Bob Fingerman and his alter ego, Rob Hoffman, return in Minimum Wage: So Many Bad Decisions and it’s a wonderful return.
Fingerman throws Rob through some more hoops as things look up, down, and all around with his new girlfriend, but more importantly, it’s Rob’s birthday. No one remembers except his mother, of course. And even though Rob is getting a revised supporting cast–Fingerman forces a mentor on him–the issue feels very much Rob’s. Fingerman does a great job with the characters this issue, whether it’s the girlfriend, the mother, Rob’s friend who has a whole speech about crapping, but Rob gets the best moments. Fingerman takes the time for him.
As usual, the art’s great. There’s a Richard Corben reference in the dialogue, which seems so appropriate given Fingerman looks like Corben through a Disney-grinder, and some great shading for tone.
Great stuff. Glad it’s back.
Bob Fingerman and his alter ego, Rob Hoffman, return in Minimum Wage: So Many Bad Decisions and it’s a wonderful return.
I’m not sure if there’s a better formula for Minimum Wage; Fingerman might have found it. It balances out all the content between humor, outlandish humor and self-observation. There’s some time spent on Rob’s love life, then a lengthy comedic subplot, then some stuff with his male friends. Not too much with them, but enough for the pop culture references (though Fingerman opens with a great one and it’s Rob and the girl) and manly one liners.
Fingerman achieves a nice, lyrical quality with this issue of Minimum Wage. The issue has a couple repeating elements. Rob isn’t working on his licensed comic job, he’s hanging out a lot with his old roommate, he’s sweating. There’s a lot of sweating to this comic. It’s very hot in New York during this comic.
Fingerman finds a nice calm with this issue of Wage. He doesn’t try for much–most of the issue involves protagonist Rob and his two friends out for a night on the town and running into awkward situations. None of the situations are uproarious, but all of them are pleasing enough.
I didn't really think Minimum Wage could ever be as good as this issue turns out. Fingerman has a single adventure for alter ego Rob. He gets dumped and fills in on a public access television puppet show and meets his childhood crush, the fetching ranger woman.
Minimum Wage is sort of like a sitcom where none of the people are particularly attractive or particularly funny. They aren’t actually funny with each other. It’s like if you had a sitcom with a bunch of Newman clones and they never told any funny jokes.
Bob Fingerman sure does like holding on to a joke. The opening joke in Minimum Wage has one of the protagonist’s friends making joking advances on him. One of his male friends. Fingerman beats the joke with a stick, not just killing the funny in it–there isn’t any to start–but also looking desperate.
Digital Justice is an odd mix of Tron and Frank Miller’s Dark Knight. There’s a floating skateboard in it too, which must either be a really cool idea or Justice creator Pepe Moreno saw a Back to the Future II trailer.