Hawaiian Dick Volume 1: Byrd Of Paradise: Byrd of Paradise v. 1 [Paperback]

 

 

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It’s a crying shame that this comic didn’t gain the widespread recognition it deserved when first released. However, as the rights have been bought for a film version starring Johnny Knoxville, hopefully some new readers will come looking for it, and set things right.

First thing I have to say is that Hawaiian Dick is one of the most beautiful looking comics in some time. Since the artwork is clearly inspired by 1950’s postcards from Hawaii, every frame has lush greens of foliage, vivid red and rich blacks of the protagonists’ clothing, and creamy skin tones of the love interest, giving everything an idyllic look. Of course, this was the intention, and it works very well.

Of course, visuals don’t make a comic on their own, so it also helps that the writing is top notch. In the wrong hands, the story could have failed – since it is American cop goes to Foreign Culture, and has a local keep him acquainted with tradition and the locals (Rush Hour springs to mind…) – but it is well handled and is never an issue. Hawaiian culture and mythology gain a mystique within the pages of the comic, and seep into the idyll that is presented in the first few pages, yet never overrun it. It also helps that there are explanations for the customs, and translations for the Hawaiian dialect given, so not to alienate any readers.

Lastly, the characters also come across as having more life breathed into them than they would in less able hands due to the writing and dialogue, again relegating any fears of cardboard cut-out plotting to the back of your mind, soon to be forgotten entirely. Even if, as said before, they have been written a thousand times before, they all have a certain life, and edge, to them which lifts them above any doubts.

As I said, if there is any justice, people will seek this out once word gets around of the film, rather than wait for the obligatory reprint at the time of release. This is a comic that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed, which is a sign of any great comic.

I got this months ago and have decided to review anything I re-read as well as new comics I get this year (so bear in mind I have had this a while).

This paperback is the standard size of trades/graphic novels with nice thick paper. It collects the first 3 issues of Hawaiian Dick, the miniseries 'Byrd of Paradise', along with plenty of extras. Each issue is proceded by the original issue cover and a colour only (no pencils or inks) picture of one of the three main characters. I got this last year so it is the third printing. It has a different cover to the one pictured, which was for the first printing (the first printing cover is included inside the book). The extras are really good. You have a three page prose story set way before the first issue, two 1-page and five 1/2-page strips that are set in the Hawaiian Dick 'continuity' and really help flesh out the characters a little. You also gets sixteen pages of character designs with commentary in the form of e-mails between the two creators. You have an introduction and an afterword by different people (not the creators), some full size unused covers; eighteen (9 per page) drafts of covers, a few full page pin-ups by different artists and finally a cocktail menu (10 cocktails over five pages). Each cocktail is accompanied by an illustration (by Steve Griffin) of the characters. I really think these extras (as I mentioned some are 'in continuity' and flesh out the characters) are interesting and at least count as another issue if you think the price is quite steep for 3 issues.

The art is absolutely gorgeous. It's all by Steve Griffin (pencils, inks and colours) and although the pencils/inks are good, it is the colours that make the art stand out. I believe the artist has been nominated for an Eisner award for his colouring three times, and he has only coloured about 12 issues over 7 years. You should be able to find previews of it online; it looks even better on the page though. There is plenty of opportunity to use the colours too, with plenty of the characters wearing colourful clothes; it is set in Hawaiiai after all. At certain times the story calls for a darker palette and here Griffin uses a lot of black. I don't like the look of these sections as much as the lighter settings so I think the colouring is a lot of the attraction of the artwork.

The story is good. There are a couple of minor 'convienient' plot points and I still am not quite sure exactly how the main character got the case in the first place, but nothing that detracts from the enjoyment at all. I only noticed them after rereading a few times. The dialogue, pacing and tone are really good. By the end of the first issue you are rooting for the main characters and want to know what happens next. It is a really good read and worth reading again. The arc is quite distinct (being a mini-series originally) but certainly leaves it open for sequels, which there is 1 already and hopefully another coming out sometime this year).

One thing: in several reviews etc. the series got described as 'noir' which makes me think of bleak and depressing. Although there is a little of that (when the art goes blacker), I felt most of the book was, in tone rather than plot I suppose, quite lighthearted, which I think is to do with the bright vibrant colours as much as the writing.

On the star rating: VERY roughly I consider 3 stars = quite enjoyed but not enough to get sequels, 4 stars = enjoyed enough to get sequels and 5 stars = One of my favourites (Criminal, first half of Bendis' Daredevil etc). While I was writing the review I had 4 stars ticked, but to be honest I can't think of any reason not to give this volume 5 stars so I will change it now... I really did enjoy it enough and I have reread it a lot considering I only got it late last year. I want to be clear that this review is only of the first volume. I would rate the second volume very differently.

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