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Cocopiazo #1
Review posted: 18 Oct 2005
Writer: Daniel Warner
Artist: Daniel Warner
Publisher: Slave Labor Graphics
4.00 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Louis Vitela
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To simply call Cocopiazo “quirky” would force me to
drastically broaden my definition of the term, yet no other seems to
fit. The main character is frustrated writer and petty thief John
Victory, an antihero for the twenty-first century. His only
redeeming quality seems to be that he’s completely aware and
accepting of his own self-centered behavior. Although this first
Many mainstream comics
don’t do as well as Warner at persuading the reader to move to
the next page.
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issue covers a good deal of background (and does it efficiently and
engagingly), the main part of the story concerns John Victory’s
presence at Satan’s wedding. John swiped an invitation from an
actual invitee and proceeded to be his narcissistic self at the
reception, angering nearly everyone he talked to and seducing any
woman he chose, to everyone’s — including readers’
— amazement. Which brings up a point: in case the words
“Satan’s Wedding” didn’t tip you off, be
warned that Cocopiazo is not a family book. Language and
sexual situations (way past innuendo) make this book a PG-13 at the
very least, possibly even an R.
Warner’s writing is excellent. His sense of humor really
comes through in the characters and situations in which they are
placed. Although Death has been personified in fiction many times (my
favorite is undoubtedly by Terry Pratchett in his Discworld novels),
Warner’s whiny and vindictive Death is refreshing. Also amusing are the recurring shots he takes at writers and the business of writing and selling books. If you’ve ever taken a course in writing, Warner’s references will make you smile. What really impressed me was Warner’s deft execution of the unfathomable John Victory, who moves through the story wielding his own unique moral code. Eventually Victory’s chutzpah made me laugh all on its own.
Exceptionally well developed is Warner’s sense of timing. Many mainstream comics
don’t do as well as Warner at persuading the reader to move to
the next page, and the final panel left me convinced to return for the
next installment of Mr. Victory’s adventures.
Dan’s art proves to be an excellent match for his own
storytelling. The characters are cartoony and expressive, and creepy
when need be. His offbeat and minimalist approach to drawing Death
— a skull head in a mass of solid black robes — worked
very well. From the first I hardly noticed that the book was done in
black and white, and after having read it through a few times I’m
not even sure it would work as well in color. I especially liked that
all the panels were set on a black page, adding to the finished look of the book.
Issues one through four of Cocopiazo are available, and I found the next three issues as amusing, quirky, and compelling
as this first issue. Issue five is due out in November, and I'll definitely be
adding it to my collection. (For mature readers.)
—CCdC— Cover image used without explicit permission in accordance with the "Fair Use" provision of US copyright law.
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