The Living Bombshell Now in Technicolor! (Tank Girl Color Classics Review)
TANK GIRL FULL COLOR CLASSICS 1993-1994
Writer, Designer and Curator: Alan Martin
Artist: Jamie Hewlett
New Colors: Sofie Dodgson
Publisher: Titan Comics
Rating: 10/10 in all it’s outrageous 90’s glory
Song: Cherry Bomb by The Runaways
If you’ve been on Twitter the past couple of days, a certain creator has been sharing his negative opinions on the current state of comic books, bashing them and stating that 90’s comics were the last true renaissance of the industry. I’m neither agreeing or disagreeing with him because that opinion, like most opinions, is subjective. Yes, the ’90s brought us the likes of the ‘92 X-Men, Spawn and the birth of Image Comics, but let’s not forget the mess that was the Clone Saga (don’t @ me), the immense amounts of pouches, and the Onslaught Saga (again, don’t @ me). Among the bombardment of different comics, styles, artists, writers, publishers, etc., there was one shining light of rambunctious awesomeness. Before the outrageousness for comics like Deadpool and I Hate Fairyland, there were off-the-wall antics of Tank Girl and Booga.
This is one of the many reprints of the series, but this edition from Titan Comics specifically collects an anthology of random stories from 1993 - 1994 (as the title implies, duh) and is compiled of not only Tank Girl stories, but also Jet Girl, Sub Girl, and, believe it or not, a story about the band, the Smiths. Peppered throughout the volume are candid pictures of the creators and editors of the comic as well as a picture on the set of the 1995 Tank Girl feature film with Lori Petty.
30 years after her first appearance in Deadline Magazine, the stories still hold strong and they are just as ridiculous as I remember them. Her devil-may-care, punk rock, take-no-shit, British Pop Culture, Feminist middle finger pointed at Margaret Thatcher attitude is just as prevalent now as it was in the mid-’90s. Jamie Hewlett’s art in these comic strips feel like the result of the Looney Tunes using real bullets and the newly-added colors doesn’t take away from any of the aesthetic feel of the comic itself. It’s no wonder why the Gorillaz use his art for the band’s animated personas (I would love to see a Tank Girl/Gorillaz crossover). So for old fans and new fans alike, I suggest you hop on the Tank and ride along with what is possibly one of the most ambitious and raucous rides the late ‘80s and ‘90s blessed us with, and pick up Titan Comics’ Tank Girl Full-Color series.
