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Big Max #1
Review posted: 03 April 2006
Writer: "Dangerous" Dan Slott
Artist: "Jovial" James Fry
Ink: "Awesome" Andrew Pepoy
Publisher: Mr. Comics
4.00 out of 5 Stars
Reviewed by Adam White
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When Dan Slott graciously offered an advance preview of Big Max #1, I jumped at the chance to review it. I’m a huge fan of Slott's work, having devoured (not literally) both volumes of She-Hulk, GLA, and The Thing on a monthly basis. Slott currently produces two of Marvel’s best books, so I had a feeling Big Max was at least worth a look. Turns out I was right (as usual), and this title provided a heaping helping of fun to an otherwise boring day.
Slott, Fry, and Pepoy had a good time making Big Max #1, and that feeling imposes itself on the reader.
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Slott produces laughs of various kinds with his work, and here he focuses on the halcyon years of comicbooks and the innocent (oftentimes ridiculous) humor of days gone by. Slott doesn’t rely on parody for humor, however, as he produces a comic in the same vein as golden age books, yet throws in a few modern twists. The plot revolves around a super-powered ape named Big Max, a beacon of justice shining the light of truth onto the ugly darkness of evil. Slott also plays with stereotypical character types, yet doesn’t relegate them to the “cardboard” status thrust on their predecessors. Especially amusing is Big Max’s sidekick, Shakes, a full-service regular chimp that opens beer bottles with his teeth for Old Glory (O.G.), the original hero of this universe. Big Max also poses as a human man named Homer Sapien, who works for a costumed-gorilla delivery service (!), and no one ever questions him (utilizing that Golden Age Lois Lane sense of “Duh”). Toss in a mime as a villain (can’t go wrong with a mime), and a few other clever heroes and villains (read and learn), and you have some solid entertainment.
James Fry and Andrew Pepoy provide the illustration, giving the book a golden age feeling without being derivative. One especially fun character is Anne Fries, a reporter, on whom they juxtapose the demeanor of a timid-female-victim and the trashy look made popular by the 1990s “Bad Girl” craze. Their primates look like primates, and they just generally have fun with the look and world portrayed in the story. They also play up Big Max as Homer Sapien, compounding the ignorance of those he encounters. You could tell these guys have an investment in the book, it comes across in the quality.
Slott, Fry, and Pepoy had a good time making Big Max #1, and that feeling imposes itself on the reader. They avoid angst, hardcore continuity, and indecipherable plots, instead giving you something to read and put a smile on your face. I love seeing creators working with smaller press companies doing comicbooks simply because that’s what they have the need to do, and putting out entertaining books like Big Max.
And as a personal side-note, I want to send a shout out to Assistant Editor Omar Banmally — I miss Quantum & Woody more than words can say. S-Word.
—CCdC— Cover image used with permission of the publisher.
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