The Top 10 comic books for 2017
By Alex Widen
Image by Marvel Comics
7. Slapstick #2-6
Yeah, this one surprised me too. It began as an online-exclusive “Marvel Infinite” comic which was later reprinted as a six-issue comic. Yet the more I thought about it, the more it impressed me. Here is the definition of a difficult, flash-in-the-pan character with a mess of a backstory. Yet Fred Van Lente, Reilly Brown, and Diego Olortegui manage to utilize that to tell a relevant and hilarious tale for a new era. Rather than shy away from the goofy origin and trappings, they embrace it!
It’s hard to tell what is worse for Steve Harmon. He’s been transformed into a genitalia-lacking cartoon clown via a freak accident, and he lives in New Jersey! Seeing little success as a superhero or a mercenary, Slapstick’s only friend is high school chum Mike Peterson. Yet when similar cartoon beings start showing up and making trouble, Steve has to deal with government agents, villains, evil queens, and his own desires. Can he save the world, or does he just want to get laid?
The sheer amount of gags, jokes, puns, and references to animation is staggering. They even manage to add suspense to a character like Slapstick who is normally immune from physical harm. Quite frankly, I was astonished that this creative teamed showed more respect for Slapstick, his origins, and his character than a lot of other creative tams have for higher profile characters. It is impressive work on a character most would least expect. Plus, you’ll never read the word “dingus” more often anywhere else.