Just as last year's Free Comic Book Day reintroduced me to Archie, this year I was shocked to come across an issue of The Three Stooges. While reading The Three Stooges is nothing like watching one of their shorts, American Mythology Productions does seem to know this comedy trio very well. They even work with the Curly substitutes, such as Shemp or Curly Joe.
This FCBD issue contains three stories displaying the versatility that the comics allow you to have with The Three Stooges. While the effect of Slapstick plays out better in a live performance, there is plenty contained within the pages of the story written by SA Check. Todd Livingston wrote the more cartoon-like Robonic Stooges. These Stooges, while still maintaining the slapstick, end up in adventures where someone needs rescuing. In this issue, Curly wins a trip to a tropical island where a doctor is performing evil experiments on unsuspecting visitors. In J. Gershowitz's story, Moe, Larry and Curly Joe chase Mr. Bigwig across studio sets to try to get him to listen to their new movie ideas.
Now, some people consider The Three Stooges a "guy thing." To me, comedy is comedy. The one big thing that this issue did do is bring me back to the days when I consistently watched the Three Stooges on television. Some people may even say they were violent, especially to each other. It didn't seem to bother the robot from the movie "Short Circuit." Also, they weren't any more violent than the Roadrunner cartoons. Either way, it was a fun read and Brendon and Brian Fraim, Eric Shanower, Diego Tapie and Jorge Pacheco captured the essence of The Three Stooges through their artwork in a magnificent fashion.
