GRAPHIC NOVELS

The Bounce

by Joe Casey
David Messina & others (illus.). Image. 2014. 270p. ISBN 9781632150110. pap. $24.99. Rated: M. SF/DRAMA
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Writer Casey (G.I. Joe: America's Elite) and artist Messina (Star Trek: Khan) tell the story of pot-smoking slacker Jasper Jenkins, who volunteers for a medical experiment and gains the ability to bounce around like a rubber ball. Obtaining a costume, Jenkins becomes the crime-fighting Bounce. Unlike many superhero comics, in which science is merely a way to give the hero powers, Bounce uses it as a major plot element. Not only has the trial given supernatural abilities to others, whom the Bounce fights, it's part of a plan masterminded by mystery-man "The Darling" to steal power from the godlike Golg%chk.
VERDICT Despite the book's name, there are relatively few scenes of the Bounce in action and little development for his alter ego. Casey's interest clearly lies with Darling, giving him lots of exposition (even for the superhero and sf genres) and cryptic flashbacks, designed slowly to offer the reader insight into his motivations. However, Messina, whose art is superficially reminiscent of Tony Harris (Ex Machina), doesn't distinguish his male characters well enough from one another to make the flashbacks effective. Gore, swearing, drug use, and nudity make this an adult title. Not recommended.
Reviewed by Robert Mixner, Bartholomew Cty. P.L., Columbus, IN , Jan 15, 2016
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