From Laughter to Gut Punches: The World According to Chip Zdarsky

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Reading Chip Zdarsky is akin to taking a ride on an emotional rollercoaster. On one page, you will be roaring with laughter, amused by the ridiculous situation the character has ended up in. Turn the page and you will be met with emotional devastation unlike anything you would have seen coming. Starting his work in comics as the “funny guy,” Zdarsky has quickly moved from writing “Extremely Bad Advice” to being the main voice behind one of the industry’s most beloved characters.

 

The Duality of Chip Zdarsky

The main reason for this is the duality (or the trichotomy if you examine his many names) of the man. While his early comic works were full of humor and wacky situations, even there you could find a hidden emotional maturity. As Zdarsky “graduated” into some more well-known characters, his writing gained gravitas, but never lost that humorous touch.

All you need is to take a look at his Daredevil run, for example. Matt is charming, witty, yet plagued with guilt and the weight of legacy the whole way through. The same applies to Bruce Wayne. To Peter Parker. Of course, that is not to say his stories run on the same tracks – Chip brings new twists and interesting characters wherever he goes – but the underlying humanity was present all the way back to Howard the Duck.

I believe that it is this mix that makes a dangerous weapon in Zdarsky’s hands. He will use humor to disarm his readers, lulling us in, expecting a smooth sea. And then, he hits us with the real zinger, twisting our expectations and showing us humanity behind the humor. As someone who uses jokes as a shield way too often in life, I have always felt very connected to his stories, and they resonated with me.

Another thing that I appreciate with Chip’s stories is the consequences they bring with them. Comics are well known for loving to reset everything back to status quo. Zdarsky doesn’t always allow that – that’s why we still have Elektra running around the rooftops in that kick-ass Daredevil costume.

There is one difficulty I have with the man, though. As Chip Zdarsky is visiting Walt’s, I look at my bookshelf and find myself in a pickle. I’m not sure which book(s) to bring for signing! And so today, I am writing this article in order to help you – and myself – make the choice. Here are some amazing things Chip Zdarsky has written thus far and why they matter to me so much.

 

Sex, Time, and Tenderness: The Brilliance of Sex Criminals

How do you even introduce this book? Chip’s breakthrough success was when he joined forces with Matt Fraction (of the Iron-Man and Hawkeye fame) and wrote a book that is so out there and bonkers that it left my puritan teenage self clutching his pearls (and I don’t mean it in the way these two creeps do).

Suzie Dickson (because of course) is just your average girl: she has a complicated relationship with her mother, throws parties to save books from a local library, and every time she orgasms, she stops time. She thought she was the only person with this issue (the last of the three), until she met Jon. Now this couple finds themselves in the most unusual predicament – they have a lot of sex and rob banks.

Even though the book might seem like it’s trying to shock you (which, let’s be honest, it does), it’s endlessly charming, funny, and heartwarming. At the core of it, it’s a love story about two people that grow to care about each other very, very much, but are not the best for each other (see: bank robbing). And it will pull on your heartstrings. With only thirty issues (and some specials), it left me wanting more while also closing the story in a spectacular fashion.

The art is as spectacular as the writing. Zdrasky tackles it in his style, which, while can be cartoony or flat to some, I enjoy quite a lot. His characters are distinct and recognizable, realistic yet with a plethora of visual gags that will make you giggle. The scene from issue #1 that will forever be etched into my mind has Suzie and her future bestie Rach go on a smoke break in their middle school bathroom, where Rach draws a spectrum of sex positions varying from mildly humorous, to respectfully concerning to The User Agreement and The Candle In The Wind (“Y’know – for Lady Di”). Just like Suzie, I was not ready for it.

