AudioShocker

First off, I have to send an apology out towards Brian John Mitchell. He always sends me his Silber Media mini-comics and I always take forever to review them. SORRY, BRIAN!

Anyway, apologies over -- now on with my completely unapologetic reviews!!!

Lost Kisses - My Life is Sad & Funny DVD

This is a collection of Brian's Lost Kisses mini-comic, a semi-autobiographical emotional journey that submerges the reader into the honest but often inappropriate ramblings of a heterosexual adult male.

Brian has transformed his unique mini-comics into videos, resulting in an even more unique format. This DVD collects first ten issues of the Lost Kisses series along with some extras. That's a lot of content, if you ask me!

The best part is the Making Of video included in the extras, where Brian experiments with a hybrid illustration / photo style. Seeing his stick figure counterpart narrate actual photos of himself making the comics is a pretty sweet experience.

Technically speaking, I hit a few snags, but I also played it using my TV's built-in DVD player, which rarely plays anything right. Point is, you're better off playing this DVD on your computer. That way you can be assured to avoid any technical problems.

Ultimate Lost Kisses #11

WHA? Dave Sim?? Yeah, it's true -- the one and only Mr. Sim did the art for this issue, which is a huge departure from Brian's usual stick figure drawings.

It's a for better or worse scenario in the sense that this isn't an issue of the Lost Kisses series I know and love. Instead, it comes from some sort of deranged alternate Lost Kisses universe where the past is both haunting and daunting (instead of overwhelming and mildly sad like it's been in the first ten issues).

The art and words of this issue are both intense, leaving me emotionally fascinated but also drained. All said, this is a gripping story with good art (just a few too many re-used images).

Worms #5

I don't "get" Worms. I never have. Brian's tale is cool in a creepy horror-action-thriller sort of way, but the format makes it hard for me to follow the plot clearly.

I like the art by Kimberlee Traub, and I feel that she has better synergy with the writer than ever before. Still, I'm lost when it comes to the overall story.

Just A Man #2 and #3

Instead of giving a plot summary of the series thus far, I'll say this -- Just A Man is the best western film that's never been made.

I loved the first issue of this title, which was a perfect mini-comic journey into violent depravity. Now, the second and third installments step things up to a whole new level.

I turned the pages furiously as I read because Andrew White's art is extremely engaging. It's raw and sparse, but the perfect compliment to Brian John Mitchell's candid script.

Marked #1

Marked is a departure from Brian's other work. Yet, at the same time, it falls victim to the author's own personal clichés.

Brian John Mitchell seems to use the "damsel in distress" model frequently. In particular, sexual abuse and rape are very prevalent (violence in general is prevalent in his work).

Point is, I like the overall concept -- I'm just sick of seeing the author write male characters fighting for the honor of sexually abused women who are often often portrayed as miscalculating and defenseless.

The art here by Jeremy Johnson is very solid. It's got a traditional superhero flair to it, which feels very fitting.

The excellent concept I mentioned before is part superhero, part modern horror anime, and part MTV's The Head -- "He" is retired monster hunter / demon killer that gets thrust back into the business and ends up in some deep @#$%.

It's a good hook and I look forward to Marked #2.

The end.

So, in summary, I hope you've enoyed the latest Silber Media mini-comics review session. You can pick up any of these books from www.silbermedia.com/comics. And thanks again to Brian for always generously sharing a mighty stack of mini-comics with me! Catch ya next time!!!