Mister Negativity: And Other Tales of Supernatural Law

Rating:
Summary: Raising the Bar
Review: A demonic dybuk sues for religious tolerance. The horrific creations of a respected author unleash a legal nightmare. The witness stand opens to the walking undead. Ghosts and ghouls approach the bench. Eight-hundred pound talking gorillas sit wherever they want. Beware the Creatures of the Night...(reads the masthead of the monthly Supernatural Law) They Have Lawyers! You don't have to be a comic book fan to recognize the concept as brilliant.

In both comic book and strip form, Batton Lash has long chronicled the lives, loves, and legal adventures of Alanna Wolf and Jeff Byrd, the Counselors of the Macabre (along with their secretary, and my personal heartthrob, the ever intrepid Mavis). As horrifically good as those past exhibits are and have been (and they have been very, very good), Lash has raised the bar with this tightly crafted volume, Mister Negativity and Other Tales of Supernatural Law. With written wit that recalls the hell-er, halcyon sensibilities of Forrest Ackerman's Famous Monsters of Filmland and a strong, sure ink line akin to the best of the EC artistic stable, this offering ranks its creator as one of the greatest in the medium of comics.

Enjoy Mister Negativity...for a number of reasons. Enjoy it for the recognizable pop culture foibles Lash so accurately lampoons, for the well woven plots and subplots he smartly conceives, and for the wonderfully realized characters he brings to life with a deft stroke of the pen.

Simply put, this trade paperback collects some of the most consistently fine work you'll find in any comics series of any age.

Rating:
Summary: Rewards multiple readings!
Review: Fun-filled (and pun-filled) stories of a law firm that represents monsters, ghosts and boy magicians. Writer and artist, Batton Lash, manages to wring every possible joke out of every new client, making for some groans among the many guffaws. Great fun for fans of Scary Godmother, Stephen King, Spider Robinson and Universal monster movies. I wouldn't hesitate to read this to my son, but there are barrels of puns and references that would go right over his head and make it much more enjoyable for adults. "Supernatural Law" is among the very best comics being published today and this big collection of recent issues makes it easy to jump on board or to inexpensively reread favorite stories. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Postively Entertaining
Review: I am always excited when a new Supernatural Law trade paperback becomes available. Not only does it provide me with the pleasure and convenience of rereading stories from the comic books that I so anxiously await every couple of months, but it also allows for a wider audience to come to know and appreciate some of the best humor writing available. Consistently clever and engaging, the tales of Alanna Wolff and Jeff Byrd, attorneys who specialize in cases involving the supernatural, spoof everything from classic monsters like The Mummy to modern masters of horror like Stephen King. I am especially fond of the title story of "Mr. Negativity", the "Trial of the 800 Pound Gorilla" (Just can't resist those gorillas!), and a tale told almost entirely through pictures called "Words Don't Do It Justice." Treat yourself or someone you love (even a young person!)to this latest volume and you will find yourself seeking out other books by Batton Lash, like "Vampire Brat" or "Sonovawitch." Moreover, you will love those, too! Now, do as the judge says, "Order! Order!"

Rating:
Summary: Postively Entertaining
Review: I am always excited when a new Supernatural Law trade paperback becomes available. Not only does it provide me with the pleasure and convenience of rereading stories from the comic books that I so anxiously await every couple of months, but it also allows for a wider audience to come to know and appreciate some of the best humor writing available. Consistently clever and engaging, the tales of Alanna Wolff and Jeff Byrd, attorneys who specialize in cases involving the supernatural, spoof everything from classic monsters like The Mummy to modern masters of horror like Stephen King. I am especially fond of the title story of "Mr. Negativity", the "Trial of the 800 Pound Gorilla" (Just can't resist those gorillas!), and a tale told almost entirely through pictures called "Words Don't Do It Justice." Treat yourself or someone you love (even a young person!)to this latest volume and you will find yourself seeking out other books by Batton Lash, like "Vampire Brat" or "Sonovawitch." Moreover, you will love those, too! Now, do as the judge says, "Order! Order!"

Rating:
Summary: Great Art, Clever Stories!
Review: I loved this book. Even if you don't read comics regularly, it will provide tons of entertainment. The clever and amusing plots make you want more and the art is a joy to behold, providing rich depth to already great stories. With each one there are treats and surprises for readers. Whether it's about relationships, job issues, lawyers, or pop culture, Batton Lash weaves a yarn that is exquisitely rewarding and reveals his remarkable understanding of human nature.

Rating:
Summary: Great Art, Clever Stories!
Review: I loved this book. Even if you don't read comics regularly, it will provide tons of entertainment. The clever and amusing plots make you want more and the art is a joy to behold, providing rich depth to already great stories. With each one there are treats and surprises for readers. Whether it's about relationships, job issues, lawyers, or pop culture, Batton Lash weaves a yarn that is exquisitely rewarding and reveals his remarkable understanding of human nature.

Rating:
Summary: Supernatural horrors need lawyers too!
Review: Mister Negativity: And Other Tales Of Supernatural Law by Batton Lash is a fascinating, black-and-white, graphic novel style anthology with a unique premise - that in today's complicated story, supernatural horrors need lawyers too! A pair of attorneys specializing in the supernaturally afflicted take on cases involving a man so negative he literally repels everyone around him, a young wizard, a gangster who has literally turned into a 800-pound purple gorilla, a misogynistic demon who has been "born again" and pursues church membership, and much more. Suspension of disbelief is swept away in the very believeably written stories, with compelling characterization and all-too-human motives among man and unearthly monstrosity alike. Nicely enhanced with an informed and informative introduction by Tom DeHaven, Mister Negativity is enthusiastically recommended to all graphic novel fans.