Ashcan #1 & #2
Written by Mike Murphy
Art by Celina Hernandez, Sergio Calvet, Mike Murphy, Ray Johnson
Chibi Comics
Release Date: April, August 2011
Cover Price: $2.00
Digital Price: $.50

A quarterly anthology of four stories, Ashcan gives the reader a wide variety of stories that are bound to please almost everyone. Since I’m reviewing two comics at once, I will just break this up into four parts and speak to each story separately since they have no correlation with one another.

Newborn has a bit of a minimalist approach to the art, it’s very basic but it helps to keep the reader focused on the story which is, at this point, a little unclear. The first issue contains a scene from a bedroom involving two people talking in bed. The second shows us more of a femme fatale angle and I’m guessing the December issue will tie these together for us.

Caste is a sci-fi story involving several different races trying to create peace between their people. There are hints of violence and sabotage that come to fruition during these two short parts. Not a lot of plot is revealed, but it’s conversation heavy in the first issue but more art/atmosphere oriented in the second. I think the plot will be worth the wait.

Ruthless involves a boy and his “benefactor.” It seems that the man has plans for the boy that might not be in his best interests, but the boy is cooperating as if his life depends on it…which it does. I won’t give away too much of this one, but let’s just say it starts off with a bang.

Do-Gooders focuses on a young girl who is a bit of a misfit. With dreams of being more than she is, she is approached by a shadowy group that want to give her a sort of “extreme makeover” in order to further their own agenda. The art in this last one is by far the most detailed. This story has the best balance of art and story of the anthology and is my favorite.

As inexpensive as this series is, there is no reason you shouldn’t give this a try. I found all the stories likeable on at least some level and a couple of them actually had enough of a hook to make me want to read more. The first two issues are available digitally for a really great price. The print version of Issue #1 is available now at IndyPlanet for only $2; Digital version of issues #1 & #2 available at My Digital Comics for only $.50 each.

Go on, you know you want to!