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ComicsGAF Book Club #2 | Stray Bullets

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ViewtifulJC

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ComicsGAF Book Club #1 | Strangers in Paradise
Comics! |OT|

At long last, the highly anticipated second installment of the prestigious ComicsGAF Book Club is here! A what a better comic to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump than Stray Bullets?

What...you haven't heard of Stray Bullets? What the FUCK have you doing with your life so far!? Doing it wrong, that's what. Listen buddy, let me break this down in the least difficult form I can think of, which is to answer fake questions that I’m asking myself.

What is Stray Bullets?

Stray Bullets is a independent comic book series written, drawn, lettered, and basically totally masterminded by David Lapham, edited by his wife Maria Lapham. It slides into the definition of "crime comic", but like most genre nomenclature it doesn't really describe it. Stray Bullets is a series of mostly done-ine-one stories with a large ensemble cast that may or may not interact with each other. Sometimes the stories are dark and violent, sometimes they're downright hilarious. Sometimes its film noir genre exercises and sometimes its an James Bond power fantasy starring an imaginary personification of a very disturbed girl.

Sounds intriguing! But is it any good?

Oh, is it ever! Stray Bullets is, consistently(as in, whenever it decides to come out since its debut back in '96), the best damn comic around. Densely-packed done-in-one tales, wonderful pacing and some of the best dialog in the business. Its got a great diverse set of characters in a violent, profane world, but its got real heart where it counts. Sex, violence, perversion, all the genre thrills are here, done better than anywhere else. But mostly importantly, its about life. Its kinda like the last ComicsGAF Book Club subject, Strangers in Paradise, but souped up with 90s Tarantino films and old Frank Miller comics. David Lapham is just a wonderful comic book storyteller, I mean he really gets this shit.

Man, I don't know b...I read his superhero stuff, shit was kinda whatever...

He does that to keep the lights on. Look, have you seen Stray Bullets sales recently? Don't, because they are terrible, just depressing figures. Sometimes a man's gotta take a few paycheck jobs to keep his real art going, ya know?

Aight but...IDK do I need to buy the omnibus? What if I don't like it? The art is kinda whatever on Google Image Search....if this book is so good, how come nobody talks about it? I mea--

Look, stop whining for one goddamn second and just fuckin buy the book

Whoa ok, this Q&A is devolving very quickly. It started off with a friendly tone, got increasingly elitist and evangelical, and now its just antagonistic.

*sigh* You're right. Look, I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry. I just think this book is the bee's knees, as the kids say, and I want everybody to read it. Its a lot of fun, b, I'm tellin' ya. Give it a shot.

Lets say I do want to be part of your "book club". When do start reading? How much a day?

Well, I think we should start tomorrow, Sunday, May 17th, at one issue a day except on Wednesday. Wednesday is new comic book day, so we read new things...LIKE THE NEW STRAY BULLETS THATS COMING OUT THIS WEEK OMGGGGG

OMGGGGG

I KNOW RIGHT

--

tl;dr: Stray Bullets #6, Saturday May 23rd/B], one issue a day cept Wednesdays. Read it, talk it, love it. If you read ahead, pls don't spoil shit. Don't be that guy. Nobody likes that guy. That guy is a jerk. An INTERNET JERK.

-Thanks to my negus Tryant Rave for the banner
 
I got the first volume of this shit a while ago cause you said it was rad and I read one issue. I'll read at least to the end of that with everyone here. Maybe I'll buy more, who knows!

Here's the real banner that JC begged me to make:
WTymBo0.png
 
So i read issue #1

I've read probably the first half of Stray Bullets but it was years and years ago and I don't remember much outside slowly seeing all the pieces fit and enjoying the grim crime fiction. So this book club is a good enabler to retread it and finally finish it.

Onto issue #1

Hah if any issue personifies the Anchroman "boy that escalated quickly" this is the issue. What starts as a flat tire just keeps getting more and more messed up as you learn more of the contents in the car and the two "main characters". The whole thing has impending doom to it and for the most part that feeling is validated at the end.

Joey is one disturbed fellow that was recently unhinged by the events that must have happen prior to the issue starting. More on him to follow in the following issues
 
Just got back from the woods for the weekend and the book club is up! Awesome OP, and I'm diving into the first issue tonite.
 
ViewtifulJC said:
Note: the above banner is out of continuity and should be avoided
Click to expand...

I believe you with every fiber of my being, may those moesluts and loliwhores burn in the flames of Hel for all eternity.

But now is the time for Stray Bullets.
BR to the B, as I order it, or get it digitally.
 
