Comics: Mysterius charms while being a jerk

What if the world operated on a system of magic that only a few knew -- and one of those few was a jerk who basically used it to cadge free meals?

That's not exactly the premise of the graphic novel "Mysterius the Unfathomable" (DC/WildStorm, $18) -- there's a lot more to it than that -- but it's one of the aspects of this story that make it so charming.

Although "charming" probably isn't a word one would normally associate with a book that suggests a loosely disguised Dr. Seuss has been tricking kids for years into chanting magic phrases. Or one in which witches exist, and do all their rites in the nude ("the good ones, anyway," Mysterius says). But seriously, "charming" is the right word.

Even if our "hero" is kind of venal, petty, greedy and selfish. Not to mention "duplicitous, lustful and inconsiderate!" said Jeff Parker, the author of "Mysterius the Unfathomable."

His energetic stories, organic dialogue and sense of fun make his superhero books a treat, but those qualities really shine in "Mysterius."

Even though his leading man is kind of a jerk, "he does have a conscience," Parker said, "and her name is Delfi, his assistant. For him to be a whole and functioning person, she must be there."

Delfi is the other star of "Mysterius," a former reporter who gets roped into being Mysterius' gal Friday -- and finds she enjoys it.

Or maybe the other star is really Tom Fowler, the artist on "Mysterius." His work vaguely recalls that of Jack Davis (famous for movie parodies in "Mad"), but he is clearly a stellar talent. His potbellied, bulbous-nosed Mysterius is one of a kind in comics, and Parker jokingly attributes a lot of Mysterius' origin to Fowler.

"I've based [Mysterius] on many people, and the worst parts of me, I must admit," Parker said. "There's a fair amount of Tom Fowler in there, too. The gut is all Tom Fowler."

But Parker says Fowler was more than a model, joking or not. If Parker is Mysterius' father, Fowler is his godfather. Or maybe his obstetrician.

"This is most telling -- once Tom came onboard as a co-creator, I then dropped any limitations I might have imposed upon the story," Parker said. "Tom can draw Dr. Seuss-inspired demons, the Burning Man event, the most desolate territory of hell, anything. He's a world-class talent who makes characters live. And he can write -- he constantly suggests story elements or builds more intrigue into the scene. With Tom, you get a many-layered work that reveals more upon rereading. He's that good."

But Parker's that good, too. And "Mysterius" comes from a place that has nothing to do with superheroes.