Alternative comix artists meet corporate comics trademarks in this collaborative effort. Some of the most idiosyncratic of contemporary comix artists have created comical takes on the cash cows of the DC universe. And it's all done under the guise of Bizarro, DC's wacky, other-world dimension made up of a strange race of blockheaded Superman-like characters. In the old Bizarro comics series, characters (men wear the Superman uniform with the S
reversed and women look like freaky Lois Lanes) did everything backwards from our own world. This full-color anthology updates the Bizarro legend but allows the usually super hero–snubbing underground crowd to cheerfully send up classic costumed heroes like Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. Readers will enjoy Kyle Baker and Liz Glass's take on Ma and Pa Kent getting a babysitter for the young Superman (remember, superbaby can fly). In Jessica Abel and Dylan Horrocks's charming Supergirl story the girl of steel chats about guys with old girlfriend Mary Marvel, who's dropped out of the heroine business to raise a family ("Every time I meet someone nice they get sucked into another dimension," says Supergirl); in their story, Jeff Smith and Paul Pope send Superman to deal with a hilariously moronic, Superman-hating creature perched on an orbiting space station. This funny and unusual collection also features work by Chip Kidd, Chris Duffy and others. Many kudos to DC Comics for keeping a healthy sense of humor. (Nov.)
