Black Mask Studios 2015
Created & Written by Matt Miner
Created & Illustrated by Sean Von Gorman
Coloured by Savanna Ganucheau
This issue starts off with a television interview with the leaders of the Westboro Baptist Church and they are portrayed just as we think of them. Sometimes you just have to take a situation and make the most of it and get a good laugh at the sheer stupidity of how some people and or organizations are seen and perceived. Matt and Sean have woven them into this story in such a way that just makes you laugh and we seem to be laughing all too little these days.
So on their journey to find the witch who cursed them bringing the band back to Kansas a side event that they feel is more important should take place. A concert right in front of the Westboro Baptist Church kind of like turning the tables which is much smarter than I would have given them credit for but gosh darn zombie fun nonetheless. Sometimes when you deal with bigotry and hatred it gets so bogged down in political correctness and preachy don’t do this stuff storytelling but the boys have taken and honest approach, we don’t like what you have to say so we’re zombies and were here and we’re not gonna take it.
I will wholeheartedly admit that this isn’t usually the style of book I tend to read, shame on me I know, but once you read it all the little things that are quirky and “non” mainstream are what really make this book as good as it is. While yes it can be silly but its done in the best possible way, i’m not a fan of mindless humor but there’s more to this than that. There is a whole subcontext here about self-acceptance well okay maybe not so sub but still its nicely mixed into the whole let’s fight for what’s right.
Silly, irreverent, gory and all around just one of those fun to read stories that you can’t help but enjoy. Yeah Shirley’s toast and they all feast on her entrails which is one way to get rid of her annoying hate of pretty much everything but it’s what the band decides to do about Fred that is kind of genius and fun. Though in all honesty I think what they do could be effective or it could blow up in their faces I mean hatred finds a way to spread regardless and he’s got that blind base audience already but still it’s pretty freakin hilarious. Matt makes me laugh out loud here to because Fred just mutters to himself almost like a form of tourette syndrome where he can’t seem to help himself and then he’ll snap into this serious pose with real words not just mutterings and you kind of sit back and chuckle. This is the kind of stuff you want to believe happens regardless if it’s true or not.
This isn’t what many people will turn to to read but I am here to tell you that Black Mask is quietly amassing quite a library of excellent books and ones that should be on your radar. You aren’t going to find anything else quite like this and this kind of originality and brazenness should be applauded and supported.
I found myself surprised by how much I liked Sean’s work on the interiors too. When in human form they are so much cleaner and when in zombie mode they get twisted and I found myself lost in the work here enjoying every moment, oh and a favorite for me was Teddy Mercury for sure!
So join myself and Fall Out Boy’s Andy Hurley as we conclude this chapter in Toe Tag Riot’s career and see what it could lead from here!