Angel and the Ape #1 (1991)

Angel and the Ape #1 (March, 1991)
"Shaking the Family Tree"
Writer/Penciller - Phil Foglio
Inker - Keith Wilson
Letterer - John Workman
Colorist - Tom Ziuko
Associate Editor - Katie Main
Editor - Mike Gold
Cover Price: $1.00

Hey lookit that another issue of Angel Lo... er, and the Ape... wonk wonk wonkkk.  This one's been on my "to check out" radar for quite awhile, and figure now's as good a time as any.

--

We open up some sixteen years ago where a young pigtailed Angel O'Day is running off to get firewood for her father while they're on safari in Africa.  Off she goes, and she finds the perfect log for the fire... only thing is, it's too heavy to carry off.  Lucky for her she gets an assist from a talking gorilla... who lifts the log... revealing a venomous snake... that bites him in the leg!

Angel heads back to camp to fetch her daddy the doc to help her primate pal... and he does.  

Now, we're in the present... Angel O'Day is a comely young lady and the Ape is now Sam Simeon... and they run a detective agency... yeah, why not?  They do a bit of sparring to get the blood pumping... and judging by the way Angel is dressed, I gotta figure ol' Sam's blood's already pumping.

A Mr. Ziebarth enters, getting a pretty good look at Angel's derriere.  He works for the insurance company and he comes bearing good news.  O'Day and Simeon are cleared of all liability in a recent building demolition by way of a testimony procured via quija board, and so he hands them a check.

Later on, Angel asks if Sam wants to go to dinner to celebrate... but realizes that he's got a standing weekly date with her half-sister Athena.  We also learn here that Sam works for DZ Comics.  Their chat is interrupted by an interjecting Athena... who, not knowing her own strength knocks through the door.

Athena asks if Sam minds if she did dinner with Angel tonight... she's got some important things to talk about with her.  Sam's cool with it, and decides he'll go deposit their big check while the sisters hash it out.  Here we learn that Athena is actually Dumb Bunny from the Inferior 5!

We join the sisters as they dine... and it doesn't take long for the conversation to take a disturbing and uncomfortable turn... ya see, Athena's thinking about asking Sam... ya know, the Ape... to be her boyfriend.  Angel takes the news about as well as could be expected... hearing that her sister wants to, er, be with a primate...

Athena asks Angel if she can think of a single reason (unrelated to his ape-ness, I guess) that she shouldn't pursue this relationship... and she can't come up with a single one.  Sam's a "hell of a guy", after all.  We get some clarification that Dumb Bunny doesn't want Sam for sex... which is both a relief and somewhat depressing.  She's extremely lonely, and appears to just want some companionship... okey doke.  Angel says she needs some time to process all of this before giving it her blessing... and leaves the restaurant.

Meanwhile, Sam's bank-bound... and upon arrival there's a bit of a role-reversal... for a moment, he turns human while all the humans turn into apes!

He freaks out, everything changes back to "normal" and he heads back to the office to share his story with Angel... who ain't buyin' it.  He figures the best way to prove it is to somehow procure the security footage from the bank.  So, he disguises himself as a really hairy security camera repairman... and swipes the footage.

He returns to the office, and Angel sees that he was telling the truth.

As they try to figure out what to make of all this, they are interrupted by three Lobot looking fellas who demand Sam come with them.  A fight erupts, and Angel is shocked to see that her martial art skills are useless against these baldies.  Luckily Dumb Bunny shows up and cleans house.

A dude enters and tells the P.I.s that the bank wants to hire them to find out who swapped security tapes.  Sam takes this as his cue to leave.  Angel and Athena are confused... then turn back at the Lobot looking fools to see that they were, in reality... apes!

--

Ehhh.... well... hrrm, this sure was a comic book.

Not the best thing I've read of late... I wanna say not the worst, but that would only be because I recently read that Charlton-flavored L.A.W. miniseries.  I really didn't dig this... from words to pictures, just really not my scene.

This is probably the Phil Foglio-est art I've seen to date... and while it was off-putting and hampered my enjoyment of Stanley and his Monster... here, it's almost aggressively so.  Just like with Stanley, I wonder just why this story needed to be told.  That, at least started out decent... this is just, ehh...

