Broken Frontier

Three short stories discuss sexuality, life and the usefulness of cartooning.

Robert Goodin works on shows like Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys. Thankfully, my daughter has outgrown those shows, because I am unsure that I will ever be able to watch them with quite the same eye.

The title story of this book is just what it says. It is about a guy who really likes that part of the female anatomy. What it really is a clever escapist fantasy for all those who feel the 9 to 5 grind. When the eponymous man decides that his job typing a form letter is a dead end, he decides to pursue something that he finds a passion for. The way that he employs himself around women’s breasts and the level of success that he finds in doing so are a marvel to watch.

This is a clever and inspired humor piece. It works like one of those old Goofy instructional movies that would come on before a Disney feature. I seem to remember one recently that had to do with getting a modern entertainment center for the big game. Anyhow, there is that bit of absurdity to the goings on of the story, but mostly the art invokes the comparison. Not in an art aping way. The piece just feels that is animated and whimsical. The narration is pitch perfect and aids the feeling that the reader is viewing some kind of instructional film, be it farce or sincere.

The rest of the book is not as pitch perfect. The second story, "George Olavatia: Amputee Fetishist" is marred by the punch line being revealed in the title to the story. The joke then seems to have an almost heard it before flair. The biggest problem with the piece isn’t the spoiler. It is the bad Saturday Night Live skit nature of the piece. You know what I am talking about... the skit that goes on way too long and then becomes uncomfortable because what seemed like a clever joke becomes tasteless and crude. It is a sophomoric bit that will tickle about half the audience that picks up the book. For this reader, it fell flat.

The final piece, "21^st Century Cartoonist in King Arthur’s Court" is like a really long Farside bit. It has that Aragones charm to it that keeps the bit humorous even if it is just a little repetitive. Maybe the self-effacing satire makes it more palatable then the perversion of the previous piece. It is innocent and fun. In fact, unlike the other two pieces, I am sure it could be placed in an office cubicle without fear of sexual harassment litigation.

The art throughout the book, while slightly morphing from story to story, is the work of a cartoonist who knows what he is doing. He knows where to put lines to denote action. Goodin works on animated shows that are minimalist to say the least and that translates into the page. His designs are reminiscent of his more mainstream work, but there is an added emotional content that is maybe the result of following the title character’s lead. Passion usually creeps into work that is loved.

"The Man Who Loved Breasts" is worth the price of admission alone. It is the kind of story that works on a couple of different levels and delights when it should probably shock just a little. It is earnest and smart. The rest of the book is fairly benign, nothing to write home about. All in all it is a solid package and will provide at least a few chuckles to those who like to seek out a laugh.