triangleareafreelancers.org Blog

Another Guy Named Vaughan

July 22, 2009 on 8:37 pm | In Authors, Don Vaughan, Writing | No Comments

My love affair with comic books is no secret. I’ve spoken often about my passion for this uniquely American medium, and I write often about comic book-related topics.

Many who haven’t read a comic book since their youth still think of them as sophomoric and juvenile — disposible pablum with no literary merit. To those people I have just two words and a middle initial: Brian K. Vaughan.

Brian is no relation to me, though I’d be honored if he were. Fans of the television show Lost may know Brian as one of the show’s more recent writer/producers. But before he got into television, Brian wrote comic books. Remarkably good ones.

The series that brought Brian to my attention was Y: The Last Man, which is the story of what happens when every male mammal on the planet suddenly dies from an unknown plague, save for one young man named Yorik and his pet monkey, Ampersand. It’s a remarkable story that literally spans the globe, and it offers some truly well-developed characters and sparkling storytelling. I’ve recommended this series to everyone I know who enjoys a good yarn, and none has been disappointed.

Brian is also the author of a one-shot graphic novel titled Pride of Baghdad, which is an allegory for the war in Iraq as told from the perspective of a pride of lions who escape from the Baghdad Zoo during the first days of the American invasion. It’s a strong, very compelling story that will stay with you for a long time.

More recently, I’ve started reading another series by Brian titled Ex Machina, which is about a man who develops unusual “superpowers” as a result of coming in contact with alien technology, and who later reveals himself to the public so he can run for Mayor of New York. And that, my friends, is when things really get weird.

Brian K. Vaughan is an exceptional writer who just happened to choose comic books as his mode of literary expression. His stories are just as strong, compelling and thought-provoking as anything you’ll find in the literature section of your favorite books store, and I heartily encourage you to seek out his many series and give them a read.

Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

– Don