I knew going in that I was expecting something odd and funny, and Burden and Boswell don't disappoint. I was a little worried that my unfamiliarity with both characters would leave me with a lot of questions, but as it turns out, the basic concepts here aren't as important as the twisted sense of humor that both Burden and Boswell bring to the story. The gags fly fast and furious, the non sequiturs even faster and the story jumps from celebrity gameshows to collie werewolves to a chase sequence with a professional wrestler with ease. This is one bizarre, unusual and hilariously funny comic.
Usually, I'd expect this kind of crossover between two characters, particularly two who have been out of the public eye for so long, to come with some sort of explanation of who they are. However, there's really not much you need to know about Flaming Carrot or Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman that isn't said by their name and their visual. Both characters are obviously little more than vehicles for their creators' senses of humor, but since the sensibilities of Burden and Boswell are so in synch, that works out pretty well. There's not a lot of deep characterization or pathos to be found here, but there are funny jokes that will make you laugh.
The sheer strangeness of the concept is where a lot of the humor come from. The plot centers around these two heroes, along with a third I don't know, teaming up to face celebrities on a game show. They then agree to watch one of the celebrity's rented monkeys, and decide to chase after a vampire dog on a skateboard who has been terrorizing the town, but they have to do it during the day or else they won't get to a big party to woo the Girl from Ipanema. The plot basically combines pop culture references with outrageous behavior to deliver laughs, and for the most part it succeeds. The story jumps around, showing little snippets of life for the lead characters or their antagonists or passers-by, and that keeps it lively and entertaining.
Boswell and Burden tell the story with simple and strong panel arrangements, never breaking panel borders or getting too outrageous with the layout, and that consistency of frame makes the unusual subject matter easier to keep track of. The art style is very familiar but difficult to describe, with plenty of detail in the backgrounds and exaggerated anatomy, but a simplicity that makes it easy to grasp. I also enjoyed the lettering, which carries with it the sense of boldness and fun that defines the book.
Reid Fleming/Flaming Carrot is the comic-book equivalent of a Bugs Bunny cartoon, existing largely as a vehicle for slapstick and strange gags. It's a light read as a result, but it's a lot of fun, and it provided me with a lot of laughs and a desire to see more of these wacky and unusual characters, not to mention their creators.
