Stray Bullets: What Is Domestic Noir?

Hi. This video does a deep dive into the original, independent run of Stray Bullets, with a complete rundown of the series’ publishing history. Written and illustrated by David Lapham. Edited by Maria Lapham. Originally published by El Capitan.
Please subscribe to be notified of future updates!
PATREON: / strangebrainparts
TWITTER: / overlord_comics
BLUESKY: bsky.app/profile/strangebrain...
DISCORD: / discord
CONTACT: [e-mail]
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
1:54 - A Brief History
3:10 - A Series Overview
10:16 - Nihilism On Hiatus
12:33 - Stray Formalism And Closing Thoughts
SOURCES:
No Holds Barred by unidentified staff writer. Bleeding Cool. February 28, 2012.
bleedingcool.com/comics/recen...
BACKGROUND MUSIC:
We Always Thought the Future Would Be Kind of Fun by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/darkglow/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/
#comicbooks #comics #modernage #modernagecomics #graphicnovel #independentcomics #imagecomics #davidlapham #straybullets #valiant #valiantcomics #dc #dccomics #marvel #marvelcomics #jimshooter #amyracecar

[@Vinegarhusband]

Comment for the algorithm for the best comic book content creator on KZbin

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you very! A reply just because.

[@randalldowling1068]

An underrated channel reviewing an underrated series. Classic SBP.

[@goredongoredon]

The industry may have been tough in 1995 but not for those of us reading alternative comics. Love and Rockets, Black Hole, Peep Show, etc ; it was a heyday for these kinds of comics and Stray Bullets fit right in.

[@juniorjames7076]

My thoughts exactly! By the mid 90s I had switched to exclusively buying alternative and foreign published graphic novels. Marvel, DC and Image had declined to trash and was only for browsing. The late 90s were actually a Golden Age for independent comics.

[@mttylerdurden9]

​@@juniorjames7076 vertigo comics had just started as well as Milestone media. Thousands of great gems that are unfortunately overshadowed by all the loud stuff like youngblood and the clone saga

[@danielg.w5733]

Hands down one of the best written comics of the Anglo-American comics tradition

[@thevasic]

It truly was! I remember looking through all of Lapham's earlier work and it never spoke to me but seeing the first couple of issues of Stray Bullets I was really impressed with it and was scratching my head trying to figure out how this was the same guy. He took the 8 panel grid next level!

[@elgordo9525]

Stray Bullets is the overarching story of how Virginia Applejack goes from a small child to a hardened criminal. She's placed alongside Joey (the killer of issue one) in showing how both of them never stood a chance. Both were failed by the adults around them and pushed to the wayside. When Virginia is introduced witnessing a murder, she is told by her sister to keep her mouth shut, abused by her mother, ignored by others as to why she's having troubles at school (the murder) her only loving parent dies of cancer while she's ignored, and then begins running away. Other criminals in the story serve as mentors to Virginia like Beth and Dez, lacing her up on game. By the time she's a teenager in High School she's down to kill people and chop off people's fingers, and frame people for crimes they didn't commit in order to make her life easier. The character of Amy raceway represents Virginia trying her best to come to terms with the things that are happening to her, her knowledge she can't rely on the adults in her life, and her beliefs in God.

[@jakepalermo9181]

Didn't realize this series had such a huge history. Gotta give Lapham credit for his dedication.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I agree. I mean, next year the series will be 30 years old! Ugh. Now I feel old.

[@justicerice3589]

For me Stray Bullets is the best crime series and it’s probably my favorite comic series of all time.

[@evolscimoc2888]

I’ve been reading stray bullets since it first appeared. I purchased issue one at Clays Comics in downtown Hayward California (the Art felt similar to Mazzucchelli’s) thanks the publishing history recap. Hopefully Lapham continues and concludes his story.

[@TheSkaOreo]

Seriously. I don’t think there’s any fiction that sets up the “climatic battle” in its first issue-and just doesn’t go back to it for decades. Hell it would be in pure Straybullets fashion to never see that plot thread solved.

[@evolscimoc2888]

@@TheSkaOreo For sure! LOL

[@brendanjonphilip]

No other comic punches me in the gut like Stray Bullets. So fucking good.

