The Final ’90s Countdown: Part Seven.
“Harlequin” in Dark Horse Presents #48-#51 (Dark Horse Comics 1991)
Okay, this is stretching the boundaries of what I’m doing with this little survey here. While my intention was to cover only actual comic book series, I guess there was nothing in the rules that says a dog can’t play basketball story that ran as part of an anthology can’t be nominated as a favorite ’90s comic.
This story, by Stephan Csutoras and Stefano Gaudiano, wasn’t one I was familiar with, even though I’ve had these issues at some point, since I read Frank Miller’s Sin City entries around this period. So, with the assistance of a certain little stuffed bull, I was able to track down this story and give it a read so that I can at least discuss it somewhat.
Ultimately, it’s a gritty rejiggering of the commedia dell’arte subgenre of the Harlequinade, in which our main character, the Harlequin his own self, is in search of the body of his deceased lover Columbine. It reminded me somewhat of James O’Barr’s The Crow, peeled down to its thematic basis. Scratchy, moody artwork, shifting perspectives and perceived realities, with one interesting fourth wall-breaking moment where the characters take a peek at the story’s script. It’s a moody piece overall, told in a somewhat obfuscatory manner but not in a bad way, and I can see why this would be compelling to the right reader. It wasn’t entirely for me, but I get its appeal.
Know nothing about that story. I think I liked HOMICIDE in DHP, though I only bought an issue for the 6 page ALIENS story.
I probably read this story — by Steve Csutoras and
Stefano Gaudiano, to save everybody else the search — but I don’t really recall it. But there was always something to enjoy in Dark Horse Presents.
Even as I consider divesting myself of a lot of the comics I own, Dark Horse Presents is a book I’ll keep around. There are a lot of gaps in that collection, and I think I’d like to search around to fill those gaps and explore it one more time.
I remember liking HOMICIDE too, Snark Shark.
Rob – eep, I left out the creators’ names. That was dumb of me…I’ll fix it next time I’m logged into the site.
Properly credited now! Gotta remember to do that…sometimes it slips my mind.
Hmmm this sounds interesting. I’ve got #50 because of the Adam Hughes story in it, and part 3 likely made sense out of context.
If I had a nickel for every fictional story entitled ‘Homicide’ released in 1991, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
For those who can make it there, a major Jack Kirby exhibition at the Skirball Center in L.A.
https://www.artsbeatla.com/2025/05/skirball-jack-kirby/
RIP First Kingdom creator Jack Katz
https://www.tcj.com/jack-katz-1927/
Dark Horse Presents was so great. I wish the market could support something like it today.
I bought a few issues of DHP around this time, specifically for Matt Wagner’s “Aerialist” story, which I remember causing quite a stir.
“If I had a nickel for every fictional story entitled ‘Homicide’ released in 1991, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.”
Don’t forget the TV show! One of the three best Cop shows ever made.
The other two being “Barbey Miller”, for being surprisingly realistic, and the third being the original Hawaii Five-0, for being entertainingly over-the-top and ridiculous!
“Jack Katz”
damn! 97!
@Snark Shark
About five years ago I was able to buy a complete run of First Kingdom issues at a very cheap price–and the no.1 issue was signed by Jack Katz. I have yet to read them, as the text blocks are very dense–like Roy Thomas-style dense–with tons of information of the post-apocalyptic denizens of The First Kingdom mythos. However, the art is really cool to look at!
And Katz ultimately ended up becoming an art instructor at a community college and did fine art paintings as well. It seems that his was a life well-lived.
“First Kingdom”
Nice! I read one of the HC reprints a long time ago, and liked it.
“Roy Thomas-style dense”
Chris Claremont, Don MacGregor, & Roy are the kings of comic-book overwriting!
@ Snark Shark
True dat–but I really enjoy many of the stories which they wrote!
Also, when I was a little kid, Roy Thomas helped educate me about various facets of WW II history, like the Lend-Lease deal between FDR and Churchill–all because I read The Invaders comics!