This isn't Bagge's first foray into the world of mainstream comics publishing, and I enjoyed his last one -- Marvel's The Megalomaniacal Spider-Man. He was also involved in another unconventional humor series from DC Comics called Yeah!. Bagge and company offer up an offbeat workplace comedy here, but the pace of the book struck me as being too frantic. The characters and mean-spirited atmosphere of the script just didn't work for me.
Mel Bowling is an old-timer whose longtime syndicated daily comic strip -- Freddy Feret -- has kept him going for years. These days, he has a cluster of unappreciated assistants who pump the strip out for him, even though he gets all the credit. And he wants more credit... in the form of a Hammy, the pinncale of comic-strip industry awards. And in a couple of other stories, we meet the latest addition to Mel's team of assistants.
Bagge's style is a simple one, but his artwork here is remarkably busy and cluttered. His panel layouts are crowded and unfriendly to the eye. DeStephano's and Wray's contributions aren't hindered by the same quality, though, and I was pleased to discovery some variety in the visuals while consistency of design was maintained at the same time.
I enjoyed the book's cynicism and political satire. Mel's politics are those of far too many White Men in Power, and Bagge's far from subtle lambasting of those folks is a welcome diversion. But the storytelling and the characters are as loud as Mel is, and it just gets to be a bit much after a while. Mel's rants are so completely over the top that it's hard to see past that extreme quality. Mel is frenetic and loud and in the reader's face almost incessantly, and it's irksome.
Though overall, the book left me cold, I have to admit there are some strengths. Mel's crass nature eclipses the fact that deep down, he looks after those close to him. He respects loyalty, and even though he treats his assistants like garbage, he won't tolerate it if anyone else does the same. His odd relationship with Alfred, his chief penciller, is kind of touching in a disgusting way, and Elliot's integration into the inhospitable environment actually makes a lot of sense.
Note: Some of the comments in this review were reproduced from a previous feature on the website.
