Vögelein

    (Fiery, 2003)
™ and © Fiery Studios

Carla Speed McNeil’s Finder and Paul Hornschemeier’s Forlorn Funnies are two examples of truly great comic books that defy a concise description. Like those masterpieces, Jane Irwin’s Vögelein (pfeu-gul-ine) is a wonderfully crafted story that’s best if enjoyed for the beautiful experience that it is, rather than forced into a pre-labeled genre.

The character Vögelein (German for “Little Bird”) is also amazingly crafted, both by Irwin as a character and as a construct by her maker within the framework of the story. Exquisitely constructed more than 300 years ago by a German watchmaker after the loss of his beloved, Vögelein mysteriously takes on a human quality, though she forever requires a guardian to wind her every other day, lest she lose her skills and memories.

Within this urban fairy tale, Irwin lies down a rich and eclectic mix of German and Irish folklore, real-life European history, and modern ills and dangers. Much of this is encompassed within a corrupted faerie known as The Duskie, a gremlin of sorts who hates all things mechanical and lives to continually take revenge on man for the destruction of his kinfolk. Irwin brilliantly portrays him wearing man-made trinkets as trophies for his mean-spirited and often deadly deeds.

Artistically, Irwin conveys all 300 years’ worth of Vögelein’s memories, pain, and vulnerability with beautifully illustrated graytone interiors and especially breathtaking covers. In fact, “breathtaking” could describe just about every element of this story, except, unfortunately, for sales. However, issues are available from the website, Irwin is providing copies of the final two issues to several retailers for Free Comic Book Day, and readers can also expect a trade paperback collecting the story in July. Fans should take notice, because Irwin is an excellent storyteller, one of the industry’s most promising and talented creators.

— Jim Johnson
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist
#2

8-May-2002
Cover Price: $3.00
1 copy available for $1.50 		Jane IrwinJane Irwin
#5

4-Dec-2002
Cover Price: $3.00
1 copy available for $1.99 		Jane IrwinJane Irwin
Book #1

July, 2003
Cover Price: $12.95
2 copies available from $9.99 		Jane IrwinJane Irwin
Book #2

August, 2007
Cover Price: $12.95
2 copies available from $9.99 		Jane IrwinJane Irwin