Idol of Flesh #1
"Dancer on the Edge" in Idol of Flesh #1 (1993, Fantagraphics) unfolds with raw intensity as journalist Jennifer Collins and photographer Sammy O'Hara arrive to interview the enigmatic Coley, a man whose life blurs the line between performance and peril. As Coley performs on the beach and later shares a reckless, passionate moment with his lover, priest Jerry Donelson, the tension builds in a church that becomes both sanctuary and ruin. Written and illustrated by John Blackburn, the story’s stark emotional weight and striking visuals—rendered in full by Blackburn, including the cover—capture a moment of devastating consequence, where desire, faith, and destruction collide.
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Jennifer Collins & Sammy O'Hara visit Coley for an interview, photo & video session. After a long talk, Jenny wants to do an entire book devoted to Coley. He poses and performs for her, on the beach, and to a crowd of onlookers. After, he takes her for a wild, dangerous ride on his bike, winding up at a church. He makes it with her in view of young priest Jerry Donelson, who's he's having an affair with. Coley hates organized religion, and can't stand the idea of being in love with a priest. But Jerry doesn't want to lose Coley, and the two go at it right on the altar. Jealous, Jenny points the older Father O'Brien at the scene, and outraged, he insists Jerry leave the church. But, completely distraught, Jerry hangs himself. Coley sets fire to the church and tears off down the road with Jenny just as the police are coming. He takes the wrong road, where a bridge is down, and winds up crashing into a small canyon.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).