Steve Gerber Still Doing "Hard Time"

The first issue of Hard Time Season Two came out last Wednesday, which was all the impetus I needed to finally get around to reading the first series. As a huge fan of Howard the Duck creator Steve Gerber, I had tracked down the original 12 issues of his Hard Time series in comic shops and on eBay, even though I hadn't so much as thumbed through an issue. Then the complete run languished in a comic box in my closet for a few months, waiting for me to find an opportune time to read it all the way through.

When the time came, I was not disappointed.

Why hadn't I picked up the series from the beginning? Two reasons. First, I hadn't realized from what little promotion DC Comics gave the book that it was created and written by Mr. Gerber (with his longtime collaborator Mary Skrenes). Second, I'm not particularly into prison dramas. Sure, The Shawshank Redemption is one of the greatest movies of all time, but I've never bothered to watch an episode of Oz or Prison Break.

Hard Time has been described as Oz meets My So-Called Life. I've never seen either of those series, but if this combo means something to you, well, there you go.

I sat down to read the series with slightly mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was thrilled to be reading a Steve Gerber comic, but on the other, I was sorta wishing it was a new Howard the Duck series. Not that I'm one to pigeonhole creators; when I really trust a favorite writer, I'll follow along wherever their muse leads them. Although Gerber's writing enthralls from page 1 of issue 1 of Hard Time -- perfectly complemented by the moody artwork of Brian Hurtt and colorist Brian Haberlin -- there was a brief moment where the "I wish he was still writing Howard" voice popped into my head: A scene composed of soundbites from the popular media, represented by analogues of Oprah, Dr. Phil, and the shouting heads of Crossfire, is vintage Gerber, and made me nostalgic for the dead-on social and political satire of his acerbic waterfowl. But that voice was quickly silenced as I was drawn deeper and deeper into Gerber's newest creation.

So what's it about? Hard Time follows Ethan Harrow, a 15-year-old protagonist who is tried as an adult after inadvertently participating in a Columbine-style school shooting, given a sentence of 50 years to life, and sent to prison, where he slowly discovers that he possesses some sort of superpower. Gerber deftly blends the drama of prison life with forays into the supernatural, and demonstrates that he hasn't lost his touch when it comes to creating memorable characters. After only a few issues I was hooked on the series' unfolding mystery and the intricate lives of Ethan and his supporting cast.

The first six issues are collected in the Hard Time: 50 To Life trade paperback. Hopefully DC will see fit to publish a TPB reprinting the second half of "Season 1"soon. Until then, Season 2 #1 is an excellent jumping-on point. New and old readers alike will appreciate the reexamination of the traumatic events that kicked off Season 1. For some it will serve as an introduction to the series' premise, while for others it provides tantalizing new details that add even more depth to the story of how, and why, Ethan Harrow's life was changed forever.

You've probably noticed a link to Steve Gerber's blog in the sidebar already... check out Brian Hurtt's Hurtt Locker for great behind-the-scenes Hard Time artwork.