The Sunday Funnies: Do the Foxtrot

If there’s one comic strip that defines my preteen years, it’s Bill Amend’s FoxTrot.  It was a rare moment in middle school if I didn’t have this comic somewhere nearby.  Even though Amend has gone into semi-retirement, only publishing new strips on Sundays, FoxTrot remains one of my all-time favorites.

I think that out of all the family-oriented comic strips out there, FoxTrot best represent the modern age.  The Fox family unit is made up of the dim-witted but passionate father, Roger, his generally responsible wife, Andy, their teenage daughter, Paige, and their two sons, Peter, the wannabe sports player, and Jason, the nerdy genius.  What really makes this strip great is the relationship between each of the characters.  Amend creates a unique dynamic between all of these characters – usually to a comedic end – but always with a lot of heart.

The frequent incorporation of pop culture fads is what allows the audience to connect with these characters on a personal level.  For example, Andy went through a crazy Beanie Baby phase, and Jason can often be seen playing spoofs of popular videogames like Mortal Karnage and World of WarQuest.  The strip is great for those still in school because, stuck in time, these characters are constantly running into what become shared experiences.  Jason is always in elementary school, Paige is always an incoming high school freshman, and Peter is always a high school upperclassman.

Of course, the main point of the strip is to make you laugh – and it definitely does.  So if you’re looking for a funny, relatable, endearing comic, visit the official Foxtrot website to see the most recent strips.

 

Where Are These Comics You Speak Of?

Today I was visiting Bizarro-Wuxtry, the comic book shop above Wuxtry Records in downtown Athens, for the first time when I realized that I’ve been writing about comics, but neglecting to tell my readers how to actually get their hands on them.  There are generally two ways to collect comics.  As you may know, comic books are printed in issues; depending on the publisher, these issues may be produced weekly, biweekly, monthly, or on some other patterned schedule.  After the writer has completed a single story arc across several issues, they will often be combined into a volume to be sold together.

I have always bought my comics in volume form just because I prefer to read an entire story without having to wait weeks in between plot lines.  Volumes are frequently sold at major bookstores, like Borders or Barnes & Noble.  Because of the popularity of comic-based films, these stores have starting carrying a respectable collection of comic books.  I personally like to buy my comics from Borders because, as a Borders rewards member, I can get 40% off any item about once a week.  This nice discount reduces the damage to my wallet that collecting inevitably brings.

Besides your corporate bookstores, you can also purchase comic books from indie comic shops, like Bizarro-Wuxtry.  These shops almost always have a great atmosphere and friendly workers.  Also, their selection of comics is huge.  On my visit to Bizzaro-Wuxtry today, I found every comic that I have mentioned in this blog and more – much, much more.  The main difference between these shops and, say, Borders, is that these stores carry comics in both issue and volume form.  So if you just have to keep up with the latest issue of your favorite series, a store like this is your best bet.  Also, most of these shops support trade-ins, meaning that you can swap your old comics for new ones without an extra charge.

Other ways to get comics include getting a subscription, so that each issue is sent directly to your address upon its release, and checking them out from a public library.  I know my library back home has a decent selection of comics, which is sure to grow.  And, if you really want to read some comics, find a friend or classmate who collects.  I know I’m always happy to lend out my comics for those who are interested – you just have to ask.

Comic Book Review: “Jack of Fables”

Bill Willingham’s successful fairytale-based series, Fables (which I reviewed here), has spawned two spin-offs, Cinderella, an espionage story à la James Bond, and Jack of Fables, which follows Jack Horner after his departure from Fabletown.  I haven’t had the chance to check out Cinderella yet, but I am just about caught up with Jack of Fables.

While both Fables and Jack of Fables share the same world, each series has its own unique voice.  For example, Fables features an ensemble cast, but Jack of Fables focuses on just one main character: Jack Horner a.k.a. Jack of Tales a.k.a. Jack the Giant Killer a.k.a. Jack Frost.  It can be hard to see the appeal of Jack, and, honestly, the emphasis on his character is the biggest weak point of the series.  He’s arrogant, sleazy, and self-absorbed, but he’s also smart, resolute, and very, very lucky.  Jack’s strict accordance to the lowest possible moral code is one of the funniest elements of the series.

Jack of Fables takes a much sillier and looser approach to its storylines than Fables.  Though there is a flimsy arcing storyline, each volume is self-contained for the most part.  The series begins with Jack being captured and put into a Fable internment camp.  From there, Jack enlists the help of other Fables and Literals (the anthropomorphic personifications of literary techniques) to escape and, then, to get rich.  Willingham introduces a huge cast of fascinating characters to accompany Jack on his journey, including Humpty Dumpty, the Pathetic Fallacy (who prefers to be called Gary), and the hilarious Babe the Blue Ox.  The three Librarian sisters are also a highlight of the series, especially considering Jack’s ultimate intentions with them.  All in all, the vibrant characters in Jack of Fables are only weighed down by the focus on Jack himself.

While I still enjoy Fables far more than this spin-off, I would still recommend Jack of Fables to new readers.  You can read a preview here.

The Sunday Funnies: Gettin’ Fuzzy

Darby Conley’s Get Fuzzy is quite probably my favorite comic strip of all time, and it’s definitely one of the funniest strips currently being produced.  While it does have some social and political undertones every now and again, Get Fuzzy is primarily about the crazy lives of pet owners.

Like many comic strip writers, Conley employs the use of anthropomorphic animals – and brilliantly, at that.  First, there’s Satchel Pooch, the pitifully naïve housedog.  Satchel brings an innocence to the strip that can only be described as heartwarming.  Bucky B. Katt, on the other hand, is the embodiment of pure evil, or, at least, he tries to be.  Bucky’s crazy schemes, driven by his often misplaced anger, make some of the most insane scenarios seem plausible.  And in the middle of these two conflicting house pets is their owner, Rob Wilco, who acts as a mediator.

The dynamic between these three characters generates a unique brand of humor, which Conley expertly introduces to any conceivable topic, from sports to Judge Judy to world domination.  Clever, funny writing mixed with a distinct drawing style pushes Get Fuzzy to the top of modern comic strips.

You can see more of Get Fuzzy here.

Comic Book Review: “Chew”

Chew is one of the weirdest, most disturbing things I’ve ever read.  And it’s hilarious.  Though the first issue just came out the summer of last year, the comic book series, written by John Layman and illustrated by Rob Guillory, has already amassed a large fan base and won an Eisner Award (think the Emmys for comic books).

The idea behind Chew is simple enough, if a bit odd.  The protagonist, Tony Chu, is a cibopath, meaning that he psychically sees the history of anything he eats (except for beets).  He is also a cop, though early in the series he becomes a special agent for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The issues are largely episodic in nature, following in the footsteps of many buddy cop TV shows.  However, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever see Tony Chu on television.

In the course of pursuing justice and stopping food-related crime (chicken has been made illegal because of a strain of the avian flu), Tony Chu must do some truly disgusting things.  You see, his talent as a cibopath extends far beyond food.  When I say he can see the history of anything he eats, I mean anything.  This results in some repulsive practices – mainly, cannibalism.

Rounding out the interesting cast of characters are Tony’s partner and fellow cibopath, Mason Savoy, who may take a little too much enjoyment out of his job, their boss, who hates Tony with an arbitrary burning passion, and Amelia Mintz, who can cause people to taste whatever she writes about in her editorial food critiques.  Layman writes all these characters with humor and wit, but he thrives when taking them on completely unexpected twists and turns.

If you have a strong stomach and you’re looking for a laugh, I highly recommend Chew.