[@PaulRWorthington]

I enjoyed the series for its first several years. Didn't even know it had a second run of 40+ issues!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

It sure did! Well, counting the 8 issues of Killers, it went an additional 50 issues after its original run.

[@PaulRWorthington]

Thanks for the video - a good look back.@@StrangeBrainParts

[@TheSkaOreo]

Yeah it went on hiatus for apparently 10+ years

[@jean-dominicleduc]

There’s also “Stray Bullets: Open the Goddamn Box”, a short story published in Noir: A Collection of Crime Comics at Dark Horse Comics (2009)

[@lsgreger2645]

That lawsuit between Marvel and Shooters Defiant comics was crazy. Marvel claimed they had a copyright claim to plasm because they distributed 1500 copies of " a gathering of Heroes" brochure in 1992 at several comic cons in NA and UK. In it included a concept for Plasmer for their Marvel UK brand. There were dozens of other characters introduced in it and most of them never got comics. When Defiant released Plasm it sold over 500k copies so it was a small sucess and marvel took notices and sued them. Plasm came out in aug 1993 and Plasmer miniseries started in November 1993. Well anyway, the 400k lawyer fees drained all of Shooters seed capital and even though Defiant won the lawsuits, it went bankrupt summer 1995

[@AxeMan808]

And that's how rich people (companies) beat poor people (companies) in court, despite having a losing case.

[@carloscrecelius9597]

I always wondered why Lapham didn't take his story to Image. It probably would have helped sales, but very few black and white comics since the 70s found any real success ( except for Sin City) to my knowledge. Even Grendel wasn't particularly popular until the color version.

[@drewbu]

He did - 50 issues were published at Image.

[@carloscrecelius9597]

@@drewbu so I've learned, but by that point due to a divorce I was forced to quit collecting. By the time I got back on my feet I was so far behind on everything it didn't seem worth it to start again. Still love the medium, though.

[@emperorpalpatine6239]

I really appreciate how this channel covers indie comic books.

[@VZAAGE]

Wow! I just started reading this series earlier this week and so far I'm loving it. Do you have any stories like it that you would recommend? (Besides the 3 mentioned at the beginning of the video)

[@colinynwa]

It kinda hard to pick things out as it all kinda interweaves. I guess Killers is a good way to try it out.

[@uwucotc]

Liking and commenting to feed the algoryhtm , i really wish that your channel get the recognition that it clearly desserves.

[@colinynwa]

Oh wow my two favourite comic book things collide so soon after Concrete and more Cerebus too. You sir are treating me like a prince! I recently did my Top 100 comics runs / series for ... well reason, all 133 of them... well actually 138 now but whose counting... and [if you frequent the 2000ad Forum and read my nonsense look away now!] Stray Bullets got my top slot (Concrete and Cerebus aren't far behind) - its just a simply brilliant compelling story by a brilliant storyteller. The characters are so broken, ugly and twisted yet utterly compelling. The fact that Lapham selects the nobodies, the brutalised and abused, the small players makes the drama all the more compelling. Those Stray Bullets, those random act of violence that so affect the lives of the character we follow can land anywhere. With Lapham the anywhere and everyone is made so vital and important, even as they scrabble to exist in their lives of impotence. I could go on, but I'll spare you all. I must also say I adore your sharp, clear, considered restraint - If I did this video I suspect I'd just be licking the screen screaming I LOVE YOU STRAY BULLETS until someone took the kind step of dragging me away for my own good. As ever keep up the magnificent work!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

There's a reason I write scripts instead of babbling into a webcam. This way no one sees me kissing the iPad I read with and thanking Mr. Lapham profusely for a unique series. :)

[@PANTHEMAN666]

Easily top 10 crime comic of all time!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Easily up in the top ten.

[@jeffersonhouse94]

Thank you for highlighting one of my absolute favorite B&W indy books to come out of the 90's (along with Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, and Poison Elves). Murder Me Dead, also by Lapham is an excellent read as well. I will echo others who have said that an inconsistent publishing schedule have hurt an otherwise excellent book. I myself am still trying to collect the original run, before tackling the post 2014 work. Perhaps by the time I catch up, Lapham will be ready with new material...

