Simpsons Comics Confidential TPPublisher: Harper Design
Release Date: March 2012
Price: $15.99
Creator(s): Chuck Dixon, Ian Boothby, Ty Templeton and others
Format: 128 pgs., Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-0621-1532-4
Age Rating: All-Ages
ICv2 Rating: 3 Stars out of 5
The stories in this collection included some very funny gags, but also give parents an entirely new range of reasons to object to The Simpsons. This book should be kept away from small children, if only to shield them from having to look at Homer Simpson mostly nude for a large number of panels. Two stories largely consist of a string of nudity gags, while another has Bart destroying the economy of his pen pal's nation. Religion and poverty are both skewered, in the tradition of Simpsons humor, which means that some jokes may fall flat. "Hillbilly" and “poverty-stricken foreigners” jokes may just not be as funny to some of today’s readers.
Fans of the show and the comics will still find plenty to enjoy in this book, which includes a comprehensive list of the places that Homer stashes junk food for snacks. Marge's attempt to become a caterer was a highlight, and Lisa's ability to distinguish between Aztec and Olmec clothing at a glance was part of another sequence which was twisted but funny.
This was far from the best of The Simpsons, but there is enough humor in it to be worthwhile.
--Nick Smith: Librarian Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.
