Jonesy #1 (of 4)
By Sam Humphries (@samhumphries) & Caitlin Rose Boyle (@rattusRose)
Colors by Mickey Quinn (@mickequ)
Letters by Corey Breen (@CJB_Productions)
Review by Joey Braccino
“JUMPIN’ JEHOSAPHAT?!”
The phenome-niña high school misadventures abound in Jonesy #1 from Sam Humphries and Caitlin Rose Boyle! Gifted with the superpower of making anyone or anything fall in love with anyone or anything else (except her, of course?), Jonesy is our spunky, funny, silly, ferret-loving protagonist. This first issue take place on Valentine’s Day (how relevant!), which is obviously not an easy day for your average high schooler by any stretch of the imagination. When Jonesy gets fed up with the annual buy-a-rose-for-your-crush fundraiser at school, hijinks and hilarity ensue!!!
The solicits say if you dig Giant Days, check out Jonesy. I wholeheartedly agree. I’d also say if you dig Teen Dog, Adventure Time, anything by Faith Erin Hicks, funny things, ferrets, diversity, dad jokes, looooovvvveeeeeee, revenge, Mean Girls, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Patsy Walker, AKA Hellcat!, speaking in emojis, and/or good stories, check out Jonesy.
Basically, I really dug this book. Sam Humphries, probably best known for The Legendary Star-Lord over at Marvel, really breaks that mold here with an equal parts absurdly funny and charmingly heartfelt all-ages romp in Jonesy. I could go on and on about the diverse and eccentric cast of characters or the quality quipping or the subversions on stereotypes and cliches, but you should really just go get this book. It’s super fantastic coolness remarkable. Rad.
Caitlin Rose Boyle, Mickey Quinn, and Corey Breen deliver some of the most dynamic, experimental visuals I’ve seen in this particular genre. We talk often about evocative, suggestive art, but here, Boyle merges a cartooning aesthetic with clear anime influences a la Scott Pilgrim, but with more punk. Quinn’s vibrant colors—oranges, yellows, and greens abound—pop off the page between thick white gutters. Breen’s letters bounce around the page, shifting color and size and shape depending on the emotions and energy of the character speaking. While the aforementioned artwork is clever and hilarious and vivacious, the book really soars when its energy and breakneck pace is halted for some gorgeous, moving full-page panels that deliver emotionally. From cover-to-cover, Jonesy is an absolute visual treat.
Really though, this book RULES.
Verdict
BUY. Sam Humphries and Caitlin Rose Boyle have a winner on their hands. Filled to the brims with wit and charm, Jonesy #1 is a spectacularly fun comic from BOOM! BOX reminiscent of last year’s Teen Dog and Giant Days, perennial favorites here in the hallowed halls of Talking Comics!!!
