I Reads You Review: LOST IN THE WASH “THE FIRST HALF”

Creators: John Ira Thomas (writer) and Will Grant (artist)
Publishing Information: Candle Light Press, B&W, paperback, 72pp












Ordering information: http://www.candlelightpress.com/

Lost in the Wash: “The First Half” contains the first two chapters of Lost in the Wash, “Presoak” and “Agitate.” LitW is a graphic novel from writer John Ira Thomas (Zoo Force) and artist Will Grant (The Scrounge Was Here!). I first read and reviewed this book for the Comic Book Bin: (http://www.comicbookbin.com/lostinthewash001.html) back in September 2007. I just read it again in preparation for reading the latest installment, Lost in the Wash: 2010 Lint Trap Edition. Reading it again allowed me to catch some things I missed the first time around, and now, I must admit to liking it even more.

Lost in the Wash is set in the town of Isco (formerly Francisco until “patriotic” locals removed the “France” from the name). The story focuses on Darin, a down and out 20 or 30-something who works at his uncle’s Laundromat. Darin comes across as a loser, but his uncle IS an asshole. The Laundromat’s customers tend to be white trash jerk-offs who give Darin a hard time. Then, one day, something wet, wicked, and monstrous pops out of a washer and devours a tiresome customer. Darin decides that a monster in the washers is a good thing, especially if it will rid him of his main problem – rude customers.

This water, elemental thing isn’t the only thing haunting Darin. Terisa Salazar, a local motel proprietress, operates a haunted tour called, Gothic Colorado, for the tourists/suckers that pass through Isco. Terisa is also a figure from Darin’s past, and meeting her again leads to Darin wanting to know the truth about his parents and about a childhood accident, although he may not like how ugly this truth gets.

Lost in the Wash: “The First Half,” for me at least, recalls the spirit of the horror comics published by EC Comics in the 1950s and by Warren Publishing from the 1960s to the 70s. It’s as if EC artist Graham “Ghastly” Ingels’ tortured spirit inhabits the imagination and drawing hand of Will Grant. Grant can draw horror comic books with the best of ‘em – even those pros drawing for Vertigo, IDW and whatever publishers still doing scary books.

John Ira Thomas’ clever script always keeps the reader guessing, and his dialogue, with its layers and subtexts, adds richness to this raw tale. Thomas, through his narrative, tends to promise more to come with each page, and Lost in the Wash: “The First Half” is promising some good stuff to come.

A-