Murder by Remote Control

Trippy and Deeply Cool, (or, "Dragnet" With Magic Mushrooms)

I just read the new Dover re-issue of this book, which was originally published in 1986 by Ballantine. The passage of 30 years has done nothing to dim the book's appeal. Indeed, the contrast between some of the dated aspects of the story/drawing and the prescient and very current eco-tech themes adds a good deal to the reader's enjoyment.

You know those neo-noir books that feature "existential detectives" and hippy-dippy pretension? Well, this looked like it might be headed down that path, especially given that it opens with a heavy Zen-centric foreward and closes with an afterword that takes itself a bit too seriously. But fear not. The actual writer and artist went for something substantial but still fun and entertaining, and the result might very well be important to genre professionals, but it's also just entertaining and satisfying.

The murder mystery is straight forward enough. A badguy entrepreneur is killed by a remote controlled model plane. (Drones anyone? This was 1986, remember.) A special investigator is called in to buck the local cop and to question the four colorful potential perpetrators. So far, so standard. But, each suspect is a bit over the top, the investigator has an odd sort of vibe, and the whole affair seems to teeter between noir reality and a psychedelic head trip.

The penciling and inking is sharp, clear and precise, which makes the story easy to follow and which allows for some fascinating "big" pages that look more like 80's posters or music album covers. The black and white works; this could very well have been too busy and pretty in full color.

So, it's a good story, well told and confidently drawn. There is a lot of mellow good humor informing the storytelling and lots of sly pop culture and movie references that welcome the reader into the project. I enjoyed this a great deal.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

A fine publication from this publishing house, and long may their interest in reviving lost graphic novels last, especially if the results are like this. Two introductory essays and the first reprint of this book in English since the mid-1980s, when it brought neither creator a penny in royalties. That's not too impossible to believe from the contents, a politically charged thriller set on the coast of Maine, that opens out into quite surreal visual pages. I'd liken them to something more strong than Busby Berkley meets cut-out-and-paste animated pop videos, if only I could, for there's something very kinetic about the weirdness the artist designed. It does at times get a little too hippy-dippy for my mind, but I could live with that, especially when the artwork was so great – really crisp and detailed inkwork, and while the artist seemed a bit self-disparaging in the quotes given, he needn't be – he has the penmanship to become an instant favourite. So a sterling treatment given of a thoroughly interesting (if not perfectly to my taste) book makes for a recommended volume. I'm glad I learnt what I did and enjoyed what I did courtesy this book.

A bizarre, awesome graphic novel that is super timely and relevant despite the fact that it was written in the 80's. The artwork is amazing and trippy.

An extremely trippy graphic novel about murder, an odd collection of suspects, and an equally odd detective.

'Murder By Remote Control' is a collaboration between international writer Janwillem van de Wetering and his neighbor, artist Paul Kirchner. The book did very poorly during it's initial publication, but this reprint should bring new life to a story that feels just as fresh and interesting today.

The story starts with the murder of Mr. Jones who is out on a lake and is killed by a remote control airplane. There are plenty of suspects in the area and lots of motives. Mr. Jones was not a very nice guy, so his greed or disregard for the environment could have been his undoing. An unusual detective is sent to solve the murder. One who sees things differently. He definitely feels like a precursor to Agent Dale Cooper of the Twin Peaks TV series. The residents/suspects are all oddballs and recluses, and each have their own reason for despising Jones. The detective finds his way into their lives and heads to uncover the truth.

The art is alternately very normal and also strangely surreal. There are full page panels that have a strange symmetry. In a brilliant afterword by Stephen R. Bisette, written just for this edition, we get a look at the influences of artist Paul Kirchner. There is a definite Wally Wood style, but "this murder mystery erupted into a panoramic visionary tableaus, delirious visual and conceptual detours, stream-of-consciousness pageantry and lunacy at the turn of a phrase." It's quite unsettling, but I rather liked it. I'm glad this book got a reprint. I really feel that it was quite ahead of it's time, but might find new appreciation now, when the story has not aged a bit.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.