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Art by Chip Zdarsky. Copyright 2002.


POPPREVIEW: THE EXPENDABLE ONE
Published by Viper Comics

EXPENDABLE ONE
Written by Jason Burns
Art by Bryan Baugh
112 Pages
$ 11.95
Full Colour
Diamond Order Code: FEB06 3372
ISBN: 0975419390
Publisher: Viper Comics

Coming to stores in early May, THE EXPENDABLE ONE is an original graphic novel from Viper Comics featuring average townie turned immortal, not so average townie, Twigs Dupree. After being accidentally injected with an experimental concoction, Twigs gained the ability of immortality. Shoot him in the head and he'll keep walking. Strangle him with a wire and he'll keep talking. Twigs and his childhood friend Jerry take to playing suburban superhero until a mysterious and sensual FBI agent recruits Twigs to investigate a violent and feral cult leader that makes David Koresh and his Branch Davidians look like the cast of Sesame Street. Getting shot in the head may be just another day in the life of Twigs Dupree but the things he sees when he goes up against cult leader, The Animal, will make even him lose his lunch.

PopImage proudly presents a special 8-Page Preview of THE EXPENDABLE ONE featuring commentary from none other then Twigs Dupree. That's right, as if rising from the grave weren't enough Twigs is breaking the four-colour barrier to bring us his thoughts on the opening pages of his very own graphic novel.

Take it away Twigs.



Click For Larger ImagePage 1

This is one of my favourite pages in the entire book and it just so happens to be the first. What I like about it is, you kind of know what I'm all about just by looking and reading this single page. There I am, getting shot in the old noggin and you go, "What the f... did the hero of our book just get dusted on the first page?" First of all, if I were dead, I wouldn't be here telling you about it, and secondly, how the hell would we sell any books if the star (that's me) got killed on page numero uno? It sort of sets the tone for the story that is my life and I think the artist (Bryan Baugh) did a great job capturing not only the gritting pain of being popped in the head, but he did it all while featuring my good side. Big ups to Bryan.


Click For Larger ImagePage 2

When I first met Kenny that night, I could tell he was as nutty as a squirrel, but I honestly never thought he'd play target practice with my melon. That definitely caught me by surprise. I remember laying on the floor thinking, "Oh no he didn't" to myself. In Kenny's crazy ass defense though, I kind of had it coming to me. I pushed his buttons until he pulled the trigger, but I thought for sure he'd just go with a flesh wound... maybe a thigh shot. Nope, that disgruntled grump took it to the limit. Maybe he was an Eagles fan.


Click For Larger ImagePage 3

This page is a flashback about how everything went from bad to worse at the Johnston Oil Company... at least for me anyway. To be honest, I just think the biographer Jason M. Burns wanted to get another shot of me getting my head blown out. I mean, that's the kind of stuff that sells these funny books, right?


Click For Larger ImagePage 4

This is when shit started to get real weird for everyone else in the room. Miraculously I was resurrected, but the pubic hair on my Coke problem was that I couldn't even move one side of my body. That was new for me, so I had to do what I do best... improvise. Oh, you probably thought I was going to say run. Well, again, it's tough to run screaming out of a building with only one good leg. Believe me, I've tried in the past.


Click For Larger ImagePage 5

And here comes the fireworks. Kenny tweaked when he saw me coming at him with half of my skull hanging off of my head, so he did what any insane man would do when faced with what could quite possibly have been the zombie ghost of the person he just murdered returning to avenge his death. He busted a few caps in my ass... or... at least everywhere else. My ass actually survived that onslaught unscathed.


Click For Larger ImagePage 6

Unfortunately Kenny doesn't have the power of immortality on his side. The guy might have shot me a couple of times, but I really didn't want to see him blow his own brains out. I mean, for as warped as he was, there was a man underneath the rage and alcohol. Eh... sometimes people do stupid ass things that you can't explain, but when I sat down to do this biography of the Animal case, I promised that I would not leave any stone unturned. I laid it all on the table with the writer and I walked him through the events as they happened. Let's just say for the sake of argument, he nailed the realism of the night. I still have nightmares about what went down there.


Click For Larger ImagePage 7

This is the first time readers get introduced to my partner in crime, Jerry. And by "partner" I don't mean Brokeback style. Don't tell him I told you this, but he really is the brains behind our crime fighting operation. Without him I'd just be using my powers to show up David Blaine.


Click For Larger ImagePage 8

And this page here is where people get their first glimpse of our hideout... if you want to call it that. Jerry works at a morgue and we sort of (metaphorically) sublet it for our own needs. Honestly, it sucks. I can't stand the smell and I can't stand being surrounded by so much death, but like I said, Jerry is the brains of the operation and if he thinks we can benefit by shacking up with an endless supply of corpses, who am I to stick my thumb in that pie.



 


For more on THE EXPENDABLE ONE be sure to read our interview with writer Jason Burns and visit Viper Comics.com.


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