Toe Tag Riot is the comic book society needs right now, but one it may not want you to have. No other book or publisher is making as big a statement as this series is. In its three short issues Toe Tag Riot has done more to challenge the authority and the Fox News style “new media” than any other all the while remaining an incredibly engaging adventure.
Issue three picks up with our titular zombie cursed band dealing with the aftermath of the Million Mom March massacre that happened during their set on stage last issue. We get to not only see the team dealing with their zombie affliction, but learning the extent of their powers and how they work in regards to others.
As the group aren’t the typical zombies that we have come to know, the general rules surrounding the walking dead don’t apply either. It’s fun seeing Toe Tag Riot taking a different approach to being a zombie as I was beginning to get really burned out from the genre as a whole. It plays more closely to the voodoo curse angle of which most people that do the zombie thing have left behind long ago in favor of the virus angle.
Matt Miner does a wonderful job at making Toe Tag Riot feel fresh with his ability to blend humor alongside serious social depth. If you are looking for a comic book that is just a lot of fun to read, Toe Tag Riot is going to please. Likewise, if you want something that challenges the things as they are, you’ll find it here as well.
Every issue of Toe Tag Riot has so far jabbed mercilessly at a certain segment of american culture, going to outright war against them on most occasions. It’s fun to see these people who think themselves better, or above others getting shown in a light that better suits them.
What I really enjoy about Toe Tag Riot is how interspersed throughout the issue is brief flashbacks to how the band became who they are now. It keeps things fresh while answering just enough questions at the appropriate moments to keep readers engaged.
Like the past two issues Toe Rag Riot #3 does not skimp on the gruesome visual style that the series is quickly becoming known for. Heads will roll, eyes will pop, and all manner of flesh will be rended. It’s a bloody good time and the art work of Sean Von Forman works well, without having the need to be overly realistic. I love that the art keeps things fun while still being shocking at the same time.
Toe Tag Riot #3 does in fact serve as a filler issue to the overall story, but it kicks society in the balls hard enough to keep you entertained. I mean, who here doesn’t hate “dude bros” and want to see them get their comeuppance. I also can’t wait until next month when the band finally faces the Westboro Baptist Church! Maybe the Toe Tag Riot series just speaks to me on a more personal level as a person that would be considered a punk in the eyes of many, but I really do think that Toe Tag Riot is a book that needs to be on everyone’s pull list and comes highly recommended. In a medium that tends to play it safe with regards to social issues and the authority, Toe Tag Riot flips it the double bird and for that it’s to be commended.
About Author
