I first found out about the series "WOLFF & BYRD, COUNSELORS OF THE MACABRE" a few years ago at one of the conventions I just happened to go to.

I met Batton Lash and he gave me a couple of issues to check out. They were pretty good, with simple, honest humor, and art that did not seem 'cartoony'. Over the years, the series has kept up that humor, and usually the art stays as honest as it originally was, with only a couple of lapses here and there.

From what I have found out, the series started with Batton Lash supplying strips to the Brooklyn Paper in 1979. He also worked doing "ads, editorial cartoons and a little bit of everything for Brooklyn Paper Publications.Throughout the 80's I did advertising work and freelanced for such clients as The New York Daily News, Women's World, Waldenbooks and Simon &Schuster," as he tells us.

Lash's influences included Comic greats like Steve Ditko, Harvey Kurtzman and Will Eisner. His work reflects their insight, and their guidance.

As an aside, because of the work of people like Lash, the greats of our industry will live for ever.

The last couple of issues have seen a strong polarity in themes. One issue looks at the "intelligent Gorilla" stories of Silver Age DC fame, while another issue deals with a famous writer who was hit by a car while walking down a road one night.

Each of the stories is funny, intelligently written and developed on a rational idea... "What if the Creatures of the Night Had Lawyers"?

Hmmmm.

So, where to start about this series?

Why not with the earliest work I have? Sure, that's not where I usually start, but why not do it different this time?

WOLFF & BYRD, COUNSELORS OF THE MACABRE "SUPERNATURAL LAW" was published in 1992, from Sidebar Press, and is a collection of strips that first appeared in the National Law Journal and American Fantasy magazine, along with The Brooklyn Press.

"But", Batton says, "In 1994, issue #1 of WOLFF & BYRD, COUNSELORS OF THE MACABRE was published by Exhibit A Press", founded by Lash and his wife Jackie Estrada.The strip, after seventeen years of continuous publication, was phased out as Wolff & Byrd continued their trials in their own comic book.

"And the first comic book appearance of W&B was when they guest starred in MR. MONSTER #9, 1987, published by Eclipse. Prior to the publication of their own title, W&B appeared in the back up story in SATAN'S SIX #1, 1993, published by Topps and inked by none other than Steve Ditko!" Lash proudly informs us.

With issue #24, the title was changed to "SUPERNATURAL LAW" in 1994, starting with issue #24.

The stories range from possessed children to religion, to haunted houses to monsters both man-made and naturally created. My favorite is The Gawdawful Thing.

While not every story is an award winner, they all tend to do the one thing a Comic Book person loves and the general public seems to hate.... they get you to think. That must be their worst sin.

The next item is Case Files Vol. 1; this issue includes the first four issues of WOLFF & BYRD, COUNSELORS OF THE MACABRE. It came out in 1995 and was published by Exhibit A Press.

This is the first major Comic Book appearance of Wolff and Byrd. The running gag here is Sodd, the Thing Called It.... which looks a good deal like something you might find in a swamp.... or in a deep, dense forest.

But, we also have the story of The Man Who Broke the Law of Gravity, the Curse of the Werehouse.... and I think I've lived there; there is also a great look at a lost segment of our industry, the characters created by EC Comics and brought down by "he who must not be named...."

And I think that was my favorite of all the work I have seen from Lash and Company. The story dealt with one of the more famous characters, The Bier-Meister, who is going to do a TV Special on the All New Horror Network.

All of these stories are available in quality trade paperbacks, "SONOVAWITCH" and "THE VAMPIRE BRAT", each featuring introductions by Neil Gaiman and Will Eisner, respectively.

This of course, causes all sorts of consternation among the monster community. The story gave us a look into the ego and the ideal behind the monster genre and what it does and does not cause the reader. It also had humor, intelligence, and a writing level that was lightyears beyond most of the so-called "psychological" writings of the 'experts' on what these stories meant.

SUPERNATURAL LAW is an unusual series. To say the least.

Over at their web-site, http://www.exhibitapress.com/ you can have a look at upcoming events such as personal appearances, the Conventions they have done, including photos of staff members of both Exhibit A Press and Wolff and Byrd and Associates; there is also a gallery of cover photos and a history of the company as well as links to reviews and comments from other folk.

Why should you read SUPERNATURAL LAW? Well, aside from the downright fun stories and thought provoking comments you can get a nice look (well, a different look at least) of some of your old favorites from TV, the movies and books.

For the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans among us, myself included, there is a nice little story in Issues 23 and 24 titled "Myrtle, the Vampire Hater") and #24 and the story was reprinted in The Vampire Brat collection.

And for lovers of 'real life' tv attorneys, like Ally McBeal, there is issue #24 "You'll Never Drink Blood in This Town Again!" also reprinted in The Vampire Brat. Get it? Lawyers? Blood suckers? Never mind.

From Hammer Horror to Japanese Monsters, there is something for everybody. And that includes lovers of classic characters like Jack Benny, Vincent Price, Cerebus, The Hulk, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King.... the list goes on. And on.

SUPERNATURAL LAW gives us a look into a part of the industry that most of us tend to ignore, the "What If" category. Which is funny, since that is what Comics are supposed to be about.

As to reading all of the stories, don't worry. With almost 10 collections out, there is a good chance that you will be able to read every episode and encounter Wolff and Byrd have had to date. You can also read the adventures of Mavis, the Worlds Greatest Secretary, who every day has to deal not only with bosses who have lives, but also the lives (and deaths) of monsters, aliens, creatures from dark waters, and things that go "SHRIEK" in the night.

MAVIS is an occasional title. The new issue, #4, has a Jaime Hernandez cover. Issue #3 featured a cover by the legendary Dan DeCarlo.

Dang it, the stories are good. They are almost innocent in their outlook of the things around them, while at the same time cognizant of the evils that truly do lurk in the world around us. Crooked politicians, dishonest lawyers, and sue happy citizens.

Down to Batton Lash... now, I could rewrite his history or I could just send you to the site..... http://www.exhibitapress.com/pages/batton.html .... which is easier? Go on... head over there, but be sure to come back here later.

Batton also writes Bart Simpson's favorite comic book, RADIOACTIVE MAN for Bongo Comics. Which I really should start reading soon.

The same with Jackie Estrada, you can read all about her on the same site.

Now that you have read the hype, here’s what I think of the two of them. They are pure professionals. They do what they are doing because they love the work, and the industry.

Batton Lash (who’s name always makes me think of a Cowboy Movie Star) is funny, creative and very personable. He always has a smile for the readers, even after spending the whole weekend explaining over and over why he draws the hair the way he does.

He honestly seems happy at what he does.

Jackie Estrada, as well as helping out with the books, handling the convention and personal appearances, book editor, co-publisher of Exhibit A Press, administrator of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, and past-president of Friends of Lulu and helped start the Robert A. Heinlein annual blood drive is also married to Batton Lash. What did I want to know? Of course.... Did she ever meet Robert Heinlein?

NOTE TO LArry from Batton: "Yes she has!"
(Man, that hurts..... that hurts a lot. She gets to work in my favorite industry, and she meets one of my deities.)

The woman has the patience of a saint. She has dealt with me.

"And me" according to Batton.

If you have not read SUPERNATURAL LAW, do yourself a favor... head over to their site, http://www.exhibitapress.com/ learn more about them and the books, then order them from your local Comic Book dealer, or on line and enjoy them.

It is one of the few times you will ever root for the lawyer.