Review -- EFFING BRUTAL

Effing Brutal
Art by Jordi Perez
Written by Brian Labrecque

Well when you review indie comics, you can expect some rather 'out there' material at times.
So when a comic, a trade paperback actually, created in a larger page format crosses the desk that has “from the emotionally unstable mind of Brian Labrecque' across the top of the cover, and the book is actually sub-titled 'The epic saga of losers fighting evil', you are pretty sure it's not your run-of-the-mill comic book.
Boy! Is that an understatement.
The book's main character is Josh, who is initially described as 'the visually stunning sociopathic transvestite-in-denial'.
Now if that doesn't peak your interest, the fact Josh's super power is that he thinks he's Tori Amos just might.
OK, so you're starting to understand this is a story that takes you down a pretty bizarre rabbit hole.
The book is populated with the weirdest cast of modern-era characters you are likely to meet.
A couple of the supporting crew are Black Cherry, 'everyone's favourite violent, sassy, manic-depressive fem-dyke', and Larry 'a product of methylphenidate and too many paint chips.”
With such a warped array of characters, you can appreciate the story has a definite surreal feel to it.
Interestingly, the book actually grew out of an indie film.
“Effing Brutal is the continuing story of the characters I created in my film 'Far Too Gone', specifically, the adventures of Josh, the guy in Seattle who thinks he's Tori Amos,” said creator Brian Labrecque. “I shot that film back in 2004 and ever since I have wanted the characters to do more than just walk around Seattle insulting people. So NOW they get to drive around Seattle blowing things up, so there’s some progress! I tried to include as many subversive elements as I could, such as the evil skateboarding cult, the weirdo transvestite cult, and of course, the Pilipino boy-band, the “Shaved Asians”.
“I tried to make the story as “brutal” as possible, but somehow it came out stupid, funny, and mildly brutal, oh well!”
Artistically, Jordi Perez has a style that really fits the material. There is a brightness to the art, achieved through the wise use of colour, and a modern look.
Labrecque said the art has not attracted the attention of major book publishers though.
“Clean? Ahah, well, that’s the first time I’ve heard that, in fact every comic book publisher I’ve submitted this to, has rejected it hands down and middle fingers up because they say the lines are not good and the art is 'not up to our standards',” he said. “.... They have no vision. They are drunk on the steroid/spandex ultra violent homo-erotic imagery which is rampant in the comic world today. Stories mean nothing to these people. I’ve read graphic novels where the art is unimaginably good, yet the dialogue is sparse and dry and crappy. Like a few lines per page, totally uninspired, almost as an after thought.
“It’s as if comic publishers want violent art-books with story lines being optional. Anyways, I’ve been blacklisted by every comic publisher out there, even the ones in Seattle, which blows my mind. They literally want nothing to do with me or Effing Brutal.”
Labrecque added he “met the inkers Jordi Perez and Harrison Wood online through craigslist, and the letterer Kate "Rocket Girl" Fahr is a friend of mine. The colourist Philip Fuller I met online also.
“Everyone was incredibly talented and patient, and now they are all part of history ... and I still owe most of them money.”
This is not a book for everyone. Yes, I know that is a rather obvious understatement. Yet, it does illustrate the strength of indie comics. The big companies wouldn't touch something like this, not in a million, gazillion years. Yet, there is a story here which pushes the boundaries of the medium in terms of going where few would take a comic book. That sort of explorative approach to story telling is critical to grow the medium. Comics are not just about superheroes and Effing Brutal reinforces that to the max.
Labrecque said readers love the work, even if mainstream publishers run from it.
“It’s funny because when people actually read Effing Brutal, they love it and beg me to sell them a copy. I even had one guy who wanted a copy I was showing to him so bad he ripped out a blank check from his check book and told me to write whatever number I wanted on it if I would give my copy to him, but I couldn’t because it was the last test-copy from a printing and it had to go to one of the aforementioned publishers.
“I’m telling you, people are ravenous for this thing, but it’s the ... publishers who are withholding this comic from the fans who clearly want it on shelves.
“Here’s the problem, I know for a fact that none of these ... comic publishers is even reading past the first page. They only see what they want to see and they will never see me because I am not in their visible spectrum.”
While one can appreciate the creator's frustration, this is not a comic for the mainstream. It is not for the masses. It would not sell thousands of copies.
That doesn't mean there isn't something here, but when you go out on the edge of the medium, when you push the boundaries and dare to delve into areas seldom used as fodder for comic books, you create something with limited appeal. This isn't a comic I would normally purchase myself.
That said I'm glad I've read it, just to taste the really strange world in which Josh operates.
So, don't be afraid, OK maybe be a little afraid, but give this one a look anyway.
It is likely Labrecque's only comic too.
“No more comics, they take too long and I don’t like relying on other people. I am an avangarde filmmaker at heart. I am filming a thriller called “Die! Blackbird Die!” in 2010,” he said.

-- CALVIN DANIELS

-- Appeared on Yorkton This Week WebXtra