Squid Works: Only Chaos

Only Chaos: This is the Comic Book Mom Warned You About

The foreword to Only Chaos is sternly narrated by Eugene Wang’s mom warning readers not to believe what she perceives as a slanderous account of her son’s rebellion. Thus starts the flagship release of the Squid Works Comic Art Cooperative by independent creator, Stan Yan.

Eugene Wang, college student, and self-appointed campus superhero, the On-Campus Crusader, goes on a soul-searching road trip to the city of sin, Las Vegas. In his attempt to rebel against the repressive forces of society, his abrasive girlfriend, and his overbearing mother, Eugene unwittingly finds that his sabbatical has a few surprises in store for him. Death lurks in the Nevada desert, and it could likely mean the end for the On-Campus Crusader.

(Front Cover shown to left)

Title: Only Chaos

Issue Number: Zero (or 3 of the On-Campus Crusader Series)

Written, illustrated, inked and lettered by Stan Yan

Intended Audience: Mature Readers

Format: Full color cover, b&w interiors, 32 pg magazine.

Retail Price: $3.95 US #0155

E-mail: stan@squidworks.com

Also available through FM International

(Back Cover shown to right)

Other comics have come before this one with this character, but all I can comment on are the things I see here. That's obvious, I know, it's just there as a disclaimer. Anyway, this is the story of Eugene Wang, who's apparently recently out from under the thumb of both his girlfriend and his mother. He picks up a zombie mostly because he knows that his mother and girlfriend wouldn't want him to, and hijinx ensue. There's more to it than that, sure, and there's a really cliched ending, but why ruin it? What this book is really about is fighting with zombies, and that's done really well. Stan has a really frantic, cartoonish drawing style that's just perfect for this, and you can tell that he's been dying to have some excuse to draw zombies. Not much in the way of plot, but the dialogue is funny and the action scenes are entertaining, so what more do you want from a comic? Check out the website, why don't you? ~ Optical Sloth

Published By: Squid Works
Written By: Stan Yan
Illustrated By: Stan Yan
Inks: Stan Yan
Letters: Stan Yan
"For Immature Adult Readers"

ONLY CHAOS is a tale of Eugene "The Wang" Wang, a college student and aspiring superhero. I know, I know, but quit groaning for a moment and keep reading, there’s good news eventually.

Yan was also the creator of GUILT TRIP, a mini-comic in all senses of the word (an 8-page affair measuring about 6" x 4"), a short and unassuming little comic which was in many ways much more effective than ONLY CHAOS. Why? Well, GUILT TRIP was simple but effective, an autobiographical comedy with none of the unnecessary superhero-parody baggage which keeps ONLY CHAOS from realizing its full, fresh potential.

ONLY CHAOS is certainly fun, even for someone as sick to death of capes and cape comedies as me. But the problem is that Yan is very skilled with the absurd, in both his gags and his characterization, and yet a seemingly can’t-miss absurdity like superheroes just bogs the whole affair down a bit, turning an otherwise irreverent and confident work into something familiar and mundane. Superheroes are certainly absurd, but they are also far beyond common in this industry, and ONLY CHAOS, which obviously fancies itself a strange comic, suffers because of it. It also suffers because superheroes are not what Stan Yan really wants to write about. I could tell this was the case, and though that may sound presumptuous as hell, Yan admits as much himself at the back of the issue:

"Eugene will be growing up and dropping the superhero shtick... I’ve gotten it out of my system."

I laughed quite a few times while reading ONLY CHAOS, and I enjoyed the stylish art (though it was occasionally a bit difficult to decipher- there is, perhaps, such a thing as too many shadows.) But it was also awkward to read, because there was an entire inappropriate genre being forced on a story that would be better off without it (imagine Roman Dirge trying to fit his beautiful Lenore stories into a superhero backdrop and you’ll have some idea of how upsetting this was.)

Fortunately, I had more than just the good news to perk me up afterward- I also have here an ashcan preview of the first non-spandex Eugene Wang story, simply titled THE WANG.

The improvement over ONLY CHAOS, itself charming and wicked despite its faults, is stunning:

“Stan’s cartoon art style is a real treat, and packs a good story flow to boot. I was a LITTLE annoyed by the lettering, with the slightly off-set from each letter style kinda a headache-giver. But at least it’s not in lower case. Anyway, the story is fun, I wish I’d seen the earlier adventures first, but there’s enough explanation that you can follow things anyway. I’d give this one a thumbs up…”-IS

On-Campus Crusader #1-3
[Distributor]: Squid Works
Creator: Stan Yan
Website: www.squidworks.com

This short series will appeal to those who value hilarious cultural references and a tongue-in-cheek look at the life of a super-hero, Eugene Wang, the On-Campus Crusader. (I think I've set a record for hyphen use in a single sentence!) The style is loose and somewhat stylized, and slightly reminiscent of Jim Mahfood's work, but more visually humorous.

