Zot by Scott McCloud (author of Understanding Comics and Reinventing Comics) was a fun superhero book in the 1980s. Zot is the nickname of Zachary T. Paleozogt, a hero from a nearby dimension which is closer to the 1950s than the 1980s. When everyone else was going grim and gritty, McCloud made a light hearted super hero stroy. There were 10 issues published and then McCloud took a break. He came back and did 26 more issues. But the ones we are focusing on here are issues 28-36, when Zot is trapped on Earth.

Through the first 27 issues, Zot, along with Jenny (who is from Earth) and their band of sidekicks fight crime, robots, princes and rescue themselves and other people. At the end of issue 27, Zot is trapped in Earth’s dimension with no way to get back home. He is stuck on Earth waiting for his uncle to find the correct dimension. Each issue focuses on a separate character from Jenny’s band of misfit friends. And even 20 years later they are touching and affecting.

Jenny is Zot’s friend from Earth. She has a brother who is sub-human, parents that are divorcing and is disillusioned with Earth. She wants nothing more than to escape to Zot’s world, which appears to be a brighter and happier place. There is Brandy, whose father is missing and mother is drunk. But she knows that somehow, someway she’s going to be a star. There’s Terry who’s realizing she’s a lesbian, but wants nothing more than to be normal. We also have Ronnie, the only minority in the group. He want’s to be a comic-book writer, but no-one takes him seriously, not even his parents who would rather he hang out with other minorities. And Woody who is in love with Jenny, but knows can’t compete with Zot and decides to take action when no one else will.

There are several social issues brought up in these books (divorce, homophobia, alcoholism, racism and teen sex), but the issues rarely feel forced. There is the presence of Zot, a super hero, but his heroism is minimized. Issue 29 has Zot looking to stop crime, but is unable to find any. This is a social issue book masquerading as a super-hero book and doing it better then had been done before. By focusing on a single character for each issue, you can really dig into them and see where their frustrations and optimism guides them forward. The entire series is recommended, but even if you don’t like the light-hearted super hero stories, stay tuned for the final issues and watch as they grab you unexpectedly.