On the Stump #1 is a lot of things; subtle is not one of them. The latest work from writer Chuck Brown (Bitter Rot) and artist Francesco "Prenzy" Chiappara is set in an aberrational world where traditional means of diplomacy have been replaced by settling legislation though bloody, bare-knuckle fights on a public stage. Instead of using some sort of champion in these bouts, actual senators step into right to duke it out over bills. It would all seem ridiculous if the current state of American politics didn't already feel like a flippant vaudeville production. In other words, On the Stump #1 has the potential to be hilarious, but its central conceit, despite its outlandishness, is surprisingly plausible if things were taken to their most logical extreme.

On the Stump #1 plays out on the page like a George P. Cosmatos action flick. The plot is rife with great characters who have bizarre quirks and muscles stacked upon muscles; we watch in awe as these action figures swagger their way through plot with reckless abandon. Within any other sort of context, we’d be cheering for the good guys to have fun while they knock each other around and root for the villains until it’s time for those aforementioned good guys take them to task. On the Stump #1 however, contextualizes these outlandish characters as lawmakers, which makes them both villain and hero depending on your individual worldview. The elected officials are pro wrestlers taking vigs where they can get them.

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The central story focuses on Senator Jack Hammer from South Carolina. We meet Jack in the middle of one of the aforementioned fights, in which he has locked horns with a Californian lawmaker named Senator Sweet Smell Shaw. The two men are fighting over a bill regarding the regulation of gene splicing. In the real world, this sort of thing would have myriad senators and pundits weighing in on their various ethical positions on genetic modification, but here, it's reduced to just two dude beating the ever-loving crap over each other. This leads to Jack winning the fight (which isn't a massive spoiler, by the way), and the slow unraveling of a malicious conspiracy which includes spooky assassins, scrappy federal agents, and at least one decapitation.

Chuck Brown's plotting is quite strong and the introduction to the world of On the Stump is solidified within its first few pages. You know exactly what kind of book you're getting into the moment you crack it open. The juxtaposition of realistic dialogue and the heightened reality within the book's narrative find a harmonious tone that is only derailed by one glaring flaw: it's straight-faced derision. On the Stump #1 feels like the prequel to the Mike Judge film Idiocracybut not nearly as wry or funny. This isn't to say this debut issue is without laughs; there are plenty of chuckle-worthy moments, but it's not quite as sharp as the caliber of satire it strives for. Regardless, it's still a stellar debut issue.

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Italian artist Francesco "Prenzy" Chiappara is doing great work. The scenes taking place on the titular stump are illustrated with a sense of immediacy. This comic moves. However, the blurred effect used on some of the more visceral moments undercuts their impact. It's a small quibble, but once you see how the sudden shift out of crispness takes away from the panel's impact, it's hard to unsee. Regardless, if On the Stump #1 is any indication, Prenzy is an artist to keep your eye on.

On the Stump #1 is a fantastic debut to what could potentially be a really sharp-edged satire if it leans into its more ridiculous elements a with a bit more gumption. The mark of a truly great piece of satirical fiction is when the work can make fun of a particular kind of story will still delivering a solid version of said story. It's a razor-thin line to walk, but Chuck Brown and Prenzy are plenty talented to do so, if the story has enough heft to make it work carrying.

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