Bill Willingham's Fables caught the eye of judges and voters alike in the 2003 Eisner awards, and for good reason. That makes Frank Cammuso's timing perfect. His Max Hamm has a lot in common with Fables, but there are plenty of differences too. Fables fans will find an entertaining read here, but will also enjoy the more tongue-in-cheek, film-noir spoof approach that the writer/artist takes with the subject matter.
It's a slow day at the Max Hamm Detective Agency... until an old friend calls, desperate for Storybookland's swine sleuth's help. Max and his assistant, Bunni O'Hara, speed off to answer the siren call from the detective's past, and on the way, Max shares the story. He tells of the time he was hired by a washed up cinema star to track down her niece, a singer by the name of "Snow" White. The trail leads him to a burlesque performer named Roseanne Red and seven rather unsavory underworld types... and ultimately to a love that dare not oink its name.
Cammuso's cartooning is a real treat. The title character's cute look makes for a great contrast against the sexed-up bombshells with whom he cavorts. Cammuso draws both conceptual and design inspiration from Sunset Boulevard for create Delores LeBlanc, his version of the evil Queen from the Snow White fable. There's a strong Warner Bros. influence apparent in his work here, from Mr. Trouble to the wide-eyed look on Snow White's face. I'll bet Cammuso enjoys the lighter tone of these characters -- a nice change of pace from editorial cartooning -- as it shows in the work.
Cammuso's choice to filter the Snow White legend through a noir filter makes for a lot of fun. The storytelling is a little rushed in the middle, but by the end of the book, he's actually managed to establish a real sense of mystery and suspense alongside the sillier aspects of the story.
I started off comparing this property to DC/Vertigo's Fables, and while there are commonalities, one could argue that there's a stronger comparison to be made here between Max Hamm and the Who Framed Roger Rabbit? film. Cammuso offers up a similar blend of wonder and innocence with a darker, sexier quality. Max Hamm will tickle an adult's funnybone, and while it's not for younger kids, teens and "tweens" will get a kick out of it as well.
