Gummy-Geddon is upon us and only ONE man can repel bears of that magnitude. Your Major Spoilers review of Shirtless Bear-Fighter 2 #1 from Image Comics awaits!
SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER 2 #1
Writer: Jody Leheup
Artist: Nil Vendrell
Colorist: Michael Spicer
Letterer: Dave Lanphear with Troy Peteri
Editor: Sebastian Girner
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 17, 2022
Previously in Shirtless Bear-Fighter: FINALLY! The man, the myth, the legend-SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER RETURNS to the War on Bearror with higher stakes than ever before! This time, Shirtless’s search for his true origin sets him on a cosmic collision course with the bear god… URSA MAJOR!
BEAR-ANORMAL ACTIVITIES
We open in the throes of a full-blown emergency, as gigantic Gummi Bears rampage through the streets of Major City. Agent Suzi Silva of The FUZZ (almost certainly an acronym) is barely able to hold them back, but her most important agent is currently working on the inside… of the stomach of a brainwashed child? Shirtless Bear-Fighter has been shrunk to microscopic size to take down the equally diminutive Crummy Gummy, but as the mission continues, it becomes clear he won’t be small for as long as he thought. With seconds to spare, he makes it out, saving the day and also not blowing up a child from the inside, then handles the giant Gummies the only way one could: With his teeth! Unfortunately, finishing the mission involved going off-book and ignoring Suzie’s direct orders. leading her to give him some time off. Of course, a beach trip to Bearmuda (rimshot) is only relaxing if there aren’t bears to punch, which leads to the saddest moment of Shirtless Bear-Fighter’s life.
“You’re out of The Fuzz… I need your badge and pants.”
THEY HAD ME AT “SURFACE-TO-BEAR MISSILE”
The joyful cartoon antics of Shirtless Bear-Fighter are entirely my kind of story, balancing moments of extreme silliness (like the Hillbilly Shaman’s discovery of a terrible secret while resurrecting a fried chicken) with the actual emotional impact of young Shirtless wondering why his parents abandoned him in the woods. There’s also an edge of possible attraction between Agent Silva and Agent Bear-Fighter, which should be fun, and of course, the recurring visual gag that he fights naked (with appropriate pixelated placement to keep things PG). The art is lively and full of visual jokes and puns, with the heavily bearded baby Shirtless being my favorite, but the scripting & dialogue hold up their end of the bargain as well, with fun wordplay, over-the-top boasts from our hero, and the just off-panel appearance of bear-deity Ursa Major leaving things on an amazing cliffhanger.
BOTTOM LINE: YOU DON’T ALWAYS WANT GRAVITAS
In short, Shirtless Bear-Fighter 2 #1 continues where the original series left off, giving us absurdity that somehow still works as a comic-book narrative, with clear, expressive art combined with a zany premise whose protagonist doesn’t know he’s ridiculous, making for 4 out of 5 stars overall. If you’re looking for a comic that’s fast, fun, action-packed, and seriously funny, look no further.
It's not easy to make slapstick feel consequential, but the goofy humor here doesn't destroy the (melo)drama. Plus: Shirtless versus a water bear!Dear Spoilerite,
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SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER 2 #1
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.