Caliber Publishes the First Gary Scott Beatty Retrospective

I don’t write and draw books for children. I think that is what moved Gary Reed, owner of Caliber Comics, to approach me to publish the first retrospective of my early work.

“Worlds: Three Stories by Gary Scott Beatty” is available today on Comixology, and a print book is on Amazon.

https://www.comixology.com/Worlds/digital-comic/373969
https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Three-Stories-Scott-Beatty/dp/1942351658

Unpublished art, in depth articles about the stories and a Jazz gallery are also included in this attractive 96 page, full color package.

In 2008 I was trying to sell the three comics included in this collection to readers at a comic convention who were mainly interested in spandex-clad hero adventures. I could tell Gary was amused by my efforts to explain the books’ themes to people interested in things blowin’ up real good.

Gary was no stranger to selling literate comics. His Caliber Comics was one of the most memorable publishers of what’s called the “black and white explosion,” that independent publishing boom in the late ‘80s.

Caliber introduced the world to James O’Barr’s “The Crow” and Tim Vigil’s “Faust,” both of which became movies. Guy Davis and Vince Locke later became part of that small group of artists that began DC’s Vertigo imprint, a game-changing group of books. Caliber introduced Mike Allred’s “Madman,” Philip Hester, Stuart Immonen, Ed Brubaker, and many more. Quite a stable of talent!

I don’t write for children. That doesn’t mean “Worlds: Three Stories by Gary Scott Beatty” is obscene, it just means there are themes kids wouldn’t understand.

“Seductions” is a vampire love story. What it’s really about is the changing roles of women in dating rituals over the last 80 years. This is not your daughter’s sparkly, one woman vampire!

“Adam Among the Gods” is a science fiction adventure story. It’s really a look at genetic engineering. When society demands perfection, who decides what “perfect” is?

“Jazz: Cool Birth” is a murder mystery in a 1950’s jazz club. The art was inspired by ’50s album cover design. The language is beebop. The message is the tragic results of intolerance.

After my last comic, “Number One,” was named one of the best indie comics of 2014 by Bleeding Cool, I thought it the pinnacle of my publishing accomplishments. After, all, the book actually brought a reviewer to tears! But “Worlds: Three Stories by Gary Scott Beatty” has shown me these stories resonate with readers well beyond their release dates!

“Worlds: Three Stories by Gary Scott Beatty”
On Comixology.
https://www.comixology.com/Worlds/digital-comic/373969
On Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Three-Stories-Scott-Beatty/dp/1942351658