Tough-minded teen girls spring to life in comics

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Whenever a new series of graphic novels gets launched, a flurry of attention is paid to the debut. Often that book, fairly or unfairly, is seen as establishing the tone of the series.

DC Comics recently unveiled Minx, a graphic novel line aimed mostly, but not exclusively, at teen girls and young women. "The Plain Janes," the first book, received universal raves and sold well when it came out in May. It deserved it.

Every month since then, a new title has come out, and given the quality of each, the hurrahs from readers and critics should only get louder.

The hip Minx series is consistently cranking out some of the sassiest, fun-to-read comics this year. The top-rate talents attached to it never talk down to the readership, and they address heady topics — death, Sept. 11, racism, partying — without being preachy.

Every month I receive a Minx title, I move it to the top of my comic-books pile at home. After reading one, you'll understand why.

"Re-Gifters," written by Mike Carey, illustrated by Sonny Liew and Marc Hempel (Minx, $9.99, 176 pages). The cliché "quantity doesn't mean quality" gets trampled under the prolific path of Carey. Not only did the "Hellblazer" creator just publish the horror novel "The Devil You Know" (read it! read it! read it!), but he's released four graphic novels in less than six months, and his sexy screenplay about ghosts is currently rolling.

I pretty much hate him.

"Re-Gifters" demonstrates how this (Stephen) King-sized talent won't allow himself to be pigeonholed into one genre. Here, he vividly voices an L.A. Koreatown teen who learns hard-knock lessons about love, life and loyalty. The tomboyish Jen Dik Seong nearly sacrifices everything good, including her best friend and a martial-arts competition, just to win over the fickle fancy of a surfer hottie. Although Carey's briskly paced story rubs up against serious issues such as racism and self-worth, "Re-Gifters" is never heavy-handed; the perfect remedy for a bored teen — or a bored middle-aged guy like me, for that matter. (In September, another Carey title hits the shelves. "Confessions of a Blabbermouth" is a collaboration with his daughter, Louise.) Grade: A-

"Clubbing," written by Andi Watson, illustrated by Josh Howard (Minx, $9.99, 147 pages). Sick of goody-goody teen heroines with doe eyes and pigtails? Then say a natty hello to London Goth gal Charlotte "Lottie" Brook, wearing black stilettos, shockingly short skirts and too-big-for-her-tiny-britches 'tude. Lottie's outlandish looks and behavior are a homing device for trouble.

After she's caught flashing a fake ID at a nightclub, her weary folks send the spoiled lass to the country to visit her gram and gramps. But something dastardly is going on in this chipper hamlet, and before you can say "fish and chips, please," a very dead body pops up, and a new resolve is born in the party-hearty Lottie.

Watson, a gifted and daring storyteller/illustrator, has created a truly unique vision in Lottie, a young woman Lindsay, Paris and Nicole could learn from. Helping breathe life into this vibrant gallery of characters are Howard's expressive, dramatic illustrations. These two work so well together, you want to see them team up again and again. Grade: A-

"Good as Lily," written by Derek Kirk Kim, illustrated by Jesse Hamm (Minx, $9.99, 148 pages). Great expectations swirl around anything the Bay Area's Derek Kirk Kim produces. "Good as Lily" — the best title yet under the Minx imprint — made me believe that the award-winning comic creator is one of this generation's brightest talents.

"Lily" takes a cinematic scenario that you expect someone like Hilary Duff or Jennifer Garner to star in. On her 18th birthday, a contemplative Grace Kwon stumbles upon three versions of herself, as a temperamental child, a flirty 29-year-old and cigarette-smoking senior. Their appearance wreaks havoc on Grace's life, and sheds light on the virtues of living in the present and being kind to yourself.

Much in the way Carey does in "Re-Gifters," Kim confronts painful topics, such as the death of a younger sister, and handles it with honesty, not gooey sentimentality. Hamm's buoyant artwork is delightful as well. Grade: A