AMERICAN VIRGIN by Steven Seagle and Becky Cloonan(2008).
© DC/Vertigo
Good-Bye, American Virgin
By: Kurt Amacker, ColumnistDate: Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Greetings, Maniacs, and welcome to another colossal Comicscape creation! This week, I’m writing something of a eulogy for a series cancelled long before its time – Steven Seagle and Becky Cloonan’s American Virgin, which ended last week with issue #23 – long before its intended run. If you read and enjoyed the series, thanks for your support and I hope you like the column. If you didn’t, then I’ve got nothing for you this week. The listings are down below. Boob jokes await.
DC/Vertigo’s American Virgin launched in March of 2006 to critical acclaim, most notably some kind words by Entertainment Weekly. In fact, the first two issues sold clean out, including the overprint copies. Many, myself included, saw it as the next great Vertigo ongoing series in the vein of Preacher or Transmetropolitan. But, none of those things helped a series that saw cancellation far too early.
American Virgin began with the story of Adam Chamberlain – a Christian youth motivational speaker that encourages teenagers to abstain from sex until marriage. He possesses so much will and charisma that he not only resists the throngs of schoolgirls determined to help him break his own vow, but he convinces them to sign one of his virginity pledge cards. At first sight, Adam’s faith seems unshakeable, and his televangelist clan family couldn’t love it more. His mother – Mamie – and his stepfather – Earling – plan to turn their cable network, the Chalice Channel, over to Adam in due time. His faith in God remains unshakeable, until he learns that his girlfriend, Cassie, has been decapitated by terrorists while doing Peace Corps work in Africa. Determined to avenge his lost love, Adam and his step-sister, Cyndi, head to Mabchaze with the help of a mercenary named Mel. Cassie’s death and Adam’s desire for revenge brings him to question his faith. Throughout the series, he finds himself haunted by the increasingly hostile specter of his dead girlfriend. She serves as an embodiment of the fundamentalist values that guide him increasingly less. But, the real motive of the series – and the great tragedy of its early cancellation – is that it uses Adam’s globetrotting adventures as an exhibition of sex practices and culture through a very naïve set of American eyes.
I should emphasize that American Virigin avoids becoming a tirade or a polemic against evangelical Christianity, despite its occasionally unflattering portrayal thereof. Seagle writes Adam with all of the quirks, doubts, and nuances of any well-constructed character. Seagle tells the story from the perspective of a character type often demonized and ridiculed in fiction. Most comic readers know well that evangelical Christians remain one of the favorite whipping posts of writers. But, Seagle forces us to identify with such a character and experience his struggles with faith and sexuality first hand. We see the wide world of sex with all of the fear and wonder that Adam feels. And, make no mistake – American Virgin never sinks to the level of an attack book. Through the end of the series, Adam retains his faith amidst his personal and familial struggles. But, his perspective on the varied and extraordinary range of sex practices in the world widens considerably. My own religious convictions – or total lack thereof – notwithstanding, I always appreciate it when a writer makes me empathize with a type of character usually employed as a villain.
Besides a survey of international sex customs, American Virgin also manages to stand as a rollicking good Vertigo ongoing, with all of the melodrama and the damaged – yet compelling –characters you could ask for. When Adam realizes that Cassie may not have been his one true love, he follows another girl, Vanessa, on a hostel tour. They travel through Brazil, Japan, and Bangok. Along the way, Adam understands his faith and his feelings about love and sex with greater depth. He falls deeper and deeper in love with Vanessa, while the nagging spirit of Cassie grows increasingly hostile. By the time he returns to America, he’s married Vanessa – much to his Mamie’s chagrin – and his step-sister, Cyndi, has fallen in love with Mel, the mercenary. Except, Mel’s actually transgender – born a woman, but identifies as a man, with some of the equipment, to boot. And, for the last arc, Mel drugs Adam and takes him down to the Dominican Republic in search of revenge against the head of the terrorist organization that killed Cassie in the first issue.
Rollicking adventure aside, the issue with Mel’s transgender status really brings home the heart of the series. I think Seagle wants to leave readers with an understanding of the diversity of human sexuality – a diversity that, in the United States, is most often hidden away for fear of reprisal. American Virigin should serve as something of a wake up call to anyone that thinks that missionary is all that’s happening in American bedrooms (and that’s not an implied defense of anything obviously repugnant involving children, animals, or the dead). But, the series never sinks to mere titillation. While it remains very frank throughout, it never seeks to shock or embarrass anyone – except Adam, in a couple of cases, but that’s to be expected. And, while I wouldn’t call it a family book, it never even becomes so graphic as to require placement behind the counter next to Bondage Fairies.
