REVIEW: Looney Tunes #248

  • Blacque Jacque Shellacque is back and he“s in pursuit of gold karats in ‘Jacque and the Beanstalk’  Written By Derek Fridolfs
  • Porky Pig and his girlfriend Petunia Pig  star in a Looney Fables tales as they start a family in ‘2 Pigs +1’ written by Earl Kress drawn by Omar Oranda.
  • Daffy Duck tries his hand at selling accident insurance and his first customer is Wile E. Coyote in ‘Mighty Insure of Himself’, written by  by Earl Kress drawn by David Alvarez.

Looney Toons was a big part of my childhood. Every Saturday morning I remember being mesmerized by the cartoons, usually on one of the 5 networks we had at the. Each scene carried its own message that made itself across my childlike mind. I will forever believe that every child should grow up watching Looney Toons to instill the same quality values and beliefs that they behold.

Looney Tunes #248 has shown me that the Looney Tunes that is displayed now is not my Looney Tunes. Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck  have transformed to adapt to modern society sure, bit along the way they have lost their cleverness and are now portrayed as “amiable, excitable idiots.” I believe that this is true for almost all classic, quality cartoons trying to be recreated to fit today’s standard. The fact is is that this cannot be done to honestly better the finally product.

As a result Looney Tunes #248 feels toned down to the point irrelevance.  Back in the day, Looney Tunes was known for delivering political commentary and mustering morale, Looney Toons symbolizes America’s culture from the past, since the 1930s.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and paint everything that Looney Tunes and Warner did with Rose Colored Lenses. Racial stereotypes were a common element in war-time entertainment. In April of 1944, Bugs Bunny took on the Japanese in a Friz Freleng cartoon entitled “Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips.  Back in 1968, Warner took 11 of their cartoons off the air. The infamous “Censored Eleven”“ were pulled from syndication, but not without reason.  While the toons might not have a place in contemporary society, they do offer an interesting look into the jazz age and the pop culture product that reflected the time period.

That’s fine if that the reason why #248 was toned down, but Looney Toons is also known for its “Slapstick” comedy which means it involves very exaggerated, sometimes violent actions, like a pie in the face. No Slapstick here though.  I know it can work, you know how I know?  Back in August 2017 DC/Warner put out a crossover title Batman/Elmer Fudd that sold out and went to second print.  So maybe they should put out more of that, cut the writers some slack, and give us less of whatever #248 was it isn’t that it was terrible it’s that it could be so much more.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Derek Fridolfs (A/CA) David Alvarez

 

Author Profile

Lucas Fashina
Mastodon
error

Enjoy this site? Sharing is Caring :)