You've got to hand it to Kyle Baker... he is quickly becoming one of the most versatile publisher/creators in comics today. His self-publishing efforts offer a diverse array of material -- just compare his comedy work with the power of the historical Nat Turner -- and he's doing it all solo. Slowly but surely, his own personal brand is creeping into the minds of those interested in the industry. His latest effort, The Bakers, is the most personal of his more recent work. Though not laid out as such, what this comic does is allow Baker to practice his craft in the comic-strip vein as opposed to comic books. In many ways, Baker offers up some standard sit-com/stand-up family comedy observances, but his art adds in the physicality that makes it come across as something a little more special.
Kyle Baker is a typical dad. His wife is the brains of the operation, and their lives revolve around their children. They have three kids: a son, a daughter and a baby girl. Kyle's a good dad and husband, but like a lot of typical guys, while he's well-meaning, he's also forgetful. A trip to the mall to buy a last-minute birthday gift turns into an adventure when he has to take the kids along for the ride.
The influence of classic Western animation on Baker's style is undeniable. Baker's self-portrait is clearly in the same vein as early Warner Bros. cartoons, and one can see Hanna-Barbera influences at play as well. Though simpler and more exaggerated approaches are employed to depict the adult characters, the kids are conveyed in a more realistic style. It's still cartoony, but the anatomy and movement of those younger figures are more true to life.
That approach for the kids really pays off in the first story, "Giant Step," featuring the Baby Baker's first steps. It's a hilarious and goofy sequence, but its strength stems from its truth and honesty. It's wonderfully cute, and it serves as a celebration of the awkwardness and achievement of the very young.
Baker opts for a silent approach in most of the material in this comic book, and it often works very well. There are instances when I would have enjoyed a bit of dialogue, but Baker never really fails with the wordless approach either. When there is dialogue, it's sharp and to the point, but the typeface lettering (which reminds me of Mad magazine lettering) isn't in keeping with the goofiness and personality of the book.
Judging from the cover colors and the way the characters are depicted inside this black-and-white comic, it would seem that Baker and his wife are of different ethnicities. What's interesting is that Baker doesn't dwell on that difference. Neither does he include comment on his non-traditional career (I can only assume that as a cartoonist, he works from home). He offers up a vision of the all-American family with no caveats, and I find it wonderfully refreshing. This isn't about anything more than the joys and foibles of family life, and as such, it boasts a universal appeal. 7/10