I am a fan of world/universe-building, so the revelation that Angel O'Day is the half-sister of Dumb Bunny of the Inferior 5 was really cool to me.  I guess that plants this smack-dab into DC continuity proper... for better and/or worse.  I really don't like that Dumb Bunny wants to get romantically involved with an Ape... 

Overall... not a fan.  It's silly, but not in the kind of way I dig... Neither character comes across as especially likable, and I'm not feeling the urge to root for anyone.  If you're looking for a humor book, and find this in the cheap-o's... ehh, I will say, that there're far better "funny" funnybooks out there that are more worth your time.

But... that's just me.

--

Interesting Ads:

Stanley and his Monster #4 (1993)

Stanley and his Monster #4 (May, 1993)
"Going Down"
Writer & Penciller - Phil Foglio
Inker - Chuck Fiala
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Robbie Busch
Editor - Paul Kupperberg
Cover Price: $1.50

If you need to catch up before reading about our senses-shattering conclusion, please check out #1, #2,and #3.

--

Fresh off our cliffhanger, Stanley and Company are joined by our old friend the (Phantom) Stranger.  I don't think they ever call him "Phantom Stranger", he's just "The Stranger" here... which, for better or worse, opens us up to Stanley commenting that he's "not allowed to talk to strangers".  Nyuk nyuk.

The Dovers really don't dig the idea of the Stranger sending their little boy to Hell in order to rescue their pet demon.  The Stranger zaps them with a spell of serenity, which frees the lad up for the trip.

The Stranger readies the Seal of Cloon (which is an actual, Seal... like the horn-honking-at-the-aquarium variety.  Bierce appears to be setting Stanley up to wind up in what the Stranger called a "Causality Loop".  Stanley packs for the voyage... bringing a very specific wagon-full of stuffs.  He's loaded up with a demon mask, a package of hot dogs, a two-liter of soda, an umbrella, and a jar of Bar-B-Q sauce... I wonder why he chose those items...

Well there Stanley, that's a mighty specific wagon-load...

After a wild, Max Headroom-esque inter-dimensional Seal-trek, Bierce and the Boy arrive at the (flaming and demonic) gates of hell.  Bierce tells Stanley that he's on his own from this point on... and advises him that Hell is "exactly what he thinks it is", like, as in he can affect the way Hell looks and operates.  I gotta wonder if John Byrne cribbed this bit for Lab Rats?

Stanley saunters in, and decides that Hell should look like a Saturday Morning cartoon show.  He is approached by an adorable hellfiend, who asks what his business is... to which, Stanley dons his demon Halloween mask.  It's good enough for the hell-fiend, who points the boy in the direction of his Monster.  Well, there's one item down.

Stanley and his Monster are reunited (and it feels so..., nah).  As they catch up, a tiny yellow pitchfork wielding devil enters.  He's all but ready to blow the whistle on the caper, when Stanley offers him... well, hot dogs (there's two).  Stanley impales the weiner on the demon's horn (wait, what?), and watches as the beast chases it carrot-on-a-stick-style off a nearby cliff.

Stanley and his Monster decide to blow this Popsicle stand, and head toward the conveniently-marked exit.  As they leave, they are confronted by our weenie-eating demon and his two-flaming companions.  Stanley tricks the devil into summoning a rainstorm, extinguishing the burning-beasties... oh, yeah... it's a good thing Stanley remembered his umbrella!  There's three.

The frankfurter-fiend, none too pleased with this turn of events grows to tremendous size... why wouldn't he just always be that big?  Luckily, Stanley's wagon is perfect for giving the demon the ol' slip... back off the cliff... presumably into a pool of flames.  Stanley's pretty hardcore.

Off in the distance the boys spy what the Monster refers to as a Punishment Node.  They crack that orb open, only to find the Monsters former-flame/fling, Miss Nyx.  She believes the boys to be a figment of her imagination, however, thanks to Stanleys cold (cold? still?) soda, she snaps back to reality.  The next... hundred or so pages, is a discussion between Nyx and the Monster over whether or not she should be "good", or if he could teach her how to be "good", or what it means to be "good"...

