Mün Hed

(Zippy, 2002)
™ and © Zippy

Richard Clark’s got something with his self-publishing effort, Mün Hed. It’s just difficult to tell what. On first reading, Mün Hed seems to be a personification of the moon itself. As he passes through the streets of New York, he inspires madness and anger. Sometimes this anger leads to trouble; other times it leads to freedom.

It’s a neat premise, but the strength of a title in which the lead character speaks little and the drama is discovered through those he affects (such as Man-Thing) is difficult to pull off. Clark can succeed, if his characters, those affected by Mün Hed, are well-written and three-dimensional.

The plot of the ashcan is simple: Mün Hed arrives at night, drives a man to violence while passing by, then drives a woman to overpower attempted rapists and punish them herself. His moon dust seems to inspire “lunacy” in whoever is nearby.

The art is competent, but Clark has difficulty with action. For example, the second panel on Page 3, depicting a character running, is awkward.

Clark draws the attempted rape sequence tastefully and said he plans to donate a portion of the proceeds for #1, which may be out as early as December, to a local rape-crisis center. If Clark doesn’t sell you on the intriguing premise, donating to a worthy cause might do it.

— Steve Horton

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