Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber continue to outdo the debauchery and hilarity of The Fix in issue #3. Roy takes centre stage in this issue as film producer and pervert extraordinaire Donovan returns to set Roy on a task to get former child star Elaine (whom Roy is also body guarding) on a film project. Mayhem ensues around a night that is sure to set up quite the storyline for the following issue.

Amongst the energetic, quick-witted script of Nick Spencer, the terrified and exuberant expressions of Roy and Elaina respectively, drawn by Steve Lieber, and the glows of oranges and pinks that filter behind the pills and booze-filled evening by colourist Ryan Hill exists a timely (perhaps timeless) examination of the perils of being famous while young.

Every generation has spawned an array of child stars. Whether it is in the form of a studio concocted singer, individually and/or as a group, or a television sitcom actor/actress, some break out and endure popularity over a longer stretch of time, even breaking away from the innocent, catchphrase television roles or bubblegum radio hits, and some just don’t. Elaina is an example of how obsessed people as fans can get with the celebrity moniker and how this spotlight often shines too bright, too fast. It can be hard to blame these young celebrities for acting out when put into comparison with most people and the kind of things one does as a teenager. Sure, the finger of judgement can be pointed towards parents, guardians and the surroundings these young kids find themselves in but in actuality, a mirror towards the fans and media becomes a more appropriate area to share the blame.

Elaina’s monologue towards the middle of the issue hits it right on the nose, just as the story takes a bit of a darker turn. Just like recent films Amy and Montage of Heck, they are more of a cautionary tale than purely the loss of talent that is put on display (and a bit too much of a dive into the privacy of their lives). There is something inevitable, as Spencer writes, to cause a break down to occur. The non-stop barrage of beckoning these artists to perform and the backlash when requests aren’t made or when fandom’s purity is provoked (relevant) becomes an easier process with the closeness exhibited through the digital age. As much as The Fix is a bit more on the comedic side – with plenty of unexpected, well-placed laugh out loud moments, especially through Lieber’s brilliant comedic timing – this issue taps into something more.

Story: Nick Spencer Artist: Steve Lieber
Colours: Ryan Hill Lettering and Design: Nic J. Shaw
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

Good news for people who love reading comics about bad people: The Fix #2 is out, and it’s just as great as the first issue.

Writer Nick Spencer keeps up the same witty rapport and artist Steve Lieber adds in a healthy dose of visual humor as the story picks up right where #1 left off. Roy and Mac work toward getting past Pretzels, the ferocious (adorable) beagle (protagonist) that stands between them and getting paid. Meanwhile, readers learn a little more about the kombucha and kale loving Josh, as well as the other members of the department.

As with Superior Foes of Spider-Man, the main characters–not quite protagonists–are the kind of idiots you can’t help but root for. Roy and Mac may be terrible people, but they have (some) morals, and while their aforementioned idiot qualities have gotten them into some hot water with a bluegrass-loving stay-at-home dad, it doesn’t make the story hard to read. Rather, both the characters and story are, above all, smart. This particular brand of cleverness from Spencer and Lieber isn’t unexpected, and they use it to maximum efficiency with Roy and Mac, whose smarts are used to keep readers guessing about what will happen next.

Lieber’s art is a wonderful counterpoint to the narrative, often helping to successfully convey the wit of the story, which isn’t an easy task. The visual humor is just as hilarious as the textual humor, one thing that makes the story work so well. The facial expressions and body language of the characters are spot on, setting a lighthearted tone for a comic about felons. Ryan Hill nails the colors, and Nic J. Shaw’s lettering and design ensure that all jokes are told in the most humorous way possible. 

The Fix hasn’t lost any of its hilarity as it delves deeper into the story, and is absolutely worth a pull list spot. If you didn’t get a chance last month, both issues #1 and #2 are worth checking out–and the #1 second printing variant now features none other than the heroic Pretzels.

Story: Nick Spencer Art: Steve Lieber Colors: Ryan Hill Lettering: Nic J. Shaw
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review