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NUT (New Untold Tales) #1
by Larned Justin
($2.00 from Larned Justin / PO Box 471 / House Springs, MO / 63051 USA. Web:
www.candidcartoons.com)
Review by Steve Keeter
The frontcover of
NUT #1 is just a riot: would-be Napoleon standing (literally) on a soapbox, proudly proclaiming "small press comics will rule the world!" (which they will, of course), as the guys in the white suits creep up behind with butterfly nets. And that's just the first of many fine moments in this wild anthology, written and drawn entirely by Larned Justin. Another truly hilarious moment occurs during a Flash Gordon satire called "Ralph Needleman, Outer Space Accountant." The business-minded individual of the title infiltrates the lair of "Mink the Merciless," who has been trying to activate a death-ray to destroy the Earth for 50 years. Needleman tries to use Mink's machines to research some finance records, and guess what he accidentally triggers?! I laughed out loud at this one. A bit of running craziness concerning Noah's Ark pops up here and there throughout the issue... Noah's sons argue over who has to secure the two skunks for the Ark, Noah's wife argues about the two required cockroaches for the ship, etc., and these are all very funny. There's plenty more, including a takeoff on
Once Upon a Time in Mexico in which Daffy Duck and the other Warner Brothers cartoon characters play all the parts, new episodes of "Stickman," and some very nice reproduction of Larned's pencil art in the weird comic mystery "Lane Brain, 19th Century Detective." Larned tackles a number of art styles in the issue, and pretty much is successful with each attempt, including a jazz/Picasso backcover. A wonderful, enjoyable comic, recommended.
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