Buster's Neighbourhood: Kid Comet vs. The Agents of Doom

B-movie excellence
by Chad Boudreau

Buster Jones is no ordinary eleven year old. He's a secret agent for The Headquarters for Investigating Visiting Evil, aka H.I.V.E. He gets paid by the government to play hooky from school. He has a one-armed bodyguard named Sgt. Jack Crypt, a grizzled old career soldier. Buster's best friend is Zoe, a spunky little girl who is Buster's constant companion and confidant. Buster is Zoe's hero.

Buster's Neighbourhood: Kid Comet vs. The Agents of Doom

Mutant Toast Productions
Writer: Kaja Blackley
Art: Alex Hawley

FC, 112 pgs
$24.95 CAN / $15.95 US

B-movie excellence
by Chad Boudreau

The joy of Buster's Neighbourhood is in the details. Everyone involved in this delightfully fun endeavour clearly holds Buster's tale close to their own heart.

As creator and writer, Kaja Blackley has created a rich world and dense plot in which Buster can romp. Artist Alex Hawley has given visual life to Kaja's creation. His talents are evident in his depiction of Buster and the supporting cast, and in his visualization of Blackley's wonderful ideas. My favourite image comes on page 28. A submarine lurks in an underground ocean lying beneath the town, its periscope posing as the central support post of a playground merry-go-round. It's such a crazy idea that you don't even consider the improbability of it all. Improbability is the basis for Buster's Neighbourhood. It's a pleasure to read a book that transports you easily to a place where the impossible is not only possible, it's routine.

A boy and his robot...

Buster Jones is no ordinary eleven year old. He's a secret agent for The Headquarters for Investigating Visiting Evil, aka H.I.V.E. He gets paid by the government to play hooky from school. He has a one-armed bodyguard named Sgt. Jack Crypt, a grizzled old career soldier. Buster's best friend is Zoe, a spunky little girl who is Buster's constant companion and confidant. Buster is Zoe's hero.

Buster's Neighbourhood is part Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius, part Spy Kids and even part Japanese monster movie with its big robot versus big alien battle royale climax. Reading Buster's Neighbourhood, one can also imagine that Kaja's youth was filled with wild notions perhaps inspired by sci-fi comics and B-movie trash found most often on late night television or weekend matinees. Unlike those inspirations, however, Buster's Neighbourhood is a more satisfying romp because Kaja and Hawkley have grounded the adventure with fine detail, excellent writing and innovative visual flare. The comic's palette is equally rich and lively, giving a Saturday morning cartoon feeling to the endeavour.

There are many secrets to be revealed in Buster's Neighbourhood, secrets that will test friendships and cause Zoe and Buster to question their own identities. They're not the only ones who are going to learn something about themselves. This story is filled with a strong supporting cast, a roster comprised of secret agents, watery aliens and robots and part of the fun is trying to figure out how all these elements will come together in the finale.

This is a fast running read, a tale filled with startling revelations and fascinating ideas. It's the kind of the story that will take you on an adventure. Pack your bags. You'll be happy you took the trip.

4 of 5