Skullkickers

This is, hopefully, the last #1 issue of “Skullkickers” ever. I’m getting kind of tired of explaining in each successive review how there’s a running gag of renaming and renumbering each new issue as an industry-parody-slash-sales-gimmick. I think we’ll be okay, though, since this issue wraps up the “Eighty Eyes on an Evil Island” story arc that began with the first of five #1 issues in a row. To say the story wraps up unexpectedly is an understatement. For four issues, creators Jim Zub and Edwin Huang presented a fun, light-hearted adventure story that pays homage to the tropes of pulp fantasy literature and games. “Dark Skullkickers Dark” reveals that perhaps all those homages and little nods were more than just fun, and actually have meaning in the world of the comic. (The Kickerverse? If that catches on, you heard it here first, folks.) The whole issue takes place in a tavern at the heart of a mountain, which we usefully learn is actually an archetype of every fantasy tavern, a

Let’s get this out of the way up front: this is the fourth #1 issue in a row from “Skullkickers,” and yes, the joke has kind of worn thin. It’s not a particularly good jumping-on point for new readers, either, though writer Jim Zub tries with some up-front narration that’s unnecessary for anyone who’s been reading since issue #1 (and #1, and #1…). Nevertheless, “Skullkickers” is still the best humorous pulp fantasy comic on the stands, for whatever that’s worth. This issue continues the “Eighty Eyes on an Evil Island” storyline that began in “Uncanny Skullkickers” #1. As always, the comic wears its influences on its sleeve, and picking these out is a big part of the fun. The cover to this issue is a tribute to Dave Cockrum’s wordy, dynamic “X-Men” covers from the late 70’s. There’s a full-page map of the titular evil island, reminiscent of the cross-sections of heroic hideouts from back in the day, but with silly information about where the best melons can be found rather than where

“Uncanny Skullkickers” #1. “Savage Skullkickers” #1. Now “Mighty Skullkickers” #1. How many times in a row can you relaunch a comic? (The answer is apparently at least five, as there are solicitations for “All-New Secret Skullkickers” #1 and “Dark Skullkickers Dark” #1 coming up.) Although “Uncanny Skullkickers” was actually issue #19 of the Image ongoing by Jim Zub and Edwin Huang, it was a good jumping-on point for new readers — but anyone picking up this week’s issue expecting a #1 is going to be baffled as to why it starts at part three of the storyline. Luckily, once you get past the gimmicks (the descriptive sound effect gag, which gives us things like “Epic ocean vomit!” instead of “Bleaaarrrghhh,” is also wearing a bit thin) “Skullkickers” is a solidly-written, legitimately funny sendup of the swords-and-sorcery canon with consistently great art. Much of the fun of Jim Zub’s writing is watching him play with the tropes of the genre he parodies. How many Conan and Solomon Kane

“Uncanny Skullkickers” #1 begins a new adventure for Kusia and Rex as Jim Zub and Edwin Huang strand them on a deserted island to see how they fare in being like Robinson Crusoe, with some predictably amusing shenanigans as the result. In the first two pages, Zub gives readers a compressed summary of previous events in “Skullkickers” to bring new readers up to date. Renumbering “Skullkickers” and tacking on an “Uncanny” is equal parts gimmick and joke about the gimmick, but Zub takes it seriously enough to know that this may be the first issue of “Skullkickers” that a reader has ever picked up. As for the word “uncanny,” there is nothing in the plot of “Uncanny Skullkickers” #1 that makes the adjective relevant, which I suppose is part of the point. “Uncanny Skullkickers” has more in common with “Survivor” than “Uncanny Avengers,” “Uncanny X-Force” or “Uncanny X-Men.” One of the recurring delights of “Skullkickers” is Zub’s approach to sound effects. Instead of the usual onomatopoe

“Skullkickers” takes a breather month to allow the creative team time to get on top of things. To fill the void they have arranged an anthology for other creators to bring short tales to us. This is a brilliant concept and well executed on the whole. More companies and titles need to do this, definitely. Sims and Vriens open up with the weakest offering of the book, yet still a relatively fun tale. The concept of Amazombies could have been played up to more effect and pulpy delight. Ultimately it just feels thin and is not capitalized on. The whole complication rests on a weak resolution that is meant to be flippantly funny but doesn’t come across as satisfying in the least. The final coda, however, is very effective at showcasing why the two lead characters are good fun. Clevinger writes a fun pub tale piggy backing into the realms of ridiculous. The back and forth between our leads is well played and in character. The rolling state of the tale means Clevinger, and Zub on art, can t