Bart Simpson #3 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Gail Simone has had a storied career, 'beginning as a fan critic and analyst on the treatment of women in comics, cooking the term Women in Refrigerators' and 'fridging' in response to the horrific death of Kyle Rayner's girlfriend in Green Lantern #54. In October, 1999, Simone had a regular weekly column called 'You'll All Be Sorry' appearing in Comic Book Resources. It offered a range of satirical pieces that mocked recent releases to parodies of fan fiction.

In her quarter of a century in writing scripts for the comic book industry, Simone crafted the adventures of Deadpool, Superman, Batgirl and even the comic book excavations of Tomb Raider, Laura Croft. In 2007, Simone took over the reigns of DC's flagship female character Wonder Woman, embarking in the longest tenure of Princess Diana by a female writer. Then in 2010, she took over as the head writer for the Birds of Prey. 

Gail Simone has inspired and empowered countless female fans and next generations of women writers and artists with her female heavy stories that entertain fans of all genders. But to me, my favorite works of Gail Simone are her earliest and perhaps most overlooked pieces. I'm talking about the Simpsons spinoff title, Bongo Comics' Bart Simpson. 

Her first professional comic book credit is Simpsons Comics #50 (August, 2000). Beginning in 2001, Simone wrote many stories that started America's bad boy, Bart Simpson while featuring the entire populace of Springfield, USA. Simone's writing style on the series was very much like that of former Simpsons staff writer and producer Conan O'Brien. You get the feeling that Simone has a brilliant sense of humor and is a fan of the product that she crafted stories about. Conan O'Brien wrote one of the show's all-time best episodes, The Music Man parody, 'Marge Vs. The Mono-Rail.' to that effect, I believe Gail Simone while at Bongo Comics penned 8 and 16-page Simpsons story that were consistently on par with that groundbreaking 1993 episode.

Bart Simpson #3 marked Gail Simone's debut on the sister series. Simone doesn't just write the space themed opener. She writes the scripts for the entire issue; taking on triple-duty.

The main story 'Terror on Trioculon' is a parody of the 1960's cult classic TV series, Lost in Space. Filling out the roster for the crew is the entire Simpsons clan as the Space Family Robinson, Milhouse as the robot, Moe taking the role of Lisa's pet space monkey, and Mr. Burns as the utterly useless Professor Smith! 

Homer flies through an asteroid belt, crash landing the ship on a planet of 3-eyed mutants. Any two-eyed person is considered a freak and enslaved to eventually take part in a series of gladiator games against the gigantic Jim-Bo! While Bart fights for his family and their freedom, Lisa searches desperately for the needed fuel source to rocket away from the chaos! All the while, Professor Burns whines and moans about his lot in life and Robot Milhouse chickens out in typical Lost in Space fashion.

In the first backup story, Lisa is the star as she wins VIP concert tickets to see 2 different boy bands on the same day! Unable to decide which group's show to attend, the two acts engage in a literal 'Battle of the Boy Bands' for Lisa's attention. Then in the third and final tale' Sky High Bart!', Bart visits the lab of Professor Frink. Donning a pair of experimental platform shoes, the lad towers over his friends and enemies. However, when the shoes malfunction, Bart shoots high unto the heavens; finding himself in the pathway of a massive jumbo jet!

The main story reflects Gail Simone's knack for writing those fan fiction parodies on the CBR website. The writer peppers the Lisa story with elements of the eldest Simpson daughter's trademark feminism. But when both boy bands prove to be more style than substance, Lisa winds up picking the group that has the best looking member with 'washboard abs'. It's a decision that feels like Lisa is just a typical girl at heart, but deep down I think Lisa has just basically given up trying to take the high road among a bunch of troglodytes with her seemingly shallow selection. As for the story involving Professor Frink, it feels like Gail Simone was given carte blanche on being able to place Bart in one of the wildest scenarios ever and she took the assignment with relish! Can anybody tell me why FOX has never given her the chance to write an episode of the long running animated series?!

John Costanza penciled and inked the opener. Mike Rote contributed art to the Dan DeCarlo layouts of both secondary tales. This issue was one of DeCarlo's last credits before his death in December, 2001

Completing this review completes Task #35 (Work by Gail Simone, Grant Morrison or Brian K. Vaughn) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.