By Matt Groening and Various
Introduction by Bart Simpson
Published by Abrams Books
I have long said that if I watched it more regularly, Matt Groening’s The Simpsons would be my all-time favorite TV series.
Had John Lennon lived, it might likely have been the only place the Beatles ever reunited! An entire generation has been born and grown up and even had kids of their own while the show just keeps on going! 33 seasons to date! I have no excuse for not becoming addicted to it.
I’ve bought a number of the actual books connected with the series over the years and I bought all the early issues of the comic book as well as a number of spinoffs (like my favorite—Radioactive Man!) and at least one trade collection.
The Bongo Comics regulars more than make up for the obvious loss of the great voice actors in the print version. I think Bill Morrison in particular is just amazingly clever and funny and I was thrilled he got to be editor of MAD, however briefly!
One of the real treats from the Bongoverse was always the annual Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror, which brought out big name comics writers and artists like Jeff Smith and Sergio Aragones to offer up their takes on the increasingly beloved and iconic characters.
This year, we get a real treat, too, because Abrams ComicArts and Bongo are giving us the first of three promised collections featuring all of those great one-off Simpsons sci-fi and horror stories both from the original Treehouse of Horror book as well as other Bongo comic books.
The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror is a massive 400+ page collection with the beautiful layout and design long associated with Abrams products. The stories are printed out of their original order—which makes no difference as few are connected in any way. Presumably this was done to allow for a particularly eclectic mix of creators.
Celebrity contributors include Mark Hamill, Pat Boone, Alice Cooper, Patton Oswalt, and Lemmy Kilmister. Comic book legends include EC greats John Severin, Angelo Torres, and Al Williamson (doing EC homages), Scott! Shaw, Gail Simone, Jill Thompson (no relation), Stan Sakai, Kelley Jones, and Mike and Laura Allred. On top of al those, and the other guest contributors, we have, of course, the Bongo regulars including the late, lamented Batton Lash, Ian Boothby, and, naturally, Bill Morrison.
Boothby and artist Dan Brereton contribute one of the longest and best pieces—a beautifully painted (and lettered!) Tolkien-inspired story!
A couple of folks I don’t recall seeing any work from are Rob Zombie and Bernie Wrightson, both of whom are listed on the cover but not in the three-page contributor index at the back of the book.
Another person whom I doubt had much to do with any of the stories reprinted herein is Matt Groening, as it’s my understanding he rarely was hands on with the Bongo line, although his name is correctly on everything as creator.
In The Simpsons, what should by all rights have been little throwaway animated bits on a now long-forgotten TV comedy series, Groening created a unique family of imperfect people that we can all relate to in one way or another…even if they are yellow.
Rather than just put out a quick cash-in on what had to have seemed like just another passing fad, it’s clear that the comic books were also made by people who could relate to Bart, Marge, Homer, Maggie, and Lisa. That has shown from the beginning and this first collection of the Treehouse of Horror more than proves it. It’s a hoot from beginning to end, and even if you—like me—haven’t watched all 728 episodes made for TV since 1989, you’re gonna love these stories.
Booksteve recommends.
