TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE #3

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
CARTOONIST: Michael Kupperman
32 pp., B&W, $4.50

If "Monty Python's Flying Circus" had a comic book, it would look much like Tales Designed to Thrizzle.  Written, drawn, and designed by Michael Kupperman, Thrizzle distills the best of what humor comix and magazines have offered in broad comedy, farces, parody, and satire into one comic book.  That a reader might spot similarities to Mad Magazine, National Lampoon, and Spy or such film and TV properties as "In Living Color," Kentucky Fried Movie, "Kids in the Hall," "Saturday Night Live" and, of course, Monty Python, would not be a surprise.

Kupperman also combines the irreverence of the aforementioned with the willingness to skewer sacred cows, in a fashion similar to Underground Comix of the 1960's and early 1970's, although without the "X-rated" content.  This issue does have an "Adult Section," which includes a one-page fake advertisement for "Foreplayo - The Amazing Foreplay Robot of 1,000 Uses!" (one of those uses is defense against home invasion).  The catalog of "Porno Coloring Books" should be a treat for anyone who has seen pornographic movies made in the 1970's.

After reading this, I know that I'd like to ask Kupperman where he gets his ideas, but I might be afraid of the answer.  In the meantime, I'm always on the lookout for this - the best humor comic book being published today.  Read Kupperman's remix, reworking, and parody of the first Batman story from Detective Comics #27, and you'll know why I'm not the only one calling Tales Designed to Thrizzle the best.

8/10