Image Comics 2018
Written by Dennis Culver
Illustrated by Geoffo
Lettered by Dave Dwonch
Colour Flats by Lauren Perry
A new ongoing series that combines the paranoia of They Live with Stranger Things. To save their friends and families, a group of high school teenagers must fight off an attack on their town by a secret alien invasion… but they can only see the aliens if they’re completely wasted. The Burnouts are saving the world one puff at a time!
Normally I wouldn’t go for something like this as I am not a smoker though I used to be until I discovered how sick it would make me. So with unpleasant memories of getting high aside I tend to think of pot humour to be as lowbrow as fart jokes. So what drew me to this one then? Well the concept was intriguing to say the least and then upon reading it I discovered that this wasn’t your run of the mill story at all but it’s actually got a nice bit of substance intermingled with a little secondary school humour just because.
Dennis impressed me with this one and I have to admit I like being impressed this way. The opening here is fantastic and it gives us a look at those they call the Burnouts who happen to be a group of kids who we would normally call rebel rouser's in polite company. Or drop outs, losers and the ever classic juvenile delinquents. Still it makes the reader wonder what’s up with these kids and what the heck is going on which of course leads us to want to know more as these things inevitably do.
I like the way that this book is structured. It is done in a way that really feels normal to life for these folks. Also going back to the classroom that’s being taught by the Coach yeah it’s funny how the P.E. teacher would end up teaching sex ed and those types of classes, ours did that and taught driving yeah that was a long time ago. The way we are introduced to these characters is very well done we immediately got the kind of impression of them that the public has, which by the way just so you know is much different than what they really are at least in most cases.
So the all-ages style of artwork fits nicely for this story. Considering the subject matter and the company publishing this it is far from all-ages however. There is some interesting attention to detail here and I like how we see the characters and the hairstyles and way they dress I almost feel like this a very dark John Hughes 80’s flick. I want say that there should be more backgrounds being utilised but I am actually liking what is currently in place. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a nice eye for storytelling. It really does fit with the story beautifully and I like the humour in what we see through the visuals.
I think this is equal parts pro and con smoking pot and ultimately it’s really up to you as an individual to decide what you think, on your own. In the meantime Earthy is being invaded and the only way to combat them is to see them and to see them you have to be well not sober and able to see them. Suddenly the reason for getting stoned becomes saving the world one joint at a time and as ridiculous as that sounds I am dead serious. Andy Christopher Curtis a nerd wanting to branch out and rebel against how he’s seen now this is a relatable character and the way we see everything through his eyes makes it all the more fun.
Surprisingly smart, sassy and fun this is going to be your new comedic obsession!