Get your pie ready, it’s time for “So You Want to Read Comics”.  This is our weekly feature where we take a look at a single topic or genre, then give you two comic book recommendations, perfect for new readers, based on that topic or genre.  This week we’re taking a look at the cult classic TV series, Twin Peaks.

Twin Peaks debuted in April of 1990.  The show was helmed by divisive movie director David Lynch, and it followed the story of FBI agent Dale Cooper who has come to the small town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a local named Laura Palmer.  The ensuing investigation reveals that the town is full of unique characters, each with surprising backstories and connections.  The show also sets itself apart from other crime dramas by its inclusion of supernatural, surreal, and horror elements, which at the time left audiences with mixed receptions while being a critical darling, even though it only lasted 2 seasons (with a 3rd season coming 25 years later).  The show did gain a substantial cult following that included many creatives who would go on to continuously sprinkle references and homages to the show in other TV shows, movies, books, and even video games (I’m looking at you Deadly Premonition).

So, for those of you who just can’t get enough Twin Peaks goodness, here are a couple of comic books that may pique your interest.

LOST FALLS

Writer: Curt Pires
Artist: Antonio Fuso
Publisher: ComiXology Originals

Every now and then there are some clear no-brainers when it comes to doing these recommendations and, in this case, a comic that advertises itself as “Twin Peaks meets Lovecraft Country” is definitely a no-brainer.  In this series, Detective Pynchon has come to Lost Falls for an investigation (sound familiar?), but he soon finds himself with a nasty case of amnesia and must now look into what has caused this.  This search takes him down some unexpected paths, while revealing some nasty truths about the town he’s in.  There’s no doubt that this series was inspired by Twin Peaks yet does go on to feel like its own thing.  While there’s all the surrealism and unanswered questions (or were they answered?) that you’d come to expect from something inspired by David Lynch, the symbolism in Lost Falls is much more pointed and the creators aren’t keeping their meanings as close to the chest.  It’s a complete series that’s collected in a single volume so it’s not difficult to digest this one.  As an added bonus, if you have a ComiXology Unlimited account you can read this one at no additional cost.

GIDEON FALLS

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Andrea Sorrentino
Publisher:  Image Comics

We’re doubling up on the falls this week. Created by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (the creators behind the ongoing Bone Orchard Mythos books), Gideon Falls is an Eisner Award-winning series that starts off as being about a pair of people who are both drawn into the mysteries surrounding an otherworldly structure called The Black Barn.  This building is said to cause pain, madness, and all sorts of bad times wherever it appears. Much of the series becomes about these two main characters and how their lives intertwine both physically and emotionally.  While this series does have some very obvious Twin Peaks inspirations, like the Black Barn being inspired by The Black Lodge for one, much of the similarities between this series and Twin Peaks comes from tone.  In particular, the horror elements. As this series goes on, things get more and more unsettling and while I won’t say that this series ever goes into full-blown horror territory, it gets pretty dang close.  This series ran for 27 issues and has been collected into 6 volumes or 2 deluxe edition volumes.

Were you a fan of Twin Peaks back in the day?  What do you think of these recommendations? Let us know in the comments section below.

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