The Bounce, Vol. 1

Casey (Sex, Gødland) once again uses superhero tropes for something other than worn-out events. All the characters feel awful, and the news is filled with items that just make them more depressed. There’s something terribly wrong with the world, though no one knows what. Coincidentally, a number of superpowered beings have been self-destructing in New York City—most notably the Bounce, aka stoner loser Jasper Jenkins, who is like the Legion of Super Heroes’ Bouncing Boy without the visual weight gag. Jasper’s encounters with other superfolks are part of his search for belonging more than any call to save the world. As mysteries unfold, so does a mix of government conspiracy and parallel-universe science fiction, and we meet some good old-fashioned Lovecraftian cosmic beasties. These ideas are well implemented, though more convoluted than necessary, with generic artwork that doesn’t always differentiate character traits very well. The stereotypical portrayal of female characters, including a busty parasite sucking men dry of their life force or a busty sexual gateway to another dimension, detract from the comic. Male characters are fully formed, though women function as sexual innuendo masquerading as plot devices. (Dec.)