24 Hour Comics Reviewing Day, Hour Three: Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #12

BART SIMPSON'S TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #12: This comic is sorta fun. Bongo's annual Halloween Simpsons comic, like the Simpsons Halloween TV episode itself, stretches the definition of a regular story by presenting a trilogy of terror: fantastic and out-of-this-world twisted versions of our favorite yellowbellies. The comic goes one better by turning over the creative reigns to famous comics creators: this year's annual contains stories by Kyle Baker (Plastic Man, The Bakers, Nat Turner), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) and Eric Powell (The Goon). The artwork in a Treehouse annual is therefore purposefully off-model, leading to purposefully nightmarish-looking Simpsons characters. The twisted and distinctively different art is a clever touch: Moore's Homer is a wonderful cross between the usual cartoon Homer but with a vaguely flabby heftyness that actually looks more realistic despite its frantic design. Powell's visual shadows and dramatic cues are perfect for a tale of Willie's obsession with his mail-order emu, and Baker's Simpsons are rubbery and antic in a way that takes the normal design and cranks them up on caffeine. (I especially loved the Keane-eyed Maggie begging for a bedtime tale of fairies.) Where the trio of tales doesn't quite deliver for me is the lack of humor: the stories more often go for the weird, macabre, or moody rather than actual gags. I usually laugh out loud at least a few times during a Simpsons comic; Treehouse #12 had a few chuckles mainly because of character design or beat timing rather than actually funny line. Comedy's always hard, even on Halloween: this Simpsons special has a dynamically different and creepy look to it, but it doesn't deliver the caramel apple goodness of a few bellylaughs I was hoping for.

Speaking of sweet, sweet treats, it's time for another thing of candy beans!