Simpsons Comics Hit the Road!

I'd be committing a sin of omission if I didn't immediately admit to having a polybagged issue of Simpsons Comics and Stories #1 somewhere in the depths of my abandoned comic collection. There was definitely a time when I actively collected every Simpsons action figure, DVD, and bit of paraphernalia, including many logged hours and countless quarters in front of the arcade game, way back before the show began its descent into the unreliable and unbelievable from more realistic, poignant, and intelligent humor, so this is all coming from something of a Simpsons aficionado. Nothing felt quite as awesome as Marge killing zombies with a vacuum. Let me begin by addressing the parents. Simpsons Comics is a great avenue into reading for those who might be reluctant. The stories are innocuous and inoffensive--much less so than the occasional digression of the TV show. They're familiar, and they're easy to access. As a librarian, I regularly see our Simpsons Comics collections circulate, so while I can't claim that there's anything of great educational value within, they're getting kids to read. Across the 11 stories, written and drawn by a collection of authors and artists, it slowly became clear that while based in the Simpsons universe, and loosely in the canonical world of The Simpsons, this is a whole different animal. And also that one of the two Martha Stewart-in-jail jokes in two subsequent issues should have been caught. The Simpsons has existed for so long in one signature format that it's firmly entrenched itself in one "brand" of humor. When it strays from Simpsons humor, it feels off, and when it stays with humor that works best in an animated format, the comic pages just don't communicate the funny. Many lines of dialogue are made funny by a twist of facial expression, or the hilarious voice acting of Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer. While the mature reader is welcome to interpolate these things, I question whether or not they'd really be motivated to. Those who are still dedicated to The Simpsons, after all of these years and a whole mess of embarrassingly bad seasons, will still be excited by the addition of canonical details to the characters in the Simpsons universe. After all, complete episode guides exist because someone really wants to know this stuff. We get an encounter with Groundskeeper Willie's family, yet another instance when Krusty loses his show, and Grandpa Simpson's career as a stuntman. You know, if you really care. Bart can experience an epic journey to graduate fourth grade, but Mrs. Kraboppel will still be his teacher next year anyhow. It's not Shakespeare, and it's not even The Simpsons, but it'll do just fine. -- Collin David

After all these years, Simpsons Comics are still fun and clever. They also keep bringing in one-off or occasional characters from episodes past and giving us background stories on ol' favorites. In the case of "Hit the Road," the ventriloquist who gave us Gabbo makes an appearance and Groundskeeper Willie's homeland story is revealed. This set of comics is not as funny as others--I think it needed a dose or two of Flanders--but there are still some hilarious moments. This issue is also the first one that actually makes an attempt--however loosely--to keep with the theme of the cover as shown in the notes on the back (my cover is different from the one listed here--I like the listed cover better as mine has them traveling like hillbillies). There is some traveling across the country and overseas. As clever filler, the issue offers the main Simpson characters in continent form which also keeps with the "Hit the Road" theme. "The Simpson Family Circus"--The Simpsons get a 5,000 channel digital satellite system and watch so much TV, a television ratings service believes the Simpsons to be the trendsetters for popular culture. Highlight: Ozzy Osbourne jokes. "Crap That No One Wanted"--Comic book guy goes over some one-off comics featuring Mayor Quimby, Grandpa Simpson, Moe & Barney, and the Bongo Annual Corporate Report. Highlight: "Josephus Fitzgerald Quimby was born in a log cabin, which he himself helped his father build." "Yellow Crush"--Springfield's Aztec theatre is about to be replaced. During a farewell film festival, Bart spots Grandpa in a surfer movie. Grandpa teaches Bart to surf so he can compete in a contest--then a tsunami strikes. "License to Kilt"--Marge competes on "Steel Chefs" and Homer has an accident (on purpose) to get money from the show. He ends up getting a family trip to Scotland and Groundskeeper Willie begs him to take him along so he can see his famous brother Angus compete for the Groundskeeper Cup. We learn that Wille's last name is MacMoran (MacMoron would've been funnier). We meet Willie's parents and visit his old pub with Scotlandized Simpsons characters. At the end, there is another food besides donuts that causes Homer to say, "is there nothing they can't do?" Funny quote: Homer to Willie--"I'm here for you and whatever portion of your meal your grief prevents you from finishing." "Lisa in the Middle"--A psycho analyzer machine diagnosis Lisa with middle child syndrome (just like Jan and, according to Dr. Hibbert, Cain and Abel's brother Kevin). So Homer does the logical thing: adopts Nelson so they will have an even number of kids and, therefore, no middle child. "Homer's America"--Homer chaperons Lisa's class on a museum field trip and takes them on a tour of history according to Homer. Very lame ending. "Do the Copyright Thing"--After Krusty falls into a coma after a showtime accident, Arthur Crandall, Gabbo's former ventriloquist, steals Krusty's identity.