So I started off the 2014 Holiday Comics reading season with this one. It was unexpected until just last Friday when I bought this in a buy-one-get-one-free dollar comics sale for Black Friday. I'm always on the hunt for holiday comics but I must admit, this one is one that I had no clue about.
I had no idea that they made a Beavis and Butthead comic. If you'd ask me to put money on whether or not Marvel made it, I would've bet no and lost! Even more shocking is the fact that this comic is exactly like the TV show and there wasn't any kind of parental warning on it. The book released from 1994 to 1996 was issued without the Comics Code. Still, with references to masturbation, drugs, and sexual deviancy, I'm really surprised this thing got published at all, based on my extensive knowledge of comic book censorship.
So, what's this issue all about? The stars of the book are two goofball high schoolers named Beavis and Butthead from an MTV series of the same name. They're slackers to the Nth degree looking for fast cash and faster women. In this issue, the boys take a job as a mall santa and his helper elf. IT was perhaps the best story of the book because the guys wind up bribing kids to give them nachos from the food court if they want Santa to fill their wish lists.
The next story involves Beavis and Butthead and their class Christmas party. The boys attempt to take advantage of the situation and up their chances of scoring with 'chicks' by being in charge of the mistletoe. In typical selfish fashion, the boys end up ruining the secret santa grab bag and are forced to compose an essay on the true meaning of Christmas or receive an F.
On the show, the boys would watch heavy metal music videos and comment on them. The same goes for here, but instead of videos, they give they are mixed up opinions on comic books. It's actually pretty smart marketing because according to the 'bullpen's bulletins' page, the books they reviewed came out that same month. Talk about free advertising.
I'm not really sure about this book. Yes- this issue meets my requirements of a holiday comic- it takes places leading to and/ or during Christmas. The's festive hijinks and the Christmasy cover does match the material inside it. But this book was crude. It started out pretty good but went down hill fast. Even the letters page was insipid and gross.
This is in no way a comic for kids. Thankfully, despite being vulgar and stupid, it wasn't blasphemous. Other than a funny running gag that Santa's wife is named 'Mary Christmas' there wasn't anything that seemed pointed at the Christmas story. Why even their search for the true meaning of Christmas was balanced with A Peanuts Christmas nativity and A Christmas Story commercialism.
Bottom line, if this wasn't a Christmas comic (or other holidays) I wouldn't have bought it and I can most definitely say this series is not going on my wishlist anytime soon.
Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.
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