Writer Ken Kristensen brings back Todd, The Ugliest Kid on Earth to place a boot firmly to the neck of conventional comics. This is beyond “indie.” This is a genre unto itself and I couldn’t be more thrilled of it’s return. Todd’s family, hell, Todd’s universe is dysfunctional, selfish and, more often than not, straight-up evil! No character or characterization is off limits. Kristensen takes shots at comics with a bazooka! The opening recap alone takes on comic-con’s, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Tom Wolfe and legendary talk show host Charlie Rose is literally a minion of Satan himself. Followed quickly by Marvel, Joe Quesada (Quesadilla), Bendis, fanboys, cosplayers, the police and, well, do I need list more?
All kidding aside it’s all done for the entertainment and enjoyment of the reader who also takes a shot or two with the revelation that Marvel will only cater to old fanboys with the launch of “Marvel Old.” Somewhere in there I felt the kick to my ribs Kristensen dishes out. It’s so much fun and sometimes even a bit cringe-worthy. The end panels when the demon table attacks Sandy for a sacrifice will make you feel like you might need a shower or a least a re-examination of what you find funny.
The trick here is that it’s all funny. This is a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the story to seriously or frankly anything seriously but that what makes it as good as it is. You have to be able to take a joke and the humour here is as dark as the soul of Charlie Rose. Blasphemy be damned, literally.
M.K. Perker’s art is simply outstanding. He blends caricatures with a highly detailed cartoon sensibility. The mixture of styles makes the absurdity and off-the-wall dark humor jump off the page. Perker can handle anything you throw at him and Kristensen can’t throw enough. The fun these guys is palpable and they leave it all on the page.
Todd, The Ugliest Kid on Earth is a book quite possibly not of this earth. No one is sparred and that’s what makes this book do damn good. There’s no agenda in it’s mockery which makes it a book everyone can enjoy unless you are easily offended. Some will be, but for the majority of us who like to laugh and be entertained, even at times when it feels completely inappropriate, Todd, The Ugliest Kid on Earth provides it in abundance. If you like dark, funny, gut-wrenching comics, Todd is the book for you.