21 September 2022
A new graphic novel comes with what seems like an unlikely pairing — a Columbia novelist and poet who is partnering with an icon of the Golden Age of comic books. Writer Jerred Metz is working with Vic Carrabotta, a 93-year-old illustrator known for his work with the company Atlas, which would later become Marvel. Published in late July, the gritty graphic novel is “The Last Eleven Days of Earl Durand” and follows the true story of the criminal Durand and his crime spree in 1939. “Earl Duran himself, the character, I really fell in love with that, ” the illustrator said. “I like him, that he wasn’t such a bad guy, (though) he was a criminal at the end. “The two initially met in 2014, when Metz was at dinner with Carrabotta, who now lives outside of Columbia after moving to South Carolina in the aughts. Metz retold the story as that he introduced himself as an “author and poet” and Carrabotta, in turn, said he “was a legend” and told him his past doing work for Atlas/Marvel and working for Stan Lee, to whom Carrabotta said he grew close over the years. After that initial meeting, Carrabotta asked to read certainly one of Metz’s works. He distributed to him the novel type of “The Last Eleven Days of Earl Durand, ” which Metz had published in 2005. In the preparation for that book, Metz said he interviewed about 15 people who had firsthand involvement in the events. The novel and graphic novel follows the story of Durand, a figure who has taken on a folkloric-like place in Wyoming history. An outlaw who escaped jail, Durand faced a manhunt for 11 days before ultimately dying. The chase included tear gas, artillery and other extravagant measures to capture him. Carrabotta, who still draws regularly for commission and appears at conventions, said that he was unable to “stop reading it” and proposed both make a graphic novel about this. This came at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result, the illustrator done it throughout the two-plus year period. Meanwhile, Metz labored on reworking his 221-page novel’s writing to fit the graphic novel form. His initial version of it followed the 15 interviews and how each person knew of him, how they were involved and subsequently affected. “I had to completely re-write this book… that would never work this way” Metz said. Metz’s prior work has additionally centered around historic moments, like “Halley’s Comet, 1910” or a pair of World War I books. The graphic novel comes at a late stage in life for Carrabotta and with an alternative form than that that he is known. His past work credentials include illustrations for comics like “Journey Into Mystery” and “Strange Tales. ” He said he grew to be known as “Quick Vic” for his speedy turnaround time on his drawings. Now working on a graphic novel, “The Last Eleven Days of Earl Durand” takes on a Western, antiquated feel with its artistic style. At times, the work features some color and, at others, is in monochrome. Metz described it as a “roughhewn piece. “”I was also carried away by the idea, I’m a comic book artist… from comics to this book, I have an alternative style, ” he said. “I thought, at this point, I will do what I feel like. “The book can be found on Amazon and through Singing Bone Press.