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I'm pretty much a Lapham fanboy. I still lament the day Young Liars was cancelled.

[@brandonontama2415]

Awesome video 😊

[@berniemireault9741]

Enjoy what you do very much! Thanks for all your work.

[@fiiler3461]

You're amazing content creator. I love you

[@vincentimbesi3947]

One of my all time favorite comic book runs! Thanks for putting the spotlight on it. 👍🏼

[@tonycasonova6507]

You the best, ain't no one break it down as nicely as you do!

[@hix299]

Lapham should be applauded for making the noir genre refreshing. Even Ed Brubaker could not keep my interest with the Lawless family in Criminal. I am still waiting for the final trade collection of Sunshine & Roses to this day. Also, Kretchmeyer is a weird name.

[@muriok2474]

This has been a series I've always had some interest, great video I think I will give at least one volume a shot

[@ShudderingSeagull]

Thank you for covering this series, I've always been curious about it.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

You're welcome. I hope this gives you a better idea about the series.

[@matheusarruda6462]

Always discovering great series I didn't know before in this channel. Bless.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Awesome. I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up.

[@joshuachamplin1310]

Doing good work, keep it up! 😊

[@thewalkernz]

As always, a great overview and series summary. I collected from a few issues in, had no idea of Lapham's history. Quite the astounding change up from Plasm to Stray Bullets.

[@jackfairy666]

Keep ‘em coming, sir! You are doing great work and have inspired me to purchase, read, and collect these comics. 👍I thank you ❤🙏

[@deathtone1614]

Great video

[@TitularHeroine]

Thank you for another really good episode. I'm glad there are collected volumes out there; I've really enjoyed a lot of the other series and creators mentioned at the beginning of the video. Stay safe and all the things🙏

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thanks again! You stay safe and all those other things, too.

[@zainmudassir2964]

Wow excellent video 👏

[@barryvercueil2346]

Another series I haven't heard of. Amazing thank you.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

You're very welcome! Thank you for watching.

[@randalldowling1068]

If this series had kept a steadier schedule, itd be more well known. That said, its getting there! Lapham's Batman: City of Crime is also quite good.

[@OffMyShelves]

I love this series and would happily get more and more! The videos you create are outstanding btw.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you very much! I could go for more Stray Bullets too.

[@shanelorrison5224]

I started reading Stray Bullets with issue 4. It might be my favorite series.

[@sonofsound]

Another wonderful video essay! Thank you so much! I was a SB fan back in the day and fell off. Nice to see that Lapham kept it alive however and whenever he could.

[@Samhain23]

Thanks for reminding me I need to finish this. I still remember when Stray Bullets #1 dropped and had been reading up until it's first hiatus and really need to get back into it.

[@jameswoollard6686]

I realised I owned the first 30 issues during covid (bought in a fire sale), I read them back to back in a couple of days, such a refreshing style and still not complete. David is a really nice humble guy and responds on social media to questions and praise. 😊 You have one of the best channels here!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you very much! Pass along my well wishes to Mr. Lapham, if you ever get the chance. I tend not to bug the creative people with my silly questions.

[@spongebobsquarepants4576]

Another comment for algo to promote this awesome channel and great recs ❤

[@therussiancomicbookgeek]

Looks interesting 🤔

[@TheSkaOreo]

Cool beans! A vid on one of my favorite comic book series of all time! Hopefully it won’t be another 10+ years for the next story arc.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

It took a lot of effort not to write Cool Beans! into this video. :)

[@TheSkaOreo]

@@StrangeBrainParts I'm a little upset that you didn't, lol.

[@matboes7493]

I've read this series twice and I never realized the little Joey was the same as the Joey in issue 1. I am dumb

[@TheSkaOreo]

Yeah it’s not your fault. The series has become so drastically different after that first issue that it’s probably easy to forget that.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

There are a lot of details that are easy to miss. I'm sure there are a TON of connections that I missed too. I even forgot to mention Rose and Scott are brother and sister. And Joey is Scott's nephew.

[@paulpeterson]

I haven’t had much exposure to Stray Bullets until this video. But your taste is impeccable, so I’ve come to trust your reviews and just ordered the “Uber Alles” collected edition to indulge in this series. Looking forward to digging in! Thanks as always for your excellent videos

[@StrangeBrainParts]

You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it. If you dig twisted crime stuff then I think this will do it for you.

