Two-in-One Review: Babyhead Magazine The new millennium has not been kind to the pop culture icons of the '80s, according to Babyhead Magazine. Randy: 1980s nostalgia has been the talk of the industry for the last year, with the return of a whole lot of 80s properties. Though opinion is sharply divided on whether this is a good or bad thing, I think both camps would find something to like in Babyhead Magazine. Don: Don't let the name fool you... this ain't no Wizard. It's not a magazine about comics; it's actually a comic anthology. As Randy notes, this is a celebration of pop culture (with an emphasis on the '80s, not a limit), but at the same time, it tears pop culture apart. Babyhead Magazine #1 published by Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics written & illustrated by Chris Jordan edited by Cliff Chiang Don: Since when do super-heroes have to wear costumes and have secret identities? Zoe, the atomic 20-something, doesn't think so. And since when does a pair of tough cops/buddies have to be Mel Gibson and Danny Glover types? Why can't they be a hip chick like Hitachi Bubblegum and her flying monkey pal, Sim-Sim? Chris Jordan answers all these questions and more in an irreverent and occasionally baudy book called Babyhead, due to hit comic shops this week. Randy: Chris Jordan has what appears to be an encyclopedic knowledge and true love for the pop icons of the 1980s, combined with a twisted sense of humor that lets him eviscerate them mercilessly. In the pages of Babyhead's first issue, he serves up a casting call/pitch for Diff'rent Strokes the Movie, a plug for the Mr. T vs. Everything website and VH-1 style "Behind the Music" and "Where Are They Now?" parodies for cartoon bands like Josie & The Pussycats, the Banana Splits and Jem and the Holograms. There's even a brief tribute of sorts to DeGrassi Jr. High, which he explains to those of us (like me) who haven't seen it beyond its brief mention in Chasing Amy. Don: I suppose on the surface, the selling point of the book is the proliferation of pop culture that Jordan injects into the book, but I see the real strength as being his versatility. I can barely believe that this entire book was illustrated by the same person. He shifts styles quickly. His work reminds me of Philip (Angel and the Ape) Bond's detailed yet goofy approach at times, and at others, I'm put in mind of Jim (Stupid Comics) Mahfood and J. (Mutant, Texas) Bone. Randy: Mind you, though the '80s pop culture infuses Babyhead, Jordan is no one-trick pony. His wicked sense of humor extends to original strips, including several pages that were so outrageous they would have fit right in with Lowest Comic Denominator. And though everything is viewed with a sense of humor, there are actually some stories in here and original creations that will hold the interest of those not looking for a pure humor book. I loved the concept and execution of Hitachi Bubblegum, future cop with her partner the flying monkey; and the Zoe strips give us a look at the idea of fame and how it would relate to super-heroes that may be even better than the one we see monthly in Powers. Don: The extreme nature and in-your-face philosophy of the Hitachi Bubblegum strips would do Transmetropolitan's Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson proud. This book is full of attitude, from the longer features to the four-panel strips that make up "Hankland" (the Alf strip was a particular favorite... and I loathed Alf). But for all that attitude, one also gets the sense that all of this 1980s goofiness holds a special place in the creator's heart. He mocks it because it's so easy, but also because he loves it. Randy: Make no mistake, Babyhead is written for children of the '80s, but not for children. There's plenty of bad language, a bit of cartoon nudity and enough sex, drugs and violence to send your average Dallas-based juror into a tizzy. Which just makes me love it more, to be honest. We have plenty of comics right now that are appealing to our inner child, the one who is still mentally watching Transformers and eating sugary cereal. Babyhead Magazine is for that part of us that realizes that even if we love it, that doesn't mean it isn't stupid as hell and deserving of mockery. For more information about Babyhead Magazine, visit www.babyheadmagazine.com. Email Randy and Don comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.