Mad Trio #1

Posted: Wednesday, March 7, 2007
By: Steve Saville

Cover of Mad Trio #1 Creator(s): Jason De Groot and Carla Berrocal
Publishers: Repercussion Comics
From: USA
Price: $2.00

The creators describe this comic extremely well in their intro where they ask us to, “Join Murdok, his repto pal Belrebu, and the lovely Mia as they battle Fire Lords and Skinners in the post –apocalyptic city of Horrorshow. It’s Mad Max meets George Orwell meets the Marx Brothers in this exciting, madcap first issue.”

I couldn’t agree more. Most of the elements that make up this 24 pager are quite derivative, even down to the parody of the ‘Uncle Sam’ poster that features on the cover. The most overt influence is indeed Orwell, but this is Orwell with a sense of humour. And therein lays this comics saving grace. It may be derivative but in taking bits and pieces from a variety of sources and remoulding them there is a feeling of something new present throughout, originality has not been compromised by what is in fact the reworking of familiar subject matter.

The role humour plays in this is not to be underestimated. Most futuristic worlds where individuality is suppressed by an aggressive and pervasive Big Brother State are incredibly bleak; the use of humour in ‘Mad Trio’ tempers that bleakness with humanity. The juxtaposition of violence and danger with humour works well here.
The comic opens with a mythical medieval tale of a dragon, evil fathers, noble young romantics and treasure. This is actually a story being told by Murdok, one of the main characters, to a group of young children as he attempts to keep the stories of the past alive in a society where books have been banned.

Murdok is desperate to keep the past alive whether it be the old stories or old cars that he brings to Mia for resurrection. These simple actions however ensure that Murdok is in danger in the oppressive, State dominated. world he lives in. The ‘leader’ of Horrorshow, Kurtz employs his bully boys to stamp out any elements of individuality or non conformity. Anyone or anything that is different is eliminated something that means that Murdok’s mate, the humanoid Reptile, Belrebu is in constant danger from bounty hunters. As Murdok discovers being Anti –Kurtz is a dangerous business.

The art work is distinctive and effective despite the danger that the grainy and often rough 'cartoony' style threatens to undermine the serious nature of the subject matter.

‘Mad Trio’ presents the reader with an Orwellian picture of the future and just like ‘1984’ this future world serves as a warning to us of what will become to our world if we don’t fight against it.

In a Word: Reconstituted.



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