Writer: Earl Kress Artists: Leo Batic, Walter Carzon, Pablo Zamboni(p), Horacio Ottolini, Ruben Torreiro(i), David Tanguay(c) Publisher: DC
I was a little cross with Looney Tunes after finding out that the book was actually a lead in to a video game. The main story of the Mad Scientist, once voiced by the late great Vincent Price, capturing the denizens of Warner Brothers Cartoons does not get resolved, but taken as an anthology eases some of the disappointment felt when the story peters out and explains how the tale continues in the video game. The Mad has captured Bugs, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Marvin the Martian, Taz and Foghorn Leghorn. Part of his scheme involves showing the troop their ancestors partaking in short comedic stories.
Earl Kress actually thumbs his nose at his own framework. As in some of the classic cartoons, the characters break the fourth wall and wink with the audience. They know it's a cartoon. They're toon actors in stories written and directed like movies. So, Bugs Bunny's ancestor is really Bugs Bunny portraying his ancestor. That's why the anachronistic jokes he coins work.
Kress' first Looney Tune takes Bugs on one of his wrong-way jaunts. Rather than "Palm Springs," he ends up in Egypt where we discover the Pyramids where built by Elmer Fudd and his wabbit slaves. Kress neatly employs Bugs as a catalyst for change and clobbers Elmer with numerous gags, a multitude belying the four pages given. The artists carry off the slapstick sight gags with due aplomb in a smart plot.
Kress' next target is Daffy Duck. The mallard finds himself in sales before obtaining an old friend from the Warners' stable that transports him to Camelot. One of the more interesting things is how Kress respects history in his story. I did not imagine King Richard, here as Marc Anthony, returning from the Crusades to oust the usurper from the throne. The artists enliven the proceedings with period trappings and costume.
Taz gets a cave dwelling ancestor, who for some reason sports a monocle. There are all kinds of crazy here. It's a dinosaur eat Taz eat cat kind of world and an absurd exercise in art and comedic timing.
Yosemite Sam's relative gets slight treatment in his story. It's an odd choice to envision Sam without two of his trademarks. One though is enough to identify him.
Foghorn Leghorn earns complex dialogue from Kress, and his story is a nice little take off of the Robert McKimson short tuning in on an old Foggy and Dawg as they reminisce about their younger days which soon unfold across the screen. The artists make Dawg and Foggy absolutely cute and full of youthful vigor.
Marvin Martian's ancestor we learn had less bellicose ideas, and I'm reminded somewhat of G'nort from the Green Lantern Corps.
Before ending the anthology, Kress lines up the Mad for one last literally painful joke. I have to admit that the book did make me curious about the video game, and all the shorts in the anthology are funny, clever and self-contained. So, the marketing gimmick is forgiven.
