“Kurt Busiek reminds me of this friend I had in high school. Not because he’s chunky and bearded and has glasses…although those descriptors also apply to my friend. For other reasons…
We had to do this stupid thing called an Invention Convention. The idea was that a 6th grader would invent something and show it off like a science fair. I think the rhyming name was the main appeal.
So my friend “invented” a cup with 4 handles. Which was convenient because you could reach for it without looking and find a handle no matter what. Our science teacher told him that he was getting an A because, well, he had to grade everyone equally. But if he was grading based on ability, he’d give my friend an F because he knew that my friend was capable of much more.
As an aside, I invented the Keen Key Kontainer. Which was a cut-up Nerf ball that you put your keys in so that A) They floated and B) When you fell on your keys while rollerblading, rollerblades being all the rage, it didn’t hurt as bad. So, I solved a nonexistent problem in shoddy fashion with something named in such a way that its initials were KKK. I did not receive a speech about how this compared with my potential. Which, as an adult, hurts my feelings.
When it comes to Shockrockets, it’s Kurt Busiek’s 4-handled cup. For Busiek, it’s not so hot. But, because he’s a total master, if I compare it to other comics, it’s pretty damn good.
How’s THAT for an overly long analogy for a 3-star book?!”