From Mythology to Modern Mayhem: My Love Affair with Eddie Campbell's Bacchus

When I first discovered Eddie Campbell's Bacchus in my late teens, I knew I was holding something extraordinary. (And I should credit my longtime high school mate Gordon for introducing me to the series). Yep, this wasn't just another comic book - it was a brilliant deconstruction of mythology that would forever change how I viewed sequential art.

A God Walks into a Bar: The Premise That Hooked Me

Imagine Dionysus as an elderly barfly, wandering through modern streets with millennia of stories tucked under his belt. Campbell's reimagining is nothing short of revolutionary. Instead of the typical muscular, vine-draped deity, we get an aging storyteller who's more likely to share a pint than start a religious revelation.

For you comic book history buffs, here follows a short history of how Bacchus came to be:

Origins

Bacchus, originally introduced as Deadface, first appeared in March 1987 in Deadface #1, published by Harrier Comics. Created by Eddie Campbell, Bacchus was a product of the black-and-white indie comics explosion of the mid-1980s.

The character’s journey through publication was as colorful as the stories themselves. Initially featured in Deadface #5, Bacchus was given his own series, which ran for two issues under Harrier Comics before the publisher went under. From there, Campbell found new homes for Bacchus across several notable publishers:

• Dark Horse Comics, where Bacchus appeared in the anthology Dark Horse Presents

• Trident Comics, contributing to their anthology Trident

• Atomeka, where the stories were featured in A1

In November 1990, Dark Horse Comics collected the early Deadface stories into a trade paperback titled Deadface: Immortality Isn’t Forever.

By 1995, Eddie Campbell decided to take matters into his own hands. He founded Eddie Campbell Comics, gaining full control of Bacchus’s future. Through self-publishing, Campbell reprinted earlier material while also crafting new stories, guiding the series to its conclusion with issue #60. Bacchus’s evolution from indie darling to creator-owned cornerstone is a testament to Campbell’s dedication and the character’s enduring appeal.

Standout Storylines That Blew My Mind

While the entire series is a masterpiece, a few storylines stand out:

1. Earth, Water, Air & Fire: A four-part epic that weaves mythology with contemporary narrative threads. Each segment corresponds to a classical element, creating a complex tapestry that showcases Campbell's storytelling genius.
2. The 1001 Nights of Bacchus: Set in an English pub, this arc pays homage to the classic "One Thousand and One Nights" - patrons telling stories to keep Bacchus awake so they can keep drinking. Pure narrative brilliance.
3. The Eyeball Kid: One Man Show: A surreal, unpredictable storyline featuring the grandson of Argus, filled with poetic wordplay that defies conventional comic book storytelling.

Genre-Bending Storytelling

What sets Bacchus apart is its audacious genre fusion. Campbell seamlessly blends air hijackings, gangland drama, police procedurals, and mythic fantasy. It shouldn't work on paper, but it absolutely sings on the page.

Artistic Innovation

Campbell's visual style is as unique as his narrative approach. His breakneck inking technique and strategic use of Zip-a-Tone create a visual language that's both classical and utterly modern. The artwork doesn't just complement the story - it becomes an integral part of the narrative.

The Roots of Inspiration: Thor Comics and Childhood Wonder

Interestingly, Campbell's love for mythological comics began with Marvel's Thor series from 1966. Those black and white reprints in "Fantastic" taught him crucial storytelling lessons about blending humor with heroic narratives and adapting mythology for contemporary audiences.

Critical Acclaim

I'm not alone in my admiration. Neil Gaiman called Campbell the "unsung King of comic books," and The Comics Journal hailed Bacchus as a crowning achievement. Publishers Weekly recognized Campbell as a premier cartoonist of his generation.

Why You Can't Go Wrong Reading Bacchus

Beyond its entertainment value, Bacchus represents a profound exploration of how mythology can be reimagined. It proves that comic books aren't just disposable entertainment, but a legitimate form of sophisticated storytelling.

The series demonstrates how mythological figures can be transformed from distant, godlike beings into relatable characters navigating the complexities of modern existence.

Personal Reflection

As someone who discovered this series during those transformative teenage years, Bacchus was more than just a comic - it was a revelation. It showed me that storytelling could be simultaneously intellectual, irreverent, and deeply human.

Wrapping Up

Eddie Campbell's Bacchus isn't just a comic series - it's a landmark work that challenges our understanding of mythology, storytelling, and the comic book medium itself. If you haven't read it, you're missing out on one of the most innovative narrative experiences in modern sequential art.