Comics Review: Jimbo Jones #1

Spoilers Below:

“Escape from New Springfield”

Jimbo was caught stealing items from Android’s Dungeon in a post-apocalyptic New Springfield. Instead of getting arrested, Chief Wiggum offered Jimbo a deal: take down Bart, who has overthrown Springfield Elementary/Prison in exchange for his freedom. However, Jimbo found Skinner was, in fact, still in power, but had assumed Bart’s name. He overthrew him anyway – with a little help from Ralph – and left after pilfering lunch money from the remaining students.

“What’s Under Jimbo’s Cap?”

In this short, numerous Springfield residents were polled regarding the contents under Jimbo’s signature beanie.

“Bullyman”

Jimbo acted as a masked crusader who walks the line between superhero and super-villain. For what it’s worth, it’s probably much funnier than Suicide Squad.

“Inside Man”

After being caught red-handed (literally) spray-painting graffiti, Jimbo was once again given the opportunity by Chief Wiggum to go informant in exchange for leniency. But this time, Jimbo went back on his word and double-crossed the police, instead stealing a cruiser to celebrate Kearney’s birthday.

Best Bits:

1) The Mad Max tribute: Next door to Android’s Dungeon was “Crazy Max’s Used Automobiles.”

2) Gil’s meeting with the C.H.U.D.s is a reference to the 1984 horror film C.H.U.D. (“Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers.”) If you haven’t seen it, please do.

3) Jimbo eats his words: “The day I need help from some nerds… Nerds! Help me!”

4) Bart being listed as a “Parasitic Twin Enthusiast.”

5) Wiggum logic: “Son, don’t look at it like being a rat or a stoolie or a traitor… I mean, you will be all of those things, but you’ll also be a free man.”

To be honest, I didn’t have very high hopes for this spin-off issue. I was very skeptical of Jimbo’s ability to carry an entire comic by himself, given the fact that he’s such a minor character and generally not very funny.

Boy, was I wrong.

The first segment was not just creative and funny, but I’d argue it was absolutely perfect. Crazy, right? I mean, I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories to begin with, so that gives it an automatic head start, but it really was a unique and intricate storyline that featured numerous major and minor characters (was that Rex Banner in the catapult scene?) while still keeping Jimbo as the obvious star and hero.

It was hilarious too. Both Wiggums were fantastic – the Chief at the beginning and the kid in the middle and end – and there were so many quotable lines that I had to cut them out of my list for fear of upsetting the balance among stories and giving away too much. I didn’t even include Skinner’s line about the skateboarding contest: “Speed counts for half the points, wicked awesome tricks the other half!” Even the Snake cameo at the end was worthy of a chuckle.

As for the other major story (“What’s Under Jimbo’s Cap?” and “Bullyman” were both minor), it was very similar to the first segment, but I didn’t even mind. Part of that was because the dialogue poked fun at this fact right from the get-go, and also it had enough gags to make the reader forget about the resemblance. I also enjoyed how the resolution to Jimbo’s arrest was not a resolution at all; it was more so some weird Wiggum logic and a comment about the true meaning of friendship. I don’t know what the weird tumor thing was about in the last frame, but Matt Groening had a cameo that broke the fourth wall, so I still left happy.

And all this good stuff occurred in a surprisingly large issue. Heck, there was even another mini story at the end (“Candy Crush”) that I didn’t even mention. When I initially saw the size, I was even more skeptical, but I ended up totally pleased at the result. (That’s what she said, amiright?)

And did I mention there’s a giant sticker included in the middle of the issue as well? Fuck yeah!

I hate to get my hopes up, but if it’s anything like this one, I really hope to see another issue of Jimbo Jones.