KindleDownload iBookBuy Now

Mild Mannered Reviews - Bizarro Comic Books

Bizarro #1 Bizarro #1

Bizarro #1 (of 6)

Scheduled to arrive in stores: June 3, 2015

Cover date: August 2015

"Welcome to Smallville"

Writer: Heath Corson
Penciller: Gustavo Duarte & Bill Sienkiewicz
Inker: Pete Pantazis
Cover: Kyle Baker

Reviewed by: T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao)

Click to enlarge



Jimmy Olsen falls into a surreal partnership with Bizarro, after Clark Kent jokes that were to on a road trip with Bizarro, it would make a good coffee table book. Jimmy fantasizes about the wealth and women that such an endeavor would produce, and thus begins the escapade. Bizarro's use of the car radio causes the car to crash, and in seeking out new transport, they run afoul of Regis Tutle, "King Tut," who owns a "slightly used" car lot. Regis is at odds with his daughter, Regina, and when she decides that she'd rather follow her dreams of making artisanal chocolate, Regis implores the ancient Egyptian gods to empower him. Somehow, Regis's prayers are heard, and with his new abilities, he beguiles his daughter and the whole town to heed his commands. Everyone is hopelessly possessed... except Bizarro.

3Story - 3: Bizarro, as concept, naturally invites wit and humor. However, the aforesaid shouldn't be at the expense of the story, which happens too often in this overture of the series. Much of what occurs has to be taken lightly, and there is the need to suspend the disbelief of suspending disbelief, but that done, humor aside, leaves only the worth of the story. There's literally too much going on, too much of a staccato overture, for the issue to be fully enjoyed. If the premiss of Bizzaro is a road trip between Jimmy and Bizarro, it would serve the story better to allow the two more time to establish their nascent relationship, before throwing in seven additional characters. It they actually are trying to get to Canada, putting them in Smallville seems strange geographically, and foments confusion on the part of the reader. Any nondescript town of the author's making would suffice, but the decision to remind the reader of Bizarro's connection to Superman through Jimmy, and even Clark's four panel appearance, don't seem to be enough.

While I'm happy that DC has decided to pursue more humor in the form of books like Bizarro and Bat-Mite, it also seems that since humor has been off the table for so long, it isn't something that is readily produced. Greg Pak's serving of Bizarro in Action Comics #40, for contrast, was a wild, fun ride, but it could be followed and was a rewarding read thanks to a story that wove together the literal and the surreal. Hopefully, Corson can get it right before the dreaded issue three, as I would really enjoy some fun and few laughs in the DC Universe again.

3Art - 3: Not sure what they're going for here. I'll know by next issue.

4Cover Art - 4: Kyle Baker does it again!


Mild Mannered Reviews

2015

Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.

January 2015

February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015

Back to the Mild Mannered Reviews contents page.

Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2015.