My Elves are Not Amused
Rob Liefeld – known to comics fans as “He Who Draws the Massive Biceps and Scars and Whose Women All Look Like Robin in Lipstick” – has decided that what the web needs is another single-panel gag webcomic. The reaction has been underwhelming, to say the least.
I mean, these are the sorts of jokes I would expect to read from a seven or eight year old.
For example, the fire guy tells the therapist he gets “hot under the collar”. Then as if that wasn’t enough he goes on to say that he also gets “fired up” and needs to “let off some steam”! I get it Rob, the fuckers made of fire. I guess you could also say he’s hot headed or maybe he’s tired because he’s been burning the midnight oil. Oh, or maybe he’s sick of his job, you know…really just burnt out. HAH! Oh wait, I bet his favorite movie is Weekend at BURNie’s. I’m sorry, I know some of these ideas are pretty half baked. OH ZING! [Penny Arcade]
Let’s be fair. Liefeld only has six strips up so far. But, to be frank about it, it’s six single-panel gags drawn in a style that doesn’t work for single-panel gag strips, and it’s six single-panel gags that rehash gags that used to appear as filler in the days o’ the mighty Marvel Bullpen. Even the “Ain’t-I-Naughty?” humor of the fifth and sixth strips feel stolen from Kevin Smith’s Mallrats. It’s enough to make me long for the witty and urbane humor of Garfield – cheesy CG movie and all.
Speaking of which, Rob’s journal entry on 5/2/05 (Mr. Liefeld has apparently not learned the joys of permalinks) tells the story of SHRINK! being optioned for a movie starring Jennifer Lopez, only to be put into turnaround after Gigli sank at the box office.
The horror, the horror.