Hopeless Savages

Jen Van Meter, writer. Christine Norrie, illustrator. Oni Press, Oregon. 2002.

Van Meter seems to be the main creative force, as there are some pieces in the back with different illustrators, but Norrie I feel fleshes these characters out the best, gives them their best look.

Basically: this is a continuing story about a punk family throughout the following decades.

The idea is fairly interesting, especially since the stories seems to hop around between the 70's, the 80's, 90's and now. Basically it's fictional, with 4 children growing up under punk values. All in all, it's a story about the strength of family, which is always reaffirming, and I like the freedom that the writer has of travelling through different decades to show the kids in various stages of development.

Favorite moment: one of the back stories, in which the kids are teenagers, being reprimanded by one of their many school principals, who states, "Now, 'Rat,' 'Arsenal,' and 'Twit,' let's first get started by getting rid of those nicknames. What are your REAL names?"

To which the kids reply, "Those ARE our real names, so sod off, y'smug git."

(Trust me, the line becomes incredibly charming after you've just travelled with these kids to rescue their parents.)

And to me, compelling characters always enhance any story.

VG