Dream Logic
Hardcover | Kindle Edition
Written and Illustrated by David Mack
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Cover Price: $34.99

David Mack has long been one of my favorite comic creators. I fell in love with his unique storytelling when I first discovered his Kabuki comics in the mid-nineties. The art was breathtaking, not your usual fare of comic art. And while it featured a female protagonist, there was none of the “over the top” sexuality and objectification that so many comics had then (and still have today). Kabuki was a strong, but flawed, woman who was able to shape her own destiny. As it turns out, this character exudes many of the same traits and strengths that enabled David Mack to become the influence he is today. To me, Dream Logic is more than Mack’s first publication with Dark Horse Comics…it’s all about the artist baring his soul to his readers.

Compiling all of the individual Dream Logic comics published earlier this decade, this beautifully hardbound book contains a wide array of sketches, artwork, and new stories. It’s the stories that really wreak havoc on your heart, though. It’s obvious very quickly that Mack had a different upbringing than many of us. He was driven to create, even at an early age. But it’s the tales of a child growing up in less than ideal circumstances that really have a profound effect on the reader. So much of what he has written in this and other texts speaks to his early tumultuous life, only with this book he shows us how he grew past it all, embracing the past to create a better future for himself.

The artwork is altogether awesome, which is no less than what I expected. I always enjoy seeing sketches from my favorite artists, but Mack has a wonderful way of literally building his art. It’s almost like construction, the way he layers colors and lines. For instance, the watercolor Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie pieces in this book are perfect examples of Mack using the fluidity of the medium to his advantage. Layers upon layers are added to create one of a kind paintings that I would gladly hang in my home or office. His use of non-traditional items on his canvas turns heads at art galleries the world over.

Also, I must not fail to mention that his diversity as an artist is never more apparent than when he creates a painting on a unique surface, up to and including the human body. Many of his art pieces have been adapted into tattoos, as have some of the dialogue excerpts from his comics. And Mister Mack, if you are reading this, I would love to have an original Kabuki sketch to have inked on my body. I would adore being able to add it to my collection of comic art tattoos… just sayin’.

This may have come across as a fanboy writing about a comic creator that he idolizes, and it kind of is, but I really want to convey the sheer scope of talent that David Mack brings to the comic genre. His was one of the first independent comics that I started collecting when I began rebuilding a collection in my early twenties. Mack’s comics helped me redefine what an indie/creator owned comic could be. Hell, I even loaned out my original first printings to a close friend because I felt she needed to read them to understand what I consider to be great sequential art. And for the record, I never loan out comics. Ever. But to be honest, I don’t consider Mack to just be a comic creator, I consider him to be a master of his craft.

If you weren’t previously familiar with his work, I pity you. However, this is your chance to turn that around! This compilation gives you an in depth look at his creative process and the passion that he embodies in all the work he produces. He is a prime example of what is right about this industry. He produces stellar work and still takes the time to tour, promote, and give back to the communities he visits. He can be found in art galleries, libraries, book stores, you name it.

Give this one a try, I beg of you. I cannot stress enough how important I consider his work to be in the world of comics. In a time where everything is about flashy costumes and gratuitous sexuality, David Mack delivers a pointed story each and every time. And while there are some parts that have a bit of sensuality to them, it’s not purely for the sake of selling a book. Do yourself a solid and pick this up.

By the way, I totally wasn’t kidding about wanting a Kabuki tattoo, Mister Mack. *hint hint*