‘The Worst Dudes’ TPB (review)

Written by Aubrey Sitterson 
Art by Tony Gregori
Published by Dark Horse Comics

Aubrey Sitterson’s The Worst Dudes gleefully describes itself as the unwholesome adventures of a dirty cop, Sam Sugar; a drugged-out man-lion burnt-out backup dancer, Cal; and an angsty teenage god, Bang, as the trio scours the galaxy in search of the missing pop star Zephyr.

It proudly bills itself as, “a book so dirty it turns other comics yellow.” It is the kind of naughty book that I would have loved reading years ago in junior high school.

As an adult, I still found the book entertaining, but it is a light, airy read and does not have the weight of a piece of art that sticks to the reader for days, perhaps weeks on end.

The three main characters are likable enough.

Sam Sugar is a down on his luck lawman willing to work for the highest bidder. Bang is a teenage demi-god with Daddy issues. And Cal is a drugged-out backup dancer that hit the big time when he married intergalactic popstar Zephyr, then drained her for everything good she had going for her. 90s kids will know to what I’m referring! Think of K-Fed and Britanny at the zenith of their fame.

It comes down to the question, “Is The Worst Dudes worth my time and money?”

Yes, this book is for you if you don’t mind over the top dick, jizz, and pussy jokes.

Sitterson manages to craft a book that is equal parts darkness and sunshine. It’s a neon-colored adventure set in the darkest, seediest parts of the galaxy. Take all the violence, sex, and weirdness of Brian K. Vaughn’s and Fiona Staples’ Saga, strip out the drama and the deeper messaging, and find yourself in the same galaxy as the Worst Guys. While I enjoyed the book’s light and airy tone, I kept hoping for spiritual growth for one of our main three characters. Indeed, Sam has some moments where he is about to grow as a character, but that character development quickly retreats in the face of the trio’s next whacky adventure.

This book is so unapologetically, politically incorrect, violent, and raunchy. You will close the final page of The Worst Guys in need of a hot soak and a 15 minutes shower to cleanse your soul, but you will be grinning from ear to ear.

Final Score: 4 out of 5 Stars