Keep your eye out for this one because an early and bizarre fandom superhero is back, and his name isn't Iris. Visually created in 1955 by Richard "Grass" Green and completely fleshed out by Biljo White in 1963, The Eye is a criminal executioner in blue britches, red shirt, white cape and boots, and a huge, well, eye for a head. Eye wouldn't kid you.

      Enough puns. The Eye Collection presents about 30% new material and reprints the earliest and latest exploits of this odd and delightful character.

      There, I wrote it: The Eye is delightful. He is also inventive, entertaining and neither brooding or introspective. This is adventure for the sake of adventure and fun.

      Especially excellent is "The Untold Origin of the Eye" which is of as high a quality of art and story as any origin story this reviewer has read.

      The twists added to clichés like 'the child witnesses a parent's death and decides to fight crime' are wonderful. The plot is fast-paced and engrossing, dialog is crisp and believable within the inner-logic of the series, and it is befuddling why Eye is not published by one of the 'big guns' of comics, DC or Marvel. Special thanks to Bill Schelly for his scripting, and for his preservation of the early history of comic fandom.

      And for those you think this collection has won a "highly recommended" because The Eye was co-created by my dear friend and collaborator "Grass" Green, well, you are right. It is also dang good.

      The Eye Collection/144 pgs. & $13.95, Hamster Press/words: Bill Schelly & friends; art: Ron Frenz & friends/available at comics shops and www.billschelly.com.

      Review by Michael Vance

      MINIVIEW: NakedFella Comics #7: Herman, The Legal Labrador by David Bluemenstein and Glen Smith. A well-drawn and written lark about a dog with a law degree earns no recommendation because of pointless nasty sentences at the bottom of some pages, and profanity.

      Review by Michael Vance

Never miss an issue! Fill in your email address below and we will notify you every time there is a new review.

Worry not, we won't trade or abuse you with ads, we'll just notify you when a new column arrives.

 Questions? Comments? A comic you wish reviewed? 
Write: 1427 S. Delaware Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74104. Or email Michael Vance.