5 out of 5

This is: the best comic ever written.

Continuing on Jason’s polishing of his process, We’re #1! was the ill-fated start of the second series of Deep Fried, intended as 48-page specials but only making it to this one issue.  Ah, but what an issue.  With the expanded page count, Yungbluth can evenly split between ongoing tales and gag strips, and the issue is properly broken up by both so not a moment feels stale.  …Which is especially interesting given how timely this book should feel, as a post 9-11 response issue (and probably one of the most hilariously brash about it that I’ve seen) – and side-note interesting that I found this book so awesome, seeing as how I hate politics and political humor – but both of these interesting are tied together in how Yungbluth approaches his humor, which tends to earn its joke on every level, making it much more than just a punchline.  So the references to events from (at this point) 15 years ago might not have as much relevance now, but because the gag is woven in to the visuals, and the pacing, and the characters, you just get it, and it’s feckin funny.

Yungbluth’s layouts and lettering are a joyous blend of Sunday comics simplicity and indie comics DIY; his art, which was impressive from the start is here even cleaner and more dialed in – I don’t think there was a single panel where I felt like my eye was misdirected.

Alas, perfection achieved… will it be downhill from here, when I read Deep Friend volume two?