The King lives, and let me tell you he is shining bright in all his rhinestone glory in “Tales Of The Rockabilly Rambler”. This project is a love letter to the King as his myth is elevated across genres in a string of short comics. From supernatural horror to light hearted sci-fi and gritty realism Tales delivers so much variety of content that no reader could walk without having some level of enjoyment from this book. Touching as many bases as they could this team of various writers and artists really accomplish their goal of creating a work of pop art itself by re-evaluating the archetype of the hero.
What makes this book interesting is how Elvis as a character is used as a stand in hero. Elvis stands as a masculine archetype across different genres demons, ninjas, and aliens as well as across an array of settings, such as the old west, cyberpunk cities, and a familiar cantina. He represents the lone hero and reluctant hero that is synonymous with the American character. Given his symbolic status it calls us to question how we as a society elevate our pop stars to that of myths. Very often we look up to these icons with such rose colored glasses that we forget they’re humanity. This book draws attention to that in a subtle and smart way through the lens of pop culture.
This is a collaboration piece really allows for the artists to breath executing their specific styles. This book featured a wide variety of different styles of art from dark charcoal inspired digital art to webtoons inspired fan art. Even though a lot of these styles clash the different styles feed into each other well and allow for a good flow that brings these stories together, even if not linearly them thematically. Even though all the art in this book was top notch I have to mention two specific artists that I feel stood out in above the rest and that is Aaron Allen and Chuck Suffel. The story “Songs n right and Wrong” had phenomenal panel layouts that really explored the environments and variety of characters and pop culture references. The coloring was some of the best I have seen in some indie books. The story “Elviris Mistress of the Park in Parks and Wreck” had amazing coloring and character work as well. The aesthetic choices made by Allen are reminiscent of a 80s pop art with an engaging aspect as he fills every panel with action and purpose. As was the choice of casting Elvis as a woman both inspired and fresh.
Over all this book if definitely worth picking up and I recommend supporting their Kickstarter so you too can experience one of the smartest and fun anthology reads I have had in years. Well-done boys I look forward to Liberace next. 10/10
Editor’s Note: Tales Of The Rockabilly Rambler is currently at 3,577 dollars of its 3,000 dollar goal with 7 days left to go. So if you’re wanting to experience the King in wild new ways, get in on this today!
Tales Of The Rockabilly Rambler
48 Hour Comic Project/Zipatone Classics
Full Color/Hard Cover
48 pages
With stories from:
Aaron Allen and Chuck Suffel – Sing Songs ‘n Right Wrongs
Zap Farmer and Dominic Velando – Drugs Squad
Aaron Allen and Jeff Aldrich – Parks and Wreck
Genevieve Trainor and JA Allen – Return of the King
Ryan Morrow and Joseba Morales – Four Kings
Larry Quiggins and Dominic Velando – Now or Never
Robert Stevenson and Patrick Buermeyer – Devil in Disguise
Santi Guillen and Chuck Suffel – Killer Elvis
JA Allen – Sea Monster Sue
With pin up art by: David Davies
Edited by: Genevieve Trainor
And Lettering by: JA Allen
Cover by: Bob McLeod
Reviewed by: Jimmy Frey
Summary: The Rambler is a psychedelic selection of original short form comics focusing on a rock ‘n’ roll icon and his adventures through a multiverse of time and space. Each team of creators was challenged with a given theme and genre; all focusing on the king of swivel’s fictional tales of law reinforcement.
