i’ve read a lot of great reviews about this series and was really looking forward to getting this hardcover.

i was immediately impressed by the oversize format, and the gorgeous production and graphic design. with it’s bold b/w art and heavy paper,
and the gorgeous cover and binding i think it’s a bargain at 30 bucks. i admire brian wood’s design chops as much as his writing. my professional background is graphic design and photography and his work really inspires me.

i have read demo and most recently the new york four, (also with ryan kelly, the artist on LOCAL). i really enjoyed it, which made me even  more eager to order the LOCAL HC. i also have the 1st trade of DMZ, but i didn’t connect with the concept enough to keep buying.

i promptly sat down and started reading as soon as i got home, and devoured the book in few hours.

the entire series, twelve issues, is collected  and each story focuses on a different city and a new character somehow connected to the “heroine” of our book, megan. 

wood really has a knack for getting the right voice for his characters. new york four also had some strong female characters, all young and flawed and very easy to relate to. for me anyway.

one very interesting aspect is that while the story is about megan’s journey to become a mature women, we also follow the series’ artist ryan kelly artistic skill evolve from working on a regular series. over the course of the 2 1/2 years spent working on the book, i think kelly really improved his style. it’s evident in the cover and interior artwork when you compare his early issues — especially the first — to the end of the run. his work seems more fluid and alive. the brushwork seems to have a more refined line.

there is a pile of extras too. they include each issue’s commentary by wood and kelly and all the covers, sketches and promo art. tons of stuff.

if you’re a bit burnt out from the big events running over at the big 2, and want to read stories about humans, not skrulls and new gods, then pick up this hardcover. if you like brian wood’s work this is a sure bet, and if just like beatiful comics you should check it out anyway.

i loved local.