I figured that I could still give my two cents in November since Fox usually airs the Halloween episode well after the holiday too: The World Series is so much more interesting and important.
Last year I forgot to either write about #15 or I didn’t buy it. I can’t recall. However, my store does remember to pull anything Bongo (the publishing company Groening started) for our file so I plan to maintain this inconsistent tradition!
The Halloween issue is a favorite because it’s frequently written and drawn by famous guests. One year it was stand-up comedians (Patton Oswalt), another had rock stars (Gene Simmons), etc. It’s also one of the few times the art styles are allowed to go off model because the standard comic books (The Simpsons, Bart Simpson, Futurama and Radioactive Man) follow the same illustration guidelines used by the animators. This year Bongo didn’t go with anybody having a broad appeal yet I think they were interesting choices.
The first story is by Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer who are probably more well known for writing dialog to Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Shin-Chan and the “Robot Martian Girl” segments on Yo Gabba Gabba! Over 20 years ago, they cut their teeth with the indie books publishing namely Milk & Cheese. In between, the couple have also done work for DC and Marvel. Personally I was surprised Dorkin would ever do anything associated with Groening after one particular M & C strip. Then again, 16 years later, I own several Beck albums without irony. The story isn’t very interesting, it’s mostly an unfunny blood and guts monster send up, another reason why Dorkin’s material is best seen in black and white. What did amaze was the way Dorkin’s style fused with the Simpsons’ look while retaining their respective distinctions: his crowded panels and thick lines are present as these characters retain their trademarked overbite and are easily recognizable as Simpsons. Sergio Aragones of MAD fame shares this amazing talent. I hope Evan Dorkin gets another opportunity in a standard title, I think the Halloween theme has been tapped out like the TV show.
Story number two is more sinister and ghoulish. It succeeds through its artist Kelly Jones who style resembles the macabre Bernie Wrightson.
The third is a parody of Poe’s “The Telltale Heart,” by Peter Kuper. Currently Kuper does the “Spy v. Spy” section in MAD and published a Richie Rich-like comic ridiculing W called Richie Bush.
This year’s finale is plotted by Motorhead’s leader Lemmy. Even as a Simpson he still has those cocoa puffs on his face!
Lastly, to emphasize the cover’s tribute to Mars Attacks! the middle of the book contains four sample trading cards. One hopes Tim Burton isn’t inspired to make another dull film over these.