Steve Harmon was an average teenager who had an average job as your average clown, living in average New Jersey. But after being zapped by weird and mysterious extradimensional energy, Steve became Slapstick, a living, breathing cartoon! Now, after joining, and then quitting, Deadpool’s Mercs for Money, Slapstick is striking it out on his own terms! Sure he’s gotta move back in with his parents, but these new business ventures take time. And anyways, he gets to team-up with the Amazing Spider-Man in his first issue. That seems like he’s doing pretty well to me!

I didn’t read a lot of Slapstick when the character debuted in what feels like ages ago. He always rubbed me the wrong way in what I did read. It just wasn’t my thing. So, when Marvel announced a new series, I wasn’t too excited, but after reading this first issue, I’m actually somewhat impressed.

Slapstick #1 is out this Wednesday as a digital Marvel Infinite Comic and while my review copy didn’t completely recreate that experience I was able to make due a bit and come pretty close to it. Written by Reilly Brown and Fred Van Lente, Slapstick #1 is a violent Bugs Bunny meets superhero story that involves lots of blood, splatter, and creative ways to kill the bad guys. He’s a living cartoon… so duh as far as that. The comic is entertaining and if you can handle the over top nature of it all, it’s a fun adult Looney Tunes story.

What’s also interesting is the comic throws Spider-Man into the straight guy role. Slapstick is so out there, Spider-Man can’t help but be rather dry and boring. It’s a different spin that’s interesting and different.

That cartoon meets “real world” is important and really plays into the story. It’s helped by Brown (who does double duties here) and Diego Olortegui. Beyond the cartoon nature of Slapstick that stands out, the digital aspect helps too. The way the panels roll out on each page really adds to the cartoon nature of it all. It helps enhance each “wham” and it plays much better as a digital comic with each panel transition than it might as a static page of a print comic. The comic really works well with what digital offers.

As I said, I wasn’t a fan going in, but by the time I finished, I actually want to read the next issue and see where it all goes. I still might not be the biggest Slapstick fan, but the story’s humor mixed with the advantage of digital makes it an interesting read and one to check out.

The Slapstick #1 Marvel Infinite Comic is out Wednesday, October 19.

Story: Reilly Brown and Fred Van Lente Art: Reilly Brown and Diego Olortegui
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review