Herculian

Erik Larsen – methinks he did everything here

Image Comics – publisher

So this is kind of a sweet smorgasbord from Erik Larsen – an over-sized 48-page vanity publication. (I mostly mean that without malice – I do like the book, though the intro & overall presentation are a tad pompous, even if jocular.)  On the one hand, I feel like the cover is an odd marketing choice.  And on the other, it probably makes perfect sense.  The book really has nothing to do with Herculian & Punchin’ Judy, at least not in the way you’d expect, so it might turn off people who avoid bombastic superheroics, but the cover also reflects exactly what made Larsen famous, so it’s an easy draw for fans.  

Anyways, under the cover, the art is the main sell.  The written-pencilled-inked-in-a-day (the colors came later, but they are a nice touch, I like how they go outside the lines) main feature takes up the first 24 pages, and then there are a few backups to fill out the full 48.  The scripts are slight but endearing, mostly just gags that propel the images, though there are the odd giggles & guffaws.

The art here is generally loose, hurried, and frenetic, and that, I think, is the major attraction.  It’s all just interesting to look at, which I do mean entirely as a compliment.  I’m sure plenty of professional artists spend much more time on stuff much more substantial than this, but Larsen’s got pizzazz.

And Their heads are full of delicious pasta! is delightful.