Written by Ryan Stegman and Kenny Porter
Art by Tyrell Cannon
Published by Image Comics
Comedy in comic books is really hard to do. So many books try, and so many books fail.
Most times as a reader, I end up just rolling my eyes and see nothing but failed moments and missed opportunities.
The Schlub is actually one of those rare times that the comedy in the comic work. It is funny and has a pretty great narrative drive throughout. I really enjoyed what it had to offer and I think it was pretty great overall.
The idea behind this book is what happens when you give the worst person in the world super powers.
We are introduced right away to our main character, Dr.Roger Dalton, D.D.S..
Roger is a loser, plain and simple. He is going nowhere in life. He doesn’t have any plans for the future and he definitely doesn’t want or have any reasonable prospects. Suffice to say, he has a dire existence ahead of him.
Oh, and his wife just broke up with him, so there’s that too.
His father and his brother are both pretty terrible to him. They are both fairly successful so that sticks in Roger’s craw a bit. He is part of a bowling league, but he is definitely their worst player.
All in all, his life isn’t going very well, and it is unlikely to change anytime soon. Until it does. He does have a dental practice but even that is destroyed out from under him by a super hero/villain battle gone awry. Roger becomes a part of that super battle and then something crazy happens when he does.
What is it, you ask? Oh boy.
Well, Roger obtains the ability to switch bodies with the super hero, Cirrus. It is comical to see Roger inside the body of Cirrus and the circumstances that happens because of that. There are a lot of things that happen from there. Roger is able to see things through the eyes of a super hero. At first, it is wild and fun. Over time though, Roger starts to see the parallels between his life and the life of Cirrus. And he starts to learn that they aren’t that different after all.
The scene with Cirrus dealing with his family in the fourth chapter are the best in the series.
That is where Roger starts to really realize some of life’s challenges and truths. It is handled with honesty and creativity by the creators. Just because he has super powers doesn’t mean that Cirrus is above it all. If anything, he is altogether human.
Just like Roger is.
Roger is able to see life through the eyes of Cirrus. The parallels in the story just keep happening. At one point, we get to see Cirrus being berated by his family. At another point, we get to see Roger being berated by his family in the same vein. It forges a connection between the two that ends up being a bond unlike any other. The explorations that this book makes is unlike any on the stands currently.
Cirrus has to eventually fight against his bitter enemy named Wrym.
He is a tough foe too and very much a challenge. However, both Roger and Cirrus have taken a beating as the series progressed. Can they overcome the odds to take down this bitter enemy, or are they both going to pay the ultimate price?
Roger and Cirrus and the switching that happens throughout the series finally takes a toll on the both of them. Can they overcome their limitations to deal with their enemy or are they going to get destroyed in the process of trying?
The story by Ryan Stegman and Kenny Porter is pretty great. It is funny for sure. It also has a terrific bunch of characters that are well drawn and well developed. It is well done. The dialogue is also realistic and entertaining though out. The artwork by Tyrell Cannon is also well done. It does get zany at times but I didn’t mind that.
Overall, this is a great book by a strong creative team. They really put the work in and it shows up on each and every panel and on every page. I had a great time reading this book.
RATING: A-
