This is part 1 of a 3 part series. Spit forth from the maw of the sea comes the Naked Boy. This unformed little boy is given the task of following the railroad west to kill Ursa Major– The Great Bear–and save his sister. Along the way he alters the landscape; a landscape that is America’s mythic subconscious. The Naked Boy Part 1 is the beginning of an epic journey from the springtime shores of the East Coast to the late harvest of the West. Mythic and historical figures co-mingle and clash in this
meditation on North America. The continent will never be the same.
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By Ryan Pierce
Jan 29, 2010
The Naked Boy is the first installment of an epic graphic creation story blending historical fact and fiction, road trip, and pan-cultural mythos. The titular hero is innocent, well-meaning, and bumbling: an everyman with an everyman's body cast into a superhero's role through a surreal set of circumstances. Mr. Duford (who is also an arts writer, sculptor, and public artist) unites a love of classic comic book tropes with something decidedly less expected. Part One features talking crows, flying bear gods, witch trials and spinster communes. The drawing style is considerably more gestural- almost sketchy- than most other comics I've enjoyed. This, combined with the drive of the plot, make for a fast read. But it is worth going back to notice the nuance of language, diversity of composition, and expressive line work. The Naked Boy is the rare superhero whose magic power is perseverance in the face of his vulnerability and repeated failure. This is a hero I can identify with.
