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Contraband takes place in a near-future where people record acts of violence on their cellphones and post them to a cell phone site called "Contraband." Unfortunately, this kind of activity is already taking place. Phil Elliott, the comic's artist, had an unnerving encounter with some pan-handling kids who screamed obscenities at him and recorded him on their cell phone after he declined to give them money.
But there are things that are truly appalling being filmed on cell phones -- assaults, torture, beating, murders. It's sick and disturbing and makes me despair for the human race. I feel it would be in ill-taste to mention them here, since I don't want to use other people's tragedies to sell a graphic novel. However, I think Phil and Thomas have created a book that explores a societal sickness and gives us an all-too plausible vision of society in which voyeurism, violence and sociopathy -- real, not fictionalized -- are entertainment.
Contraband #1 is available now at www.eyemelt.com and the graphic novel will be published in February.
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I was pretty pleased with how it turned out except I have to apologize to writer Thomas Behe for a minor gaffe by the editor elves when the article was being laid out.
Unfortunately, a typo sneaked into the blurb that lists the publishing info and creative credits, and Thomas' last name is incorrectly spelled "Bebe" as opposed to "Behe".
The online version should be fixed soon. The Comics Journal blog also linked to the piece and perpetuated the annoying little typo in their link. I also sent a quick email to them to fix it at their end.
Anyway, I look forward to reading the rest of the story and getting the collected book in print in February. Hopefully, Phil and Thomas will collaborate on more projects after showcasing what they can do here.
-Tyson