MattBrady
09-06-2006, 07:32 AM
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupycover.jpg" align="right"><i>by Ryan McLelland</i>
<b>Toupydoops #3</b>
Lobrau Productions – July 2006 - $3.50
Story and Art by: Kevin McShane
Website: http://www.lobrau.com
Rating: 4 stars (out of 4)
With a title as bizarre as ‘Toupydoops’ it is easy to fathom why one would pass on even looking at the cover, this particular issue with the antennae blue-skin character sitting rather bored at an office desk. This very unique indy title has one very unique premise: instead of films being made in Hollywood it is a land where comic books are created. Toupydoops and his friend Teeter had moved out to Hollywood issues earlier for an audition in a Superman comic, only to not get the part. Ever since the fiasco Toupy has just been looking for bit parts in comics and not being too successful at that.
Fact of the matter is rent is coming due and Toupy is looking through the want ads for a ‘regular’ job after getting fired from his extra job on an Image Comic when the hero, using his super hearing, heard Toupy remarking that his tights made him look gay. When Toupy’s cell phone rings he is surprised to hear it is the editor who tried to get him the Superman job over at DC. He felt bad that the part had fell through and asks Toupy if he wants a job at the comic company being an assistant to an editor.
<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy1.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy2.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></p></center>
If he’s not working in comics at least he can be working for the companies that make them so Toupy signs right up to what turns out to be the latest victim of an editor named McManus. As with any office job the first days seem to be torturous as Toupy can do no right for his new boss. And as anyone who has ever worked for a ballbuster knows, no matter how hard one might try enough just might not be enough. You can root for the character from panel one, page one but something inside just tells you he’s not going to make it.
<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy3.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy4.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy5.jpg" border="0"></a></center>
That’s the fun of Kevin McShane’s <b>Toupydoops</b>. He is a real world character who a reader can just cling right on to. You feel his pain as he needs to get a real job to make his rent money. You want him to get a part in the latest issue of <b>Invincible, Green Lantern</b>, or at least <b>FemForce</b>. <b>Toupydoops</b> not only has one of the most unique plot points going for it out there but it is McShane’s brilliant spot-on writing that will have you rooting for Toupydoops time and time again. You know that someday he’ll just have to land a part in that comic book. Getting him there and reading about those adventures is just part of the fun.
<i>Have an indy comic you’d like reviewed? Contact Ryan at rdmclelland@hotmail.com </i>
<b>Toupydoops #3</b>
Lobrau Productions – July 2006 - $3.50
Story and Art by: Kevin McShane
Website: http://www.lobrau.com
Rating: 4 stars (out of 4)
With a title as bizarre as ‘Toupydoops’ it is easy to fathom why one would pass on even looking at the cover, this particular issue with the antennae blue-skin character sitting rather bored at an office desk. This very unique indy title has one very unique premise: instead of films being made in Hollywood it is a land where comic books are created. Toupydoops and his friend Teeter had moved out to Hollywood issues earlier for an audition in a Superman comic, only to not get the part. Ever since the fiasco Toupy has just been looking for bit parts in comics and not being too successful at that.
Fact of the matter is rent is coming due and Toupy is looking through the want ads for a ‘regular’ job after getting fired from his extra job on an Image Comic when the hero, using his super hearing, heard Toupy remarking that his tights made him look gay. When Toupy’s cell phone rings he is surprised to hear it is the editor who tried to get him the Superman job over at DC. He felt bad that the part had fell through and asks Toupy if he wants a job at the comic company being an assistant to an editor.
<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy1.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy2.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></p></center>
If he’s not working in comics at least he can be working for the companies that make them so Toupy signs right up to what turns out to be the latest victim of an editor named McManus. As with any office job the first days seem to be torturous as Toupy can do no right for his new boss. And as anyone who has ever worked for a ballbuster knows, no matter how hard one might try enough just might not be enough. You can root for the character from panel one, page one but something inside just tells you he’s not going to make it.
<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy3.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy4.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/toupy5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/IndyWeekly/Toupy/t_toupy5.jpg" border="0"></a></center>
That’s the fun of Kevin McShane’s <b>Toupydoops</b>. He is a real world character who a reader can just cling right on to. You feel his pain as he needs to get a real job to make his rent money. You want him to get a part in the latest issue of <b>Invincible, Green Lantern</b>, or at least <b>FemForce</b>. <b>Toupydoops</b> not only has one of the most unique plot points going for it out there but it is McShane’s brilliant spot-on writing that will have you rooting for Toupydoops time and time again. You know that someday he’ll just have to land a part in that comic book. Getting him there and reading about those adventures is just part of the fun.
<i>Have an indy comic you’d like reviewed? Contact Ryan at rdmclelland@hotmail.com </i>