The business side of comics has been a captivating focus in Public Domain, now in its second story arc. The second issue in that story arc complicates things further in Public Domain #7, as two of the co-creators of the superhero Public Domain realize times are changing in the comics industry. What good is owning a character if your culture has moved past your antiquated point of view?
There’s a fairly juicy amount of drama in Public Domain #7, featuring two subplots with different angles using the older creator. They aim to recreate what worked in the past with their superhero comic, but their collaborators and a modern way of making comics keep butting heads with their vision.
On the one hand is Syd, which has a growing staff that wants to add diversity to the public domain. On the other hand is Jerry, who is forced to co-write with a rather dramatic flavor-of-the-month writer who insists on the hottest artist, Teddy Krank, to draw their book. Both men are very frustrated with their experiences.
Chip Zdarsky writes and draws a captivating story through the lens of these two projects. This series reflects our times and makes some subtle nods at creators being satirized. That includes Syd and Jerry, who are similar to the old-guard creators who keep putting out the same thing, which certainly pleases fans of a certain type.
Taking notes can be hard.
Credit: Image
Sure, the mopey and overly dramatic Carter Dusk is a bit much — who installs a rain machine outside their window to get in a specific mood to write? But that’s part of the fun. There’s a blending of realistic character writing, and characters meant to invoke a vibe. Zdarsky accomplishes a good blend of both, with nothing feeling out of the ordinary. And heck, maybe there are egomaniac creators who like to smell their own farts.
Regarding art, Zdarsky’s style works well, with a clean line and a good sense of character acting. David’s overly excited reaction to harsh notes from the new editor will make you smile, while Syd’s dismay in losing control of the book is clear as day. It’s somewhat reminiscent of old Flash cartoons, which pop well when more traditional superhero comic art is used in panels.
There’s a lot of drama in this issue, from the backer nearly firing folks to Syd and Jerry having quite a blow-up fight. While the tension is palpable, it’s also unclear where this is all going. You could start to guess, but the story hasn’t made it clear if there’s a clear character arc going or if this is more of a grab-bag around the dramas of making comics. The tension is great, but with so many characters, it’s unclear what it’s trying to say as far as the bigger picture.
Public Domain #7 keeps the tensions high as two older creators continue to face the challenges of a different comics industry. The melodrama of making comics couldn’t be more delicious. In an industry of more of the same, Public Domain offers the comics superfan something different.
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