Anyway, this clever tale from Stan Yan relates Eugene's misadventures as he attempts to deal with catastrophes like clogged toilets and rude frat boys, all the while fending off campus parking nazis and a mom that is just about as fascist. You see, Eugene, or the OC, may be a super hero, but he has no actual super powers.

We see in these stories answers to the question that always tormented me when reading superhero comics — "How do they get away with those goofy costumes, and that riding roughshod over everyone?" At last in On-Campus Crusader, we see a hero who has to put up with the same crap we all face from time to time, only when it happens to Eugene, it's funny.

I particularly enjoyed reading [in OC2: Eugene the Queen] about Eugene's attempt to find a job after his mom refuses to lend him money to get his car...just read the damn thing! Anyway, he winds up in drag, waiting tables in a Hooter's-type restaurant, and then has to rescue his girlfriend, appropriately named Chief, from rude, sexist frat boys — still in drag. Of course, hilarity ensues.

In the [Only Chaos], we follow Eugene on a road trip to Vegas on which he intends to break the chains of motherly and girlfriendly love forever! Eugene has a terrifyingly weird trip as he picks up a hitch-hiker who turns out to be more lively than alive...Even more frightening, Stan says this story was based on one of his own trips to the San Diego ComicCon!

While this series has concluded, it is still available from Squid Works. We can look forward to the future adventures of Eugene Wang in his life after college in a series called The Wang starting some time next year. -Kim DeVries 09/01, Sequential Tart

"I enjoyed [Only Chaos, The On-Campus Crusader, and OC2: Eugene the Queen]. I especially liked that OC doesn't really have any powers (does he?)... You should feature Chief more prominently, though I've always had a thing for nerdy girls."

"[Only Chaos, The On-Campus Crusader, and OC2: Eugene the Queen] were a lot of fun. You've got a great cartoony style- with a little Joe Sacco thrown in. The great thing about a character like Eugene is that you can put him in any situation and make it a lot of fun. I do have a question or two. Eugene refers to his girlfriend as "Chief". Is that her name or is she a cop? I'm sure the answer is there in your comics but I'm too goddamned stupid to figure it out. I guess that was technically just one question. Sorry.

"[In OC2: Eugene the Queen], I really like the idea of Eugene working in a "Hooters" type place, seeing that he's so muscular that he looks like he's got boobies. Not that I usually notice that stuff, I mean, he just happens to be chiseled. And he has a nice little package too. Well y'know what I mean, not that I'm ah, well, um, I like girls. Really. Not that it's not okay to not, um, think of guys as good looking, um, that is if you like that kinda, um, stuff. Well, I gotta get going."

"P.S. Fine, you want the friggin' truth, I masturbated to your comics. Are you happy now?!"

"I really enjoyed Only Chaos. Like I said at [the APE], I think your art is getting stronger and stronger. Keep pushing yourself and draw as much as you can! You're starting to really understand the importance of black and white contrast. This is essential for mastering black and white comic art. Keep playing around with it and see what you come up with. And keep me updated on what you're working on!"

"I liked [Only Chaos] -- the art was slick and frantic, as was the story. Bizarre and funny... I'm more curious to see where you're going to go with this than what's gone on before, but I'm curious about that, too. Which, to me anyway, is the way things ought to be."

"[In a special pre-promotional arrangement with the Squid Works], Only Chaos sold as many books as Batman sold [over the same period of time]."

ONLY CHAOS by Stan Yan Squid Works P.O. Box 480463 Denver CO 80248 squidworks.com $3.95/32 pp., 8 1&Mac218;4” x 10 3&Mac218;4” w/glossy color cover

Eugene Wang is a college student turned superhero called the On-Campus Crusader. Sick to death of being henpecked by his girlfriend and mother, he takes a road trip and picks up an unusual hitchhiker. Much style points for production values – this oversized zine is put together very professionally. That said, the story held little appeal for me. The art is slightly reminiscent of Scott Morse, but it’s too busy in places and sometimes uses awkward-looking shadows. I would’ve liked to have seen more of Eugene with his girlfriend and mother (who we only see briefly here); their relationship sounds much more interesting and probably a lot funnier. B- ~Rich Watson for ORCAFresh, SPACE 2002 (go to article)

Please note that all images are (C) Copyrighted by creators. Use of images without permission is strictly prohibited except for review purposes, where partial reproduction is allowed. If you DO review any of the books seen here, please let us know, because it could mean FREE merchandise for you from Squid Works!!! Find out more by clicking on "reviews."


(Eugene Wang, a.k.a. On-Campus Crusader)	(Death Lurks in the Nevada Desert)