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Vögelein #1-#5
Fiery Studios
Writer / Artist: Jane Irwin
$3.00@, b/w, 32 pgs@, available now
Carla Speed McNeil's Finder and Paul Hornschemeier's Forlorn Funnies are two
examples of truly great comic books that defy a concise description. Like
those masterpieces, Jane Irwin's Vögelein (PFEU-gul-ine) is a wonderfully
crafted story that best if enjoyed for the beautiful experience that it is,
rather than forced into a pre-labeled genre.
The character Vögelein (German for "Little Bird") is also amazingly crafted,
both by Irwin as a character and as a construct by her maker within the
framework of the story. Exquisitely constructed over three hundred years ago
by a German watchmaker after the loss of his beloved, Vögelein mysteriously
takes on a very human quality, though she forever requires a guardian to
wind her every other day, lest she lose her skills and memories.
Within this urban fairy tale, Irwin lies down a rich and eclectic mix of
German and Irish folklore, real-life European history, and modern day ills
and dangers. Much of this is encompassed within a corrupted faerie known as
The Duskie, a gremlin of sorts who hates all things mechanical and lives to
continually take revenge on man for the destruction of his kinfolk. Irwin
brilliantly portrays him wearing various man-made trinkets as trophies for
his mean-spirited and often deadly deeds.
Artistically, Irwin conveys all three hundred years worth of Vögelein's
memories, pain, and vulnerability with beautifully illustrated greytone
interiors and especially breathtaking covers. In fact, breathtaking could
describe just about every element of this story. Except, unfortunately, for
sales. However, issues are available from the website, Irwin is providing
copies of the final two issues to several retailers for Free Comic Book Day,
and readers can also expect a trade paperback collecting the story in July.
Fans should take notice, for Irwin is an excellent storyteller, and shapes
up to be the industry's most promising and talented creators.
PRO: Wonderfully done fairy tale.
CON: Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Grade: A+
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