I can't quite figure out why sometimes Jingle Belle really works for me and sometimes it doesn't, but that's the way it is, and this latest offering, unlike the previous one, left me a little cold. The lead story has some very fun moments, showing off Jingle Belle's naughty side as well as her less-commonly-seen nice one, and there are a couple of fun pop culture references, but it didn't really offer up anything we haven't seen in previous specials. Except for the artwork, of course, which stays true to the Jingle Belle style and has some very nice moments.
Early on, I thought Jingle Belle was an all-ages book, but that doesn't really seem to be the case. Instead, it's sort of the teen angst flipside to your traditional holiday specials, a nifty idea and a solid concept. Dini gets a lot of mileage in this issue comparing the timeless cultural tradition of Santa with the fleeting cultural traditions of reality television and girl bands. Though I've never seen The Osbournes, I've seen enough parodies now that I don't need to, and that lack of exposure to the original product probably makes me less tired of the overall parodying of them. Ditto for the Josie and the Pussycats movie, which gets a little reference here, but that's more of a side issue.
One thing I did appreciate in this issue was seeing a little more of Mrs. Claus, who has really not been much of a player in Jingle Belle stories previously. While her role is unfortunately little more than glorified narrator, it was interesting to see how the mother reacts to her rebellious daughter, since we've seen so much of how the father reacts. And just as Jing clearly has a hidden respect and love for her father, her decision to help out her mother was a nice touch to remind us that she's not just a spoiled brat... she's just a little over-spirited.
DeStefano is a name I recognize from his previous work on the character, and I was surprised that the backup story which he co-wrote and drew left me so flat. However, the style seemed sketchy and odd, not really matching what I expect or what seems to work with the characters, and the story doesn't really have much to offer either, with a predictable gag. Granted, it's difficult to work with so few pages, but the story actually felt padded, even at such a short length.
I was particulalry disappointed in DeStefano's work because the art on the lead story was so great. Jingle Belle should always have a sense of madcap fun, and Brandt and Cervone definitely convey that, especially with their full panel illustrations. The opening page and the various shots of the potential girl bands were terrific, although the picture style panels of the London trip were a lot of fun as well.