Hey, Nyx is back...

Thankfully, Cerberus bursts into the scene... along with that same little yellow demon?  Really, again?  Okay.  This time, he summons worms from the ground to entangle young Stanley... and then proceeds to wrap his tongue around Nyx's thigh... No really.  To which, she dumps our last remaining item, the Bar-B-Q sauce all over the naughty imp... which attracts the carnivorous grill-fan, Cerberus.

Yeah... still no CCA Code here

Finally, we're on our way out, when... oh, c'mon... the two angels are back.  They allow the Monster to plead his case... and, well... they let him go.  How about that?  Nyx must stay behind, but really... who wanted her to come back anyway?

For your viewing/reading enjoyment...
The only chuckle this book gave me.

Back at casa Stanley. everything's back to (the new) normal.  Stanley's allowed to keep his Monster, and they all live happily ever after.

--

I suppose this wrapped up as best it could given the set-up.  When I first read the opening chapter of this four-part tale, I figured it would be a fun romp with a boy and his beast.  I did not, even for a moment, consider that there would be an actual story in here... and, I sorta kinda wish there wasn't.  The deeper we went into the Hell story, the less interest I had.  The more panel time given to Ambrose Bierce, the less I liked him.  When he first showed up in the second chapter, it was a novelty.  He was mistaken for John Constantine, and it was a cute gag.  I didn't expect him to be back, and to play such a large part overall.

The writing insofar as the dialogue was still a bright point.  The art, well... I mentioned all throughout my review series that Phil Foglio art is not normally my cup of tea.  For the first two issues, I really rather liked it.  The second half, however, felt much looser... and seemed to rely more on cartoony elements than just cartoon-ish elements (if that makes even a lick of sense).

Mildly disappointing overall, especially coming off the fun-high of the first issue.  I would have been much more interested (and likely entertained) by Stanley and his Monster exploring more Heterodyne Boys inventions.  That first issue just had so much heart to it... that sadly did not survive the remaining chapters.

Is it worth checking out?  I guess.  It's not gonna knock yer socks off or anything, but when it comes to a silly story you can do far worse.  Am I glad I'm done with it?  Heavens yes... Not that I aggressively disliked the series, but the joke kinda played itself out with about 40 pages to go.

--

Interesting Ads:

At least Burt didn't have to team with a dog...
That was a 90s movie thing too, right?

Rocky D. died on the way back to his home planet.

Imagine a pipe-smoking good guy in a cartoon these days?

Great Superman story from just months before Doomsday...
but not Doomsday's first appearance... friggin' Wizard

Stanley and his Monster #3 (1993)

Stanley and his Monster #3 (April, 1993)
"Parental Discretion"
Writer & Penciller - Phil Foglio
Inker - Chuck Fiala
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Robbie Busch
Editor - Paul Kupperberg
Cover Price: $1.50

Can Stanley and his Monster maintain the fun and quality it delivered in the first two issues?  Well, that would be telling... Let's go ahead and find out together.

--

If you need to catch up, previous chapters are available here: #1, #2

Fresh off of last issue's cliffhanger, we rejoin the Stanley family (who I now know have the last name, Dover) having just discovered the Monster.  Not wanting to tell Stanley's folks that the Monster is a demon who wasn't nasty enough for Hell, Bierce concocts a tale of Indian burial grounds, and explains that the Monster is in fact a protective spirit dog.

When asked what was up with Nyx, the Monster attempts to cover by explaining that she was just a hot date that got out of hand.  Bierce informs the Dovers that since the "Spirit Dog" was buried on their property, they were stuck with him... unless he could perhaps exorcise him.  Bierce hits the Monster with an enchantment that shocks the beast, Stanley's mother begins to feel sympathy for the non-devil, and calls off the spell.

Stanley explains to his parents that they had already given him permission to keep the Monster three months prior.  The parents must have thought he was just joking around when they gave the okay.  The adult Dovers relent, and the Monster is allowed to stay... as long as he doesn't cause any (more) trouble.

