5 out of 5

All is forgiven, Mr. Nicolle(s), as you saved the best for – for now – last.

American Choppers finds Axe Cop gathering up his own darn superhero team of axe-minded choppers, primarily because it’s cool, but then finding an instant use for them rightaway when the world is turned in to evil axes by demon-possessed lumberjacks.  Also on the team: Ralph, carrying an axe; Axe Lady (too good of a character to have only appeared once…); and a goat with two axes strapped to its horns that just shows up.  Communication with said goat is difficult until Axey undergoes surgery to get a goat translator.

There’s a fat tiger.  And lots of ham.

I’ve criticized the book for – unavoidably, really – wading in the pool between unrestrained kid craziness and the point when they get a little bit smarter and more aware of the world; I’ve criticized it for casually dawdling in gender stereotypes in an un-innocent way.  I’ve probably criticized it more than necessary in both of these regards, but either way: all is forgiven.  Malachai, at ten, has apparently blossomed into a full-on kicks-my-ass writer genius type, blessed with just enough awareness of linearity to get his wonderfully random ideas to smooth out into an oddly engaging story, with former “sins” boiled down to gleefully tossed off sentiments – “Well, thanks for marrying me.  I’ll do my best.  Have fun!” says Water Queen; “We don’t have all day,” says Axe Cop, when bothered that Captain Axe’s skepticism toward God – also a character here – interrupted his questions about ham.  While this stuff is certainly shaped by Ethan, it’s great seeing the two re-embrace the kind of insouciant forward momentum that the book started out with, and indulging Axe Cop’s worst (and most hilarious) behaviors.

Ethan’s art is, as ever, sharp and inventive throughout, with none of the characters or many, many action sequences feeling like repeats; everything is fresh and fun, lit with pulpy glee by colorist Dirk Erik Schulz.

While American Choppers is a run of non-sequitors, it has a throughline from start to finish that makes it one of the best stories the Malachais have written, which makes its key plot zigs and zags especially hilarious and entertaining.

And much ham was had by all.