Legion of Super-Heroes/Bugs Bunny Special #1

Writers: Sam Humphries

Artists: Tom Grummet & Scott Hanna

Colors: Steve Bucellato

Publisher: DC Comics

I think I’ve said before (ad nauseum, to be honest) that I’m still pretty new to the  whole capes-and-tights part of the world of comic books. If it weren’t for the Marvel movies of the past decade, I’d have a hard time telling my Ultron from my Magneto or my Sentinels. But I know from Looney Tunes, and have since I was watching Saturday morning cartoons with sugary cereal when I was a wee little nerdling. 

Bugs Bunny was my gateway drug for how to appreciate and embrace my inner smartass, so I have been waiting for this series of specials since the hot second I saw it on the “coming soon” board at my local comic shop. Humphries’ writing was beautiful and perfect and made me actually hear Mel Blanc’s real voice in my head as Bugs Bunny. I also adored that he placed Bugs on a farm in Smallville - much like Clark Kent, Bugs is a down-home guy who mostly wants to be left alone but really hates bullies and isn’t shy about putting them in their place.

To be fair, most of what I was waiting for in this story was to see Bugs run through his “greatest hits” - seeing him turn an argument back on someone a la “duck season vs wabbit season”, laughing as he packs his bags and tries to exit the scene, all the while insulting present company, and his warning to his foes that “this means war”. Humphries doesn’t disappoint here, but he also takes the opportunity to make snarky fun of the members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. That being said, I’m pretty sure that I would have appreciated this book even more if I had gotten some of the inside jokes about them.

Visually, this is a gorgeous book and completely worth the price of admission on the strength of the art alone. As beautiful as Grummet and Hanna’s line work is, Bucellato’s colors really make it pop. My favorite panel may well have been one of my other favorite Bugs Bunny classic moves - dressing up in drag to get the better of an opponent. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that the creative team chose Wonder Woman’s Amazonian suit to stuff Bugs into, but what makes it even better is that the dialogue Humphries gives him comes straight (slightly edited) from RuPaul herself! I haven’t enjoyed a DC book this much in ages. I’ll really be looking forward to seeing what the publisher does with my personal hero, Wile E. Coyote.