[@juggergrimm]

Always wanted to read this but it's so famn hard to find for a reasonable price. Thanks for the overview

[@constantinegarganta8364]

Commenting for the algorithm

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Responding because I appreciate the effort. :)

[@jamesedwardclard]

One of my all time favorite series, in my top 5 for sure.

[@mattmacias7922]

One of my favorite series!

[@LlyodLlwelleyn]

I have the omnibus edition. It’s really good stuff

[@affren3148]

I remember reading stray bullets for first time,almost reminded me of tarentino.

[@thisisshow1010]

Finally! I love this series!

[@nihilance]

There is indeed an Amy Racecar tpb collection that contains both color specials as well as the first three Amy Racecar centric issues. It also includes over 40 pages of back matter.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

That I did not know! It must be kind of rare? I know I've never seen a copy of it. Good information, nonetheless. Thank you.

[@troycruikshank1027]

I bought these out of the dollar bins. I love it. Its a slice of life crime fantasy. Plus the art style is right up my alley.

[@NatAugust]

I should check it out someday

[@paulmiller996]

Very good.

[@bufordhighwater9872]

Stray Bullets is one of those series that I've always meant to pick up, but have never gotten around to doing.

[@puddocksclassroom7174]

My local comic shop has got a load of back issues that I have nearly bought on numerous occasions. Next time I visit, they will be purchased.

[@vitorsfate]

I bought the first trade and was shocked to the amazing and art it was very intriguing and addicting comic.

[@TheBeird]

Top stuff

[@d-manthecaptain1382]

When I saw Lapham's name, it darn near slapped me in the noggin. I recognised his name because he wrote Spider-Man: With Great Power, I wasn't familiar with his other work, and didn't expect to hear his memorable surname come from your mouth. I remember wondering what else Lapham had written after finishing that Spidey story, now I know!

[@TheSkaOreo]

Lapham also did a pretty great run in the 30 days of Night series.

[@TravelsTTG]

I can’t to start this comic today

[@radiak55]

I will give this series a shot since I got sour on my first comic from his, thought that he was one of those consisted workers of comics that don't do much of anything outstanding and then got the sport to create his own series. The comic I read is Spider-Man with Great Power mini. It's such an odd title, I mean, giving Peter in his mid teens an adult woman as the implied romantic interest, mostly from her perspective, is such an odd addition to the early days of Spider-Man in continuity

[@krono5el]

"gonna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames" - jim morrison : D

[@3L_B4R7O]

Nice

[@thetrixter2012]

I also believe that the dead woman Joey is in love with was introduced in stray bullets sunshine and roses

[@thetrixter2012]

If I recall correctly she was a gf of Spanish Scott and was killed and stuffed in a trunk Joey was hiding in

[@StrangeBrainParts]

That was the original Janice. My theory is it's either Beth or Amelia. But it could be someone in Sunshine and Roses.

[@thetrixter2012]

Ah I see

[@malhawkeye6427]

I really do love scripted measured content like this

[@StillOnly25c]

Fantastic Comic series Think it’s Spanish Scott

[@StrangeBrainParts]

It is. I screwed up. :)

[@ethanbluth7835]

Would you say those colored specials are in the same vein as Jamie’s superhero stories?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

You know what? I'd say they have a similar, light-hearted tone or approach. It's not a parallel that came to my mind when reading it, but I can see where they might have a similarity.

[@BlastBoyX]

Amy Racecar rules.

[@colinynwa]

It's funny the Amy Racecar issue seem pretty marmite. I defo fall into the not adding too much and disrupting the flow of a glorious story. For other they are absolute favs

[@DCPatrol]

This is one of those things that worries me with ongoing indies. What if I invest so much and it doesn't end. I. Still frustrated that the Picture of Everything else hasn't ended and that's only 5 issues. I may check this out one day

[@colinynwa]

With Stray Bullets hints at an ending to come it doesn't stop what is already there working perfecting in and of itself. I say just dive in - though in most cases I very much echo your concern.

