Supernatural Law
Encyclopedia
Supernatural Law, previously known as Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre, is a comic strip
, comic book
and web comic series written and illustrated by Batton Lash
. The series features the law practice of Alanna Wolff and Jeff Byrd, who specialize in serving the legal needs of monsters and other supernatural beings, or those who find themselves in conflict with such beings. Wolff and Byrd themselves are human, as is their secretary Mavis. The series tagline is "Beware the creatures of the night — they have lawyers!"
The series first appeared, as "Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre", in The Brooklyn Paper in 1979. From 1983 to 1997 The National Law Journal
ran the weekly strip. The characters made occasional appearances in comic books over the years (Mr. Monster, Munden's Bar
Special, Satan's Six).
In May 1994 an ongoing comic book series was launched, Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre, under the imprint Exhibit A Press. The title was changed to Supernatural Law with issue #24, in part to avoid readers' confusion over how to pronounce "macabre," and to bring it in line with the planned title of a motion picture adaptation. An occasional spin-off comic has also come out focusing on their secretary, Mavis. The strips and comics have been collected into a number of trade paperbacks with introductions by such luminaries as Neil Gaiman
and Will Eisner
.
In 2005, a weekly Supernatural Law web comic began publishing on Webcomics Nation
, in what Lash has described as an attempt to grow an audience outside of comics shops.
Batton Lash writes and draws all the stories, with art assists by Trevor Nielson and Melissa Uran. The series is edited by Jackie Estrada
. Mitch Berger, Esq. serves as legal consultant.
In 2009, the collection of Wolff and Byrd stories, The Soddyssey, And Other Tales of Supernatural Law, won the Independent Book Publishers Association’s Benjamin Franklin Award. The story contains guest art by Steve Bissette, Bernie Wrightson
, Jeff Smith
, Shawn McManus
, Phil Hester
, and Charles Vess
.
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
, comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
and web comic series written and illustrated by Batton Lash
Batton Lash
Batton Lash is a comic book creator. His art is inspired by Steve Ditko and Charlton Comics horror stories.Since 1979, he has been writing and drawing Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre which first appeared as a weekly newspaper strip in The Brooklyn Paper and The National Law Journal, later...
. The series features the law practice of Alanna Wolff and Jeff Byrd, who specialize in serving the legal needs of monsters and other supernatural beings, or those who find themselves in conflict with such beings. Wolff and Byrd themselves are human, as is their secretary Mavis. The series tagline is "Beware the creatures of the night — they have lawyers!"
The series first appeared, as "Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre", in The Brooklyn Paper in 1979. From 1983 to 1997 The National Law Journal
The National Law Journal
The National Law Journal, a U.S. periodical founded in 1978, reports legal information of national importance to attorneys, including federal circuit court decisions, verdicts, practitioners' columns, coverage of legislative issues and legal news for the business and private sectors.The...
ran the weekly strip. The characters made occasional appearances in comic books over the years (Mr. Monster, Munden's Bar
Munden's Bar
Munden's Bar is a fictional bar featured in the First Comics title Grimjack. It is also the title of the back-up feature that ran in the GrimJack title for most of the first 69 issues and also received two annuals of its own, each mixing new stories and reprints from Grimjack...
Special, Satan's Six).
In May 1994 an ongoing comic book series was launched, Wolff and Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre, under the imprint Exhibit A Press. The title was changed to Supernatural Law with issue #24, in part to avoid readers' confusion over how to pronounce "macabre," and to bring it in line with the planned title of a motion picture adaptation. An occasional spin-off comic has also come out focusing on their secretary, Mavis. The strips and comics have been collected into a number of trade paperbacks with introductions by such luminaries as Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
and Will Eisner
Will Eisner
William Erwin "Will" Eisner was an American comics writer, artist and entrepreneur. He is considered one of the most important contributors to the development of the medium and is known for the cartooning studio he founded; for his highly influential series The Spirit; for his use of comics as an...
.
In 2005, a weekly Supernatural Law web comic began publishing on Webcomics Nation
Webcomics Nation
Webcomics Nation is a webcomic hosting and automation service launched on July 29, 2005 by Joey Manley, publisher of the subscription webcomic site Modern Tales. It is a service designed for online cartoonists. Webcomics Nation is not a spinoff of Modern Tales like Graphic Smash, serializer, and...
, in what Lash has described as an attempt to grow an audience outside of comics shops.
Batton Lash writes and draws all the stories, with art assists by Trevor Nielson and Melissa Uran. The series is edited by Jackie Estrada
Jackie Estrada
Jackie Estrada is an American comic-book convention organizer, book editor, co-publisher of Exhibit A Press, administrator of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, and past-president of Friends of Lulu....
. Mitch Berger, Esq. serves as legal consultant.
In 2009, the collection of Wolff and Byrd stories, The Soddyssey, And Other Tales of Supernatural Law, won the Independent Book Publishers Association’s Benjamin Franklin Award. The story contains guest art by Steve Bissette, Bernie Wrightson
Bernie Wrightson
Bernie "Berni" Wrightson is an American artist known for his horror illustrations and comic books.-Biography:...
, Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith may refer to:*Jeff Smith , coach in the Minnesota Twins' organization*Jeff Smith , councillor in Manchester*Jeff Smith , creator of the comic book Bone...
, Shawn McManus
Shawn McManus
Shawn McManus is an American artist who has worked extensively over three decades for DC Comics and other companies, notably for DC's Vertigo imprint, including the current Fables.-Swamp Thing:...
, Phil Hester
Phil Hester
Phil Hester is the name of:*Phillip Doyce Hester , former chief technology officer of Advanced Micro Devices*Phil Hester , comic book artist and writer...
, and Charles Vess
Charles Vess
Charles Vess is an American fantasy artist and comic-book illustrator who has specialized in the illustration of myths and fairy tales. His illustrations are strongly influenced by the work of artists and illustrators such as Arthur Rackham and Alphonse Mucha...
.