AMBUSH BUG: YEAR NONE #1 REVIEW

[Blake Petit]

Review by: Blake M. Petit Blake@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Hey, You Sank My Battle-Ax!

Ambush Bug returns – to solve the murder of Jonni DC!

Plot and Pencils: Keith Giffen
Dialogue: Robert Loren Fleming
Inks: Al Milgrom
Colors: Guy Major
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Editor: Jann Jones
Cover Art: J.H. Williams III
Publisher: DC Comics

Ah, the return of Ambush Bug – the psycho superhero who not only knows he’s in a comic book, but regularly converses with the creators and readers! He’s been gone for years, but a short appearance in 52 got the spokes turning again, and the original creative team is back with a new six-issue miniseries showing how Ambush Bug was really the driving force behind the recent events in the DC Universe.

This issue, which runs concurrently with the now-classic Identity Crisis miniseries, begins with the Bug getting a call that there’s been a murder – former DC Comics mascot Jonni DC. Can Ambush Bug possibly crack the case, even with the help of his old chum Jean Loring? Giffen and Fleming do a fantastic job of parodying comic book trends here, not only slipping in gags about Identity Crisis itself, but also addressing complaints about a perceived slant of violence against women. (Addressed, that is, by ridiculing them.)

In addition to Jean and Jonni, lots of other characters Ambush Bug used to interact with return here as well, such as his arch-enemy Argh!Yle!, the long-missing ‘Mazing Man, and of course, his plucky sidekick Cheeks. There are lots of gags here for long-time fans. In fact, that may be the one weak point about this series – I’m not sure if newer readers who aren’t familiar with Ambush Bug will get the joke. This is very much a series for the fan and not the casual reader.

Giffen and Fleming’s artwork packs plenty of visual gags to accompany the story, from goopy monsters to homages to older DC characters and covers. It’s as good as it was back in the 80s.

This book put a big smile on my face, but I do have to wonder if people who aren’t in on the joke will like it as much as I did.

Story:

Art:

Overall:


Buy your comics online from X-World and save!

[Terry Verticchio]

Okay...the debate of the new Millennium...

Thought Balloons or Thought Bubbles?


Let's get John Byrne's opinion on the matter.



Anyway...

This book is pretty funny. Comics making fun of comics is always a treat. Loved all the women in refrigerators. Terrible and terribly funny.

[B. Schatz]

Knowing little to nothing about Ambush Bug, I still enjoyed this book. So there's that, Wonder Chick.