5 out of 5

Bless my eyes for discovering how much I enjoy the Spongebob comic.  I’ve only read a very, very small sampling of issues thus far, but I’ve yet to be letdown by an amazing display of kooky, self-aware and meta humor that doesn’t sacrifice the blessed randomness of the show.  If anything, from the times I’ve tried – and failed – to get into the show, ringleaders Chris Duffy (editor) and main writer guy Derek Drymon get away with a ton more cleverness in the comic thanks to the “interaction” of having a reader; the duo can push the limits of narrative and we don’t have to deal with the loud and in-your-face style of the cartoon.  Of course, this could only be allowed by the flexible rules of the world set up by SpongeBob creator, Stephen Hillenburg, so all due respect.

Our annual is wrapped by Drymon’s framing tale of SpongeBob comic creator “Pencils the Pirate” (with a pencil for a pegleg, natch) demanding tales for the annual from his shipmates.  When they deliver dreaded future sci-fi tales instead of yuks, Pencils has ’em walk the plank and seeks out the local sea-hag who gazes into her crystal ball and sees… the stories contained within, by Kaz, James Kochalka, Drymon and Jay Lender with superb and varied art from Raul the Third, Jacob Chabot, and Hilary Barta, all showing their mastery of comic timing.  Of course, the tales still end up being future sci-fi ones, which the hilarious framing bit explains.

A spoof – certainly going over the youngsters heads – of Planet of the Apes, as well as nods to various post-apocalyptic bits, are great, as are the ways Drymon and crew figure out how to inject the characters’ quirks into the stories.  And secret weapon Rob Leigh’s interior cover design and master-of-all-styles lettering gives the book such a comprehensive professionalism that I’m still shocked this has been “hiding” on the kids’ rack.

Cover to cover goodness.