While DC Comics released the first six issues of Young Liars as a trade paperback, and will do the same, presumably, with 7-12, the end of the first year of David Lapham’s stunning, bizarre, violent and clever title is clearly the end of the first MAJOR arc, and this month’s #13, then, is the beginning of something important and a great jumping-on point for new readers. As such, I’ll say very little here…!
Blog@Newsarama: So this has been touted as a good jumping-on point. I’m sure the first thing that new readers will wonder when they realize that our hero’s name is Danny, is…why is she calling him Johnny? 
David Lapham: I think any time you come to the beginning of a new arc it should be a good jumping on point. In truth, I try and make every issue a jumping on point in terms of that issue. Meaning, presenting a complete story that stands on its own as well as fits with the others. Sometimes we have a cliffhanger, but, still there’s always a complete thought in there.
This issue kicks off the third arc, though, and it’s a particularly good jumping in point, because it resets a new dynamic for the characters. Danny is trapped in a small town with no memory of what came before. He has to discover what is going on, so the reader can go right along with him.
Blog@: Speaking of which: He’s got a real thing for alliterative “stage” names, eh?
DL: Of course, wouldn’t you?
Blog@: So are we, moving forward, living in a world without Sadie for the time being? Will Lorelei be holding her ground?
DL: She’ll try. Loreli’s in store for a lot. I mean a LOT. Stay tuned.
Blog@: Does Lorelei at this point realize that she’s got a relationship to the Brown Bag that runs deeper than community?
DL: No. She should as she and Danny share a sort of “most favored status” in town. But Loreli tries really hard not to think about things that might lead to problems.
Blog@: What’s the deal with Johnny? Is this the same career seen through different eyes, or a different career entirely from Danny Duoshade?
DL: This is probably different entirely. Meaning that it’s recent. Johnny Jukebox enjoys a local stardom within the town that has come about since his arrival. It’s a new life constructed for him by whomever put him in Browning, AZ. It’s fame in a box. It’s separate than the Danny Duoshade persona.
Blog@: The narrator’s being unreliable sure makes this confusing sometimes!
DL: It feels right though, doesn’t it? It’s not at all confusing. You’re just fighting it.
Blog@: The fire and instant recovery of the building seems to be the first real suggestion that it’s all in Danny’s head, and not just that the world around him is being manipulated–am I reading that right?
DL: I wouldn’t say that. Ty Pennington can rebuild your house in like two hours….Then again, it might be.
Blog@: How concerning should it be to longtime readers that the supporting cast of Danny’s new fantasy–which may or may not be real life and not a fantasy at all–are the same people as the supporting cast of Danny’s real life, which may or may not be a fantasy and not real at all?
DL: It depends what you mean by concerning. Why should they be concerned? Do you think it may lead them to believe that they themselves might actually be not real? Or just a supporting character in someone else’s real or not real life. In these things might lie answers to very real or imaginary questions. These people are Danny’s friends. Why wouldn’t they want to support him in all that he does? They wouldn’t be friends otherwise. Anyway, Danny’s got bigger issues than his friends dying again. He’s got an alien invasion to confront. Perhaps you should be talking about that. I mean, alien spiders are getting ready to come to Earth, eat your brain and force you to have sex with and be eaten by female spiders and you’re concerned with Danny’s friends?! Get a grip, Russell.
Unless you meant consternation– a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion and dismay. They yes, they should definitely be that.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I dare everyone to buy #13. You’ll enjoy it and want more!!! I know that scares you.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I read up to issue 12 and dropped it for Mike Carey’s new Vertigo book.
I’ve enjoyed Lapham’s work in the past, but I never really understood what the hell was going on anyway in this book.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’ve been reading since issue 1 and loving it. I may not always know what I’m reading, but I do know that I always enjoy reading it.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
The sales of this comic are going down. So I’m dropping the trades and I switch over to the monthlies. Because Lapham is doing some great work that needs all the support it can get.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I picked up the first volume of Young Liars the first week it came out back in Jan, mainly becasue it was $9.99 and to be honest I didn’t expect it to be good…WAS I WRONG! This book ROCKS!!! I could not stop reading it, and Mr. Lapham is my new favorite writer…I picked up Silverfish shortly after that and agian I could not stop reading, bec of how good it was. Keep up the GOOD work David! Can’t wait to see what happens next in Young Liars!
March 25th, 2009 at 9:53 am
My favourite monthly at the moment. Always look forward to it. Lapham is amazing. Everyone, please buy this so it doesn’t get cancelled and rushed into an ending as some other Verigo books have been.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
This series is the best! I love these interviews, Newsrama, keep em coming!!
“I mean, alien spiders are getting ready to come to Earth, eat your brain and force you to have sex with and be eaten by female spiders and you’re concerned with Danny’s friends?! Get a grip, Russell.”
Lapham delivering the goods, again.