Books: Shangri La

There are such things as impulse purchases, and the clearance rack of the Florida Bookstore Volume II is a perfect place for allowing your inner spendthrift to thrive. They usually have a bunch of comics and games at a clearance price (50% off is nothing to sneeze at). I picked up "Shangri La," a 72-page one-shot comic from Marc Bryant and Shepherd Hendrix, mostly because the title of the work dovetailed rather well with the name of this blog. For the $4 I spent on it, I'd say it's worth taking a look at.

In a world of bloated graphic novels, "Shangri La" is a breezy short story. It's one part "Smokin' Aces," and one part "Grosse Pointe Blank." When hitman-with-a-conscience Jetta Helm refuses to kill washed-up rocker Correy Stinson, the duo end up on the road and on the run from a rival hitman. There's lots of humor, lots of slapstick action, and a whole bunch of ridiculous occurrences before the ride is over (ever see someone get beaten to death by a lawn ornament? How about a four on one fight involving soap on a rope?). It's not a masterpiece or anything, but it'd be a great movie.