A while back, Don and I reviewed The Lab #1, an unusual experiment in using three-dimensional modeling to create a story in comic-book format. I found the book to be charming and funny, and there was no doubt that creator Scott Sava's artwork was something very unusual in the comics market. Now, he's back with a second issue, and while the innovation may not be as striking, the results are still pretty strong, with plenty of humor and some truly eye-popping art that works really well with the story he's telling. Those looking for a fun, self-contained story, especially those with a love for Saturday morning cartoons (which the story seems patterned after), should definitely give it a look.
The high concept of the series is one that could lend to endless fun. A scientist and a lab monkey (well, not exactly a monkey, he's more of an anthropomorphic dog or bear person) work together to test chemicals. Usually by pouring the chemicals onto or into Esteban, the not-so-bright (but thoroughly likable) lab subject. And the tests, which are about as plot device-y as you can get, are never explained to the scientist (Livingston) or to Esteban before they take place. So the formula is, chemical is introduced, wacky consequences ensue, both characters get to suffer comedically under the experiment. It's simple, infinitely repeatable and works well for comedy if you've got an inventive mind.
On that score, Sava doesn't have to worry. His invention this issue, involving pop music and subliminal impulses in a surprising way, is good for plenty of laughs. Usually it's from role reversals (my favorite was Livingston's take on an old Sir Mix-a-Lot tune, although Esteban's cover of Barry Manilow was hilarious too), but there's room for a little slapstick and plenty of spit-takes as well. Sava mixes up the rather unusual problem the characters face in this issue with comedic timing that seems honed on Saturday morning cartoons, and it's a tribute to his writing skills that he gets the whole thing into a "done in one" format. This is the ideal kind of thing to hand a young child to keep them entertained for a while, especially if they know this music.
I was not crazy about Sava's work on Spider-Man: Quality of Life, where his cartoony 3D models seemed stiff and out of place, but in The Lab, the style works perfectly. The style of the artwork is the kind of thing you'll see from Pixar, creating real shapes but with a sort of whimsical touch to them, and I like the expressions that Sava gets out of his CGI creations Esteban and Livingston. He does have a tendency to go a little overboard on special effects, and the use of any number of fonts for different songs and radio stations seemed to be belaboring the point, but overall the innovation in the artwork is impressive.
The Lab is a light read, featuring characters who are mostly vehicles for gags, and the long time between issues and general format mean that those seeking deep character development or an ongoing story are likely to come away disappointed. But if you're looking for bright and distinctive artwork, several laugh-out-loud moments and a genial, inviting tone, you could definitely do worse than to check out The Lab.
