By Justin McCarty
After twenty years Rocko’s Modern Life is back. Its last new episode was in 1996 and the comic was last published in 1994. Originally a failed comic pitch in the eighties, Rocko’s Modern Life became one of Nicktoon’s most loved shows. I haven’t seen an episode of RML since the nineties, I have very fond memories of it but it might not have been as good as I remember. This comic reminded me of all the reasons I loved it. It’s surreal and droll, while still being silly. I had a lot of fun reading this comic.
Rocko loses his job at the call center and has to start looking for work. Heffer and Filburt are no help but he does come across a classified ad for a roommate. Spending no time on the decision Rocko gets himself a roommate so he can pay his rent and eat. He ends up living with a loud, obnoxious sloth called Chalmers. Chalmers turns Rocko’s house into a party house and destroys the place. Thanks to his new roommate Rocko blows a job interview and goes to work for a fast-food restaurant, which goes up in flames. Rocko finally loses it on Chalmers after he is chewed out by Mr. Bighead and finally takes an assessment of his gross home.
The gang on this has created a comic just as charming and fun as the show. The characters feel just like they were always meant to be in comics. (We already know that they were.) The style and art are just like the show. The wit and humor are still there. McGinty and Ferrier really brought back the feeling of being ten years old and laughing at the sheer weirdness that was sometimes Nicktoons. I even could hear the voices of Rocko and everyone.
As much as I liked this comic, and as much as it gave me the warm and fuzzies bringing back childhood memories, this hasn’t pushed any envelopes. The humor in RML had an edge to it and was markedly geared towards adults. That’s one reason the show is still so fondly remembered. The first issue felt light on that subtle adult humor. Hopefully, that stuff will come through in future issues. Hopefully, Boom gets that it will be mostly thirty-year-olds reading this, and there’s no reason to shy away from more mature topics. I’d really like to see this comic stretch this type of humor and absurd style, go further with it.
If you’ve been missing Rocko and wanted him to make a comeback then this is where it starts for you. Next year Nickelodeon has got a Rocko special, too. 2018 is going to be a big year for Rocko.
Score: 3/5
Rocko’s Modern Life #1
BOOM! Studios