Doofus Omnibus

(Fantagraphics)
™ and © Fantagraphics Books, Inc.

Following the adventures of Doofus over the years can be a daunting task. He seems to pop up here and there, often unannounced. Fans can be grateful that Fantagraphics has rectified this problem by stashing all of his appearances between two covers. Rick Altergott has been creating these tales for the past 10 years, with little credit. Most of the stories featured in this collection were relegated to back-up strips or thrown into compilations with other artists. Only two issues of Doofus were published, both of which appear here.

The majority of these tales revolve around Doofus’ escapades with his imbecilic pal Henry Hotchkiss. Their quests for new ways to get drunk or obtain “stinkies” know no bounds and actually get more and more bizarre as the book progresses. There are also a few non-Doofus stories, which are actually even more bizarre, if that can be believed.

Altergott’s art has the care and style of E.C.-era Wally Wood. His attention to background details is mind-blowing. At times, the idiocy of the strip seems at odds with the delicacies of the pencils, but that only seems to strengthen the humor. The “jokes” often revolve around what would be considered potty humor, but somehow manage to hit the reader right in the funnybone.

And there are plenty of hits. This book is chock full of material and is dense with gags. Like that in early issues of Mad, the art is excruciatingly detailed. This reason alone makes this a worthwhile investment. The fact that it’s funny as heck is just icing on the cake.

— Scott Semet

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Cover Price: $16.95
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Rick Altergott