Tizoc said:
I believe you with every fiber of my being, may those moesluts and loliwhores burn in the flames of Hel for all eternity.

But now is the time for Stray Bullets.
BR to the B, as I order it, or get it digitally.
Click to expand...

Stray Bullets omnibus for 35 bones from the most caring comics-handling dudes ever.

You know what to do.
 
Fun fact, several years ago I bet a friend online $40 that Stray Bullets #40 would come out before the end of the year. It did, and I won the bet, but I was pretty lucky considering that would be the last issue to come out for several years till I stopped reading comics in 2010.
 
maxcriden said:
Fun fact, several years ago I bet a friend online $40 that Stray Bullets #40 would come out before the end of the year. It did, and I won the bet, but I was pretty lucky considering that would be the last issue to come out for several years till I stopped reading comics in 2010.
Click to expand...

max pls

Anyway, Stray Bullets #1, the original comic released way back in 1995, is an interesting display of skill from David Lapham. Even here, in its earliest, roughest story, it shows off some of the things the series will soon excel at. The black and white film noir lighting, the bone dry black comedy, the 8 panel grid that smoothly escalated right up into the final splash page. The standout scene for me is the Coen Brothers-esque set piece with the gas station, that escalates into an absurdly violent spree. Its a dark, nihilistic , unpredictable piece that doesn't immediately connect to any of the issues ahead, but its a good artistic showcase for an comic creator showing his vision to the world.

"Cool Beans" count: 1
 
Reread the first issue and it started coming back as I was going through.

What starts off as a simple plot starts to become a little more dense and chaotic as it progresses. Lapham does a good job at making Frank and Joey feel like pals through their dialogue and general banter throughout the issue, which is always good to see. Joey's descent into madness is definitely the focal point of the issue and it's fascinating to say the least. The ending is definitely not something you would expect from the first page in the story. The general escalation of Joey's violence is almost disturbing and you kind of feel bad for the guy by the end of the issue. Kind of shows the effects that intense violence and crime can have on someone who is kind of undeveloped mentally.

Lapham's art is a perfect fit for the story that he writes. It does a good job at creating an almost unsettling tone and really fits the violent and dark storylines while still being appropriate for scenes like Frank and Joey driving in the early morning.


Still not sure if this series is really ~for me~ but it's an engaging read either way, even in the beginning. Lapham manages to craft a story that has a clear beginning, middle, and ending in a single issue while still leaving an opening for future appearances with the cast and it's really well done.
 
Tyrant Rave said:
Still not sure if this series is really ~for me~ but it's an engaging read either way, even in the beginning. Lapham manages to craft a story that has a clear beginning, middle, and ending in a single issue while still leaving an opening for future appearances with the cast and it's really well done.
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yea, I'm not sure how far you got before this book club thing but I'd say the comic takes a turn to something slightly more focused by, say, issue 5 or so, in a direction I *think* you'd be more into
 
frye said:
yea, I'm not sure how far you got before this book club thing but I'd say the comic takes a turn to something slightly more focused by, say, issue 5 or so, in a direction I *think* you'd be more into
Click to expand...

I know I stopped before that, but that sounds a bit more up my alley. I remember the second issue pretty clearly, so tomorrow will probably be a quick read for me.
 
Re-read issue #1. Still can't get over how quickly things escalate from that opening scene. Good stuff.

I could get used to these done in one stories. They make a nice change of pace from decompression mania.
 
Have had the omnibus sitting around for awhile now so this seems like the perfect time to jump in!

Anyways, issue one was great. I have read this issue before but it was awhile ago so it still felt new. By the end of the issue I felt bad for Joey. You can pick up from his speech that he certainly isn't the smartest guy and he is clearly shaken from the events that happen before the comic takes place, which lead him to making irrational decisions that just made everything worse. It's refreshing to read a story that is just a single issue. It was great to see how Lapham balanced character development and moving the plot forward in the pages he had, incorporating hollywood-esque violence always adds some excitement as well.

This is a great introduction to the series and I can't wait to read more.
 
I think, aside from the excellent two-goons-fucking-it-all-up story in the first issue, I'm really loving Lapham's art. A lot of subtle body gesturing stuff and the black and white seems spot-on for the tone of the comic so far. The panel with the two of them driving with all those bodies in the back seat is almost comedic in how absurd it is.


Stray Bullets #2 - Victomology: Fucking Brutal.

Really powerful issue, and I fucking hate how Ginnie goes from psychological victim to physical victim. I like the world-building connections that I assume we're going to keep getting, like Harry, and I'm totally into the Cool Beans Count.
 
