Tis the time of year for Holiday Specials, and there’s a new one from Dynamite: Barbarella’s Holiday Special!
With a fantastic cover and steady-handed inside artwork by José Luis Ruiz Pérez, this Jean-Marc Lofficier-written tale gets right underway.
It seems Santa has found a planet to himself. He’s set up a manufacturing facility and done all his corporate marketing. All set to be chief supplier of gifts for the universe! Unfortunately, the kids today, (sigh) so jaded. No one is interested in an off-world toy factory.
Shrewd Santa recovers from this financial setback by changing tactics. Since he is located outside of the ZETI zone, his planet is outside of the laws that normally prohibit many activities. Sort of a Vegas planet, yahoo!!! Party planet for the uncouth!
Suddenly, there is a murder on the Christmas planet! Barbarella investigates! (Why bring in detectives who would spread bad publicity?)
And so, we are underwear. I mean… under investigation. It’s a whodunit, with Barbarella wandering around, poking her chest into things. Chest first, she examines the facts and interviews the witnesses. Whodunit indeed?
It’s fairly straightforward going, with some interesting plot twists here and there. The writing is okay, the drawings are okay too. It’s not the tightest plot ever conceived, but Barbarella’s wardrobe is the tightest act in town. Not a book for the kids, but the adults might put away their toys long enough to check it out.
Dynamite, Barbarella Holiday Special, $5.99 for 46 pages of content. Mature
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