• GPK-Vs-MB-01-01011-A-Simko
    Madballs Vs Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again, Slime Again #1
    Writer:
    Sholly Fisch
    Artist:
    Jason Crosby
    Letterer:
    Saida Temofonte
    Cover Artist:
    Joe Simko
    Publisher:
    Dynamite Entertainment
    Price:
    $3.99
    Release Date:
    2023-02-08
    Colorist:
    Jason Crosby

At first glance, it could be easy to dismiss Dynamite Entertainment's 2022 Madballs Vs Garbage Pail Kids as a ploy to cash in on '80s nostalgia. But writer Sholly Fisch, artist Jason Crosby, and letterer Saida Temofonte went above and beyond to deliver a playful visually-stunning four-issue miniseries. Fisch's goofy, almost vaudevillian sense of humor and Crosby's singular aesthetic made the characters feel new and exciting while capturing the spirit of the source material. Now the dynamic creative team is returning to their mischievous and monstrous cast in the upcoming Madballs Vs Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again, Slime Again, another limited series designed to trace the feud between the titular characters throughout history.

Madballs Vs Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again, Slime Again #1 begins when Dusty Brain decides to share a few stories from the Madballs' Family Album. The first story, "Prehysterical," takes place in the stone age and follows the Cro-Madballs and the Neanderthal Pail Kids. Branie Janie and Screamin' Meemie compete to come up with inventions, the rest of the crew join in, and hilarity ensues. The second story, "The Odyss-Eek," is set in ancient Greece, where Scarry Carrie and Hornhead's picnic has unintended consequences.

MADBALLS-GPK-P2-01-WM-Int-1

Both stories are as silly as they sound, and Fisch embraces their fun, frivolous nature. He works puns and gags into almost every line of dialogue while keeping the story moving at a frenetic pace. Every page has a punchline, but Fisch's rapid-fire humor doesn't keep him from telling satisfying, funny stories that end with satisfying reveals. Madballs Vs Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again, Slime Again #1 is unrelentingly irreverent and surprisingly sincere. While much of the humor seems to be geared toward younger audiences, Fisch's writing is downright infectious and sure to win over even the most cynical reader.

Crosby's art is as energetic and funny as Fisch's writing. His character designs are loud and over-the-top to match the tone of Madballs Vs Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again, Slime Again #1. Each character is immediately recognizable, but so is Crosby's unique style. He playfully renders each character with a keen eye for their grossest and funniest attributes. Their grotesque, melodramatic expressions make Fisch's ridiculous dialog feel almost natural, and Crosby's wild, painterly colors reinforce the series' surreal atmosphere. While a lot of the humor and pacing of his work feel reminiscent of classic newspaper strips, Crosby makes excellent use of the comic page. His overlapping panels add a lot to the fun, freewheeling tone of this issue.

Related: Indie Spotlight: Deniz Camp Dives into 20th Century Men, Bloodshot, and his Influences

MADBALLS-GPK-P2-01-WM-Int-2

The lettering in this issue is just as fun. Temofonte helps the reader navigate Crosby's crowded, dynamic pages. Her design establishes the rhythm that makes Fisch's jokes as effective as possible while keeping even the wordiest pages looking fun and accessible. Her idiosyncratic word balloons add emphasis to particularly outlandish lines and complement the overall aesthetic.

Madballs Vs Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again, Slime Again #1 is the perfect comic for fans looking for fun, inventive escapism. Audiences of all ages will get a kick out of Fisch's witty, pun-fueled dialog and be mesmerized by Crosby's ambitious, beautiful cartooning. As gross as the characters are, this series is a breath of fresh air.