(Here’s another from Erik – Dan)
By Erik Norris
This might seem like a weird introduction, but stick with me. If you’re anything like me, the mere mention of “My Chemical Romance” should send shivers down your spine. It might be a bit harsh, but I kind of see the band as a shiny example of everything bad with today’s current “top 40 monster” music biz. And because he is their front-man, Gerard Way gets a lot of my flack placed squarely on his shoulders. However, I’ve come to discover the man is much more talented, insightful, and creative than his music lead me to believe. A lot more.
So let’s begin by taking your thoughts about My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way, and the music industry, crumble them up, and throw them in your mental trash. That crap doesn’t apply here. When it comes to the comic industry (or as I like to call it “The Jungle”) Gerard Way knows his way around four colors and panels.
I’m going to take a second and rewind the clock to the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con when a panel spotlighting Mr. Way and Grant Morrison took place. I remember seeing this and going, “what the hell could these two have in common?” Now I knew Gerard was getting critical acclaim for his series, Umbrella Academy, but I wasn’t buying it. I mean, how could I when I loath everything he does in the music industry? So the Way / Morrison panel came to pass and the transcribed version hit the internet for everyone not lucky enough to attend the convention and I gave it a read. I figured I would at least get amusement out of Grant’s quirky replies. However, I came away more impressed with Way’s remarks about the comics industry and its influence over him.
The quote that hit me like a punch to the man-purse was this; “I don’t really know what a Grammy means anymore, but I know what an Eisner means,” said Way. It was that simple to him and made it that simple for me to connect with him on a fundamental level. Then to see Way being so buddy-buddy with Grant Morrison (a comic god imo) brought a smile to my face. It was like the excuse / vouching for Gerard Way I needed to get up the courage and buy his series, Umbrella Academy.
And hot damn, I’m happy I did. I don’t want to turn this into a plot synopsis because I urge you to check out the first series, Apocalypse Suite, for yourself. Instead, I will say Umbrella Academy falls into that weird / zany territory Way and Morrison thought the industry needed more of, and I think they were 100% right. A splash of X-Men, a dash of Doom Patrol (Way’s biggest influence is Morrison’s run on the title at Vertigo) all while still feeling very much contemporary, exciting, and, above all, new and fresh.
I also failed to mention the other huge aspect of what makes a comic book, the art. Well this should express my feelings for it: it rules. Gabriel Ba has a pitch-perfect style for this type of story which means it’s just as weird as the writing. But that’s completely a complement because it makes everything gel together to flawlessly.
The only downside to all this is because of Way’s commitment to his band (it’s tough being a rock-star), he is hard pressed for time to do his comic work. But he is definitely committed, and Dark Horse is doing a great job of making sure that his projects are nearly in the can before soliciting them as to not run into any delays. So what we get is on-time, mini-series telling the Umbrella Academy’s saga.
You can now find Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite in a paperback edition that collects the series’ six issues along with some great supplemental material. But the real reason I bring this all up now is because the second mini, Dallas, is launching in mid-November and I want everyone along for the ride. And I guarantee, it’s going to be one hell of a ride. So go out, buy Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite via trade paperback or back issues and find out what won Way an Eisner to begin with.
