Liberty Meadows Big Book of Love

Rating:
Summary: Goofball comics at their best
Review: Before its voluntary departure from the Washington Post, "Liberty Meadows" had gained a loyal following that brought it back from possible cancellation more than once. Now this kooky strip and its bizarre characters are back in this book, "Liberty Meadows: Big Book of Love."

Welcome to Liberty Meadows, an animal preserve overseen by timid vet Frank and beautiful animal shrink Brandy. As Frank tries to muster the courage to ask Brandy out, the two of them also have to deal with the nutty animals there: a crazed Cow, Leslie the hypochondriac bullfrog, Ralph the tiny belligerant bear, Truman the water-fearing duck, and Dean the chauvinist pig in rehab.

This loony crew tries to deal with dates (where Brandy's crazed ex tries to kill Frank), the evil catfish Khan, camping trips with psychedelic mushrooms, falls into mine shafts, severed noses, truck-sized ticks, the insane stalker Cow kidnapping a celebrity and -- worst of all -- Dean's trip through the land of Cold Turkey.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a weirder comic strip than Liberty Meadows. Frank Cho combines the realistic drawing style (Frank and Brandy) with more traditional cartoon styles (the animals, and supporting humans like the handyman). Filled with wry pokes at pop culture and political correctness, it's refreshing and amusing in a sea of stale comics.

What sets this apart from "Liberty Meadows: Eden"? Despite the fact that the comics included are the same, there are also full-color Sunday strips. Not to mention a funny "framing" story: on the 100th anniversary of the Liberty Meadows sanctuary, a reporter is interviewing Ralph and Leslie (much older, but as crazed as ever).

If you weren't lucky enough to read "Liberty Meadows" during its stint in the papers, check out "Liberty Meadows: Big Book of Love." Silly, weird, bizarre, and immensely entertaining, this is definitely worth a read.

Rating:
Summary: Goofball comics at their best
Review: Before its voluntary departure from the Washington Post, "Liberty Meadows" had gained a loyal following that brought it back from possible cancellation more than once. Now this kooky strip and its bizarre characters are back in this book, "Liberty Meadows: Big Book of Love."

Welcome to Liberty Meadows, an animal preserve overseen by timid vet Frank and beautiful animal shrink Brandy. As Frank tries to muster the courage to ask Brandy out, the two of them also have to deal with the nutty animals there: a crazed Cow, Leslie the hypochondriac bullfrog, Ralph the tiny belligerant bear, Truman the water-fearing duck, and Dean the chauvinist pig in rehab.

This loony crew tries to deal with dates (where Brandy's crazed ex tries to kill Frank), the evil catfish Khan, camping trips with psychedelic mushrooms, falls into mine shafts, severed noses, truck-sized ticks, the insane stalker Cow kidnapping a celebrity and -- worst of all -- Dean's trip through the land of Cold Turkey.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a weirder comic strip than Liberty Meadows. Frank Cho combines the realistic drawing style (Frank and Brandy) with more traditional cartoon styles (the animals, and supporting humans like the handyman). Filled with wry pokes at pop culture and political correctness, it's refreshing and amusing in a sea of stale comics.

What sets this apart from "Liberty Meadows: Eden"? Despite the fact that the comics included are the same, there are also full-color Sunday strips. Not to mention a funny "framing" story: on the 100th anniversary of the Liberty Meadows sanctuary, a reporter is interviewing Ralph and Leslie (much older, but as crazed as ever).

If you weren't lucky enough to read "Liberty Meadows" during its stint in the papers, check out "Liberty Meadows: Big Book of Love." Silly, weird, bizarre, and immensely entertaining, this is definitely worth a read.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing art and raw gags
Review: Frank Cho is a great comic artist. His style juxtaposes the detail and realism of the old adventure comic strips with the simpler lines of the best funnies. His strips contain some raw humor inspired by the physical violence in Warner Bros. cartoons, pop culture references, and too many years in a fraternity. Watch out for the great dinosaurs and cameos by Tarzan and Prince Valium.

Even if you have Eden, his first book published by Image, you will also want to pick up this volume for its fantastic Sunday color strips. These strips must have been re-colored and look great.

Rating:
Summary: Great stuff
Review: I loved Liberty Meadows when it was a daily newspaper strip, and while i still enjoy it in its current incarnation as a bimonthly comic book, it is just not the same. Big Book of Love is a great trip down memory lane for me. A combination of funny material and a sympathetic "hero" in a hidden love with a dream girl make for fun reading and can be related to.

Rating:
Summary: Great stuff
Review: I loved Liberty Meadows when it was a daily newspaper strip, and while i still enjoy it in its current incarnation as a bimonthly comic book, it is just not the same. Big Book of Love is a great trip down memory lane for me. A combination of funny material and a sympathetic "hero" in a hidden love with a dream girl make for fun reading and can be related to.