“Yesterday’s” Comic> Gumby Free Comic Book Day 2007

Next issue: Gumby versus Unicron. (I’d have used “Dodekain” but how many of you were around for those reviews?)

Gumby Free Comic Book Day Special

Wildcard Ink (May, 2007)

WRITER: Shannon Wheeler

ARTISTS: Shannon Wheeler, Rick Geary (also cover art), Mike Hersh, and Mark Bode

COVER COLORIST: Steve Oliff

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Bob Burden

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Paul H. Birch

EDITOR: Mel Smith

After just barely getting out of a pirate book, Pokey decides their next activity should be a bit safer so he talks Gumby into attending the opening of a new museum. Gumby is bored but Pokey is interested in the artwork. Unfortunately so are the Blockheads, who steal the Mona Lisa. Gumby and Pokey give chase, Gumby learning he can just into art as well as he can a book, so he uses the globe held by a statue of Atlas to get the drop on the Blockheads and recover the painting. Also, the paintings come to life and have a party because Gumby’s world is weird like that.

What they got right: While there are a few things to nitpick about specific moments the story itself is pretty solid. It’s Gumby using his powers to stop the Blockheads and gaining an appreciation for art. The “voice” is a bit off compared to the show but not horribly so and every writer has their own style. It works well enough and most of the artists do a good job capturing the clay art style of the show. We also see Gumby jumping into paintings, which has been done before, but it does give him a better appreciation for art. A couple of panels attempt to recreate Gumby’s look in other art styles although there isn’t time to really play with that concept.

What they got wrong: Not all of them capture the show’s look though. I hate single out one artist among the four but while the others are good at capturing the proper look of Gumby, Pokey, and the Blockheads, I’m afraid Mike Hersh’s style may work for his kinds of stories (it’s not to my taste but I can’t call it bad) but don’t really fit here when everyone else is fair to really good at mimicking the show. Also, I haven’t seen every Gumby cartoon that’s been made but I’m pretty sure the Blockheads don’t talk even though everyone else does. It seems weird “hearing” them talk like typical thugs. As far as Gumby’s powers, I believe he could walk into a painting like he does books. It’s a cartoon staple after all. However, jumping into a statue I find harder to believe, like if he were to jump into a rock. It gets worse when he jumps into Atlas’s globe and somehow ends up giant-sized in the real world. And did he jump into the globe again to go to normal size rather than jumping out? It’s a neat visual but I’m not sure that’s how his powers work.

Recommendation: Overall a pretty good story but not one you need to hunt down unless you’re a huge Gumby fan.