And while Image has just recently released Sex Criminals: The Complete Edition which I’ve had my eyes on, I do have the collection of the three aptly named hardcovers, which I will probably bring to the shop (there are also trades if you like them softer) ((and don’t worry, the board beneath the dust jacket is completely non-sexual so that you can read the book in public)):

·         Big Hard Sex Criminals Volume 1

·         Big Hard Sex Criminals Volume 2

·         Big Hard Sex Criminals Volume 3

·         Sex Criminals TP Volume 1: One Weird Trick

·         Sex Criminals TP Volume 2: Two Worlds One Cop

·         Sex Criminals TP Volume 3: Three The Hard Way

·         Sex Criminals TP Volume 4: Fourgy

 

How to Bring Back Howard The Duck

Zdrasky’s first major work for the Big Two was a revival of a cult classic book – Howard the Duck. Originally created and written by Steve Gerber, the character has had a long and tortured history in Marvel comics (and an interesting escapade into the Image universe, which I encourage you to look into). It seemed like only Gerber could give the character proper respect and write Howard in the way he deserved – until Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones got onto the scene.

Howard the Duck by Zdarsky and Quinones stands out to me as a story that both pays homage to and respects the original Gerber’s run. While (in my humble opinion) it cannot reach the heights of Gerber’s work (and no one will be able to on the character), Zdarsky and Quinones give Howard the respect he deserves. For quite some time, Howard has been treated as a throwaway joke. Instead of taking this low-hanging-fruit approach, Zdarsky and Quinones take Howard seriously.

Instead, they take a look at the Marvel universe and ridicule it for all they’ve got. Howard is the one person (duck?) with any common sense in a crazy, crazy world! He will need to deal with Guardians of the Galaxy, Dr. Strange, alien invasions, and dimensional hopping, metatextual jokes, as well as just trying to survive in this universe he knows he doesn’t belong in. All of this is, of course (as it should with Howard), deeply steeped in satire. Throughout it all, there is a strong emotional core to the book – Howard doesn’t feel like he belongs. Zdrasky populates his world with cool characters (he added Aunt May into the main cast!!!) and ensures Howard finds a new home.

Quinones’ art throughout the book is on par with Zdarsky’s writing – and it needs to be in order to match the intensity and insanity of everything we’re seeing. It’s cartoonish and expressive enough to clash with the clean and vibrant linework, which only enhances the comedy. Howard the Duck omnibus is one of those thinner, cheaper, one-and-done omnis, but the story has also been completely collected in a trade paperback as well.

 

Great Power, Greater Emotion: Zdarsky’s Spider-Man

Of course, one cannot talk about Chip Zdarsky’s work at Marvel without mentioning his Spider-Man. While Dan Slott was taking Peter international in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, it fell on Chip to ground the friendly-neighborhood Spidey firmly in New York City.

In the companion title Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, Zdarsky has Peter team up with Human Torch, his sister Teresa, Ant-Man, Black Panther and a wider cast of characters, while also dealing with a girl who wants to date Spider-Man, the superior foes of Spider-Man, Kingpin, etc.

The highlight of the run, though, are two issues. First, #6, is the issue in which Spidey agrees to an interview with J. Jonah Jameson, which ends with Peter revealing his identity to him. This changed the relationship between the two men moving forward – a status quo that still remains to this day. The second issue is the one Zdarsky won an Eisner for in 2019, handling both writing and art. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #310 (reverting to the original numbering) explores the ramifications of Peter helping a troubled kid escape from the police chase in a documentary style – with different New Yorkers talking about the impact Spidey has had on their lives. It’s fun, and it will pull your heart out and bash it against the wall into a million pieces. Read it!

The second work on Spider-Man, though, is probably what most people think about when mentioning Chip Zdarsky and Spidey. Spider-Man: Life Story shows us how Peter Parker’s life would progress had the comics developed in real time. Peter was bitten in 1962, which would make him 57 in 2019, at the publication. How would the key events of his life play out differently? Would he make different choices? This book is wonderfully written, and on top of that, illustrated by my favorite Spidey artist (Mark Bagley). It is a very compelling read and, yet again, a story that will make you emotional and make you laugh – sometimes at the same time.

And while I will forever be sad for not getting that fantastic Zdarsky DM cover, the omnibus edition Spider-Man by Chip Zdarsky is a treasury of the man’s work with the character, and a must have for all the fans of the wall crawler.

