Let’s get this out of the way early. This review won't be long because this is among the least funny things I've experienced lately. You know what kind of sucks? The art is actually real sharp. I mean yeah, it basically does that 'Ren and Stimpy' thing, but it's clean, detailed, and you know, one panel made me actually smile. Didn't even have a joke in it. Just the two bunnies on a street corner, grinning like maniacs with two bags with 'drugs' written on them, while the Cat Bus from 'My Neighbor Totoro' drives by. Don't know why, just made me smile. So kudos, Dean Rankine. This is a pretty nice looking book.
Now. The rest.
I mean what can I say? It's literally a collection of the broadest pop culture references and slapstick gags one could summon during the course of a lunch break. It's a kind of humor might have found a bit of life in animation, where an voice actor and an animator could collaborate to bring the energy and performance to broad humor, but on the comic page it relies so much more heavily on the writer's ability to be clever or funny. Even a little funny. I mean let me give you an idea what I'm working with here. On page two, Santa Claus Od's. The solution to this predicament? Do that thing with the adrenaline needle from 'Pulp Fiction'. You remember 'Pulp Fiction' right? Well it's basically that scene from 'Pulp Fiction'. Only Santa explodes instead. Much later, they save Christmas by firing Santa's elves and replacing them with Chinese sweat shop workers. And then they hit Mary and Joseph with Santa's sleigh, killing them instantly. Get it?
I mean this book wasn't just shat out. The art is good. I mean, it's not good enough to elicit more than that one precious smile, but I recognize it's more than proficient at what it needs to do. So the writer/artist... cared... about writing this? I mean that's the only answer I can eke out.
Well, it's a book. It exists now. You can buy it if you like. It's not like anybody dies if you do.
Score: 1/5
Writer/Artist/Creator: Dean Rankine Publisher: Action Lab/Danger Zone Price: $3.99 Release Date: 9/17/14 Format: Print/Digital