The plot: A twisted scientist uses his genius to create "Carrot Boy" in his plot against humanity; as it turns out, Carrot Boy has other plans.
The manic creativity of James Kochalka Superstar is, at its best, as infectious as the flu. Luckily, it's a boatload more fun.
If he were looking for a fourth name, Kochalka might want to stick "Multimedia" in front of "Superstar," because he has created a fusion of comics and music that manages to entertain on multiple levels at once.
With Carrot Boy, you could read the 16-page comic insert, or you could listen to the music. You could even do both at once. I've done all three.
Ever thoughtful, Kochalka provides a fourth option--karaoke. After the rock opera concludes, the entire CD is repeated sans vocals, allowing you--yes, you--to reenact the entire performance!
The fact of the matter is, Kochalka's creative energy is simply too expansive to be contained in any one artform--and his music, really, enhances the enjoyment of his comics. Carrot Boy, the album and comic considered as one, doesn't seem as deep as the wondrous Monkey vs. Robot--a paradox given the fact that Carrot Boy has a more complex plot (by a hair or two) than the recently released M vs. R graphic novel.
On the other hand, the Carrot Boy CD is a more cohesive listening experience than the Monkey vs. Robot CD, which had an odds and ends-type feel to it. It's hard not to be enchanted by Kochalka's creations, given his deceptively simple drawing style and skill at creating entire universes out of whole cloth. For fans of any of Kochalka's other works, Carrot Boy is another gem that fits quite well, to quote the CD, "Within the greater scheme of things."
