You wouldn't believe the stacks of comics that I haven't had a chance to read yet that I've got lying around my apartment. It boggles the mind. I was sorting through a couple of random piles, and happened upon this self-published nugget, something I picked up at the National Comic Book Expo in Toronto in August. It caught my attention because I believe a new volume of Zdarsky's Prison Funnies has been released (or will be soon). I'll have to hunt that one down as well, as Zdarsky's depraved and surreal sense of humor is a bloody mess of fun.
A new inmate arrives at prison, and quickly becomes acquainted with his cell block's unusual personalities. There's his cellmate, Diesel Pete, a handsome, resourceful and tough con who seems to be able to accomplish the impossible. And then there's Johnny Arson, the skinless victim of his own fascination with flame. Big Tony's a poor ventriloquist, and little Billy's an eight-year-old who's become lost in the prison system. Yep, just one big, happy family... with homemade knives.
Zdarsky's overall style is quite cartoony, but there's an inherent, twisted darkness that suits the subject matter quite well. The characters' faces are simple but angry, but Zdarsky demonstrates an eye for anatomy as well. The characters move and gesture in a realistic fashion, and it makes for a fun contrast with the exaggerated nature of their faces.
The opening segment of this book is a collection of Zdarsky's original college newspaper strips, accompanied by some brief commentaries. It's like a DVD commentary feature, only in comic-book form, and I love what it adds to the entertainment value of these twisted but silly visions of human cruelty.
In the latter part of the book, Zdarsky offers up a short story that takes a more traditional approach to comic-book art. It was fun to see these characters involved in an actual plot, but at the same time, Zdarsky is careful to maintain the crude and over-the-top humor. Mind you, I think the property works better in the strip format. The quick hits and absurdity of it all work better within the confines of the brevity of the original format. The juxtaposition of the worst personalities and acts our society has to offer with the silliness of the traditional comic-strip panel is thoroughly amusing. Mind you, its appeal will be limited; those easily offended by extremely black humor should steer clear.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
