Division 18: The Union of Novelty Costumed Performers

    (Silent Devil, 2006-2007)
™ and © M.Bergin, P.Brett and J. Donelson

This ashcan is about a union made up of novelty costumed performers: basically, mascots. Jimmy “Snake” O’Leary and his pet monkey, Monkey, are scraping by with their friends Lou “Pork Chop” Spork (a guy in a pig costume) and Quackers (a guy in a duck costume).

Snake is reminiscent of Reid Fleming, world’s toughest milkman. He smokes, drinks, and talks tough but he hasn’t quite found his voice yet. Division 18 is amusing and would probably make a funny short series on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. The difficult part about sustaining such a crazy comedic premise, however, is endurance. Once the joke about the costumes wear off, where do you go? Snake doesn’t appear to change his costume, so how does a guy in a snake suit get so much work? Fortunately, most fans are willing to suspend their disbelief for good comedy, but Matt Bergin has left a tall order for himself. The real test of this premise is how long the creators can sustain it.

But give these creators a chance. Bergin’s script is funny, they seem earnest, and the preview was pretty solid. Donelson’s art was serviceable, especially the haggis cart with its hand-painted logo “It’s Haggis.”

— Tony DiGerolamo
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Cover Price: $2.99
2 copies available from $1.75 		Matt BerginJeremy Donelson