Bonnie Lass #1 (Red 5 / ComiXology – Mayne / Fluharty)

“Bonnie Lass” spins the yarn of a brash and daring young heroine and her two muscle-headed sidekicks as they set out to build a reputation as swashbuckling pirates to be envied and feared. Bent on overshadowing her father, the infamous Cutlass, Bonnie’s after the one treasure he did not claim — the Eye of the Leviathan. But there are other forces at work seeking to claim it for themselves.

I have been a huge Red 5 fan for years now – so I was eager to try out their new comedy-laced pirate story Bonnie Lass!  Let me start out with the fact that this book is part a new initiative for digital-debuted comics for Red 5.  This initiative through ComiXology has a specific purpose in mind – “These titles are the best of the creator-owned off-beat, fresh-talent, eclectic or genre stories looking to build an audience and acclaim before making the leap to print editions.” (direct from Red 5) – so given this was supposed to be off-beat, eclectic and fresh – it hit’s the spot, Bullseye!

I had to read it twice and then I was still not sure this came from Red 5.  It’s not bad, but it is quirky and just way different from anything else in their catalog.

Bonnie Lass is an absolute fun book, it breaks the fourth wall, speaks to the reader and knows it is a high-adventure comic with tons of antics and innuendo.  Every page is filled with stereotypes, melodrama and cartoon-stylized visual humor.  Some of the best gags come from page layout where frames overlay each other, taking turns visually and almost in competition for the reader’s attention (not unlike the Speed Racer movie – which I loved!).  The frames and bright vibrant colors of the page literally will jump out from the digital file.

The plot is not so deep, but that’s not the design of the book – the reader is supposed to enjoy and laugh, not ponder.

The Bottom Line: It’s cheap, bawdy, campy fun – and for only $1.99 at ComiXology this is a tough one to pass on.

Issue Grade: B