Super Human Resources #1
A Review by Ron Fortier
SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES # 1
A Review By Ron Fortier
Written by Ken Marcus
Art by Justin Bleep
Ape Entertainment
One of Four
Sometimes you just get lucky. I'd been hoping to find a copy of this book when I first arrived at the New York Comic Con several weekends ago. I'd seen several preview pages on-line and it was enough to stir my curiosity. So who comes walking by our table the very first day of the show but none other than writer Ken Marcus, who proceeds to hand me a copy of this very book. I was thrilled and read it cover to cover later that night.
The joy and fun of this book is that it takes the imagination of the classic superhero genre and then, much like Alan Moore's Watchmen, asks us to really...REALLY...believe what would happen if there were such super beings amongst us. Only, whereas Moore's cynicism got the best of him he produced a cautionary moral tale, Marcus has no such august homilies to preach. Nope, rather he wonders what it would be like to manage such heroes in a very real office setting. Think about? Who would be in charge of keeping the mundane affairs of the Avengers or the Justice League of America? Answer, clerks! An office full of them, very much like the same clock-punching, water-cooler gang you and me most likely congregate with daily.
And that's exactly what the Department of Super Human Resources does. In this opening chapter we are introduced the likeable Tim, who has come to SHR looking for a job and Director Helen Nichols, who gives him the grand tour of the place and what it is they do. From a Frankenstein-like receptionist to a Bog creature manning the supply room, it's unlike any other office tour you've ever been given and had me in stitches all from start to finish.
And if Ken's skewered humor is warm, funny and just plain silly, it is matched completely by the amazing art of Justin Bleep. This is my first exposure to his manic, cartoony approach which is very original in its stylized corners and edges. Think of a Steve Ditko doing Archie Comics and you'll have some idea of what Bleep's art looks like. I loved it!!
SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES is a great funny book, that rarity these days that is lacking in our media. Bravo to all involved for getting it out and making us laugh again.
Take A Look Inside
Reviewer Bio
Ron Fortier (ron@comicrelated.com) / Writer, Creator and Imagineer
Ron Fortier has been a professional writer for over 25 years working on comic book projects such as The Hulk, Popeye, Rambo and Peter Pan, his two most popular comic series being The Green Hornet and The Terminator (with Alex Ross). With Ardath Mayhar he's penned two TSR fantasy novels, and in 2001 he had his first play produced. Ron is a constant supporter of the site, writes for it from time to time and shepards our forums. Learn more about Ron at Airship27.
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