In Bill Willingham's award-winning Fables, we see storybook characters struggling to exist in our world. In Smax, writer Alan Moore takes the opposite tack, dragging a human -- Toybox, the title character's partner -- into the world of storybook characters, and it makes for a funny mix of the innocent wonder of children's fantasy and the cynicism of the modern world. Cannon's artwork manages to walk that fine line quite well, and the result is a solidly entertaining story.
Jeff Smax, a detective with the Top 10 precinct, is reluctantly paying a visit to his home world in a parallel dimension, and he's asked his partner, Toybox, to tag along. She's shocked to discover that her blue-skinned partner isn't from an alien world full of metahuman barbarians like him, but from a world that's ever magical storybook come to life. Smax seems more than a little embarrassed about his heritage, but that's nowhere nearly as embarrassing as Toybox's experience when he finally gets around to introducing her to his family.
Cannon's cartoony style reminds me of the work of such artists as Scott (Zot!) McCloud and Linda (Castle Waiting) Medley. The simpler tone in his linework doesn't mean he skimps on the detail. Though perhaps not at the same level as Gene Ha's work on Top 10, the backgrounds are full of little elements that capture the imagination. Damigmaliw's colors are vibrant and really bring out the magical nature of Smax's home.
The central theme of the story -- one's attempt to grow beyond one's past, to reject family and tradition -- is something to which I would imagine most of us can relate. Toybox sees Smax's home as charming and sweet, but he sees it in a completely different light. The gruff cop feels more at home in a dirty, urban landscape filled with crime, whereas his partner -- whose whole metahuman gimmick is based on children's toys and imagination -- thinks he's crazy. It's just a fantastic spin on your best friend thinking your parents are cool when you see them as completely embarrassing.
What I find most interesting about this story, though, is the contrasting tones of innocence and cynicism. Smax sees his home and its people through jaded eyes. He sees scams and inconveniences where Toybox and the reader see wonder and charm. I think the truth lies somewhere in between the two extreme perspectives. I look forward to learning more about Smax's unusual background and what's expected of him now.
