Well, that title might still go to the last Acme volume, but a close runner up has got to be Weapon Brown: Blockhead's War #1. It's by Jason Yungbluth, and the Comic Book Haters dedicated an indie video spotlight episode to the previous issue, Weapon Brown. The first issue introduced the basic concept: Charlie Brown and the gang re-envisioned as post-apocalyptic, Mad Max meets Terminator surface dwellers. It was bleak, it was sick, and it was fun. Although the characters were doing horrible, horrible things and committing horrible, horrible acts, it never felt like it was sacrilegious towards the original Schulz creations.
While the first Weapon Brown was a solid read, bordering on awesome, this latest offering goes above and beyond. It delves beyond the Peanuts pantheon, an introduces permutations of various other strip characters. Most predominately featured are the gang from Beetle Bailey, who do battle with Ol' Charlie from their uber-violet tank.
Peppered throughout are lots of other cameos, including an extremely disturbing depiction of Alley Oop. It's the "Top Ten" of newspaper strips, but oddly enough the majority of them are of mainstream characters from the last thirty years or so. Come to think of it, there are a lot of older characters represented (including a McKay, Segar, and the aforementioned Hamlin).
The best parts about it, though, are not the homages. The story itself is a solid, 1980's vibe, dark sci-fi story. But it's over the top. The closest thing I can compare it to is the early 1990's DC comic, "Lobo's Paramilitary Christmas Special." When that came out, it blew me away. Kieth Giffen really pushed the limits of a mainstream comic of the times, and Simon Bisley was the perfect madman to see it through. This comic has that same gut-punch feel to it; it really shocks you while instilling the urge to cheer.
It's awesome. Yungbluth is an incredible cartoonist, and he really knows how to work the medium. The characters are consistent, the pacing is impeccable, and the facial expressions are exactly what they should be. The fact that it's a dead-on satire as well is just awesome fucking icing on an awesome fucking cake. What a great comic!
PS Please, if you're just going to leave a comment saying "Fuck you Sloofus, how dare you actually enjoy a comic this much? You are an asshole!," just fuck yourself instead. Capice?
