Deep Fried

    (Death Ray, 2002)
™ and © Death Ray Graphics

What is Deep Fried? It’s parody with no taste boundaries. It’s Mad magazine on steroids. Imagine Howard the Duck turned evil.

It’s both brilliant and hilarious. Deep Fried delivers some of the most wicked and biting satire ever seen in comics. Creator Jason Yungbluth not only pulls no punches, but he sneaks in a few deliberate sucker punches as well. No topic is safe or sacred, as Yungbluth ruthlessly and unapologetically makes fun of everything from Peanuts to the Pope. One of the tamer and funniest bits in the current issue is a one-page slam at stereotypical comic book geeks entitled “Waiting for Planetary.”

Other stories, though, are of a much darker and disturbing nature, addressing or mentioning issues like rape and child molestation. While there are no overly graphic depictions of these acts, the very idea of satirizing such topics will undoubtedly deeply offend many readers. However, Yungbluth is at least able to walk the thinnest of lines by fearlessly making light of such sensitive issues without coming across as endorsing them. But this likely is cold comfort at best to readers who would rather not see such topics made fun of in the first place.

Despite deliberate and frequent wanderings into realms of very poor taste, this series is nonetheless one of the funniest available today. This is highly recommended for fans who can firmly plant their tongue in cheek and check their morals at the door. More sensitive readers will want to skip the stories featuring Clarissa and Weapon Brown.

—Jim Johnson
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  • 2
    #2
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Jason Yungbluth  ·  A: Jason Yungbluth
    1 copy for $16.98
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    #3
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    W: Jason Yungbluth  ·  A: Jason Yungbluth
    Versus Kite Eater; Peanuts parody; ca. 2001
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  • 4
    #4
    Superman parody cover by Jason Yungbluth
    May 2001
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Jason Yungbluth  ·  A: Jason Yungbluth
    Versus Barney Frankenberry; Auto Yungbluth; Justice League of America movie parody; Nudity; Peanuts parody
    2 copies from $4.25