 

Confession and Consequence: The Rise of Daredevil

I have already mentioned this run in this article, and how can I not – I think this was when Zdarsky hit it BIG TIME. Daredevil has not had a bad run in over twenty years, and when Zdarsky took over from Soule and MacKay, he was left in a precarious position (as is tradition with Daredevil’s runs – always leave the next writer in trouble). Matt was in an accident and went through extensive therapy, and was just getting back into the game. His powers are still somewhat messed up, though, and on a patrol run one night, he makes a mistake that will cost him everything he has.

Zdarsky’s run on Daredevil wasn’t necessarily groundbreaking in any sense of the way, but this is thought to be due to the colossal work done on Matt before. However, Zdarsky’s run was sexy and it was fun, and that’s really all it needs to be. Chip has a great voice for Matt – plagued with guilt but often willingly hurtling himself into danger and into compromising positions. Matt is a deeply flawed character, and we love seeing him destroy his life over and over again only to rebuild it from the ground up, and this is what we got here as well. More importantly, though, this is where Zdarsky was fully able to shake off that “funny writer” attribute and do something darker, more reflective. He also made the story (until the ending arc, at least) deeply grounded and personal, even when the conflict between Murdock and Fist exploded into the streets of New York.

And while the book has some fantastic artwork as well, it’s Marco Checchetto’s work that launched it into the stratosphere. While Checchetto did some earlier work for Marvel, it was this book that made him Marvel’s premier artist. He is able to bring both the vulnerability of characters and the bombastic and highly dynamic action sequences with what looks like ease. His figures are highly realistic, but these acrobatic giants are never stiff. Sometimes I will just pour through their Daredevil omnibus to marvel at the art in the oversized format. It’s breathtaking. The first trade Know Fear is also readily available, and if you haven’t read a Daredevil book before (and even if you have), I highly encourage you to pick this one!

 

The Dark Knight Faces Himself: Batman by Chip Zdarsky

With the height that Zdarsky was able to reach on Daredevil, it was only a matter of time before the Distinguished Competition would pick him up for one of their characters. And soon after wrapping this chapter of Matt’s life, Chip moved to write Batman, inheriting the title from Tom King.

Batman by Chip Zdarsky keeps the mood and the tone of Daredevil – this is a deeply introspective book, examining who Bruce Wayne is, both alone and as a family man. This is a study of control and a complete collapse of it. For a character like Bruce Wayne – who is the epitome of control in DC universe – this was a very compelling angle to examine.

The run was a mix of high-concept action (mixing killer robots, alternate universes, etc.) with grounded, family dynamics. The art by Jorge Jimenez (and Josh Adams, Belen Ortega and Nikola Cizmesija) is also an added bonus to an already compelling narrative. Volume 1: Failsafe (or trade paperback) is an explosive start that will leave you wondering how in the world they can top it.

 

Beyond the Capes: Zdarsky’s Indie Worlds

Zdarsky started as an indie writer and artist, and this is a place he loves to return to. While the bombastic superhero storytelling is something he can do well, it is the more low-scale projects where his voice can really shine.

Jughead by Zdarsky follows the titular food-lover in the wake of the big Archie revival. Zdarsky is joined by Erica Henderson (of the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl fame) to deliver a fun Jughead Jones romp.

Stillwater by Zdarsky and Perez is a horror outing perfect for October. Stillwater is a town where time has stopped; no one ages and no one dies. Until our main character – an outsider – comes back home… (I lived in a town with the same name, so I ate this up as it was coming out, and it’s great!)

Public Domain is a story about a creator and his creation. It examines the way the comic industry treats (and eats) its professionals, and gives us a deep dive into the friendships and family dynamics of such individuals. At least we’re lucky this is an alternate reality, right?

 

Punchlines and Pain: Why Zdarsky Matters

With his humor and his deeply personal stories, it’s no wonder Zdarsky has been and will remain one of the top industry professionals. From high-octane thrill rides to murder mysteries, the man infuses every story he writes with his own brand of charm, and with the trajectory he has been on in recent years – the best is yet to come!