Tales From The Outer Boroughs #1 [1991] (Random Comics Theatre)

Random Comics Theatre

Tales From The Outer Boroughs #1 [1991]

This was a comic created by Douglas Michael, published in 1991 by Fantagraphics.  Until today I assumed it was a one-shot, never having seen another issue, but it turns out that there were five issues of the series published between 1991 and 1992.

Prior to this I had read Michael's one-shot THE ELVIS MANDIBLE, published by Piranha Press, and liked that. His work reminds me a bit of Rick Geary's work, which I'm quite fond of, and I'm not surprised in searching right now that both of them did work for NATIONAL LAMPOON magazine.

This issue has a 32-page story called "Mister Seebring".  It's told in a series of single-page scenes, each with a separate title, which makes me think this might have been serialized somewhere before this publication.  The title character is a mysterious individual who talks to a photo of his dead dog, which sends him out to the suburbs and an old acquaintance. We gradually find out the details of a murder plot, complicated by a snooping neighbour.  Pretty well told little story with a lot of twists in just a few pages, feels a lot like something you'd see as a subplot of a David Lynch project.

Might have to track down the other issues, though I'm unclear if anything from this issue continues in those.  Doesn't look like there was ever a reprint of the series.