Tusk Special #1

Tusk, a new comic from the creators of Malcolm Magic, has the same manic style that I've come to expect from the Etherington brothers and Blink Twice Publications. Tusk is like the TV show Cheers, but with talking animals. Really, there's nothing complicated here. After some helpful character summaries on the inside cover, the story begins in the bar aptly named "The Last Mammal Standing." Unfortunately, this bar is out of beer – an elephant has drained all of the kegs - and there is no joy in the Last Mammal.

There are a handful of stories in this issue and some neat extras. The stories include a bad karaoke night, a drinking test for minors, a ghost story and a doomed Vegas night at the bar. The characters are fun and likable, except for the hopelessly out of date rabbit, Falcoon. He's a 1950s type that actually says things like "Yo, Yo, Yo, Chicken dinners! It's time to, like, get with the real! Falcoon is in da house!" Yikes. The other animals are more entertaining and less abrasive. They actually form a comfortable little group of miscreants that guarantee trouble in every story. Even the laidback bar owner Tusk ends karaoke night with a bawdy number that embarrasses the prim and proper object of his affection, Susan.

The art in Tusk is defined by characters outlined in thick ink and backgrounds created with a much thinner and more detailed line. Lawrence is especially adept at drawing groups of buildings and the crowds of bottles that line up behind the bar at The Last Mammal. I mentioned extras and they've packed them in to this issue. There's a centerfold cutout of The Last Mammal Standing that is packed with little background notes about the bar and its history. There’s a preview of the Malcolm Magic interactive video game and a reworked Malcolm story to end the issue. Go to the Malcolm Magic website for more details for all things Tusk. Tusk is a sturdy black and white 22-page comic with no ads wrapped in a heavy cardstock cover. It's really quite a nice package, and rumor has it that the Etheringtons are taking their show to Diamond later this year. Until then you can preview and purchase their comics from the Blink Twice website.

- Shawn Hoke