Let me take you back for a brief moment:
It’s 1983 or 1984 and I’m into reading science fiction and fantasy stories. I start picking up Epic Illustrated, an SF&F magazine imprint of Marvel Comics. The publication often premiered burgeoning North American and European talent such as Jim Starlin, John Bolton, Kent Williams and J.G. Jones and I had no business, at such a young age, leafing through pages of mature storylines and (oh my God!) drawings of naked women!
It’s there that I first came across Dean Motter and Ken Stacy’s The Sacred & The Profane, a story about the Catholic church and its’ interstellar mission to spread the good word. No, I didn’t understand it back then, but I started paying attention to Dean Motter.
At better comic book shops, I noticed the incredibly striking imagery of his Mister X series, released by Vortex Comics. I was floored by his take on The Prisoner mini-series, published by DC Comics, a sequel to the cult-classic television show. It was absolutely brilliant. Everyone should read it. And then came Terminal City followed by a return to Mister X.
Ok. Enough of the walk down memory lane.
2013 marks the 30th year anniversary of Mister X, one of the most acclaimed and highly regarded comic book series’ to see print. Celebrate it by picking up the first issue release of a new mini-series, Mister X: Eviction #1.
Here’s why you should:
Mister X: Eviction #1
Written and illustrated by: Dean Motter
Published by: Dark Horse Comics
A sense of design is synonymous with Dean Motter. A multiple Juno award winner for album cover designs, he’s worked with musical acts such as Loverboy, Triumph, The Nylons, Jane Siberry and Anne Murray, but it is Mister X that is his most…perfect creation, simply because it’s so personal.
Mister X’s visual styling is built on Bauhaus and German modernism, art aesthetics of interest to many designers. Look at credits and you’ll see Motter’s name followed by the titles “Creator” and “Writer” and “Designer” – but the truth is, although he’s guided the series in five different iterations over thirty years, many big industry names have worked on it at various intervals. Those names include: the Hernandez Brothers, Seth, D’Israeli, Paul Rivoche, Michael Kauta, Bill Sienkiewicz, Howard Chaykin, Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman, Peter Milligan and others. Mister X is a veritable who’s who of creators!
Mister X tells the story of the mysterious architect of the dystopian Radiant City whose theories of “psychetecture” and building designs have caused citizens to go mad. We are all affected by our surroundings, immersed within them everyday, every minute, every second. How could our surroundings not have an indelible affect on our lives? Mister X must correct the mistakes of construction in his city while battling corrupt politicians and gangsters bent on remaking the minds of every citizen!
Mister X: Eviction #1, the first issue of a three-issue mini-series, is a great jumping on point for new readers as well as a welcome return to the crazed “psychetecture” world of Radiant City for older fans. Make your run to your local comic book shop and look for the X.
Because today, X definitely marks the spot!
Every Wednesday, JP makes the after-work run to his local downtown comic book shop. Comics arrive on Wednesdays you see and JP, fearful that the latest issue will sell out, rushes out to purchase his copy. This regular, weekly column will highlight a particularly interesting release, written in short order, of course, because JP has to get his – before someone else does!