[@TheSkaOreo]

@@colinynwa I think you'd have a point if Stray Bullets was primarily from the perspective of Joey, which it isn't. Despite setting up a climatic battle (if there is even one) between Joey and the big bad of the series, Joey is only a small aspect of the overall story of Stray Bullets. If Stray Bullets never gets back to that moment, I don't think it takes away from how good the series is. Basically, give it a read.

[@ethantidlund6388]

Have you ever heard of Shi: The way of the warrior?

[@PRAISE_HASHUT]

Complete tangent here Mr Strange Brain, but seeing that early Ultimate Warrior comic made me think: have you ever read the unrelated, absolutely mad, self-authored ‘Warrior’ mini-series of the mid 1990s? It’s hard to describe, but is like a strange fever dream. Almost entirely plotless, maddeningly self-referential and convoluted (Warrior creates new words that get jammed into the comic, sometimes with entire essay like asides, literally pages of text to explain them), incoherent ego driven mystical philosophy, terrible art, nonsense action. It’s so inexplicable and overwrought that it almost feels like weird, outsider art. Mr A, if Mr A was written by a pro-wrestler on psychedelics. Then there’s the inexplicable Christmas pin up special issue…

[@PatD1969]

Spanish "Scott" not Steve

[@AxeMan808]

Ummmmm. the Parker series by Richard Stark not being in your initial examples.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Nor was Scalped by Jason Aaron. I used three very popular examples that were likely known by most people. It wasn't a definitive list of crime fiction.

[@AxeMan808]

@@StrangeBrainParts OK, I get that. I was just leaning on Parker being pretty much an archetypal Noir series.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Ah, that makes sense. It is a pretty fine example, that is true.

[@BionicRambutan]

I’ve never read Stray Bullets, but you piqued my interest. It appears as if it was inspired by Pulp Fiction.

[@tompuce84]

[@adrianvelante8014]

Speaking of Crossed, I'd love to see a video for it. Not holding my breath, though, as it's very NSFW.

[@porassrivastava8242]

David lapham wrote FERALS??

[@affren3148]

Commenting for algorithm

[@Borrego4Jesus]

Brother, heed my cry and do one for sin city!

[@SexyMEFFER]

Yeah, not enough done about that one.

[@amanzeihedioha]

Defiant?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Yup. Shooter wasn't being subtle. :)

[@carloscrecelius9597]

@@StrangeBrainParts was he ever?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

That would be a no. :)

[@SexyMEFFER]

The Innocence Of Nihilism.

[@adamcoxworthy9373]

How is "Plasm" close enough to "Plasmer" for legal action?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

You'd have to ask Marvel's legal department. I have no idea.

[@thetrixter2012]

It’s Spanish Scott not steve

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Doh! You're right. I suck.

[@TitularHeroine]

​@@StrangeBrainPartsIn a good way!! 😃

[@StrangeBrainParts]

It's an honest suck, I guess? :)

[@residentgrigo4701]

A good comic but the publication history and time jumps doomed it to be mega niche.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Honestly, I think that's true. It didn't help early on, but it became pretty bad near the end of the original run.

[@komicsreviewer8505]

Isn't it Spanish SAM - not Spanish Steve??????

[@NemesisMKIII]

First!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

First reply!

[@francoisdemorcy5084]

Sick and twisted. Not complete. Dark stuff

[@o82774]

30 years and 1600 pages in and you still ain't finish your story. That's not just bad business it's awful storytelling anyway you slice it. He prolly needed an editor to keep him disciplined in his approach.

[@TheSkaOreo]

except nah not really? Stray Bullets is not a traditional comic in the vein of a Marvel or a DC where there is a definite beginning, middle, and end that the story is going towards. Everything after #1 is technically a prequel to the events leading to it, neither the story nor Lapham shows any real interest in building towards it. Stray bullets are extremely niche crime comics "because" of how off kilter they are. Getting an editor to force Lapham into finishing the story would absolutely make for a lesser, more traditional comic.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I mean, it may be bad business but I'm not sure it's bad storytelling. But I would concede, considering how long it's been, it might be time to start wrapping things up.

[@iinsta5762]

Love it when I see an upload from you! Can’t wait to check this one out

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.

[@NatAugust]

I should check it out someday