COMIC BOOK REVIEW: I Hate Fairyland #1

SKOTTIE YOUNG’S ID

What happens if someone is left unhinged? And what if this “someone” is no other than the lovable and adorable Skottie Young? You know; Young’s cute and so hilariously drawn superhero characters. I know he is absolutely ripe for the independent creator-owned comic circuit since his fantastic rendition of the Frank Baum-OZ saga from Marvel (there’s this Omnibus edition of the critically and commercially smash success of the Wonderful World of Oz saga. I highly recommend this gorgeous high-end hardcover). Since then, his variant cover arts are considered either sought-after and/or collectibles, if not profitable or marketable, particularly to his employer, Marvel Comics. Right now, he fulfills his long-awaited dream by having Image Comics unleashes his first-ever creator’s owned comic series, I HATE FAIRYLAND (with frequent collaborator in the coloring department, Jean-Francois Beaulieu), the inaugural issue. Here’s the caveat, your own imagery about Skottie will most likely turn upside-down upon reading this revisionist take of anything we assumingly love about him… GUARANTEE!

Okay, here are some questions regarding this matter. How so, you ask. Simple, buy and/or read I Hate Fairyland #1 and the cover art is the absolute proof you are looking for. Still unconvinced, well, how about witnessing the creator transforms your “Fairyland” imagery into one kind of bloody battleground you only read and witness in many, many mature-themed cinematic, television, and literary stories? What still not persuaded? Skottie illustrates some of the goriest, most brutal and most disgusting portrayals of your most beloved and cherished fairy tales models/characters/casts/imageries so far? And lastly, can you still adore a child-friendly artist of illustrating and scripting some of the most explicit and fouled mouths terminologies and syntaxes ever, most especially being uttered by the representations of Alice of Wonderland and the Queen of Oz? If you are still this dense or in denial of not believing of serious foreshadowing, then I suggest some of you to live under the rock and leave behind that is REALITY.

Does Skottie Young do this destructive interpretation of positivity and dreams just for the sakes of destruction, shock value, rebellion, being angst, and anything chaotic? The answer is absolutely NO! The creator puts his thoughts and ideas into a rather amusing and interesting nostalgic memory lane in his afterthoughts entitled “THAT LOWERCASE i” that traces his love of anything comics, especially the influential and iconic popular culture image then, Alfred E. Neuman). Also, he ultimately pinpoints most of his admiration and total salutatory praises to Image Comics. I once again recommend readers to read Skottie’s entertaining and heartwarming after words after reading his rather nihilist take on anything and everything fairytales in order, well, properly comprehend why he does this and that insane and maniacal stuffs. I know the creator is trending on the chaotic but adventurous world of independent or creator’s-owned comics (and he is absolutely enjoying this moment, basing on how he illustrates the mayhem he just created), but seriously, very young admirers are suggested to skip this one unless, you know, prepare to face this dramatic life-changing experience akin of confronting a crossroad life decision.

I HATE FAIRYLAND #1 can be definitely viewed as iconoclastic, if not entirely sacrilegious. This issue may be as such, but on the broader perspective, I simply just love how Skottie Young flexes his true artistic taste to the next level… LET’S ROCK!!!