Moochowski #2

Posted: Wednesday, March 7, 2007
By: Steve Saville

Cover of Moochowski #2 Creator(s): Tom Brass and Lindsay Pollock
Publishers: Self Published
From: UK
Price: £5.00

This, the second of a ten part contemporary soap opera set in New York in 1986, is a delightful read. Spiteful in places, caustic in others but it is the humour that emerges from the tension created that leaves the lasting impression.

Created by a couple of Londoners ‘Moochowski’ is a thoroughly entertaining tale centred on the interconnecting fates of a selection of characters. They are all linked [so far] through their association with one Herman Wexler [recently deceased] a legal ace with a pristine reputation in New York high society.

The only problem is that after his death his sons discovered Felix Moochowski, their father’s live in lover, ex Burglar, dope smoker and general corrupter of youth. A very real and gay skeleton in the closet, or in this case hairy homosexual in the pool house.
The problem facing the two brothers then is how to stop their father’s dalliance from becoming common knowledge and sullying the reputation of the family law firm that they both work for. The real driving force at work in ‘Moochowski’ is the tension that this problem creates within and between the two polar opposite brothers. On the one hand we have the egoistic, calculating and capitalistic Earl and on the other we have the worried, downtrodden knitting suburban husband, George. Speaking about George, he really is quite a sad case especially when he has an allergic reaction to Felix’s rat like pet dog. The interplay between the two of them is one of the comic’s highlights. As earl tries to dig up some dirt to blackmail Felix with George suddenly finds himself with his father’s lover as a house guest.

The scene set in the tree house is outstanding. The wide use of angle and perspective makes it visually interesting and the dialogue moves the narrative from the conversational to the nearly metaphorical, that is when Moochowski isn’t ogling the naked guy in a nearby apartment block. These 8 pages are a real highpoint for me.

Overall the art work is bold and confident. The use of bold lines to outline the characters adds to this feeling, There is a sense of artistic assurance about the composition and rendition of each and every page and this helps create a believable and engrossing situation [and the crosshatching is just plain frightening, how long did it take guys?]. This is all reinforced with a dialogue that is richly humorous and realistic.

The plot deepens and progresses at a gentle pace as the creative team give plenty of time for the tensions to simmer and start to boil over.

This comic is sheer good fun and the diverse range of characters plus the tensions that exist between them should ensure that the fun continues for some time.

In a Word: Shaggy.



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