RED MEAT is quite the funny and at times disturbing comic strip, 'from the secret files' of author Max Cannon. Syndicated for publishing in various papers, it can also be seen at the website www.redmeat.com . The humor is very absurd and dark, twisted. Though I have laughed at many of the strips, sometimes I just blink and think it was sick (as in repulsive)...or sometimes just plain cool.
The strip features some quirky characters. There's Ted Johnson, who looks like some pipe smokin' dude from the 50's. He sorta reminds me of Bob Dobbs from the Church of the Subgenius (a very cultish and hilarious 'religion'.) Ted has a wife and son as well. There's Bug Eyed Earl, a creepy and funny freak who reminds me of a cartoonified and more gothic and fucked up Steve Buscemi. There's Milkman Dan, who takes delight in tormenting his customers, especially the little girl Karen. A cold heartless robot named Mr. Bix swings into the mix, and a certain Johnny Lemonhead (actually has a lemon for a head..surprise) and Papa Moai the strange cosmic interdimensional being who looks like an Easter Island head. Then of course we can't forget God, a dead clown, an old cowboy, a deranged little boy, a token black man, and even then some others.
Red Meat has certain trademarks besides the characters. Each 'episode' or strip is 3 panels long. The drawings hardly change from panel 1 to 3, it's usually the same picture recycled, where the dialogue itself carries it all along, much like how rapping carries itself over repetitive loops and beats. The title of each strip will be some weird frequently alliteration ridden title that usually has nothing to do with the actual strip, ie 'bone shattering backflip blunder' or 'impromptu pantaloon fusillade'. These just mentioned are the main trademarks of the comic.
Go hunt for Red Meat in one of your local papers or at the website, or buy one of the books!
