As often illustrated by my colleague Jon Minners in his recent string of Minners Comentaries, it is always quite fun to revisit your childhood. Sometimes it is enlightening, as you see new things in the experiences of your past. Humbling, as you realize that there were people who had it a lot worse than you thought you did, and occasionally, it’s just plain embarrassing. Jellybean, a collection of comic strips, captures that very feeling and lays it out on the table for you to rejoice in.
Artist and storyteller Benito Llanos introduces us to the world of Jellybean, his twin sister Pinky, little brother Boo Boo, and their perpetually angry mother. Jellybean is the typical mischievous plotting child, tricking his mother into letting him do previously forbidden things, like annoying his siblings, and setting traps to make the pizza delivery man late so that he does not have to pay for his pizza. Or is that not the conventional way a young boy acts? Well, nothing in Jellybean is exactly what goes on in one's childhood because it is told largely through the eyes of the child. This means that we get to see Jellybean as he imparts on a Matrix style mission or trembles in fear as his mother takes the form of a large monster-none of which are really happening, but all of which are real to Jellybean.
Pinky is another fun character. The typical sister, she joins in on Jellybean's adventures and constantly works to outsmart him. Now, that is something I remember trying fairly often on my big brother and sister. Jellybean's well-tested mother also brings many laughs to the table. She is too damn smart to fall for Jellybean's schemes, a trait I think most of us remember in our own parents.
Remember Family Circus? Well, the art found in this comic strip is a cross between that and the art of Peanuts. The characters are unique and dress like modern kids in an urban area, which is a refreshing change from the norm seeing as though nobody really dresses like Peppermint Patty anymore. Come to think of it, did anybody EVER dress like her? Back on topic, the characters in Jellybean are very distinct and animated. You can definitely imagine a cartoon based on these characters, and I would love to see one!
The art in this strip collection was as fun to look at as the stories were to read. In my opinion, Benito needs a place in the funny pages of a major newspaper, and he needs it PRONTO!
Send your comments and or questions about this article to manzanos@netzero.net.