To make matters worse, even though he calls this thing The Doofus Omnibus, Altergott keeps sneaking in stories with other characters. If they were pin-ups like Miss Juniper, I wouldn't complain, but - nooooo - it's just more stuff about pimply arrested asswipes doin' disgusting deeds like drinking beer piss out of douche bags (hey, he wrote that 'un in collaboration with Dan "Mister Bigshot Indy Flick" Clowes, so don't tell me these Art Comics guys are any better than a free-lance smut peddler like myself!)

Sure, the art is nicely evocative of the EC greats (his Clowes collaboration, for instance, manages to recall not just Wood but the master of forehead sweat, Johnny Craig) plus Altergott has an amusing way of playing a stilted lyrical narrative/dialog style against the gross goings-on. But even though I laffed more than once, I still kept feeling like I wanted to wash my hands with Wet Ones every other page. And I'm not exactly Mr. Squeamish either.

Bill tells me that this book's publisher, Fantagraphics, is known for all kindsa comic reprints that get mentioned in classy places like the New York Times Book Review. Bet we don't see this 2 Stooges take on paraphilia gettin' any National Book Awards, tho. Maybe that was part of the company's game plan. You know: show the world the Fanta-folks can be pervs just like the resta us. I can tell you one thing. After reading all the thumbs up blurbs from fellow cartoonists like Jaime Hernandez and Jim Woodring on the book's back cover, ain't no one gonna convince me that yer average comic guy isn't a total degenerate!

Bill sez he doesn't do grades in his reviews, but screw him, I'm gonna do some anyway.

General Content: B+.

Pictures of Miss Juniper: A+++.

Chances That You're Gonna Convince Anyone Comics Are for Grownups by Showing 'Em This Book: zero.

Chances That A Straight Guy Is Ever Gonna Laid Again If They Show Their Girlfriend Or Wife This Volume: less than 0.