Review -- TODD: THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH #1

This Review Originally Ran on Comics Bulletin

Todd: The Ugliest Kid on Earth #1

(Ken Kirstensen, M.K. Perker; Image)

I know it's cliché to say it, but Ken Kristensen and M.K. Perker are bound and determined to put the "fun" back in dysfunctional. Todd: The Ugliest Kid on Earth #1 may well be the most fucked-up funny book I've come across in years. Neither of the creators seem to give a rat's ass about being politically correct or worried in any way about whether or not they are offending anyone. A matter of fact, they seem to be going out of their way to offend EVERYONE in this book. But it's so off the wall bejezus wonked that it's hard to get pissed at them, because while they are dealing with all kinds of just plain horrible shit in this book, their tongues seem so firmly planted in their cheeks (or up America's ass) that all you can do is laugh.

And unless you take yourself far too seriously, laugh is what you will do.

Image is shilling this book as "a collision of comedy, sex, and violence" and by golly that ain't no hyperbole. This first issue seems to turn around the titular Todd who is apparently so ugly that you never see him without a paper bag over his head. His visage makes him the butt of the neighborhood guff, and no matter how sunny a disposition he maintains, nobody wants to be his friend.  Todd's mom and dad are certainly not in the running for any parenting awards, the Chief of Police is a fame obsessed sadist who has no qualms pulling his gun on his own children, the town bully has it in specifically for Todd, and, oh, did I happen to mention that there is a psychotic axe murderer going around severing the heads of children?

Sound like fun? You betcha!

Add to the mix Perker's fantastic art and you got yourself gold here! Twisted, bug-fuckery gold, but gold all the same. Todd: The Ugliest Kid on Earth #1 is a axe to the head of pretentiousness. It barrels through just about every precious liberal sacred cow like a thirteen-year-old all hopped up on his buddy's Aderol, gripping the wheel white-knuckled as he points his grandpa's Chrysler towards the horizon line. This comic ZOOMS as it ZAGS and I have no idea when or where this ride is going to end. One thing's for sure, though, it's going to be one hell of a drive.