I can’t talk about this series without some nice words for artist Becky Cloonan, whose roughly whimsical line-work matched the series’s tone perfectly. Her art was always realistic enough to match the gravity of the story, but exaggerated and fanciful enough to illustrate Adam’s personal awakening through both faith and sexuality. American Virgin always looked great, and Ms. Cloonan did a phenomenal job.
It’s here that I bid good-bye to a series that ended well before its time. I don’t know if Seagle used his planned ending or not, but the conclusion – though obviously rushed – ends the series in a logically enough. It’s painfully apparent that the writer had more to say with a very eclectic and entertaining cast of characters, but the sales said otherwise. I can only encourage everyone, as I always do, to give new genres a try. It pains me that a wholly original work like American Virgin has to fall by the wayside, while the second or third superhero crossover in a given year sells through the roof by comparison. Still, the series will remain with us in trade. Consider picking the collected editions up and reading the series straight through. You won’t regret it.
The Spinner Rack
By Ben Johnson and Kurt Amacker
Kurt: I’d like to point out that Ben, among other people, helped kill American Virgin. Then again, Ben also killed my childlike sense of wonder, my dreams, my hopes, and my will to live. Thanks, pal.
DARK HORSE COMICS
Aliens Omnibus TP Vol 03 $24.95
Conan #49 (MR) $2.99
Ben: You know what this comic needs? A dramatic re-boot!
Kurt: Well, you’re in luck.
Fear Agent TP Last Goodbye $13.95
Ben: The best pulp Sci-Fi book offered by Dark Horse on a semi-regular service – Ben Johnson, Mania.com
Grendel Behold The Devil #4 (Of 8) $3.50
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service TP Vol 06 $10.95
Ben: I’d like to order a copy of corpse. It would be fun to pretend to die, have a funeral and jump out of your coffin screaming “Just Kidding!” during the viewing.
Kurt: You know, you’ve just given me the best idea ever.
Path Of The Assassin Vol 9 TP (MR) $9.95
Rex Mundi DH Ed #10 $2.99
Scream #4 (Of 4) $2.99
Star Wars 30th Anniv Coll Vol 12 HC Legacy $24.95
Star Wars Dark Times #9 $2.99
Ben: But things could turn around with the new animated movie announced for August!
Kurt: Yeah, I can’t help but be excited about that. I know I should scream “Let Star Wars die!” or something, but the series has always worked best on film. I’m there.
Umbrella Academy Apocalypse Suite #6 (Of 6) $2.99
Vicious Intent HC $19.95
Ben: The Clinton campaign strategy (topical again!)
Kurt: The Democratic primaries now force everyone to admit whether they’re racist or sexist. And, I can’t stop f—king laughing.
DC COMICS
Apothecarius Argentum Vol 04 $9.99
Ben: Further proof that all the good names are taken.
Batman And The Outsiders #4 $2.99
Batman Confidential #13 $2.99
Ben: Psst! One of the pouches is for Viagra.
Kurt: A Viagra joke? That is so 1998.
Birds Of Prey #115 $2.99
Brave And The Bold #10 $2.99
Cartoon Network Action Pack #22 $2.25
Catwoman #76 $2.99
Catwoman Catwomans Dead TP $14.99
Kurt: Thanks for giving away the ending, title!
Checkmate #23 $2.99
Countdown To Final Crisis 10 $2.99
Ben: The continued violating of the DC maiden comes closer to completion.
Death Of The New Gods #6 (Of 8) $3.50
Ex Machina #34 (MR) $2.99
Kurt: I think this is ending with #50, but that was planned.
Flash #237 $2.99
Ben: Just can’t get into groove with this since Bart died.
Flash Blood Will Run TP New Ed $17.99
Gen 13 TP Vol 02 Road Trip $14.99
Green Lantern HC Vol 01 The Sinestro Corps War $24.99
Ben: If you didn’t read this the first time you might be a leper, but here’s your chance to try again.
Justice League Of America #18 $2.99
Loveless #22 (MR) $2.99
Ben: The story of my marriage continues.
Kurt: Look for Ben’s second title Sexless next month!
Mad Kids #10 $4.99
Mad Magazine #487 $4.99
Palette Of 12 Secret Colors Vol 02 $9.99
Ben: Is this manga? It has a stupid manga name.
Kurt: It probably is. We should make fun of it, just to be safe.
Programme #8 (Of 12) $2.99
Robin #171 $2.99
Scooby Doo #129 $2.25
Shadowpact #22 $2.99
Spirit #14 $2.99
Peter Murphy: Tonight I could be with you or waiting in the wings!/Lift your heart with soaring song!/Cut down the puppet strings!
