It’s the future. 2099, actually. And Fred, a mall cop, is almost killed. This is the world of Scout Comics’ Mullet Cop #1.
Episode 1 of Mullet Cop introduces us to Fred, and his place of employment, the Mall. The Mall has changed by 2099; it’s ginormously massive and massively huge. Huge and kind of soulless. You get the picture. Gangs of criminals run operations in some parts of the mall, so those are off-limits to shoppers. An entertainment centre presents boffo live shows similar to America’s Got Talent. Big cash prizes are awarded to winners, and there are loads of criminals who want that loot.
Writer AND artist Tom Lintern pulls out all the stops in this dystopic view of the future. There are some wonderfully inventive twists and complications in the plot. Plus, Lintern’s characters are deadpan in their dialogue, which enhances the amusement factor.
Lintern’s visuals are well thought out and patiently executed. There is incredible attention to art detail here. The surroundings, the mall customers, the futuristic vehicles, and the wacky inventions are all nailed down solid. Lintern’s artwork is thin line, with very little line weight variance or heavy shadow; the objects are more defined in the colouring stage rather than by solid ink blacks. It makes for a scifi look, perhaps like Moebius at first glance.
The extra-long story (66 pages!) anchors us firmly in the ways and means of Fred, and the tongue-in-cheek dialogue and semi-mocking tone throughout gives us some real laughs. The physically stiff movement of the characters, and their ‘still life’ expressions actually serve to make this book more enjoyable. Yes, it’s a fine line (no art style pun intended) between mundane and parody here, but Lintern delivers a strong first issue.
Scout Comics, Mullet Cop #1, $7.99 for 66 pages of content
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