Combo #26
(US Comics Magazine) March 1997

INDEPENDENT REVIEW by Ian M. Feller

Strangehaven has a quirky Twin Peaks feel

Strangehaven #5, from Abiogenesis Press, is a bizarre soap opera-like story detailing the lives of people in a small, strange village somewhere in England. But, unlike other comics that feature the everyday events of their completely human characters (e.g. Strangers in Paradise), Strangehaven's cast of characters is far more "out there" . Like other comics in the genre, Strangehaven features characters with dark pasts and skeletons in the closet, as well as much more. The storyline has an air of mystery to it, and its bizarre characters are utterly and completely off the wall. There's an old blind woman with a house full of pets she talks to - and they answer her back! There's a shaman who formerly lived in the Amazon rain forest and looks as if he could be your uncle, except for the stories he tells of hunting monkeys for food. There's a young man who follows the shaman around for what may be reasons other than just curiosity. And the list goes on. Mind you, these are just the supporting characters. The book focuses on Alex, the latest person to move to the village; he was just passing through when he had a car accident and never left.

Gary Spencer Millidge has created a unique comic story with hints of mystery and weirdness that compels you to keep reading. The comic is broken down into three separate stories, each making up the whole story. Each has a cast of characters that, on the outside, seems fairly normal, but you can sense that there is more than meets the eye. Millidge's art is rich with detail, and the use of a real photo of a chicken during a story detailing the preparation of a dinner breaks up the flow of the line art, adding something disturbing to the mix. At first read, Strangehaven seems like any other comic in this genre, but upon further reflection you realize that you've missed the whole point. Imagine if Twin Peaks had been a comic book. Its characters all seemed like the person next door until you got to know their quirks. That's exactly the sense I got from reading this comic. Even though I started on issue #5, I felt immediately drawn into the strangeness. A previous issue recap titled "Village Gossip" helps the first-time reader know what's happening.

While fans of comics like Strangers in Paradise and even Stray Bullets will find this a logical addition to their monthly reading, this black-and-white $2.95 comic will spark an interest in anyone up for a good story that swings away from the mainstream. Once you pick it up, you'll want to stay with it just to find out what the hell is coming next. I'm sticking with it to find out more about the old blind woman and the shaman. These are two of the most unusual characters I've ever seen. My curiosity is more than piqued, and once you visit Strangehaven, yours will be too.

You can pick up a copy at your local comics stores, or by writing to Millidge's U.S. agent, Chris Staros at PO Box 1282, Marietta, GA 30061-1282.

©1997 Combo/Ian M. Feller

If you've read any notable pieces concerning Strangehaven that may have escaped our attention and does not appear here, we'd like to hear about them! E-mail us at webmonkey@millidge.com

All text and images (c) copyright Gary Spencer Millidge/Abiogenesis Press All rights reserved.