JASON YUNGBLUTH'S WEAPON BROWN OMNIBUS

There comes a time in every comic-book fan’s life when they must simply accept that the person writing the book they’re reading is, quite simply, stark raving mad. While it’s theoretically possible that Buffalo native Jason Yungbluth hasn’t yet crossed that line, he must enjoy dancing along it. If you’re a fan of satire, you’ll love this book. If you’re a fan who can’t stand to see classic characters altered for any reason, run far away. Weapon Brown is the post-apocalyptic tale of a “round-headed kid,” now grown up, named Chuck. Turned into the cyborg Weapon Brown by the globe-spanning forces of The Syndicate, he is hell-bent on revenge against the people who turned him into a “charmless killing machine.” Seeking to fi nd and rescue his beloved “redheaded girl,” Chuck embarks on a mission of death and destruction against the corporate hegemony. While the plot sounds—and, yes, is—highly derivative, Weapon Brown is an insane thrill ride through the history of classic comic strips, and you will see a lot, if not all, of your favorites in new, weird, creepily recognizable forms. Yungbluth, who appears fairly regularly at the annual Buffalo Comicon, sticks to the classic black-and-white art of the old strips, crafting a world as stripped of color as the characters have been of hope in their tragic wasteland. With vibrant blacks and sharp edges, Yungbluth’s art tells the tale as deftly as his words—although you might be too busy cursing Yungbluth’s parentage for “ruining” classic characters to truly appreciate the art style. In any case, Weapon Brown is well worth the read—if, for no other reason, just to see what bizarre twist Yungbluth throws at you next!