2 out of 5

Almost nothing out of this bundle really works.

Issue #38 is a tribute to, we’ll suppose, Eric’s grandma, Betty Jean Wheeler, who is memorialized by a front-page picture and dates that suggest she passed around the time of publication.  Supposing that Ms. Wheeler was the original inspiration for Goon’s Aunt Kizzie, it’s not such a party foul to retell a comic version of her story here via Kizzie, but as with some of Eric’s other back history-focused issues, he’s just not all that great at integrating the information.  I know, I know, it’s dumb that the simple change of a title – making this an Aunt Kizzie one-shot – could make the difference, but, well, it could.  Otherwise, there’s really no need for Kizzie’s tale to be in the ongoing, and the real-life parable feels all too obvious, just shunting the Gooniverse into it toward the dead.  I lack sensitivity, sure.  The veil between artist / art, fiction / real life just no longer exists in this book, and that irks me.

Issue #39 takes some pretty obvious jabs at major publishers.  It’s 100% non-canon stuff, Powell making origin-reboot and Blackest Night gags, and then a semi self-aware rant toward the end.  There are some chuckles here, but the satire is just way too obvious, and the elements that could’ve been played up more – Powell points out using funky panel layouts to see edgy – get left behind after a few pages.  Again: artist / art divide.  Non-existent.  I’m buying either a melodrama or a none-veiled satire book now.  Womp.

Issue #40 looks gorgeous, as it always does when it’s 100% Powell.  Stewart’s colors are amazing, but he’s best utilized for Eric’s time constraints.  Otherwise, he works with his own art the best.  Anyhow, the initial prohibition tale is okay, sorta’ more in line with early Goon, until we get to the Rat Fink pinup, and then you remember how Powell has been overtaken by a desire to make every other book some kinda tribute to the world of burlesque or roller derby and all the tattoo fandom it comes with.  Three cheers, they may say, while I remain irked.

Issue #41 is a back-to-melodrama tale.  The Zombie Priest is doing magic tricks for money, complaining about things in an unwisely chosen first-person narrative (because that hasn’t been commonly used in the book, it feels very out of place here) and then To Be Continuing while prophesizing doom for Goon.  The issue feels like a placeholder.  There’s a backup by Mark Buckingham and Powell which… well, feels unfinished in its sketchy black and white, despite Buck’s quality crafting.