Given how poorly all-ages comics tend to go over in the market, I expected that the first three Gus Beezer adventures would also be the last, and I was surprised to see Simone's imaginative grade schooler making a return. Pleasantly surprised, of course, because Gus Beezer is a really fun concept that plays nicely into Simone's natural wit and serves as one of the few remaining places where a really young reader (and his parents) can safely check out Spider-Man and other popular Marvel heroes without running into decompression and deconstruction or, as kids would know them, boooooorrring comics. Simone is joined by a new artist, Gurihiru, whose simplistic, animated style actually works perfectly with the main story and just as well with the split book done "by" Gus Beezer.
Simone manages the impressive balancing act of making Gus a naive, weird kid without making him so completely off-kilter that he comes off as annoying or stupid. The reader sees things from Gus's point-of-view, which helps, since we then see his sister as nothing but a menace to his claims of speed superiority or his teachers and principals as folks who don't "get" him, but the key element is Beezer's wistful, enthusiastic voice. Though Gus Beezer is aimed at younger readers, it should strike a chord with anyone who still has a love of super-heroes, and who remembers the days when you used to "play" at being something else.
Of course, part of the reason that Gus Beezer can be called "all ages" instead of "for younger readers" is because Simone, in the tradition of the best kids' entertainment, throws in a few winks and nods to the adults. Starting off the first panel with a reference to Tobey Maguire's narration of the Spider-Man film elicited a chuckle, and knowing that Peter Parker is Spider-Man makes a big difference when interpreting his role in the story. In addition, Simone writes a hilarious interaction between the Spidey-hating Jonah Jameson and the Spidey-loving Gus that had me laughing out loud, something that can be appreciated by younger readers but which will resonate even more with longtime Spider-Man fans.
The shift in artwork made me a little nervous, because at first glance Gurihiru's work looked a little too simplistic to me. However, as I read further into the story, I saw that it was a perfect match for Simone's script, with a bright and cartoony look that matches the enthusiasm of her lead character. The constant shifts from Gus's view of the world (usually including Spider costumes) and back into his real world flow smoothly, and the cartoonish exaggeration needed for the expressions of Gus or Jonah Jameson are probably some of the stronger points of Gurihiru's work. In addition, the strip that runs along the bottom of the book mixes clear storytelling with an authentically child-drawn style in perfect measure.
Gus Beezer may not find favor with folks looking for newer takes on super-heroes like those found in the Ultimate books, but it's a delight for old school super-hero fans (especially those who remember Not Brand Ecch!! and Fred Hembeck's style) and should be fun for younger readers as well. Though it is fairly light entertainment, it always leaves me with a smile on my face, and you can't ask for anything more when it comes to all-ages stories.
