Don't look for this mini-comic to be among any comic distributor's releases this week. No, this small volume is an effort by self-publisher Brian Clopper, one he's shopping around to publishers (though he tells me he may end up publishing it himself "if none of them bite.") Clopper's more recent efforts were illustrated children's books rather than comics, so it's nice to see him return to the sequential-art medium. This new effort is well timed, as some elements remind me a great deal of the various Star Wars films. The book is sort of a science-fiction version of The Odd Couple, with Han Solo in one of the roles. Now, the storytelling structure -- with Fidget's journal narration mirroring the action of the plot -- is a bit beyond what Clopper's previous audience, much younger tykes, can appreciate, but older kids ('tweens, I suppose) and kids-at-heart will appreciate the goofy quality of this adventure property.
Wingnut is an accomplished intergalactic bounty hunter -- so much so that the criminals he hunts down have put a price on his head! He also finds himself in hot water with Motta Reel, a criminal overlord and occasional client who's steamed over some property damage for which Wingnut is responsible. Instead of killing him for the transgression, the two strike a deal: Wingnut agrees to take the cosmic kingpin's nephew on as an intern. The bumbling Fidget is eager for the opportunity to learn a trade, but his enthusiasm is short-lived, once he learns how much trouble Wingnut gets into on a routine basis.
Clopper's style has evolved over the years. Simpler, cuter designs have given way to a more organic look for his characters. The line art is a lot looser here than we've seen from the artist in the past, and that tone suits the devil-may-care attitude that's so important here. One of my favorite aspects of the book is the few pages in the back in which Clopper shows us the evolution of the property. Early designs and cover art demonstrate the creative process and just how much the characters have changed visually since the creator first had the idea.
The book isn't without its little problems. Motta Reel is uncomfortably similar to Jabba the Hutin concept, complete with nasty monster in a pit below. Mind you, Clopper seems to acknowledge the similarities and goes further to spoof the Revenge of the Jedi concepts with a verbose and articulate interpreation of the crimelord carnivorous pet.
I was a bit put off by the shift in the narration style early on the mini-comic, but confusion was replacement with amusement as I realized what the writer was up to. The synchronicity between Fidget's journal and the action of the story quickly wins the reader over, and given the short length of the book, one never has time to tire of the approach. In a largr comic, it would have grown old, but it works well here.
Now, since this mini-comic isn't available in stores, your best bet to track it down, should your interest be piqued, is to look for Clopper's name at this year's comics conventions or to drop him a line via e-mail at bclopper@nc.rr.com. 7/10
