This, volume 1 of three, contains two episodes from the first season of
South Park, Comedy Central's wildly successful animated sitcom. In addition, viewers get two very tongue-in-cheek fireside chats with co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The controversial cartoon gained a devoted cult following for its wonderfully unabashed assaults on dull sitcom formula and political correctness. While the show's animation is beyond primitive, with goofy construction-paper cutouts acting as characters, its writing is hilariously shocking and pushes the envelope of good taste off the table. Episodes explore the small mountain town of South Park through the point of view of four foul-mouthed yet lovable eight-year-olds. They include level-headed co-leaders Stan and Kyle; the fat, terminally pissed-off, and hysterical Eric Cartman; and the hooded, incoherent Kenny (who dies in every episode). As such, it's stuffed with toilet humor, graphic violence, and profanity; but
South Park also cleverly subverts TV clichés and acts as a scorching, very frank satire of America's hypocritical attitudes toward social problems like racism, homophobia, jingoism, and neglectful parenting. This volume is a perfect introduction to the show, as it sets up the town's numerous and warped characters and many of
South Park's quotable catch phrases. The first, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe," is basically minor, though funny, as it sends up UFO conspiracy freaks and shows like
The X-Files when Kyle's little brother, Ike, is abducted and the boys must get him back. The second, "Volcano," mocks Hollywood's fascination with disaster movies, as an erupting volcano threatens the town. Better, though, is its subplot: when the kids are taken hunting, Stan is unable to pull the trigger, and is ridiculed as weak and sick, thus mocking a prevailing mindset among those who kill for sport.
--Dave McCoy
