Comics: Back in Black
Hello folks: Here's the lowdown on comics this month: we have Rocko's Modern Life, Harley Quinn: Be Careful What You Wish For, and Legion (2018). Rocko's Modern Life (Boom! Studios): This was one of my favorite TV shows when I was young and impressionable. So it gives me great pleasure to introduce this comic to you, dear readers. This is one of the series that Boom! has rolled out recently, along with Rugrats. Both of the TV shows were on Nickelodeon, but I think they were both running towards the 13+ age group. I'm glad to say that the tone and level of puns squarely hit the expected targets from page one. The humor style reminds me of Chew, Shirtless Bear-Fighter, Adventure Time and the TV show Ren and Stimpy (the latter having come out in roughly the same time period). The characters might be a bit off-the-wall to begin with, but when your main character is a twenty-something wallaby, you are in for a wacky world. If you are not familiar with the TV show, never fear: the comic throws you into an easily relatable situation, complete with wise-cracking friends, looking for a job and an obnoxious roommate. This quirky series has always been tongue-firmly-in-cheek about everything from comic book enthusiasts, fast food franchises and everything in between. As long as you don't mind a goofy but sometimes gross-out art style (eyes that pop-out of the sockets, close-up shots of teeth sorely in need of a dentist), this will be a zany treat. Harley Quinn: Be Careful What You Wish For (DC Comics): This is a fun one-shot from DC, as Harley begins her altruistic mission to clean up the seas with a bazooka to the boats dumping trash into the waters. When she's unceremoniously thrown into the ocean, she comes across a genie in a bottle. Knowing Harley, she makes all sorts of requests of the genie, which all backfire on her, but not quite as spectacularly as when she wishes to be on the Justice League. Some knowledge of the Harley universe will make this book somewhat less random, but that's also what Harley stands for: mindless violence and comic cheekiness. She makes references to the Justice League, but also pokes fun at Kamandi. The good thing is that she makes goofy references to the original material so that you don't necessarily have to have read it. Outside of the wacky hijinks, she has some very earnest moments which revolve around the wonders of mundane life and how to live in the real world. The story's tone is generally a light-hearted and quick read, so the tender moments don't come out as over-sentimental. Legion (2018) (Marvel Comics): The hero of this story is Legion, a man with multiple personalities and mutant abilities that activate with every personality. Legion is plagued by a new splinter personality that threatens his well-being and his tenuous grasp on reality. This is a trippy story, in much the same way that Moon Knight is convoluted, but it is still a coherent plot-line. The artwork helps to communicate the new personality through dark speech bubbles and an electric outline of a face that visits and haunts people with their darkest secrets and fears. Since I'm not familiar with the previous material, I don't have a comparison to make to it. I did enjoy getting into the book, and it was interesting and a fast-paced story. Happy reading, folks! Dee
