SUSPENDED Animation: Complex City

A walking, talking bulldog cop? An adolescent scientific genius with a<br>mechanical gauntlet capable of detecting radiation? An older, even more<br>brilliant scientist named Doctor Handsome?? All this,

Monday, November 5th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A walking, talking bulldog cop? An adolescent scientific genius with a
mechanical gauntlet capable of detecting radiation? An older, even more
brilliant scientist named Doctor Handsome?? All this, plus a love-sick super
hero, a rampaging robot with two human brains, and magical (at least they'd
like you to think they are) "critters" from near the earth's core!!

This is the recipe for a decidedly different comic book called Complex City.

Inspector Bulldog Malone is the hard-boiled top cop of a place called, well,
Complex City. One of the most advanced, and popular cities in the nation, it
also has more than it's share of weirdness; but then, what would you expect
from a burg that boasts a two-footed canine cop?

J.E. Smith is the creator, writer and artist of this strangely appealing
comic, and, in my try-to-be-humble opinion, he's on to something.

The first issue does a respectable job of introducing new readers to the
city and it's main players, as well as providing a solid amount of story, as
Malone confronts and outsmarts a shadowling, discovers the contents of the
box it was safeguarding, and is confronted by a murderous man-robot.

The following three issues are also strong on storyline and
characterization, which seems to be Smith's strong suit.

What's good about this book?

Besides characterization and storyline, the sheer scope of imagination and
bold originality, which, in today's comic market, is a near-miracle in
itself.

What needs work is the art. Smith's pencils, while well-defined and of
original style, still have a very amateurish look about them, which may
hinder the book from competing with other comic works out there.

Still, Complex City is unlike any other comic work on the racks today, and
is recommended for readers of all ages.

Complex City can be found at comic shops (call 1-888-comicbook for the one
near you), or by logging on to www.complexcity.com, or www.bettercomics.com.

Complex City, published by J.E. Smith, under the Better Comics banner, 34
pages, $2.50.

Shudder at Vance's Light's End horror short stories narrated by actor
William Windom at www.plan9.org.