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HOPELESS SAVAGES #2
Recommended (8/10)
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Oni Press
Writer: Jen Van Meter
Artists: Christine Norrie & Chynna Clugston-Major
Letters: Andy Lis
Editor: Jamie S. Rich
Price: $2.95 US/$4.50 CAN |
Van Meter is telling the story of a family that seems dysfunctional on the surface, but in fact, other, more conventional families should be taking their cues from the Savages. The charm of this book is that despite the characters' thuggish tendencies, they're all about love and respect. My only real problem with it is that I find it hard to keep all the characters straight in my head. Mind you, I missed the first issue, so your mileage may vary.
Arsenal, Twitch and Zero are trying to track down whoever might have kidnapped their punker parents, Dirk and Nikki. The kids figure their estranged oldest brother, Rat, might remember their parents' enemies better than they do, but when they find him, they discover he's a complete sellout, out of touch with the rough-and-tumble ways of the family. They abduct him and try to deprogram him. Meanwhile, Dirk and Nikki discover who's nabbed them and why.
The cartoony art of Norrie (as well as the Amerimanga style of Clugston-Major, used for a flashback sequence) suits the tone of the story and characters perfectly. Norrie's figures are thoroughly expressive, and she conveys the odd Looney Tunes/Three Stooges tone of the pseudo-violence wonderfully. Having a different artist handle the flashbacks is a smart move, and the choice of Clugston-Major is an even smarter move, as her different style is still in keeping with the tone of Norrie's efforts.
It took me a while to sort out all of the characters, but it's an effort worth making. Like I said, though, the fact that I didn't read the first issue didn't help. Van Meter has developed some fascinating characters in Hopeless Savages. The Savage family members are cool not because they act it or dress the part, but because they act and dress as they want to.
Proof of the Savages' real sense of coolness and acceptance comes in the highlight of the book: the flashback sequence. One of the Savages -- Arsenal -- is distraught because she has come to love an aspect of culture she feels is conformist, which goes against her grain. The message behind the resolution of her little personal crisis is clear: be what you want to be. You feel comfortable for a reason in whatever surroundings, and you shouldn't feel ashamed of it.
Now that's cool.
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