Stray Bullets #2 feels more like a traditional #1. It introduces arguably the main protagonist of this revolving door cast, Virgina "Ginny" Applejack. This also gives us that origin of that cool lookin' guy with his finger to his mouth, and heavily hits on the purpose of the title "Stray Bullets". Random, public acts of violence having shattering effects on more than just the intended target. Ginny is incredibly troubled by this, and unfortunately gets the wrong advice to bottle this all up, until it explodes into violence.

On a craft level, Lapham's already maturing. I want to bring attention to his lettering, which is all done by hand, by him. There are a lot of fun effects he uses here. The way the letters gets indistinct and unreadable when Ginny gets out of earshot of her sister, the "SORRY GINNY" mocking word balloon, the way Ginny's scream AAAAAAAAA actually becomes part of the art near the end. Lettering is one of the key ways comics differentiate their storytelling from other medium, and Lapham is in total control of the tone and pacing of his story by utilizing it to the fullest.

Coon Beans Count: 2
 
Two

This issue makes me sad and I don't like it :(

The continuous downward spiral of Ginny's life after that night at the movies is depressing and the ending is a total downer
 
ViewtifulJC said:
Stray Bullets #2 feels more like a traditional #1. It introduces arguably the main protagonist of this revolving door cast, Virgina "Ginny" Applejack. This also gives us that origin of that cool lookin' guy with his finger to his mouth, and heavily hits on the purpose of the title "Stray Bullets". Random, public acts of violence having shattering effects on more than just the intended target. Ginny is incredibly troubled by this, and unfortunately gets the wrong advice to bottle this all up, until it explodes into violence.

On a craft level, Lapham's already maturing. I want to bring attention to his lettering, which is all done by hand, by him. There are a lot of fun effects he uses here. The way the letters gets indistinct and unreadable when Ginny gets out of earshot of her sister, the "SORRY GINNY" mocking word balloon, the way Ginny's scream AAAAAAAAA actually becomes part of the art near the end. Lettering is one of the key ways comics differentiate their storytelling from other medium, and Lapham is in total control of the tone and pacing of his story by utilizing it to the fullest.

Coon Beans Count: 2
Click to expand...

Oh, man, I'm seriously happy to hear that Ginny is still around.

Also, I definitely noticed Lapham playing around with word balloons, like in #1 where Joey's dialogue balloons shiver and seem shaken at certain points. I'm really still fucking impressed with Lapham's art.
 
Stray Bullets #3 introduces us to a few more major and minor characters, without you really knowing. In retrospect, I see how smart the choice was for choosing #1 to be the story that it was instead of #2. The unpredictable nature of its story leads and narrative beats gives each issue its own identity, never know what the next issue will bring. #3, after an attention-grabbing opening violent chase, segways into the comfortable vibe of a party. Lapham is very adapt at handling this kind of atmosphere, laying the big comedic moments around mostly chill drinking and hanging out. But the great thing about it that its still a story, with a protagonist with a real history and understandable motivations. He's born into a crummy violent world, and when he sees how complacency has set in for Rosie, its the incident that gets him to take action, instead of waiting for the right moment. So of course it ends with his long term plans(Being a big shot with Harry's approval) and his short-term goal(fuckin' Nina and letting life lead him anywhere) come into conflict.

Cool Beans count: 3
 
Read 3 and I really dug it.

After the rather depressing and brutal previous issue, this one felt like a great breather with lots of what I do enjoy from this series so far-- dialogue! The whole tone is a lot more mellow than the last two and it's cool to see some familiar faces in the initial chaos that takes place when the party begins. Feeling more positive about this book now.
 
Read issue 2. The series title has never been more apt. Weirdly almost more horrifying than that first issue because the story is more personal and we're seeing lasting aftereffects on some innocent bystander. Kind of thing that makes it more relatable.

Once again struck by how much is packed into the issue. Thinking I might add it to my pull list if it keeps up.
 
I think, for me at least, the major difference between issues 1 and 2 was the humor. 1 was so absurd with its violence that it was comical. It was two goons just making a snowballing mess as one falls in love with a corpse while the other tells stories to attempt to reassure his partner, all the while driving in a car filled with bodies and beer cans.

2 is just absolutely fucked, as a little girl's world gets ruined by Spanish Scott.
 
Filthy Slug said:
I think, for me at least, the major difference between issues 1 and 2 was the humor. 1 was so absurd with its violence that it was comical. It was two goons just making a snowballing mess as one falls in love with a corpse while the other tells stories to attempt to reassure his partner, all the while driving in a car filled with bodies and beer cans.

