Bluntman and Chronic TPB
Written by Kevin Smith
Illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming, Pat Garrahy and Mike Allred
Published by Image Comics
About the most fun I had sitting in my living room last year was the weekend I bought the video of Kevin Smith's Clerks animated video. The tape collects the two episodes that actually made it on the air, plus another three, with live vignettes featuring Jay and Silent Bob in between the episodes.
Since the cartoon was made for TV (originally...ABC foolishly cancelled it after only two outings), it's not altogether inappropriate viewing material for my two kids, who are, after all, kids. They like cartoons. They like Jay and Silent Bob. How could you not?
I discovered, watching the tape without the kids the first time, that they were not going to be allowed to watch the live segments between the episodes. Smith had created some interludes to spice up the tape that were rude, crude, and altogether meant for adults. Kevin Smith is kind of a genius of rudeness in that way. And in Bluntman and Chronic, he's done it again. In short, this book might only be suitable for grownups, but for adults with a sense of humour, this is a blast from start to finish.
The key is mockery. Smith has proven over time to be unafraid to mock anyone or any institution, including himself. Here, he shines his holy light of disrespect on superhero origins, psychotheraputic double-talk, fanboy comic nerds, Warren Ellis and his followers, and of course, Kevin Smith makes a mockery of himself.
Not just with the usual insults from Jay about Silent Bob's girth, but in his role as the writer of Overly-Dialogued Archer Man, a comic book about an archer that is, uh, overly dialogued. Hmm, who could that be again...?
In fact, an entire chapter of the three-part lead story (there's a short piece in the back illustrated by Mike Allred -- Madman and X-Force fans take note) is devoted to mocking online comics snobbery at a place called We're Easily Fooled.com. The sycophants who haunt this forum imitate its creator by using hip Brit-Slang like "Bollocks," "Blimey" and "Bloke," never quite certain they're using the words in their proper context. Smith leaves no room for doubt at all about who it is he's thumbing his nose at here, and it's instructive to see how this bit of satire also speaks volumes of truth about some of the self-impressed people online who are, uh, Easily Fooled.
The tone of mocking contempt never lets up, but Smith's tongue also never comes out of his cheek. This is not a mean-spirited work by any sensible standard, it's just a wildly funny mind let loose on paper, where his every whim can be easily translated. This feels quite a bit like it would be a great movie, but perhaps an expensive one. Luckily, in comics, light-saber battles and giant bubbly vats of acid cost the same to depict as two people standing around making a mockery of all society holds dear.
As for the drawing, you couldn't ask for a better-suited penciler for this material than Michael Avon Oeming. The Powers artist illustrates Smith's story in a similar style to that seen on his work with writer Brian Michael Bendis, but here he lets loose a bit more. Powers gets serious occasionally. Bluntman and Chronic is wacky fun from page one, panel one, and the yocks never stop. Oeming is more than up to the task, delivering his usual elegant design, but revealing a sense of fun every bit as wicked as Smith's. Former Powers colourist and designer Pat Garrahy contributes colours and inks here, pretty much making this a must-have for readers who appreciate the beautiful look of Powers. If, like me, you're also a fan of Jay and Silent Bob and the evil genius of Kevin Smith, then chances are you've already bought this book. If not, trust me and go get it. Hilarious and beautifully illustrated, Bluntman and Chronic is well worth its $14.95 cover price.