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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dated, But Well Worth Checking Out, April 16, 2009
This review is from: Showcase Presents: Ambush Bug Vol. 1 (Paperback)
I still have my treasured copy of DC COMICS PRESENTS #52, which featured Superman teaming up with an ill-conceived incarnation of The Doom Patrol. The story is terrible, the art is decent, and it features the debut of a murderous lunatic who calls himself "Ambush Bug". What's so special about Ambush Bug? Well, in his initial appearance, nothing. But in the fullness of time, creator Keith Giffen turned his obscure villain into a satirical figure of monumental proportions, often using the character as a way to bite the hand that was feeding him.
SHOWCASE PRESENTS: AMBUSH BUG is a hefty (Nearly 500 pages!) black-&-white tome that reprints the entire Bug chronology (Except the recent LOBO mini-series and the new AMBUSH BUG: YEAR ZERO mini) in one handy volume. From his humble beginnings in DC COMICS PRESENTS to his occasional back-up status in ACTION COMICS, including the AMBUSH BUG mini-series, the SON OF AMBUSH BUG mini, the AMBUSH BUG STOCKING STUFFER and AMBUSH BUG NOTHING SPECIAL, his SECRET ORIGINS story, and a truly weird guest shot in SUPERGIRL. The humor is dated, to be sure. I don't think that anyone not steeped in '80's DC Comics lore would have any inkling what most of the jokes were referring to, but for fans who were around back then, there's still laughs in them there hills. I still howl at the Darkseid cliffhangers from the first mini-series.....There's some truly classic stuff here, and Giffen and Fleming were at the top of their respective games. I recommend SHOWCASE PRESENTS: AMBUSH BUG for longtime DC fans.....For everyone else, your mileage may vary.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ambush Bug FOREVER, April 23, 2009
This review is from: Showcase Presents: Ambush Bug Vol. 1 (Paperback)
Ah... Ambush Bug and his power of "non-continuity" (the ability to do anything in any DC Comics timeline, and not have any affect whatsoever.)
To be completely honest, I cannot believe that DC actually printed a collection of Ambush Bug. It's certainly been long enough! I remember reading all the comics collected in the TPB and all of them were funny. It's cool to see how he changed from what was practically a villain character to - almost - a hero.
If you like stuff like Lobo, you might find Ambush Bug a bit tame, but it's still pretty edgy - even though a lot of the humor will leave most of today's readers with a big "!?!" over their heads. :)
Highly recommended if you're a fan of comics that break the 4th wall and almost seem self-aware.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Over a decade of funny, funny comics, April 21, 2009
This review is from: Showcase Presents: Ambush Bug Vol. 1 (Paperback)
Ambush Bug started off as a simple idea, Superman vs. a Bugs Bunny-style prankster. The first few issues in this collection play on that including a hysterical farce featuring Superman, Ambush Bug and perennial losers the Legion of Substitute Heroes.
Then things take a surreal turn with Ambush Bug mocking obscure characters, comic creators and the industry in general. No one, including his own writers and editor is safe.
The art and writing deserve a special mention. According to interviews, Giffin (the artist) and Fleming (the scripter) would decide on a rough plot. Giffin would then draw whatever he felt like and give it to Fleming who would then try to top his insanity with dialogue. The results are much, much funnier than you would expect.
Some of the references are dated of course but in all these are some of the funniest, and most fun, comics DC has ever done.
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