comics, this reviewer hasn’t witnessed such intricately-designed and utterly original artwork. Mack’s complex imagery alone merits a full 10-star salute.
His repetitive use of cubism, for instance, is impressive, especially when these three-dimensional cubes open up to reveal what’s inside. Regardless of Mack’s artistic intentions, it’s still a baffling experience grasping Kabuki’s literally unfolding narrative, let alone what direction her imaginative deep-thought process is next taking. If anything, this comic is worth adding to any comic collection, if only for its sheer visual ingenuity.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The seven-page “Tear Drops” column includes news & notes; six photos (one features actress Rosario Dawson); lots of gushing fan letters; and a catalog of David Mack-related products. The back cover’s upper right corner has an exquisite black-and-white ‘Kabuki’ sketch by art student Marita Natsuumi.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
Note: This comic’s rating is really a ‘best guess,’ as three stars are deducted from its perfect score for not providing some means of creative translation.
