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Comic Review: Heroes in Birmingham
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T.E. Pouncey   |  

Heroes in BirminghamHEROES IN BIRMINGHAM
Created and Written by Rachel Kadushin and Ruben Caldwell
Best Friends Publications
$2.95

The conflict between the paranoid and the privileged is one of the great reoccurring themes of 20th century pop culture. It was used effectively as the climax to the classic H.G. Wells movie THINGS TO COME in 1931 and in Rorschach’s conversations with his therapist in Alan Moore‘s WATCHMEN. The theme has been used in movies as diverse as TANKGIRL, SCARFACE and ROLLERBALL, and is at the very center of just about all the really good Oliver Stone movies.

Rachel Kadushin, Ruben Caldwell and Ed Meares use the paranoia/privilege conflict well in their comic book HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM. In the first issue, we see a group of people in a movie theater watching what appears to be one of those old newsreels. We learn the film is actual footage of local superhero F-27 Pulse fighting marauders, and a hero called N-ergyzer saving a business executive from being kidnapped. The audience debates whether the footage is real and whether the N-ergyzer is “enhanced.”

From there we move on to the life of Mercutio Bishop, his struggles to become a hero and his fellow heroes increasing suspicions about the agenda of his corporate sponsors.

But trying to summarize the plot of the first two HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM in a few sentences is nearly impossible. The story is rich in plot, featuring businesses that use toy prototype technology as possible military weapons; some superheroes who are considered “unregistered public performers”; a state-managed train system that is both necessary and dangerous; and hints of a past catastrophe that has left America (or at least the deep South) as a series of city-states. The story is set in an alternate history future Earth where different world wars were fought during the 20th century and “clean” nuclear power was developed earlier.

There is also plenty of subtle humor in HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM. Mercutio (like his namesake in Shakespeare‘s ROMEO AND JULIET) has a talent for spotting impending disaster that is largely ignored. There is a Horseman galloping in like the cavalry in an old Western movie to help in the nick of time; a Latino hero who thinks the “gringo vigilantes” are much better at talking than fighting; and a hero who doesn’t question his fighting skills or moral compass, but worries he might not have the “acting finesse” to look good in the newsreels.

The story is rich in jargon, as the writers create a language of their vision of the future. Small towns are called “flat-tops” because of their low-rise buildings; lightweight paper is “plas-paper,” a working class inner-city neighborhood is a “favero,” and areas outside of Birmingham are “out-burbs.”

Kadushin and Caldwell expect their readers to be fairly smart and to pay attention. HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM isn’t a comic book that you can read lightly or skip through. But for readers who have an eye for detail and nuance, HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM can be a rewarding experience.

Add to all this Ed Meares’ art, which is a cool combination of visual exaggeration and unpretentious sketchiness. Meares can handle both a great sight-gag like Mercuito falling off a roof catching a thrown book and a more dramatic fall like Mercutio being blown out of a skyscraper window by an explosion. Meares’ art complements the unfolding story.

If you like science fiction/action adventure told from a unique perspective, HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM is something you will want to check out.

In a world where paranoia versus privilege is an increasing part of our daily lives, the concepts presented in HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM may not be just fantasy much longer.

10 Comments »

  1. “The really good Oliver Stone movies”?

    When is he gonna make those?

    Comment by Kayzon — January 17, 2007 @ 3:39 pm

  2. So, now that T.E. has written such an intriguing review maybe you want to see some of the covers, pages, and find out how to get it at:

    http://BestFriendsProductions.com/hib

    Comment by Rachel Kadushin — January 17, 2007 @ 6:04 pm

  3. Sounds intrigueing and original, I can’t wait to read it.

    As for the good Oliver Stone movies Kayzon, I think they mean the one written by Tarantino ;-)

    Comment by C.E.Zacherl. — January 17, 2007 @ 10:16 pm

  4. T.E. always writes such great reviews! He keeps me on the edge of my seat waiting for more and anxious to read whatever comic he’s writing about. HEROES IN BIRMINGHAM is no exception. I can’t wait to read it.

    Comment by Donna — January 18, 2007 @ 9:57 am

  5. I’m not much of a comic book reader but this sounds like something that might be interesting. My husband loves comic books, I’ll have to let him read this review, he’ll probably want to get some copies. I’m certainly more interested in a more intellectual reading than just random fighting and the typical plot.
    Thanks for the review!!

    Comment by Lori — January 18, 2007 @ 10:57 am

  6. This looks like a good read. I can’t wait to read it myself

    Comment by Steve Otto — January 18, 2007 @ 5:59 pm

  7. A great review and sounds like an intriguing read. I dig the art samples as well.

    Comment by Kort — January 19, 2007 @ 1:03 pm

  8. [quote comment=”18898″]A great review and sounds like an intriguing read. I dig the art samples as well.[/quote]

    Thanks Kort… if you click on to the menu items there’s a fifteen page “short story” excerpt from the 32 pages of issue #1 up on the website, and a link to 4 pages from issue #2 on the issue #2 page.

    Comment by Rachel Kadushin — January 19, 2007 @ 7:08 pm

  9. Thank you, Mr. Pouncey.

    A good read!

    Comment by Miss Namaste Peaceout — January 20, 2007 @ 4:06 pm

  10. Wow! Normally, I’m such a Sad Sack that even my Tivo doesn’t get me, but, here, FINALLY, someone at least “gets” the artwork (among other aspects of Heroes In Birmingham)!

    As to the “sketchiness” of the work, the level of today’s print technology allows artists to generate a fineness of detail that simply wasn’t possible for true giants of the field, like Eisner, Kurtzman, Kirby, etc.

    In the frenetic-but-tiny multiverses of mainstream comics (which I call “ABC” comics, for Archie, Batman, Captain America), the KISS principle has to apply to all areas of their productions — which’s why Harvey Kurtzman once referred to them as “28 day wonders,” in that it was a wonder they managed to get the books published every 28 days.

    Since it is possible to create that level of detail in alternative press comics, why shouldn’t I go there?

    And finally, I’m REALLY happy to have worked on a story (a three issue mini-series, BTW, collect’em all!) that demands more from the reader than just watching the pretty panels go BOOM! The same audience who could appreciate Howard Chaykin’s American Flagg for its many layers of storytelling could (I hope) find HIB a nice place to visit.

    Comment by Ed Meares — May 22, 2007 @ 6:46 am

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