Ineffables #0: The Dawn of Reason, The

Posted: Tuesday, July 8, 2003
By: Darren Schroeder

Cover of Ineffables #0: The Dawn of Reason, The Creator(s): Craig Bogart
Publishers: Rick's Cafe Publishing (Self Published)
From: com
Price: $2:95 (US)

Some very odd things are happening in Mysterious city, and only the intrepid independent reporter CHET BURNETT seems to be interested in finding out why. This determination makes him the ideal person for MASON (a living tiki totem) and CLARITY (a sentient work of abstract art) to approach and ask to join their team. They hope to protect the city from harm. In this issue they have to deal with a cult that sets out to disprove ration science and a bunch of Mayans who want to reclaim the surface of the world.

The ideas flow at an alarming rate in this book. Anything can happen from the ends of maths to the theft of a Gill Scott-Heron record. It's all alarmingly exciting, with Mason the giant tiki possessing a solemness that somehow makes all the strange goings on seem very very serious. The range of characters that Craig has created can't help but grab the reader attention. Those of you who miss the surrealism the Grant Morrison used to display in Doom Patrol will fall in love with this book. There's a strong tone of comedy at work here, but it is the subtle kind that takes careful reading most of the time. There's also a refreshing intelligence in the cultural references being made. Students of the arts and literature will find lots of references to interesting topics, memorable works and more obscure connections to be made.

The ideas are ably supported by Craig’s artwork, which copes with the wide range of characters and material. The work is clear and crisp, with a nice use of solid black areas that give the layouts strength without taking over the whole page. Craig illustrates just enough so we know what's going on and to give a sense of location without overdoing it. He gives his characters a funky feel with interesting designs and attention to things like the folds in the fabric of their cloths. Clarity is especially interesting in that she is constantly changing form but we can still follow that she is the same character. Done as this review was from the images on the website, I can't comment on the format of reproduction, though I will say I found the lettering a bit hard to follow on some pages.

This is a lively and imaginative book full of surprises and sly humour. It mixes superheros with a bit of X-file and anything else that comes into Craig's mind, and does it in a clever way. Conceder it recommended. Plus, Craig get my reward for most intriguing sound effect that I've seen in a comic this year: REBNOOK! I've been saying it aloud all day.

In a Word: Succinct.



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