Sponge #2

This is familiar territory. Lacking density and originality, Sponge #2 offers formulaic slickness that just screams 'Wannabe!' and in all probability, probably will be one day (when it grows up).
There's obvious talent on display, Chris Askham seems to have studied the form (2000AD) and applied the rules rigorously. The drawing is pretty concise and pleasant. Room for improvement, sure but if the adolescent feel of the comic is anything to go by, they've got years to 'hone that craft'.
It's awful of course. Incredibly it took two people to come up with the one dimensional characters. The dialogue is corny, the gags are wearisome, every twist and turn of the plot is hopelessly predictable. As a female reader I find myself tutting and muttering things like, "I'll never understand fanboys" and, "Christ, look at the size of her tits".
It's not right, it's not okay, but fortunately for these guys I'm not the lowest common denominator. They'll go far!
Mardou