Secret Monkey #10
Writer - Matt Dursin
Artist - John Hunt
32 pages
Imprint - Turbo Comics
Web Page - http://www.secretmonkey.net
Summary - Self-Publishers John Hunt and Matt Dursdin (check out Matt Dursdin's interview a few weeks ago here at Suite 101 http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/11/1... ) of Turbo comics have created a comic book called "Secret Monkey" and placed their comic book online to get some exposure.
What's the scoop on this comic book? This comic is currently "online" only with hopes of going to press soon. The comic book is a cross between the Stan Lee / Steve Ditko Marvel comics from the 1960's and long time MAD magazine artist Don Martin. Satire with a much less serious tone, sort of the Simpson's satire meets the Thundercats.
What's the bottom line? In my opinion, this comic is worth a look. I am intrigued by the story and for me it brings back nostalgic stories lines from many old Marvel comics.
It is a Retro book like all of those other 1980's comebacks? It's an updated retro-comic with the names and appearances of the characters changed partly for humorous purposes and partly to avoid a lawsuit. I liked the goofy story and the art is kind of a sketchy, elongated style. The body types and sizes seem to be long and skinny. The facial features are very plan, with sort of a "Tick" comics look, as some characters have the bottom part of their heads too large and the top parts too small. It gives the art a "pseudo-serious" look.
How did this get started? Here is some more background: Dursin and Hunt have put together twelve issues of Secret Monkey and placed them online for you to read at Bench Comics at http://www.benchcomics.com . It is obvious these two gentlemen have put a great deal of time and effort (and probably their own money) into this project in an attempt to get it off the ground. The stories are nostalgic, with one liners keyed to today's headlines. This method is very much the way Stan Lee used to do it.
What's the story for a specific issue? Issue #10 is a set of four short stories. The Secret Monkey Story is a take off on the Spider-Man stories where he would get sent off to Mephesto's realm or outer space and acquits himself so well that he gets sent back. This time Secret Monkey fights and makes enough of a pain out of himself that no one wants him around. Additional short stories are on the characters Iron Warrior, E/S Man and Ms. Hornet, A-Nert, and Captain Patriot. Without going into too much detail on each short story, let me say I liked the stories and I get the art. Dursin and Hunt have created a nostalgic atmosphere and added their own strange twist to the story and art. The characters are at the same time goofier and more serious than the old days.
