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Tales of the Starlight Drive-In #8
By Dan Horn March 22, 2010 - 10:10
Visionary Comics
Writer(s): Michael San Giacomo
Penciller(s): Giuseppe Pica, Paul McCusker, Shawn Geabhart
Inker(s): Giuseppe Pica, Paul McCusker, Shawn Geabhart
Colourist(s): Giuseppe Pica, Paul McCusker, Shawn Geabhart
Letterer(s): Tyrone McCarthy, Paul McCusker
$0.99 US
Visionary Comics’ Tales of the Starlight Drive-In is
something of an enigma in the current comic industry. With little-to-no action
and leaning heavy on dialogue and a sort of real-life-fable mechanic, this
ongoing series takes us on a cinematic journey, recounting the past 50 years
and the films that helped shape them. Manned by AWOL veteran Neil, an
ever-changing supervisory staff, and some college kids trying to make a few
bucks, the drive-in becomes a crux where moviegoers’ lives collide, become
entangled, and change forever.
In issue #8, we are taken back to the late 90s, where we see
such decade cinema staples as Twister, Primary Colors, and Wag the Dog. Each
film has its own story to tell off-screen: A tornado ironically threatens to
tear apart the Starlight during a screening of Twister, and a projector room
mutiny ensues; President Bill Clinton closes down the Starlight for a private
viewing of Primary Colors and grants a strange favor in return; A few “old
school” reporters (characters from San Giacomo’s Phantom Jack series) share “war
stories” and discover the next generation of journalism at a 23rd anniversary
showing of All the President’s Men.
To be honest, the Twister story was mediocre at best, but
San Giacomo recovers nicely from the momentary lapse in writing ability. The
following chapters are imaginative and mellow, and they charmingly depict the
magic of the drive-in theater. If nothing else, this comic is different and
serves as a showcase of some great artwork from Pica, McCusker, and Geabhart.
Tales of the Starlight Drive-In is a niche title for fans of light introspective
fiction and American pop-culture, but it’s an interesting read nonetheless.
#8 is available in both print and digital versions from
VisionaryComics.com for only $0.99.