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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1992)
Arts^Entertainment UNL student publishes first comic book “Tears” focuses on the life of a religious killer By Anne Steyer Staff Reporter Comic books arc not just for kids. Die-hard fans have been saying this for years, but no one reflects that better than University of Ncbraska Lincoln student Bill Harms. Harms, 23, a junior English major from Beatrice, just had his first comic book published. “Tears” was released Thursday and is available..at Cosmic Comics and Trade-a-Tapc. Harms said he answered an adver tisement soliciting material in th<f’ Comics Buyers Guide. The indepen dent company that placed the adver tisement, Boneyard Press, responded almost immediately, he said. The result was a contract for a five part mini-series—and Harms’foot in the door in the comic-book industry. “Tears” is a story that has been brewing since Harms was in junior high, he said. In that time, the main character, Joshua Garraty, has cvol ved from a cop to a vigilante to a con victed killer. Harms said his first submission, with Garraty as the vigilante, was returned by Eclipse comics with the comment that it resembled “a bad Julia Mikolajcik/DN Bill Harms, a junior English major, is the author of a comic book, “Tears,” which was released Thursday-. ** Charles Bronson movie.” The original title, “The Hitman,” merited that comparison, Harms said with a laugh, butas the story evolved, the title did also. “I wanted a title that would convey pain, but subtle pain,” Harms said, “and tears can be of joy or of pain.” The first issue of the story centers on the capture, trial and incarceration of serial killer Joshua Garraly, a reli gious fanatic who talks to God. He kills those who violate his ideas of morality and family values. Issue two shows top-echelon FBI men obtaining Joshua’s release from prison, to use him as a weapon against crime and criminals they arc unable to convict. It’s pretty heavy stuff — espe cially so if comics were just for kids. “Tears” is illustrated by Harms’ friend and fellow UNL student Paul Tisdale. The art differs from the colorful caricatures that fill other comics. In stead, the images are dark and gritty, much like the subject matter. Joshua, while not portrayed sym pathetically, is nevertheless notacom plctcly heinous character. His back ground is explored in some detail within the book, and his childhood is shown not to be of the storybook kind. “Violence precipitates violence al way s, at least in m y opin ion,” Harms said. He has done some research on serial killers, he said, and believes that oftentimes, people are a product of their circumstances. Although not excusing the action, it does give a glimpse into the reasons for psychotic behavior. Harms said he was a little worried about what people might think about him after reading “Tears” and other pieces of fiction he’s written. But he stresses thal he is nothing like what he . writes. “I’m a total pacifist,” he said. His first work of fiction was writ ten with a friend in the fourth grade. They called it “Terrors of the Rue Morgue,” he said, and it was supposed to be a sequel to Edgar Allen Poe’s story, even though they had never read it. He said it reached nearly 200 pages before they quit. He and his friend would write about two pages each, passing it back and forth during classes. They had to stop though, he said, because “we always got in trouble.” Harms said he generally wrote horror fiction, and thal is well suited to his nature. “My mind just works that way,” he said. Then he laughed. “I don’t know how to say that without making myself sound like some kind of twisted psycho.” Harms said his fiction was not typical of the horror genre, such as monsters or aliens, but “like the hor rors of life, like homelessness or George Bush.” He smiles at his comment, but is serious when he talks about things thal light a fire under him, such as politics, the university and comic books. “It sickens me that if a good gust of wind came up it would blow Richards See TEARS on H l—-- ..—..... ' Courtesy of First Run Pictures “Architecture of Doom,” a movie about Nazi aesthetics, will be shown Sunday at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater. Film shows Nazi perspective of art in propaganda footage From Staff Reports V Nazi Germany will be presented from a new perspective, the Nazi cult of the beautiful, in “The Architecture of Doom,” showing Sunday at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater. The UPC-sponsored film is a re working of propaganda and archival footage and photographs that illumi nate the Nazi aestheticism in art, ar chitecture and popular culture. Nazi ideals of beauty on the Aryan physique and classical art, sculpture and architecture that Hiller promoted run parallel through the film with the degenerate art and the genetically degenerate specimens that were both to be consigned to the waste heap. “The Architecture of Doom” shows at 2:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Cost is $3 for UNL students and $5 for non-students. Chuckii Booker’s ‘NiceN’Wild’ an impressive sophomore effort “Nice N* Wild” Chuckii Booker Atlantic Records Every now and then an artist comes out with an LP on which everything is good. Chuckii Booker arrived on the scene in 1989, with the No. 1 hit “Turned Away,” from the album “Chuckii,” and now he is back with his follow-up effort, “Nice N ’ Wild.” With “Nice N’ Wild,” Booker is able to display his talents as an all around performer— not only singing but playing instruments as well. “Love Is Medicine,” is an example of Booker’s music ability. This song boasts rocking guitar work, brooking keyboards and socially aware lyrics, which talk about the world needing love. This cut m ight remind the listen ers of the group Troop with its guitar strains. This is because Booker helped produce Troops’ last two LPs. The thing about “Nice N’ Wild,” that makes it so good is the fact that Booker uses a lot of variation in the music, so there is something here for everyone. That includes all of the James Brown fans out there. “1 Giit Around” and “Deep C Diivcr,” reflect the sound of the ’70s, and serve as a prelude to the soul trilogy section of “Nice N’ Wild.” Inc section is one of the highlights of“Nicc N’ Wild.’’“Soul Trilogy I, II, III,” arc three songs done live in the studio with Booker and his band, University. University backed up Booker on his last lour with Janet Jackson. “Soul Trilogy,” is a mix of James Brown style and Bootsy Collins P Funk. Booker has said that live music is missing in today’s scene, but there is not much anyone can do except to keep pumping it. Booker brings the listener back to the ’90s sound with the title cut, “Nice N’ Wild,” and its driving keyboards. “Nice N ’ Wi Id,” ends on the smooth tip with “I Should Have Loved You,” a slow track that shows off the range and power of Booker’s voice. The album is an impressive second effort by Booker, who is establishing himself as a star in the music world. A listener would be hard pressed to find any weaknesses on “Nice N’ Wild.” Booker has done an excellent job of pooling his talents as a vocalist and a musician. His work pays off in the finished product. — Anthony D Speights Courtesy of Atlantic Records Chuckii Booker's second album, “Nice N Easy,” follows his No. 1-hit producing album, “Chuckii."