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APE
By Leroy Douresseaux
March 1, 2004 - 11:45

Fantagraphics Books
Writer(s): Theodore Nikos Jouflas
Penciller(s): Theodore Nikos Jouflas
Cover Artist(s): Theodore Nikos Jouflas

Ted Jouflas' APE is a satire of The Hand Puppet/George W. Bush's administration and his corporate & Religious Right masters, with an equal amount of disdain for mass media-driven pop culture. Jouflas filters his tale through 1930's and 40's horror films from Golden Age scary picture helmsmen Tod Browning and James Whale. It's may be the best commentary on American right wing politics in comics form since defunct publisher Eclipse unleashed BROUGHT TO LIGHT and REAL WAR STORIES. Jouflas' satire is told in the form of a long poem entitled, "Son of the Vision Thing," and he produces the illustrations with tonal art via charcoal(?) on black construction paper. His primitive and abstract style makes for effective caricature, easily conjuring the true facial characteristics and greedy spirits of the objects of his disdain. His art also expertly gets across the mood he's setting and the tone he wishes to establish. It's brutal and hilarious, and if you hate prejudice Bush…I mean President Bush, you'll like it all the more.
[DRECK, DULL, READABLE, VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT]