Advance Review: Welcome to Oddville by Jay Stephens

Do you remember the first time you read Chris Onstad’s Achewood? Well I do. It took me a good six strips before something clicked and I “got” it. Achewood is an idiosyncratic strip that can take a while to get into. But once you become accustomed to the characters and Onstad’s sense of humor the strip is hilarious. Welcome to Oddville by Jay Stephens was the same way for me. Stephens’s characterization and sense of humor took me a while to understand. But once I got it I realized the subtle brilliance of his work.

Welcome to Oddville HC (released through AdHouse Books this week) collects the entire strip which originally ran in The Toronto Star’s Brand New Planet from March of 2003 to the Summer of 2007. Stephens has a quick wit and sharp writing which lends itself perfectly to the traditional newspaper comic strip. Stephens has had a long career in comics and television. He created the animated television series Tutenstein and The Secret Saturdays. He has also worked on countless books, comics and strips, including The Land of Nod, Jetcat Clubhouse, Chick & Dee and Cartoon Network Action Pack. He was also a frequent contributor to Nickelodeon Magazine.

Welcome to Oddville centers loosely around Jetcat a kid superhero and her adventures saving Oddville from doom and destruction. In the first two pages alone we are introduced to Fire, Sloshy (a snowman) and Bandage. The whole cast of characters are quirky and eccentric. I think my favorite character is Petty the Snail. I love his passive despondency. He is a bit of a downer, but he goes along for the ride (though not entirely happily or willingly).

I love the interactions with the characters and the way they play around with each other and the audience. Bumpkin, Bela Kiss, Avery and Them Apples are all great playful characters. While Achewood can be a little adult, Welcome to Oddville never strays into the vulgar or profane. It is uplifting and fun to read.

Another thing that strikes me about Stephens’s work is his color sense. Each strip has a color scheme that is very intentional. Every color is there for a reason, he leaves nothing to chance. He has a very pleasing and vibrant color palate. I love staring at strips just so I can take in each one as a whole. The colors definitely enhance Stephens’s storytelling and his art style is certainly distinctive.

Each strip is a story unto itself with a quick set-up and resolution. There are some extended narratives in the book though. I think my favorite storyline was the Halfway House (followed closely by Them Apples), which really showcases all of the elements that make Stephens’s strips work beautifully. His animated colors, crisp dialogue and quirky humor are at their best. Plus, I love that it is about halfway through the book (I didn’t really notice the clever story breaks until this one).

Reading this collection has very much made me want to track down some of Stephens’s other work. I know from now on I will be on the lookout for anything he touchs, comics or cartoons.