Naked Brain

    (Insight, 2002)
™ and © Insight Studios

With Naked Brain #1, Marc Hempel (Sandman, Gregory) exposes for all to see his errant thoughts and skewed (though strangely insightful) perspectives on life through a series of laugh-inducing one-page cartoons and comic strips, many of which are reprinted from www.sunnyfundays.com. Also included are six pages of “weird, wild women” culled from Hempel’s sketchbooks and a new, super-funny Tug & Buster four-pager.

Hempel’s best gags end on an ironic twist, such as the strip in which a woman proclaims that sleeping is the best part of the day (no worries or responsibilities, etc.) and bemoans the fact that she always sleeps right through it. Also strong are Hempel’s R. Crumb-like sensibilities, his use of repeating panels à la Matt Groenig’s Life in Hell, and his Al Hirschfield-like stylings. (You’ll find yourself looking for the name NINA in the hair of some of the women.)

It’s nice to see these easily accessible, cleverly conceived funnies in print form. Too bad there’s only going to be three issues.

— Brett Weiss
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#1

October, 2014
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $2.95 		Marc HempelMarc Hempel
#2


Cover Price: $2.95
3 copies available from $3.00 		Marc HempelMarc Hempel