Keenspot 2019
Written & Lettered by Mike Rosenzweig
Illustrated by Remy “Eisu” Mokhtar
Lineart by John Joseco
Coloured by Macarena Cortes
Prepare to enter the brown-eye of the shitstorm! The kid-tested, Drake-approved cultural phenomenon of the century get the Keenspot parody treatment in this explosive first issue of Fartnite! Experience the flatulent adventures of a motley crew of unknown soldiers forced into a Battle Royale where all the weaponry is powered by their own super-charged farts.
This is vulgar, disgusting, lewd and downright twisted as it encourages you to fart your way along everywhere you go. Though it does also encourage eating foods known to give you gas and since many of those are healthy and good for you hmm. Wait a minute I need to get back on track here because this is something you see in the Frat House water closet, or in the living room where a bunch of red cups, cigarette buts and a nice glass bong are. Wait, what? Why would I go there? Simple really kids gather round get stoned, smoke their cancer sticks and take a drink every time a fart is mentioned, a brand spanking new drinking game guaranteed to get you fucked up!
Alright so I am not usually one for the drunken frat boy humour or actions as the case may be, however, this is kind level of the gaseous state of being is beyond what anyone could have expected it to be. I cannot tell that by the end of the issue I was pretty much laughing my ass off. Yeah I am not ashamed to say that either though I probably should be and really I think what the guys cooked up here is actually rather impressive. I mean the extent to which Mike has gone to bring as many of the known ways of using the rear-end and it’s flatulence well that’s also pretty damn impressive because even I wasn’t aware of how many there actually were.
So while this is an obvious rip-off sorry parody) of an another franchise and done in such a way that is pretty hysterical and doesn’t try to be it it’s more like an homage, think Scary Movie which of course wasn’t very funny at all but it’s the same kind of deal. Mike does a great job with the structuring of the book and the overall ebb & flow through the pacing is nicely done.
Alright so the interior artwork is a bit at odds with the tone of the story. It looks like an all-ages affair, but then again thinking about it it kind of totally is. I wonder what age kids start and (secretly) stop liking fart jokes? Since the interiors are all-ages in nature we see it in almost this cartoon aspect and it’s really nicely done. The farts are clouds and some are different types depending on what the person is prone to having. I like the utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels they really show off a delightful eye for storytelling. There is a great sense of creativity and imagination on display here as well, some jokes are as visual as they are words. I really wish we’d see more backgrounds but alas.
There is a nice look back here as well when all these guys were lonely losers in the fart war world. Overall this is really rather well done and whether you think your too old, or too good (la to de da) for fart jokes, let’s face it your not because this is really well done and it’s got some great words and phrases that perhaps will educate you on the lingo old and new. I will this much this proves you are never too old or young for good rip roaring fart joke story.