Advance Review Of Subculture #1

Review by Chris B. chrisb@215ink.com

Jason doesn't have what you'd call a glamorous life. He has a dead-end job with a jerk of a boss, a roommate who spends all his time eating and playing an online role-playing game, a girl he can barely tolerate loudly crushing on him, and his only comforts are comic books and video games. At least until the day Noel walks into his favorite comic shop.

Noel is unlike any girl that's been in there before. As described by Jason's geek friends, she's a total babe. While she loathes the attention from them (more like gawking, actually), Jason manages to strike up a conversation and not only get her number, but a date. Another conversation leads to another date, which Jason is forced to cancel for work. But, she surprises him by meeting up with him after the job. Is this a dream come true for Jason? Has he boldly gone where no geek has gone before?

Subculture is a satiric take on the inner fanboy within all of us. Every character in the book embodies some kind of stereotype associated with geeks of all kinds. Anyone can admit they know at least one person like the characters represented in the book. Many of the situations are also relatable, from getting that weekly comic fix and mixing it up with the usual crowd to managing to converse with a girl WAY out of your league and yet somehow managing to gain something from it. This book is a slice-of-life story that accurately, and humorously, captures life. Well, fanboy life that is.

Kevin Freeman provides the reader with many laughable moments, especially through the use of parodies of many pop-culture items out there like World of Warcraft and Dungeons & Dragons. And who hasn't hated working in retail or had to constantly deal with a boss they'd sooner flatten with a truck than deal with again? Or had a person they would have ZERO interest in annoyingly pushing up on them? Also, the fantasies of rising above your station can be relatable to just about anyone. Who among us has never wanted to be Superman at least one time? The characters are nicely crafted and really shine throughout the book. It projects a very Shaun of the Dead feel to it...just, y'know, without British accents or zombies.

Stan Yan's cartooning style of art has a humorous feel in of itself and is a perfect fit on the book. The writing and art seamlessly merge together to create one fine product. The only major complaint would be the abrupt ending; with no indication that you've reached it, you keep on reading expecting more (nay, DESIRING more) only to go headfirst into a series of advertisements and two pin-ups of Noel. Also, some of the panels could have been laid out a little better with some different angles, particularly in the one where Jason wakes up from his dream to give us a better introduction of the character, but that's just a minor cosmetic complaint that doesn't detract from the story at all.

Ape Entertainment has been coming out with a series of excellent books, and this is just another fine example. It's fun, it's light, and it can resonate with a variety of readers on many levels. It pokes a lot of fun at what are popularly considered geeks, but it's all in good fun (considering the creators mostly likely match most of the criteria for at least one of the characters in the book). This was a good read and worth checking out as it appeals to the geek within all of us. Don't deny it: you're one of them too.

For more information visit http://www.ape-entertainment.com/

4 out of 5 Inks
   

05.29.07