POBB September 8, 2023

Pick of the Brown Bag

September 8, 2023

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag.  I'm Ray Tate, reviewer of comic books, creator of the blog and master of ceremonies.  This week, I look at Plot Holes, from Massive Publishing.

The story begins in the middle of a mission.  A group of real characters, wink, known as The Plot Holes, invade the flying saucer of little gray men.  A clever flip of expectations.

Our protagonists are, from left to right, Johnny Manga, Surge, La Raisor, Roar and Kevin.

Ed, the female gunslinger on the left, leads these individuals on literal literary excursions.   

Cast members in every book believe they're real.  Ed and the Plot Holes know the truth.  The Plot Holes are characters without tomes.  They roam sections of a vast digital library: adventure through western.

Imagine a digital library with every book published and ever to be published.  If you thought Doctor Who...

...you're not wrong, but the idea of a digital library dates back to the 1800s. 

The Program that collects and publishes digital books suffered damage.  It began to delete inferior works.  Its judgement however is sometimes flawed.

To save the lion's share of an author's blood, sweat and tears, the Plot Holes fix minor issues or, in the case of the Grays, perform a major operation. 

In short.  Not bad.

The premise to Plot Holes goes back at the very least to a Merrie Melodies cartoon called, Speaking of the Weather.  

Two other cartoons followed in Weather's footsteps, but director Frank Tashlin broke the ice.  

A pharmacy serves as the setting.  The premise is magical.  After hours, the figures in books and magazines come to life.  They sing.  They dance.  They break out of the hoosegow. 

 

The animators even orchestrated a Charlie Chan stand-in to hunt down the criminal.  

So, you can say that these individuals also created the concept of a fictional detective emerging from his adventures to solve a real world mystery.

Plot Holes expands on Tashlin's original idea.  

The setup to Plot Holes is very Saturday morning cartoonish and thanks to Matt Hollingsworth and Dave Stewart, just as colorful.  

Honestly, apart from the sexual bon mots, Plot Holes could be a lost Hanna-Barbara series from the seventies.  Which is a plus for me, but not necessarily for other readers.

Plot Holes furthermore is vey funny.  Kevin, the kid from the 1930s, is a genuine riot with his not quite getting modern times.  Though not in cliche way.

The gags frequently arise from the hackneyed writing we've all been exposed to at some point in our lives. For example, the new team member on the cover.  He with the mascot symbol tee-shirt believed himself real because his creator is a slice-of-life author.

Ed cuts him to the quick with a sharp-edged analysis.  No, Cliff is just another fictional character, one apparently designed to be an emo statement against the Nerds that now rule the entertainment world.  Ed however finds him useful and worth saving for the very satire he represents.

Plot Holes though its spine is certainly cracked nevertheless is beautifully illustrated and highly entertaining through various means.  If you like send ups of reviewers such as myself, this book is for you.  If you're just in for a rollicking science fantasy adventure, Plot Holes will be right up your alley.  If you like commentary on archetypes in fiction, Plot Holes.  Depth? Meh.

Ah, yes.  Just what are those things breaking through the genres?  The Plot thickens.