2 is just absolutely fucked, as a little girl's world gets ruined by Spanish Scott.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the book kinda goes from one extreme to the other. It can darkly funny or tragic as hell, or a mix of both. Or something else entirely.

You read #3 yet? Filthy Slug(and gketter) pls
 
Filthy Slug said:
I think, for me at least, the major difference between issues 1 and 2 was the humor. 1 was so absurd with its violence that it was comical. It was two goons just making a snowballing mess as one falls in love with a corpse while the other tells stories to attempt to reassure his partner, all the while driving in a car filled with bodies and beer cans.

2 is just absolutely fucked, as a little girl's world gets ruined by Spanish Scott.
Click to expand...

I thought the first issue was kind of unsettling the more you see of Joey and how broken he is mentally. I felt bad for him especially after the third issue.
 
ViewtifulJC said:
Yeah, the book kinda goes from one extreme to the other. It can darkly funny or tragic as hell, or a mix of both. Or something else entirely.

You read #3 yet? Filthy Slug(and gketter) pls
Click to expand...

Tyrant Rave said:
I thought the first issue was kind of unsettling the more you see of Joey and how broken he is mentally. I felt bad for him especially after the third issue.
Click to expand...

Not yet--Mad Max took up my entire night. But I'm not reading anything but Stray Bullets tonite, so I'll catch up right after work. Also, I kind of wanted Joey to take on this Harry dude on some emotionally/mentally disturbed Punisher type thing. I guess that ain't happening!
 
I was a fan of how issue three's tone completely changes in the issue. It starts off with the chase through the city and then next comes this very chill party where characters are just drinking and having a good time. It's like the violence and action from issue two carried over into the beginning of issue three even though it featured a completely different story.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Spanish Scott. I think he will become a very interesting character.
 
Issue # 3 is great because you can start connecting the broken pieces of all of these characters. When Spanish Scott is around, there's now a feeling of dread, of potential imminent violence (like with the elderly neighbor scene). And when young Joey is shown, we now know that his perceptions of love and sexual relationships are completely fucked due to his Mom.

Also, man the police in this town/city fucking suck at their jobs.
 
We come to my favorite issue so far, Stray Bullets #4. The first time you read it, you can't help but expect the worst. Lapham JUST put this girl through the ringer in #2, Jesus fuck don't tell me this guy is about to take advantage of her. Lapham uses the black scene transitions to keep us off-balance throughout the story, never knowing what sequence is gonna pop up next. He gives us some VERY sus panels from the politician's point of view, like the focus on Ginny's lap or her thumb sucking. Stray Bullets so far has taught that violence and perversion can strike at any moment, so it throws us for a loop when its subverted. There's a very tense sequence when the cop shows up at the store, and we feel something's gonna go down...and then it doesn't. We hold on the very end and think the old man's gonna take advantage of Ginny...and he does, but not in the way anybody was expecting.

Beyond the clever story structure, its also an important issue in Ginny's development. We have a girl's been violently assaulted and sexually confused, with no peers to talk to about her issues. She starts to open up to a man she thinks is a friend, and he ends up using her for his own good and bringing right back to the one place she didn't want to be. And who even knows if that was really a bug/ant Ginny saw in the car, the girl's got quite an imagination as you saw with the Mantis sequence as you'll see later.

Cool Beans count: 4
 
Thank fuck it wasn't a pedo issue. God dammit, Lapham--was seriously on edge for the entire ride.

I also liked that in the field, the giant Mantis seemed to be eating and ravaging the metaphysical insides of Ginny, a child: a comic book, some sugar, some toys. It seems as though she was getting her childhood literally ripped from her.
 
I didn't really notice how much Lapham's art changes over the course of the series when I went through it the first time but looking at these early issues again -- it's a dramatic difference from how he looks now
 
Filthy Slug said:
I also liked that in the field, the giant Mantis seemed to be eating and ravaging the metaphysical insides of Ginny, a child: a comic book, some sugar, some toys. It seems as though she was getting her childhood literally ripped from her.
Click to expand...

That was my observation as well! Glad I wasn't alone there.

frye said:
I didn't really notice how much Lapham's art changes over the course of the series when I went through it the first time but looking at these early issues again -- it's a dramatic difference from how he looks now
Click to expand...

I was noticing that as well, its kinda like rereading Scott Pilgrim and seeing O'Malley grow as an artist between the years and the volumes. For Lapham, I was also noticing how talented a storyteller he is already, back in the mid-90s. He's got a real smooth pacing with the 8 panel grid, a flair for dialog up there with Ennis, comfortable with comedy and violence and everything in-between.
 
