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Johnny Raygun
#1, #2
pp. 22
$2.95
Art by Rich Woodall and Matt Talbot
What's gonna happen when Johnny squares off against "THE MENACE OF THE MIGHTY MOOG!" in Johnny Raygun #1?
My fifteen-year mission has been to recommend comic books that adults might enjoy who don't read them. Therefore:
Johnny Raygun Red Flag #1: Most adults don't care about THE MIGHTY MOOG or characters with silly, capitalized names. In fact, most adults don't read fantasy, SF, horror, super-hero or adventure based literature. Neither are they fond of spandex-clad super-anythings or pun-laden dialogue. Sales figures don't lie.
Johnny Raygun Red Flag #2: Most adults don't read comic books, and won't understand the dozens of clever, subtle, visual and verbal jokes that require an extensive knowledge of comic books. As example, they won't understand that The Moog is both homage to and a parody of artist and writer Jack Kirby and the monsters he created for Marvel Comics in the '50s and '60s.
Johnny Raygun Red Flag #3: Most adults equate thick-lined, minimalistic art (even when it is excellent) with Saturday morning cartoons, and those are for children.
Johnny Raygun Yellow Flag #1: If, however, you do enjoy a loving but tongue-in-cheek, light-hearted ad-venture centered around spandex-clad,pun-slinging heroes who require five decades worth of knowledge about comics titles and characters to fully appreciate, you must surrender and buy this well-drawn and written little sucker.
This fun romp and Raygun #2 (just released) are recommended for the young and the young at heart.
MINIVIEW: DCU: The Mag for the DC Fan [Excaliber] If you don't know what DCU, DC, Mag, or Fan means, you aren't a hardcore fan of comics and won't enjoy this fanzine on "The Doom Patrol," a '60s superhero team. You won't even understand it. But if you are a hardcore comics fan, you'll love this magazine packed with comics history and art. Recommended.
Michael Vance
Shudder at Vance's Light's End horror short stories narrated by actor William Windom at www.plan9.org.
Questions? Comment? E-Mail Suspended Animation at vance@digitalwebbing.com
Any statements made, expressed or implied are solely those of columnists or persons interviewed and do not represent the editorial position of the administration, who does not accept responsibility of such statements. All characters and artwork shown are trademark and © of their respective owners.
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