Jen Van Meter brings her madcap but lovable family of musicians and free thinkers back for a third limited series, and it's a pleasure to revisit the characters -- and the unique storytelling structure that the writer has established for the property. The problem is summed up all too well in the title, though. There are multiple storylines at play even in this first issue, and it's more than a little overwhelming. Van Meter throws her readers into the deep end of the pool rather than easing them into the water.
A group of Bible-thumping protesters have set up camp on the front lawn of the Hopeless-Savage household, denouncing the unconventional family's supposedly sinful lifestyle. What's the most irksome about it all, though, is that they're led by Nikki's own mother and the evangelist who's managed to bring her under his sway. Meanwhile, Twitch and Arsenal are making their way to Hong Kong with their respective lovers to meet their grandmother... and for Arsenal's long overdue rematch with a rival from her school days.
Norrie's soft style is quite effective at capturing the energy and attitude of the title characters. I particularly love her depiction of Skank Zero, the youngest member of the family. When it came to the Twitch and Arsenal scenes, though, the art gets a bit confusing. Twitch and his boyfriend look remarkably alike, and a key plot development at airport customs is not conveyed clearly at all. It took me three readings to pick up on the action.
Campbell provides the artwork on the flashback sequence -- a trademark of the property -- and he does a wonderful job. The shift in styles appropriately sets the scene apart from the main plotlines. Campbell's style reminds me a little of cross between the styles of Shawn (The Sandman Presents: The Thessaliad) McManus and Philip (Vertigo Pop: London) Bond.
There's a lot going on in this first issue... the evangelist's corruption of the grandmother, Arsenal's illness, her upcoming martial-arts match, a double dose of relationship turmoil, smuggling and more are to be found here, and it's just, well, too much. I'm surprised the script isn't more focused on one or two characters like the previous limited series, Ground Zero.
Still, there are some strong, character-driven moments in this issue. Zero's letter to Ginger is a delight, and Nikki's continued deterioration is a concern but boasts vast storytelling potential. So does a possible complication in Arsenal's life, one that brings a serious, down-to-earth element to the story.
