Review: In the beginning, there was a fictional documentary called "Far Too Gone," documenting several days spent in the company of a transvestite-in-denial named Josh who believes he is Tori Amos. This book takes place after the events covered in that documentary and it is actually stranger than one would have expected such a "sequel" to be. We have added not-quite superpowers, insurance fraud, drug use, and cults to the mixture. Why not? To be honest, this is one of... No, THE strangest piece of work I have ever read, let alone reviewed. Then again, I've never read William Burroughs, so perhaps I'm sheltered. Given that, how could I possibly make a value judgment on it?
Personally, I see something big happening here. It's weird, sure, and I'm equally sure that tons of people are going to find it unlikeable, the utter antithesis of funny, and beyond redemption... But it's bold and, to my knowledge, there's nothing else like it on the market.. or likely even spinning through someone else's head. Brian Labrecque has effectively created the most original comic I've yet encountered. True, it borrows from pop culture references and character stereotypes, but never before have those been combined in this way. Add to that the bonus DVD which includes a trailer for the movie as well as several other extras AND two versions of an audio reading of the comic: one involving the cast of "Far Too Gone" and another read as a book on tape would be - with faux British accent, no less.
This is an imperfect work, to be certain. For as many points as I found the characters and plot amusing, there were just as many where it became two-dimensional and tiresome - feeling as if it were trying too hard to be over-the-top and funny. What works here is the unique combination of plot and character elements along with a mind adventurous enough to take chances on them without being self-conscious about it. If Kevin Smith's characters were all on speed, this is probably what we would be left with. This is a creator honing his craft. It is an evolution from "Far Too Gone" as, likely, his next project will be from this. Nothing is sacred but, as a result, everything becomes sacred. The field becomes level and no point is higher or lower than any other. Maybe that's a little too esoteric. To put it another way: the rules are being ignored. It is impossible to read this comic from beginning to end and expect anything because it mixes things up in such a way that any expectation will be shattered and every tendency towards an "I saw that coming" will be stymied. There will be those who will criticize this comic, but it should be recognized as a brave achievement and one that, hopefully, spawns many more to come. It is an exercise in absurdity that is truly absurd - reveling in and not making excuses for it.
Overall: 4 stars. Alex Haas |