Comics Review: The Simpsons Comics #224

Spoilers Below:

Homer wrecked the family car in a drive-in movie mishap, and the Simpsons were forced to use a hybrid replacement while the other was in the shop. Although Homer was reluctant at first, the hybrid ended up being immensely popular with the townspeople, earning the Simpsons all sorts of perks and respect. But eventually they had to give it back when their car was ready, much to everyone’s dismay. In order to fill the newly-created void, Homer attempted to replicate the hybrid’s look on the old car, but it caught fire due to his stupidity.

Meanwhile, Mr. Burns got the idea to build a moat around his mansion, and enlisted the help of Gil to make it happen. After a few humorous mishaps and some trial-and-error, the moat was finally completed.

The two stories converged when Homer drove the flaming auto into the protective canal.

Best Bits:

1) Homer’s car accident explanation and “apology”: “Sorry! My soda fell on the gas pedal. No one’s fault, really.”

2) The title of Mr. Burns’ autobiography is Will There Ever Be a Rainbow?

3) I love when The Simpsons flash a bit of just one side of a conversation, like Mr. Burns on the phone: “And so I said to the Kaiser, I said–” (Remember: “So I says to Mabel, I says…”?)

4) Homer can keep it cool even when his car is way too hot: “Hi, guys!”

5) Big props to the writer for including a somewhat obscure reference to Peter Sellers’ character in the 1979 film Being There, with the appearance by “Chauncey” the gardener.

Reviewing Simpsons Comics is a lot like reviewing an episode of the show. While The Simpsons Illustrated and Bart Simpson Comics always have multiple segments within a single issue, Simpsons Comics have only one story, although it often has a second related storyline. So while the other types can lean on one or two good parts to make up for a weaker one, the Comics don’t have that luxury, and thus the risk is greater. When it does work, the reward should be greater as well.

As far as this story is concerned, it was surprisingly solid. Not surprising because the idea of the family getting a hybrid car is especially interesting or entertaining (though it is), but because I’m shocked it hasn’t been attempted on the show yet. Amiright?

The issue also did a good job of merging the two stories together. I honestly thought they might be completely unrelated all the way through, but in the last few frames everything was brought together.

As for criticisms, I have a few minor ones. For instance, when Homer initially said driving the hybrid was the most embarrassing thing to happen in his life, and Marge replied, “Oh, this isn’t even the most embarrassing thing to happen to you this week,” it would have been since to get a cutaway, like the show usually does with a newspaper clipping or photograph or sometimes a full-on flashback scene. Not to say that it needed to be an extended throwback, because even a single frame could have done the trick.

Also, was anyone else troubled by the fact that the Simpson Family owns two cars, yet they appeared completely reliant on Homer’s pink mobile, with not even a mention of Marge’s orange one? No? Just me? Okay, I’ll shut up.

In my reviews I almost always include a bit about the amount of funny lines or quotable dialogue, but as you can see from the ICYMI section above, there wasn’t much in #224. Still, I found the storylines amusing and humorous enough without a lot of single jokes to point to. In fact, this probably would have been a good TV episode if it had a few more good verbal gags, but in the end is best suited for the comic format since a lot of the laughs came from the illustrations.

As I previously stated, pulling off a successful Simpsons Comic is tricky, but this one managed quite well. It wasn’t my favorite out of any type of Simpsons comic, but it was definitely the best Simpsons Comics that I’ve reviewed yet.