Related
Summary
Conspiracy Comics#1is the later project by acclaimed cartoonistJim Rugg , a collection of comics story address on-key crime , local conspiracies and pro - wrestling rivalries . Continuing Rugg ’s experiment with the figure , Conspiracy Comics#1 exhibit off the cartoonist ’s chameleonic ability to shift between aesthetic styles to beseem the various story find oneself in this anthology special .
The three tarradiddle contain within cover a wide variety of subjects , but all are free-base on true consequence . Taking breathing in from similar “ true crime ” comic strip of the forties and ' 50s , Jim Rugg’sConspiracy Comics#1 is a comical book operating at a high stage of craft in an impeccably - plan package .
Blue Book # 1 brings blend the horrors of foreign abduction with the inspirational nature of urban legends in a book any extrasensory fan will love .
Conspiracy Comics#1 Tells Three Stories Based on Real Events
“ Jim Rugg’sConspiracy Comics#1 is a comic book operate at a eminent storey of craftiness in an impeccably - designed package . ”
The first story appear inCriminal Comics#1 is “ Pittsburgh ’s Greatest Mystery , ” a straight non - fiction account of a B-52 bomber plane that crash - landed in the Monongahela River outside Homestead , Pennsylvania in 1956 . After the captain and outlive gang were rescued from the carpenter’s plane , it was decided by local authority to wait until the next day to recover the drop down aircraft . Yet the wreckage was never recovered despite many endeavour to dredge the river , conduct to various theories as to what may have pass off to the missing B-52 . Rugg chronicles these accounts viaa Dan Clowes - inspiredpage of talking heads , before presenting two theory of what might have really materialize .
“ Christmas Cage Match ” is a short piece at four pages , but Rugg prepare every venire count . Previously published in A24 ’s Von Erich zine to raise last year’sfeature filmThe Iron Claw , the story is all aboutthe grapple match hold between Kerry Von Erich and Ric Flair on Christmas Day in 1982 . This match eventually led to one of the most celebrated feud in wrestling chronicle , between the Von Erich family and the Fabulous Freebirds . Although brief , Rugg oversee to get in all the high spot of the fabled bout , crafting all the pro - wrestling military action in exacting particular .
The final taradiddle in the anthology is “ The War on Drugs , ” something of a continuation to the previous “ A dieting of Danger ” that appeared inTrue Crime Funnies#1 . “ The War on Drugs ” continues the story of George Hunter White , a Federal Bureau of Narcotics agent who is perhaps well known for his involvement inthe CIA ’s Project MKUltra . Rugg adapts segment of White ’s unpublished memoirs about his life and career , with this write up chronicle his involution in a nationwide drug bust in 1937.Rugg ’s attack dryly accommodate White ’s self - mythologise to in darkness humourous result , using funny book tropes to tell the overblown story .
Conspiracy Comics#1 Shows Off Jim Rugg’s Mastery of the Comic Book Medium
“ Each story here has its own , unique visual identity , with Rugg either reanimate or reinventing techniques of the past for his own narrative purposes . ”
All of these stories are interesting in and of themselves , but what genuinely makesConspiracy Comics#1 special are the alternative Rugg makes in bringing them to lifetime on the comic Sir Frederick Handley Page . Earlier exercise likeAfrodisiacestablished Rugg ’s ability to mime other artistic flair , even down to the colour in choices made to make the pages look like end of the comical script past times . Each story here has its own , unique visual identity , with Rugg either recreating or reinvent techniques of the past for his own narrative purposes .
Whereas “ Pittsburgh ’s Greatest Mystery ” feels like a Riffian onEC Comics of the Golden Agedue to the pacing of the panels and the Leroy Lettering baptistry , “ Christmas Cage Match ” is made with the classic , Marvel Age hyperbole of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby . Pulling from these references contextualizes the stories being told specifically for the amusing ledger medium , ease up each a sense of clip and place through the style utilized for each . This variety of techniques tolerate Rugg to create a Earth for all three stories , make each feel complete and fully fleshed - out .
Drawing from pop culture to tell the straight - life story stories contained therein devote Rugg the opportunity to subtly point out upon each inConspiracy Comics#1 . “ The War on drug ” illustrates this rather bright . By draw the funny write up sense like aMickey Mickey Spillane - esque pulp magazine novel , Rugg is able to keep true to George White ’s apparent exaggerations while also indicate out their inherent absurdness . One in particular amusing prospect describe White require a “ blood oath ” with the Hip Sing Tong drug organization , which Rugg interprets as a scene right on out of a lurid pulp powder store , with hooded figure , ceremonial daggers and torrid altars aplenty .
Jim Rugg Pays Homage to Comic Book History inConspiracy Comics#1
“ confederacy Comics#1continues the trend of Rugg ’s experiment with the form , acting as a case for his power as a cartoonist . ”
Rugg ’s use of a assortment of unlike sensitive tells a story through not just the words and drawings , but also the color and lettering choices . Truly the unseeable art of comic book making , Rugg ’s approach to the coloring and letter for all three shorts tell a tale in their own right . The mahogany - tone flashback of the B52 crash in “ Pittsburgh ’s Greatest Mystery ” produce a haunting , rather beautiful view of Pittsburgh in the 1950s , with the city present as invariably glowing with the fire of sword mills .
The inscription also helps to plant a world for each of the three stories . “ Pittsburgh ’s Greatest Mystery ” utilise the Leroy lettering font , a style mostassociated with EC Comics . Married duet Jim and Margaret Wroten handled the majority of the lettering for EC , often considered the unspoilt practician of what is a rather painstaking outgrowth . Whether Rugg apply an actual Leroy outfit to achieve the lettering or has produce his own baptismal font , the result is a flawless recreation . The variety of the inscription tot to the stop feel throughoutConspiracy Comics#1 , making each story palpate distinct .
confederacy Comics#1 continue the trend of Rugg ’s experiment with the class , acting as a vitrine for his abilities as a cartoonist . Previousworks like Hulk : Grand DesignandStreet Angelsaw Rugg acquire a variety of differing styles in his glide path , making an anthology data format the stark playground for the cartoonist to stretch his wings and show off what he is truly open of . With any luck , we ’ll get more “ rightful offense ” anthologies likeConspiracy Comics#1 in the future , allowingJim Ruggto keep pushing himself in new direction and research what is possible on the comic leger Sir Frederick Handley Page .
confederacy Comics#1is available now fromjimrugg.com
