This is the story of “friends” Dog, Skull, Fist and Abraham Lincoln, living together. What happens when things stop being polite and start getting real? Why Punks: The Comic of course! Now less outdated MTV references and more review!
PUNKS: THE COMIC #1
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Kody Chamberlain
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Punks: The Comic: Dog, Skull, Fist and Abraham Lincoln live together in a crappy apartment. Sounds like a bad joke. It kind of is…
ANARCHY ON THE PAGE
I couldn’t have told you what Punks: The Comic #1 was going to be about, just that I like punk rock and what I saw of the art. After reading Punks: The Comic #1, I still can’t tell you what it’s about, but I can tell you what it’s like. Punks: The Comic reads like two dudes got together, drank some beer and made a comic with every nonsensical, immature and funny joke or idea that came into their heads. It leads to complete anarchy between the covers and becomes a bit of a mixed bag. Dog (a bulldog with a human body), Skull (a guy with a skull for a head), Fist (a guy with a fist for a head) and Abraham Lincoln (yes that Abraham Lincoln albeit much hipper) live together in a run down apartment. Nonsense, nut punching and gnome slaughter ensue. It’s every bit as crazy as it sounds and I had fun, though some of the jokes were grating. Joshua Hale Fialkov and Kody Chamberlain are clearly having a blast and that enthusiasm radiates from the page. At points I was rolling with laughter, the attic gnome fight being the highlight, and others rolling my eyes at the immaturity. A nut punch is funny every now and then, but one every other page is a bit much. There are some truly brilliant ideas in Punks: The Comic as well. There is a cutout card game you can play, stupid puzzles and maps and Abe being on disability for a head wound are what make Punks unique. The humor is so bizarre that it isn’t going to appeal to everyone. Much like punk rock, I suppose that’s fitting.
PLAYING WITH PAPER DOLLS
Kody Chamberlain’s art is actually quite impressive when you sit and think about it. It takes cutouts from pictures and combines them to make the characters and settings. It’s extremely simple and easy to say anyone can do it, but looking closer makes one realize it’s hard to be effective. I’m amazed at how much of a variety in poses Chamberlain was able to get. Comparing the new story to the reprinted one shows how much his technique has improved. The drawback is there is no motion to the art at all. Other than the Wunderpants, there isn’t much color to the book; mainly just black and white with some sepia tones, which gives it a bit of a drab look. That’s a bit unfortunate considering the energy and enthusiasm emitting from the page but it’s a cool style and certainly adds to the punk rock vibe the book emits.
THE BOTTOM LINE: I’VE NO IDEA…
I’m not sure whether I can recommend Punks: The Comics #1. It isn’t about anything, and story is almost nonexistent. I know I enjoyed most of the book but it’s so off the wall bizarre I don’t know who it’s aiming for. Clearly Fialkov and Chamberlain are loving every minute of its creation, but it reads like a fever dream. It’s like nothing on the stands that’s for sure, and Image is the perfect home for it. If you like weird humor and spot it on the racks, flip through it. If you’re the right kind of crazy you’ll be in for a treat.
