"Doctor Pangea's Continental Conundrum"
Creators: Jim Rugg & Brian Maruca
Publisher: Amaze Ink/Slave Labor
Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca were kind enough on the recommendation of fellow reviewer Mike Deeley to send me a preview of Street Angel which will be available in March from Amaze Ink/Slave Labor. After looking at the art on the proposed cover, I was sure I would hate this book, but the cover does no justice to the laugh-out-loud funny and cool adventure to be found in these pages.
Street Angel centers on the orphaned, homeless Jesse Sanchez who somehow became a super-hero complete with martial arts mastery and scary skateboarding skills. Mr. Rugg as we learn in the end note a formerly homeless individual writes what he knows, but does not present what he knows in an overblown. Afterschool Special or a very special episode of Growing Pains kind of way.
The creators balance the realities of homelessness and an uncaring government with a surreal spoof on many a super-hero sidekick. Think about it, Jesse rides a skateboard and through unparalleled fighting arts training takes down a thuggish army of jackbooted cops as well as a troop of everybody's favorite target Ninjas. It's a ludicrous concept, and the creators know it. Strip off Jason Todd's redbreast and you've got a comedy, certainly not a drama.
Because of the source of Jesse's life, Street Angel's humor definitely possesses a sharp edge. Her humble origins do not keep her humble, nor do they make her so openly bitter that she ignores the plight of others. While she clearly is a force for good, the Mayor keeps her out of the limelight in the same way that the Presidolt does his damnedest to keep protesters out of the limelight. We wouldn't want anybody getting any ideas contrary to popular dogma now would we?
Still the creators do not bog down the fun with preachy commentary. The subtleties are for the readers to find. Instead, they work to put intelligence in Jesse's dialogue, originality in scenes where she appropriates police equipment and absurdity in Ninjas that are as common as snowflakes in winter.
The artwork in Street Angel isn't as polished as that of say Adam Hughs, but the artists know what they're doing. They provide a cartoony, underground type artwork from the Harvey Kurtzman School of Early Mad and employ a strong use of shadows which often become so wonderfully over the top that the manifestation aids in the ludicrous juxtaposition of the uber urban with the super-hero fruitcake villain.
Look into the eyes of Jesse Sanchez the Street Angel and you'll find a strong heroine fighting the humorous forces of evil and the satires of modern day machinations from arrogant fools who hold too much power. The jokes educe laughter. The action is dynamic. The book is genuinely fun and throughout entertaining.
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