Kentucky native Jonathan Vreeland’s debut comic book does not disappoint, especially for those of you who are familiar with his webcomics found on the Storydweller comics app. He’s put together this collection of his favorite and most popular single panel funnies for readers to enjoy in one place.
There’s no comprehensive plot to follow, instead you can flip this book open to any page and start chuckling without any confusion. Each single page comic features different anthropomorphic objects and animals, with a few humans and robots scattered throughout. A couple of sentences underneath provide the punch line for each ridiculous situation these creatures find themselves in. From a carrot wanting just a little off the sides at his “hair” appointment with a peeler to a squirrel taking selfies dangerously out on the road, there are all kinds of imaginative scenarios. QR codes for each comic are found on the opposite side of the page where you can quickly scan them and see the illustration come alive. You get to see the artist’s creative process in drawing and shading each one. It was sometimes surprising to see where he started with the piece, and how it ended up.
The artwork is simple black and white full page panels with shading. The drawing style, with big eyed characters, can be enjoyed by young and old readers alike. However, there are a couple of comics that have more mature themes, like a tree smoking a cigarette, and a joke about being hung over.
Overall, this is such a creative take on everyday occurrences. I found myself laughing the next time I saw a stick of butter, as I thought of the baseball playin’ butter sticks Vreeland brought to life. It’s a great quick read to lighten up your day and the perfect book to have out on display for someone who has some time to kill and wants a change from staring at a phone. I hope his next installment is an elementary or middle school level book. Vreeland’s sense of humor and word play would certainly be appreciated by that age group.
A Little Levity Never Hurts
By Jonathan Vreeland
Warren Publishing, 2021
ISBN: 9781954614451
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
