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    Major Spoilers
    Ice Cream Man #34 Review
    Review

    Ice Cream Man #34 Review

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonFebruary 23, 20233 Mins Read

    What’s the craziest thing you ever heard? Your Major Spoilers review of Ice Cream Man #34 from Image Comics awaits!

    What's the craziest thing you ever heard? Your Major Spoilers review of Ice Cream Man #34 from Image Comics awaits!
    You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link.

    ICE CREAM MAN #34

    Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
    Artist: Martin Morazzo
    Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
    Letterer: Good Old Neon
    Publisher: Image Comics
    Cover Price: $3.99
    Release Date: February 22, 2023

    Previously in Ice Cream Man: The Ice Cream Man is Riccardus, but what Riccardus is, is not clear. He seems to be everywhere, he can do nearly anything, and everything wrong with the world is his great delight. Whether you’re heart-broken, sick, or just plain tired, he’s got a flavor for you, and they’re probably all full of bugs.

    AN ETERNAL, PHILOSOPHICAL BATTLE

    We join two itinerant men living a life on the road, Cranky Ol’ Phil and Mac as they hop the next train to… well, wherever the train’s going. Our duo has a system, you see: Never spend more than a week in one location, never get involved in anything heavy, never use weapons, and never get involved in violence. That all goes by the wayside as they make their way through New Mexico, encountering another man by the name of Vicious Vin, who has a plan of his own… and a gun. Their week in Santa Fe leads to more food than usual, and Vin suggests that they get a little money by knocking over a local convenience store. It’s a mistake, and breaking their cardinal rule leaves Phil badly wounded and Mac traumatized by the experience. But as the train heads west, a story that Phil once heard becomes more important than ever.

    ARE WE NEARING THE END?

    The most shocking part of this issue is seeing an ending that seems like it might almost be a happy one, with Mac encountering the mysterious cowboy named Caleb, The Ice Cream Man’s counterpart. There are a lot of important, subtle moments in this issue’s dialogue, starting with a discussion of “the craziest thing you’ve ever seen,” featuring what may be the first and only literary use of Chekhov’s Dracula. Riccardus the Ice Cream Man appears in the margins of the story, as is his custom, but somehow things feel like Prince and Morazzo may be building to something more, especially when you consider Vicious Vin’s telling of the craziest story he’s ever heard. Morazzo’s art in this book is superb and unique, conveying the grit and dirt and general dyspepsia of life on the road without any guarantees. Mac and Phil look and feel like they’ve been on the road for months, but never lose their humanity or dignity. When Mac is forced into fighting, it’s a moment of desperation, but also a little bit of triumph that’s out of the ordinary for Ice Cream Man protagonists.

    BOTTOM LINE: A REALLY GOOD STORY

    All in all, though, Ice Cream Man #34 may not be a palindrome, a crossword puzzle, or a mystery, but it is a clever, well-drawn, and entertaining issue of comics, with the majesty of Cranky Old Phil putting it all over the top for a dead-solid 5 out of 5 stars overall. I never cease to be impressed with the emotions that Prince, Morazzo, and company can create in a few well-done pages, and I hope I never do.


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    ICE CREAM MAN #34

    100%
    100%
    That's just Good Comics

    Story and art combine for an experience that engrossed me on every page. Even though I'm very glad it's not real, it felt like it was.

    • Writing
      10
    • Art
      10
    • Coloring
      10
    • User Ratings (0 Votes)
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    Chris O'Halloran Good Old Neon Ice Cream Man Image Comics martin morazzo Review W. Maxwell Prince
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    Matthew Peterson
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    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.

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