Kurt: New Bauhaus album on March 8th. Get it!
Superman Batman #46 $2.99
Superman Confidential #12 $2.99
Ben: Psst! He IS called the Man of Steel for nothing.
Un-Men #7 (MR) $2.99
Wildstorm Revelations #4 (Of 6) $2.99
Wonder Girl #6 (Of 6) $2.99
World Of Warcraft #4 $2.99
Kurt: Polybagged with a can of Mountain Dew, a delivery pizza, and a break up letter from your wife or girlfriend!
IMAGE COMICS
Godland #21 $2.99
Hawaiian Dick #3 $2.99
Hunter Killer TP Vol 01 $24.99
Kurt: Man, this was a huge disappointment.
Invincible #48 $2.99
Ben: There appears to be a Kirkman renaissance going on.
Lions Tigers & Bears TP Vol 02 $14.99
Loaded Bible 3 Communion (One Shot) $4.99
Kurt: Jesus is back, and this time He’s taking no prisoners!
Madame Mirage #5 $2.99
Ben: Paul Dini at his best.
Perhapanauts Annual #1 $3.50
PVP #38 $3.50
Witchblade #111 WWTX Var Cvr $10.00
Witchblade Takeru Manga #12 (MR) $3.99
Witchblade Takeru Manga WWPA Var Cvr #5 (Note Price) $10.00
Youngblood #2 $2.99
Ben: Yes, yes it is.
MARVEL COMICS
Amazing Spider-Man #551 BND $2.99
Kurt: Love it or hate it, it’s apparently selling really well.
Avengers Classic #9 $2.99
Cable Deadpool #50 $3.99
Hulk #2 $2.99
Ben: Caused by consuming excess green food coloring.
Kurt: Dear God, I hate you Ben.
Hulk #2 Djurdjevic Var (Pp #798) $2.99
Ben: Further proof that all the good artist’s names are taken.
Immortal Iron Fist Orson Randall Green Mist Death $3.99
Ben: WTF?
Kurt: I could go to Marvel’s website and figure this out, but it’s really late.
Incredible Hercules #114 $2.99
Incredible Hercules #114 Acuna Var (Pp #799) $2.99
Iron Man #26 $2.99
Iron Man TP Many Armors Of Iron Man New Ptg $24.99
Loners TP Secret Lives Of Super Heroes $14.99
Marvel Adventures Avengers #21 $2.99
Marvel Adventures Two-In-One #8 $4.99
Kurt: Hey, when’s that Jenna Jameson book coming out from Dynamite?
Marvel Illustrated Iliad #3 (Of 8) $2.99
Mighty Avengers #9 $2.99
Ben: I hate, HATE the stupid thought bubbles Bendis puts into this.
MMW Ant-Man Giant Man HC Vol 02 $54.99
Ben: The change came after ordering pills from an email solicitation he received.
Kurt: Before anyone asks, MMW stands for Marvel Masterworks.
MMW Ant-Man Giant Man HC Vol 02 Var Ed Vol 91 $54.99
MMW Uncanny X-Men HC Vol 02 2nd Ptg $54.99
MMW Uncanny X-Men HC Vol 02 Var Ed Vol 12 2nd Ptg $54.99
MMW Uncanny X-Men HC Vol 06 $54.99
MMW Uncanny X-Men HC Vol 06 Var Ed 90 $54.99
Order #8 $2.99
Ben: Matt Fraction’s first solo endeavor has been cancelled.
Kurt: At least there’s still Punisher: War Journal. Sweet, sweet Punisher: War Journal.
Order TP Vol 01 Next Right Thing $12.99
Runaways #29 $2.99
Terror Inc #5 (Of 5) (MR) $3.99
Ben: I wish Marvel would make more use of the MAX imprint as nearly everything that comes out of it is a good read.
Kurt: Yeah, I have to agree there. There have only been a couple of MAX things I wasn’t interested in.
Ultimate Human #2 (Of 4) $2.99
Ben: It’s nice to see I’m getting some notice in the comic world.
Kurt: I really hope you caught the #2 part of this one.
Ultimate X-Men #91 $2.99
Ultimates 3 #3 (Of 5) $2.99
Ben: Better never than late.
Ultimates 3 #3 (Of 5) Cho Var (Pp #799) $2.99
Ben: What a piece of crap.
Wolverine Origins #22 $2.99
World War Hulk Aftersmash Warbound #3 (Of 5) $2.99
Kurt: What is the sound of one crossover milking? Just listen.
And re: Amazing Spider-Man = hate. No longer on my pull list.