God issue 4 was so tense. Like Filthy said, I am SO happy it didn't go down the route that Lapham was hinting at throughout. He really nailed the art in this one. It felt almost claustrophobic at points like the scene in the car while Paul went in to do the job. It made you feel just as paranoid as Ginny probably felt and it worked out so well.

What a curveball at the end too. That was brilliant.
 
Been covered already but for an issue that has a good outcome of a sort it's still really tense and creepy, with me in a constant state of "Oh god, fuck no, please no". I mean the guy is pulling faces that Bueno Excelente would be proud of.

I actually thought the whole mantis sequence was drug-induced. But there isn't really a whole lot to support that other than the smoke she's blowing out of her mouth at the start. Probably just a cold day. The only other thing was the way she smokes that cig like a boss, which makes me think she's experienced with that.

Also interesting to note the song playing on the radio after she's just been picked up. I focused too much on the "Only the good die young" and thought here we go :(.
Having a quick read of the wiki entry the girl in the song also called Virginia keeps her chastity intact by the end of it.

4 Buenos out of 5
 
arkon said:
Been covered already but for an issue that has a good outcome of a sort it's still really tense and creepy, with me in a constant state of "Oh god, fuck no, please no". I mean the guy is pulling faces that Bueno Excelente would be proud of.

I actually thought the whole mantis sequence was drug-induced. But there isn't really a whole lot to support that other than the smoke she's blowing out of her mouth at the start. Probably just a cold day. The only other thing was the way she smokes that cig like a boss, which makes me think she's experienced with that.

Also interesting to note the song playing on the radio after she's just been picked up. I focused too much on the "Only the good die young" and thought here we go :(.
Having a quick read of the wiki entry the girl in the song also called Virginia keeps her chastity intact by the end of it.

4 Buenos out of 5
Click to expand...

That reminds me, I was banned the whole time you discovered the amazingness that is Ennis/McCrea Hitman. How godlike is that run tho?

--

Stray Bullets #5 introduces us to Orson, an nerdy innocent kid who, like Ginny, has his life changed after witnessing an act of violence perpetuated by Spanish Scott. But while Virginia is all kinds of fucked up, Orson seems hilariously goodhearted and moral. Always doing what his parents say, very studious, not great around women. His seduction into the seedy underworld of Stray Bullets would be tragic if it wasn't so often played for laughs, like the night phone call. The stand-out sequence is of course the part, a dream logic montage of sexual dares, visual motifs, playful lettering, and dramatic reveals. Poor Joey lol.

Beth introduces herself to Orson near the end, almost casually, with little fanfare played up for the interesting relationship that going to develop between those two.

Cool Beans count: 5
 
Yo, Lapham is killing it with these party scenes. Orson getting absolutely wrecked was hilarious, and the absurdness of him falcon-punching the lady at the end was perfect.

My favorite scene/panels, though, are Orson and Rosie (aka Moms of the year) sitting in the diner, and the lighting very dramatically shining light on Orson and dark on Rosie's half of the panel/table. Really nice symbolism that works well in a black and white book.

I'm glad Orson wasn't taken out by Spanish Scott, though. That dude is just fucking trouble everytime he shows up in a story.

Also, I straight spilled a bunch of Indian food on my Stray Bullets omnibus, so that's fucking awesome.
 
ViewtifulJC said:
That reminds me, I was banned the whole time you discovered the amazingness that is Ennis/McCrea Hitman. How godlike is that run tho?
Click to expand...

So godlike. Might need a Preacher re-read to confirm, but it's probably my favourite Ennis-written thing and has served as my intro to McCrea's work. I'll follow those guys on anything at this point.
 
Filthy Slug said:
Yo, Lapham is killing it with these party scenes. Orson getting absolutely wrecked was hilarious, and the absurdness of him falcon-punching the lady at the end was perfect.

My favorite scene/panels, though, are Orson and Rosie (aka Moms of the year) sitting in the diner, and the lighting very dramatically shining light on Orson and dark on Rosie's half of the panel/table. Really nice symbolism that works well in a black and white book.

I'm glad Orson wasn't taken out by Spanish Scott, though. That dude is just fucking trouble everytime he shows up in a story.

Also, I straight spilled a bunch of Indian food on my Stray Bullets omnibus, so that's fucking awesome.
Click to expand...

Great observation with the lighting choices, and nicejob on the Indian food spilling. That smell will linger eternal, so you'll never lose this book!

arkon said:
So godlike. Might need a Preacher re-read to confirm, but it's probably my favourite Ennis-written thing and has served as my intro to McCrea's work. I'll follow those guys on anything at this point.
Click to expand...

Can't believe they actually doing a Section Eight mini series this year
mjcry1.png
 
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