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Title: “Narftasia”
Writer:
Jesse Leon McCann
Penciller: Walter Carzon
Inker: Mike DeCarlo
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Demetrius Bassoukos
Release Date:
March 5th, 1997
Cover Price: $1.75 U.S./ $2.50 Canada
Summary:
Brain goes out for the evening, leaving Pinky at
home to try to take over the world.
Description:
Brain is off on a date with Billie. Pinky, home
alone, decides to try to take over the world for
Brain. He finds one of Brain’s old plans, to buy a
billion west-pointing compasses, then moving all the
water from the Pacific to the Atlantic, making the
compasses in great demand. Using his “Narftasia
Magic Spells Pillowbook,” he gets to work, but
must travel to various Fantasia-esque
landscapes to retrieve the objects necessary for the
spell. When he returns, he finds the water flooding
the lab and pulls the tag off his pillowbook,
causing everything to vanish. Brain arrives, saying
the date went bad because his credit card
expired—someone charged a billion west-pointing
compasses to it.
Cameos include the
Hip Hippos and Batman.
Pages (out of 32):
12 pp.
AYPWIP:
PINKY: [Talking to his reflection in the mirror.]:
Pinky, are you pondering what I’m pondering?
PINKY’S REFLECTION:
Why, yes, Pinky! Yes, I am! But where would you get
a chicken, 20 yards of spandex and smelling salts at
this hour?
Quote of the
Story:
BRAIN:
[Singing]: I’m in the mood for love… …simply
because you’re within proximity!
Review:
A lot of fun. Significant as the first reference to
Billie in the comics (as well as a quasi-appearance,
via a photo Brain flashes), McCann does a great job
on this “change-of-pace” story. The scene with
Pinky talking to himself, doubling as himself and
Brain, is absolutely hilarious. Carzon’s art is
once again stupendous even for him—he does a
wonderfully imaginative job on all the exotic Fantasia
landscapes, and his work is complimented very nicely
by Bassoukos’ lovely colors. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Title: “The
Final Narf”
Writer:
Shaun McLaughlin
Penciller:
Walter Carzon
Inker:
Mike DeCarlo
Letterer:
John Costanza
Colorist:
Demetrius Bassoukos
Cover: Walter Carzon
& Mike DeCarlo
Summary:
In a spoof of the classic Holmes/Moriarty face-off
“The Final Problem,” Brain chases Snowball
across a continent.
Description:
In Victorian times, our heroes have cornered
Snowball in the same bar. With the help of his goon
Charlie, Snowball escapes and hops a train. They
eventually track him to a cave atop a mountain in
Switzerland, where he and his human cohorts are
planning to take over the world using a treasure
they’ve amassed. Brain and Snowball fight and fall
over the cliff, and Pinky sadly writes the last
chapter in Brain’s life, only to find that he’s
still alive—as is Snowball, who swears revenge.
Pages (out of 32):
12
pp.
AYPWIP:
BRAIN: Have you
deduced what I’ve deduced, Pinky?
PINKY: I think so,
Brain, but Ben Vereen never answered our
proposition.
Quote of the Story:
BRAIN: Snowball! It
was you behind the dissolution of my Six Napoleons,
Five Orange Pips and Partridge in a Tree Plan!
Review:
*MUCH* better than McLaughlin’s first attempt. This story is
Snowball’s first comic book appearance, and is as
good as you’d expect it to be. A great spoof of
the Holmes story as well, and fans of Mr. Doyle’s
famous detective will especially enjoy this story.
Although it would’ve been nice to have them
develop Snowball’s plan a bit more (where did he
get the money? how did he intend to use it? who were
his accomplices?), this story is still wonderful,
and a great addition to anyone’s collection.
Rating:
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