Whenever there is a list of graphic novels for people who don’t like comics you always see Dark Knight Returns or Watchmen on there. Yet these books are not for those who dislike comics, just for those who do like them and don’t have any. There are few alternatives in American comics when compared to the superhero variety, and even less that are worth reading. Luckily there are books like Scott Morses Barefoot Serpent from Top Shelf, a refreshing change from the world tights.

	The book comprises two parts, the story of a family vacation in Hawaii bookended by a biography of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. The Kurosawa pieces are snapshots of the man’s life, telling the woeful story of his family and his career in film. Inserted inbetween these segments is the monotoned story a family vactationing in Hawaii. In it Morse tells the story of a family distraught by past events and how they’re each affected by the island. Stories of family unity usually come off overly preachy or just plain sappy. Morses subtlety keeps the story fresh, something many storytellers try but usually fail at. However, the core of the tale is in the way Morse manages to express the themes of Kurosawa’s work in the familys story. Loss, hope and redemption played big roles in the films of Kurosawa, and in his own life. The way Morse exhibits these are truly masterful.

		One of the other great things about this book is its storytelling method. While Morse is a fantastic painter with an enthralling art style, his real strength is in how much substance is in his work. While at first glance his work may appear simple, a deeper look will reveal how much story is being told without words. Each page of the Kurosawa bio takes a piece of his life and tells it in full detail. The abscence of color, Morse still recreates the vibrance of Hawaii. You feel like you’re there and you feel for these characters in the short time you’re with them, all thanks to his intricate use of the pacing and panel layout. Creators in comics tend to only use the visual aspects of the medium to show what’s going on, with little or no deeper meaning to the pictures. Morse’s art engulfs you into the story, while actual words are used sparingly.

Comics still have a long way to go before they will be taken seriously by the mainstream, but books such as Barefoot Serpent are the latest steps towards that goal.While the traditional super hero format continues to take less precedence, books like this will show how far comics can really reach out. Your little sister who hates Batman isn’t going to like Watchmen, but she’ll probably like Barefoot Serpent.

--Mike Suarez


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