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| Suspended Animation, 5/21/2004 |
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Hate Annual #4
Published by Fatagraphics Books
36 pages
$4.95
I have read very little of Peter Bagge's material, the first being his work for Marvel Comics, The Megalomaniacal Spider-Man, the second being the subject of this review, Hate Annual #4. I have to confess to a misconception of Hate. I expected it to be chock-full of profanity and sophomoric hijinx.
There was very little of either.
The first story highlights Buddy Bradly. Buddy is the owner/operator of a second-hand shop. With a wife and child, however, he feels that he needs a new job, with more security. Enter "UPS." Buddy gets the delivery job with the help of a friend, but soon discovers that damaging merchandise, then claiming it as "undeliverable," is regular practice among some of his colleagues. While he initially complains about this behavior, he eventually comes into a moral dilemma of his own, regarding a Simpsons Collector's Plate. Meanwhile, Buddy's wife, Lisa, acts as his moral conscience, and wants him to go back to working in his store.
Also included is a story involving another character named Lovey, a red-headed, loud-mouthed young lady, who, upon throwing a party in her home, discovers she can't stand the "cool" people she thought she liked.
The second story offers very little in entertainment value, but I enjoyed the Buddy Bradley tale. Bagge's cartoony, exaggerated art style may take getting used to for some, but is charming in it's own way, and may appeal to fans of Mad magazine and the like.
What I didn't expect was Bagge's real-life stories about his coverage of the 2003 Reform Party Convention, and 2000 Democratic National Convention (both containing comic panels illustrating important moments of those accounts), and his write-up about the "teen pop music craze," which included an interview with Fredrik Thomander of Epicentre Productions.
Unusual findings for a comic book, but not altogether uninteresting.
Hate is suggested for older readers, due to some profanity. Find it at your local comic shop, or at www.fantagraphics.com.
Mark Allen
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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