Neat Stuff, 1-15

I love Hate so I leapt at the chance to review Neat Stuff, its predecessor. Here's Buddy Bradley as a High School loser trying to ditch his square (TM) friends for the junkie types he thinks are music gurus. If anything he's even less likeable than his Seattle persona (more likely to sulk, less likely to score). Indeed, this is something of a problem, it's hard to take his difficulties seriously, I just wish he'd grow up.

But there's a hell of a lot more to Neat Stuff than just beginner's Hate. Like most indy comics it's a set of strips rather than just Buddy's blues. It's Girly-Girl, Chuckie Boy, Junior, Studs Kirby - a disparate cast of whackies. For those who think Lisa and George are at worst in Peter's bag (sorry) this is a bit of an eye-opener.

His style in these strips is a lot less naturalistic, and this is particularly true of Girly-Girl. Which in itself explains why I can't stand her. Bit of a shame this since, judging by her frequent appearances, she's something of a Bagge favourite. To me this is the lamest strip in the comic.

I'm not too fond of Junior either. His landlord's pretty cool whenever he turns up but the basic idea's a bit lame after the first few appearances Maybe it's too close to the bone, just how pathetic am I?

Enough of this carping though, it's more than made up for by Studs Kirby, ``The Voice of America.'' Forget Rushed Lamebaugh or G. Criminal Luddite, this is the one man who's not afraid to speak the truth. If you found yourself agreeing with Buddy and Valerie's Dad in ``Adventures in Suburbia'' then maybe you'll take this a bit too seriously, For those of us without a private arsenal or John Birch membership, it's an almost forgiving look at this most American of animals.

For specific issues, I have to single out the second for ``Generic Comics''. Every frame a true one (and check out those ubiquitous-orange-cat references throughout both comics).

Overall, though, I feel that the comic belongs to Buddy and family. At last we see the Bradleys close up rather than in sporadic flashback and lunatic intrusion. You'll love them and all their little flaws. Probably.

How vital is this comic? For me it's really just a lead up to its fabulous successor. Get this if you can but if you have to choose, choose Hate.