One Step Beyond #2

Posted: Tuesday, January 7, 2003
By: Darren Schroeder

Cover of One Step Beyond #2 Writer(s): Michael David Sims
Artist(s): Robert Kubkowski
Publishers: Kitty Litter Comics (Self Published)
From: USA
Price: $1.00 (US)

TJ sees his mum and Santa Clause up to something naughty in the living room on Christmas Eve. She claims it was Dad dressed up as the big red guy, but as the years pass he grows more and more concerned...

As was the case for issue 1 of this title, the aim of the book is a plot with a twist. Michael does a great job with this plot, thinking up an original shocker story that keeps the reader guessing right up to the last page. Some of the dialogue, especially that of TJ is stilled by the need to put across just how fixated he is about the issue of the bearded one, but perhaps Michael just wants the guy to seem weird.

Robert's art tends to be sparse, with large empty panels and long distance shots of the characters. A more tight focus on the main point of each panel would be a good idea, or more detail in the backgrounds. His character work is great and he has a real knack for producing attractive faces.

Michael tries something different with a creator’s commentary running along the bottom of each page. It's interesting to read about the different ideas he had for each page and what had to be dropped, but the commentary is distracting and breaks up the flow of the narrative. Perhaps collecting the comments at the end of the book would work better.

This is an inventive example of the Twilight Zone style of story telling which delivers the goods.

In a Word: Festive.



If you have a comment or question about Small Press then feel free to contact me