Still on the Shelf #76 - Daisy Kutter: The Last Train
Craig Reade

Ever since the very first issue of Viper Comics’ Dead@17 series, I have made it a point to mention it as often as possible. Aside from the fact that I really did enjoy the series, I was impressed with the way that Viper handled itself as a company, and I wanted to see it grow so that I could eventually get a few more series beyond D@17.

Maybe some people thought Dead@17 was all that Viper had to offer – this is not uncommon in comic publishing. Abstract Studios, for example, rests pretty much everything on a single hit title – Strangers in Paradise. What some people might forget, however, is that Dead@17 was never alone at Viper. Back before Dead@17 was ever released, it was being promoted along with another title, Moonrush, which was to be released at the same time. That title may was dropped before its first issue ever saw print, due to low orders. As a result, Viper has been a one-trick-pony since they started, but this was something that was inevitably going to change.

Enter Daisy Kutter, Viper’s second miniseries. Kazu Kibushi, editor and creator of the Flight anthology for Image, and host of his own web-comic site, BoltCity.com, handles the art and storytelling duties for Viper’s newest outing. Daisy Kutter follows the adventures of a former gunslinger who must saddle up once again, one last time, or else lose everything she has.

Cast of Characters

Daisy Kutter hung up her six shooter in favor of the quiet life of a general store clerk. But though her career is over, her reputation, through stories of her exploits, live on. Daisy is known as a dangerous gunslinger who once shot down sixteen supply frigates in under three minutes using only a shotgun during York’s War. Daisy is quiet, if sometimes grumpy, is a sucker for a good game of poker, considered the best strategist who never served in the military, and is something of a racist when it comes to working with “machines.”

Tom, the sheriff of the small town where Daisy has settled down, once was something of an outlaw himself. He ran with Daisy back in their outlaw days, and clings to the hope that he can get her to walk away from that life, and join him as a deputy. He is extremely patient with the wild Miss Kutter, willing to overlook his “duties” as sheriff in order to protect her. Daisy and Tom seem to have some uneasy romantic tension – I do think that is another story, however.

J.C. Winters wanted Daisy for a job, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He sent Morris and Bloom, a pair of robbers, to solicit Daisy’s help for an unusual heist. She declined, in part because she wanted to leave that life behind, and also because she didn’t want to work with Bloom, who is a robot. Winters took matters into his own hands that evening and found another way to force Daisy into his employ. Is his job nothing more than a “test” for his new train security system, or is it something much more?

Thoughts

I have to say that this series really took off for me after the last issue. I thought the first issue was good, but it did have a rather lengthy “poker scene,” that was well put together, but not something I wanted to see issue after issue. And as I pointed out when I reviewed that issue, cowboys (and girls) play 5 card draw, not Texas Hold’em! But that is a minor gripe. This story, so far, does have the feel of a graphic novel that has been broken up into pieces, which may work to the advantage of anyone looking to pick this one up in trade format.

The art is a perfect fit for the story – and it should be. Like Dead@17, Daisy Kutter is written and illustrated by the series creator, Kazu Kibuishi. He has his own unique art style that just clicks with his story. The characters are almost overly simplistic, but seem to fit perfectly with some amazing backgrounds. And I have to say that I love the way he handles rain. And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Daisy’s outstanding hairstyle! Makes me wonder if they have hairspray in this quasi sci-fi western world.

One thing that struck me about this series was the quality of the story. I have something of a “law” in comics when it comes to stories written and drawn by the same creator. I try to be as forgiving as possible in regards to the story – I find that usually that aspect of the one-man-show comic is usually the weakest. It makes sense to me – the art of drawing is a very different skill than the art of storytelling. And while an illustrator can be very imaginative and come up with a great story concept, sometimes the execution can be lacking, and I try to be forgiving in cases like that. Here, though, I found that wasn’t necessary. Kibuishi has skillfully woven his tale, with all of the imagination I expected from an artist, along with all of the writing sophistication that I didn’t. It was a welcome surprise, and it is the story that, in the end, makes this title a complete package.

In a first for Viper, each issue of Daisy Kutter has featured a back-up story. Viper is a growing house, and I think this is a great way to give new creators a “try-out” before committing to a new title concept. The first issue featured a bit by Phil Craven called “Mongrel: Trixie, Come Home.” This was one really out there tale – a mix of a Noir mystery and Dogs Playing Poker, this story finds a dog detective in the middle of a domestic squabble between an abusive bulldog and a “hooker” poodle. I don’t know if that story concept has what it takes for it’s own series, but it was an entertaining read.

Issue 2’s back-up was more along the lines of something I would like to see again – Jake Parker’s Lucy Nova, S.E. Briefly, Lucy is an intergalactic agent sent to catalogue planets for her agency. She stumbles through the alien worlds, haphazardly dropping in and out of trouble, trying to meet the impossible deadlines that the I.R.G.A. has set for her. This story was imaginative and full of potential – I look forward to seeing more of this one sometime in the future.

Bottom Line

I mentioned before that I was anticipating Viper’s next series concept since before Dead@17’s first mini concluded, and thus far, I am happy with what they have come up with. With the success of Dead@17, you might expect Viper to put something out that is all-too-similar to that initial success, but thankfully, Daisy Kutter has turned out to be something completely different, and successful on it’s own merits. In fact, the two titles really have very little in common at all, and that is encouraging to see. Viper already has a third title lined up – Oddly Normal, which is set to be released next year. Thus far, Oddly Normal looks as if it too will be totally different than its predecessors. This bodes well for the future of the publisher – the fact that they are able to grow beyond their initial success and branch out into other types of stories indicates some good long-term potential.

If Dead@17 was Viper Comics’ harbinger, Daisy Kutter is proof that they are here to stay. And while it is almost impossible to talk about Daisy Kutter in-depth without comparing it to Dead@17, you can rest assured that it more than stands on its own merits. Each issue is 48 pages, perfect bound with grayscale art. The second issue (of four) is available now, with issue three due out this month. If you want to check out a bit of Kazu Kibushi’s style, head over to check out BoltCity.com, his web comic site. There you can find a few sample pages of the first Daisy Kutter issue, as well as some of this other work.

Credit Where Credit is Due
Daisy Kutter: The Last Train is
Written and Illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, and
Published by Viper Comics.