June
2
Buzzing with Energy
The Amazing Joy Buzzards #4
Creators: Mark Smith, writer; Dan Hipp, artist
Image Comics, 32 pages, black and white, $2.95
So:Three rock stars and a mystical Mexican wrestler take on a murder conspiracy, a legion of zombies and (gasp!) agents and producers during their trip to Hollywood. "The Amazing Joy Buzzards" is teeming with enthusiasm in both in its writing and its visuals. Mark Smith’s “hip” dialogue is clearly tapped into the lingo of today’s youths, while his storyline is offbeat and funny in an “Adult Swim” kind of way. Hipp’s iconic linework is clear and easy to look at, but the real strength of the artwork comes in the form of numerous visual tricks, gadgets and unusual camera angles which he employs. "Amazing Joy Buzzards" beats the big two publishers to the punch in what, in hindsight, seems like an obvious stroke of marketing genius: A cliffhanger ending concluded on the world wide web and later to be published in physical form in the TPB. Series marks an ambitious and promising debut for Smith and Hipp. Grade: B+
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Great review! What you didn't mention about AJB is that while off-beat and edgy, it appears to be a comic full of charachters that can readily change with the times, but don't have to. It's like the Rolling Stones where they can be old and "Classic" or come out with something new and lead a wave. Great Fun.
Posted by: Stephen Johnson | June 04, 2005 at 08:39 AM