Vogelein #1 (of Five)
Storyteller/Art: Jane Irwin
Co-creators/Storyline: Jane Irwin and Jeff Berndt
Publisher: Fiery Studios
Website: www.vogelein.com
A charming, intelligent, and touching comic called Vogelein arrived in my mail box the other day. I thank Jane Irwin for sending me a copy of her artistic baby. Sometimes, being a reviewer can be a pain in the ass. Vogelein is the sort of comic that makes me love my job because I can share with you my enthusiasm for a great comic.
In an industry where originality in the mainstream has become a sweet, old-fashioned notion, we are forced to look to the indie titles, small-presses, and self-published comics for anything that doesn't insult our intelligence as readers. I went indie after the first year as a Tart reviewer and I've never looked back. Vogelein is a comic that makes me re-affirm my decision to support the independent presses rather than to waste my money on (most) mainstream comics.
Vogelein's plot may sound too sweet for you as described on paper. I hesitate to do so because it might not sound to your taste. Describing the plot also doesn't give you a real perspective on how good the book is. The power of the story is in its execution, in its storytelling. But, here goes: Vogelein is a fairy-looking automatronic toy built by a toy-maker mourning for his dead wife. His love made the poor creature a bit too real. She needs to have the key that fits into her back turned once a day or so or she will not survive. Because of this, she develops relationships with several humans over the years, who become her keepers and friends. Sadly, over the years, her keepers die, leaving this immortal creature alone. She currently is without a keeper and is desperate to find the right person before she ceases to exist.
Fortunately for the reader, the execution of the book's story is perfectly done. The book has a realistic tone to it, even though it sounds a bit like a modern fairy tale. Vogelein's plight is a melancholy and touching one. If you don't feel for this noble creature and her struggles, you must have a heart of stone.
Vogelein had to over-come my prejudice against fantasy comics to win me over. Just because I'm a female doesn't mean I read or like fantasy comics. The comic managed to do it with its excellent writing, its thoughtful pacing, and its characters. If it's a good comic, screw genre, I guess.
This is a good book that will appeal to many groups of people.
Who will like this comic?
1) Neil Gaiman fans. Although Jane Irwin has a much more original voice than those writing Sandman spin-offs, she shares Gaiman's ability to make her somewhat mythic story a plausible, compassionate, and important work. If you've missed those mid-Sandman era one issue stories about mythological creatures, you'll dig this comic.
2) Comic book fans that like their fantasy comics to be intelligent and female written: If you grok Finder and A Distant Soil, for instance, you might want to give this comic book a chance. While Vogelein's world building is simpler and more straight-forward than these titles, they all share a desire to write good stories using other-worldly characters.
3) Those who support the cause of female creators in comics. Slowly, the industry is opening up for female creators to write the types of stories they need to write. The mainstream has been almost cave-man-like in its refusal to employ all but a few female creators, forcing females to seek out the indie presses and self-publishing for their works. While many female writers working in the all-ages category of comics, these women are opening up the doors to women who wish to do other sorts of comics. While Vogelein could be read by a child or a teenager, I think adults will appreciate it the most.
4) Those who like good art. Jane Irwin has painted the pages of this book and it looks great. My only sadness about the art is that it is in black and white. One can tell by the cover that Irwin has a great eye for the subtle use of color. Ah well, the black and white panels are probably an economic necessity. The painted panels help the story immeasurably. I enjoy the small touches in the book, such as the expressions on the characters' faces.
5) Those who want good storytelling that doesn't involve creeps in capes. While I still read a few cape and cowl books, my heart is more with non-superhero books nowadays. I want books that have meat to their stories. I want comics that stay with me after I'm through reading them. I want books that don't just use shock value to tell stories. In short, I want more books like Vogelein.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a powerful and brave book by a small press. Books like this need and highly deserve our support or, like Vogelein herself, they will cease to exist. I don't want to live in a comic book world where there is no place for small presses, no place for great story telling, and no place for originality, so you'd better start buying good books like this or I'll start writing nasty reviews saying how crappy mainstream titles are. You don't want that, do you? You've been warned.