(kaboom! 2015)
Bravest Warriors: Tales From the Holo John
“Mr. Tickles”
Writer - John Omohundro
Artist - Eryk Donovan
Colorist - Whitney Cogar
Letterer - Corey Breen
“Heist”
Written/Illustrated by - Kat Leyh
“Do Holo Johns Dream of Electric Pee?”
Writer - Ryan Ferrier
Artist - Jorge Corona
Colorist - Jeremy Lawson
Letterer - Corey Breen
“Father/Daughter Fun Day”
Writer - Paul Allor
Illustrator - Adam Del Re
“Plant Bonanza”
Written and Illustrated by - Mad Rupert
Colors - Whitney Cogar
So this issue of Bravest Warriors is an anthology of short tales all revolving around the “holo john” which, if you are not sure, is a combination bathroom and danger room style holographic training room. So, in true Bravest Warriors fashion, they get down to some sci-fi hijinks, all revolving around the use of the holo john. I like the concept of the holo john; at least I think it’s a funny gag, so I’m cool with the premise. At first glance, having 5 short stories revolve around the concept of the holo john might seem like they are stretching it, but these stories work. I mean, basically, with the holographic technology, you can simulate any scenario, so there is a lot to play with here.
“Mr. Tickles” revolved around the death of the eponymous pet goldfish, which is given new life in the holo john. These stories are short, and brisk, not much more than a riff on whatever concept, in this case the death of the pet goldfish. It plays out nicely. Short, sweet, nice art, and a nice little romp. Like the show, these short comedic pieces have plenty of heart. Watching Danny deal with the death of a goldfish should connect with anyone who had to say goodbye to a pet. It’s lighthearted, but not glib.
“Heist” has some nice spy action going on, well drawn by Kat Leyh. It finds Beth and Plum doing a kind of “break into the secret installation” sort of thing, after something that is crucial to the usage of the holo john. Leyh does some great page designs and layouts to move the action along giving us a little thrill with an amusing payoff. Well done.
“Do Holo Johns Dream of Electric Pee?” is a story of the holo john coming to life and challenging the Bravest Warriors. This story relies more on witty banter than action, but it’s entertaining. There are some funny lines, like “have our hearts desire where our farts expire”. Just general Bravest Warriors style silliness.
“Father/Daughter Fun Day” is probably the most touching of all the stories. I’m not sure the back-story between Beth and her dad, but they team up in the holo john for a short battle, and then in the end you realize that they are both not totally aware of what is going on between them. Kudos to Allor and Del Re for giving us a bittersweet story in such a short amount of pages. Nicely done.
“Plant Bonanza” is pretty comedic, kind of a sit-com setup. The writing and art are solid and the payoff to the comedic setup is pleasing. Just a fun little short.
All in all, each of these stories delivers. They are all very bite sized, and if you are a fan of the Bravest Warriors, they should all appeal to you. I was glad to see such a smorgasbord of talent on display here. They really rounded up some decent writers and artists. Check it out if you are a Bravest Warriors fan, or if you are just looking for a light read that mixes it up and keeps you moving from beat to beat, delivering on every page.
BJ DuVall is a novice comic creator, and nerd. He likes to spout opinions, whether people like to listen or not. Usually not.