Bierce takes his leave, after reminding young Stanley about the importance of the amulet he'd given him last issue.  Little did he know that he had also been protected by keeping the amulet in his possession.  As he drives home sans amulet, he runs right into a demon who is now free and more than willing to do him harm.

At casa Dover, it is bedtime.  Stanley hops into bed and the Monster squeezes underneath.  Just as they're about to drift off to sleep there's a frantic tapping at the window.  It's Bierce, and he's brought with him a gaggle of Nightgaunts.  Bierce wires the amulet to an electrical socket to protect the entire house from the Hellbeasts.  He explains his situation to our boys, and claims that he will need to move in to the attic until he can build a new amulet... and he'll need parts.

The next morning, Mr. Dover is off to work.  He observes how strange the sky looks... it is as though there's about to be a big storm.  At the sidewalk, he runs into a peculiar blue-faced fellow wearing an odd gown.  The fellow eyeballs Stanley's dad thinking he might be the Bierce he seeks.  After some small talk, he leaves Dad be.  From an upstairs window, Stanley and Company look on... Bierce identifies the blue-man as a Servant of Moxon.

Stanley decides to show his mother just how useful the Monster can be by enlisting him in assisting with her daily chores... which goes about as well as you would imagine.

Throughout the day the house gets visited by several delivery and courier services, each dropping off pieces of supply needed by Bierce to assemble a second amulet.

 Mrs. Dover finally gets wind of what's going on up in the attic, and heads on up to... have a discussion with Mr. Bierce.  Just her, him, and a baseball bat!

Bierce hypnotizes Stanley's mother and sends her off to help her husband.  He convinces her that he had car trouble on the way to work... which is strange, considering Mr. Dover takes the bus each morning.  She tries dragging Stanley along with her, but through tricks of perspective he manages to slink away.

While Bierce toils away, Stanley and his Monster decide to, in a last ditch effort to prove how useful the "Spirit Dog" can be, make the family dinner.  During this time, Stanley's parents realize they'd been had and rush home to confront the boy, the beast, and the magician.

Upon arrival, the parents see their newly destroyed kitchen.  Lost in a rage, Mr. Dover runs head long into the Monster while wielding a baseball bat (perhaps the same one as earlier... continuity!).  He swings wildly, and destroys the amulet.

Only moments later, Hell's guardian angel arrives on the scene.  He grabs the Monster and vanishes.  Stanley cannot bear the thought of his friend being yanked back to Hell, however, he knows he is powerless to help him.  It is then revealed that while Stanley is powerless... there is one who is not... our old friend, the Phantom Stranger arrives at Casa Stanley... [to be continued...]

--

This was a fun issue... though, perhaps the low point of this miniseries thus far.  This just didn't feel like a penultimate chapter (I've always wanted to use penultimate in a sentence).  It may have relied a bit too much on comedy, and while the prior two issues had their comedy moments... they also had a lot of heart.  This issue, I dunno... felt kind of shallow... maybe even rushed.  The art, which up until now was growing on me took a step back in this installment.  Some pages looked just as good as earlier, however, some really felt rushed.  Maybe there was a time crunch... or maybe I'm imagining it... I'm not too proud to consider that.

I'd been looking forward to the opening scene all week.  I was genuinely curious how the Dovers were going to react to the Monster... or if there'd be something of a bait and switch.  I was mildly disappointed with the scene, and almost wish they had hit us with a swerve.

Is it worth reading?  Well, yeah... especially if you've come this far already.  It's still Stanley goodness, it's just sorta missing it's soul.  Hell, maybe that was intentional... though, probably not.  I'm still looking forward to the final issue, though, admittedly I'm not nearly as excited for it as I was before reading this one.

--

Interesting Ads:

This ad used to keep me up a night.
I was always scared that some alien planet would require my delicate genius

It took me forever to realize that King Faraday is a pun...
Never heard of this miniseries either!

Astronaut Ice Cream was among the most important things in the world to mid-80's Chris
Far too valuable to eat, unfortunately!

What am I waiting for?
Probably for the game to load, yo!